Exercise - Create the CI workflow on GitHub

In this lab, you will learn how to create a Continuous Integration (CI) workflow using GitHub Actions. CI is a development practice where developers integrate code into a shared repository frequently, and each integration is verified by an automated build and tests. This helps catch bugs early and improves software quality.

You will learn how to:

  • Understand Continuous Integration concepts
  • Create a CI workflow with GitHub Actions
  • Configure automated testing
  • Run builds and tests automatically
  • View test results and build status
  • Integrate CI into your development process

This lab takes approximately 30-45 minutes to complete.

Before you start

To complete the lab, you need:

  • A GitHub user account. If you don't have one, you can create a new account. If you need instructions on how to create a GitHub account, refer to the article Creating an account on GitHub.
  • Basic understanding of GitHub Actions (recommended to complete "Hello GitHub Actions" first).
  • A web browser with access to the internet.

Complete the exercise on GitHub

In this exercise, you'll create a CI workflow through a hands-on GitHub Skills exercise.

Note: This exercise is hosted on GitHub Skills and provides an interactive learning experience. You'll set up automated testing that runs every time code is pushed or a pull request is created.

The exercise consists of the following activities:

  1. Start a web browser and navigate to the exercise repository: https://github.com/skills-dev/test-with-actions

  2. On the exercise page, select the Use this template button to copy the exercise to your GitHub account.

    Note: Simply copy the exercise to your account, then give GitHub about 20 seconds to prepare the first lesson, then refresh the page.

  3. Follow the instructions on the repository's README to complete all the challenges, which include:

    • Understanding CI principles and why they're important
    • Creating a test workflow that runs automatically
    • Configuring test jobs with proper dependencies and environments
    • Running tests on multiple platforms (matrix builds)
    • Adding status checks to pull requests
    • Viewing test results in the Actions tab
    • Debugging failed tests using workflow logs
    • Requiring CI checks before merging

  4. Work through each step in the exercise, following the prompts and instructions provided.

    Note: CI workflows typically run on every push and pull request, ensuring that all code changes are automatically tested before being merged.

  5. When you finish all the challenges, you'll have a fully functional CI pipeline that automatically tests your code.

What you've learned

After completing this exercise, you should be able to:

  • Understand Continuous Integration principles and benefits
  • Create CI workflows with GitHub Actions
  • Configure automated testing for your projects
  • Run builds and tests on multiple environments
  • Use matrix strategies for testing across platforms
  • View and interpret test results
  • Debug failing tests using workflow logs
  • Implement CI best practices
  • Require status checks before merging code

Congratulations! You've completed the "Create the CI workflow on GitHub" exercise and learned how to implement Continuous Integration!