github-actions-workflow — Claude Code skill: CI/CD in GitHub Actions
A skill that helps your agent write GitHub Actions workflows for tests, builds, security scans and deploys.
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a claude-codeWhat github-actions-workflow does
The skill gives the agent a working starting point for GitHub Actions. It ships a minimal .github/workflows/ci.yml example with a Node version matrix, plus reference guides in references/: a full CI/CD pipeline, an automated release flow, and a Docker build-and-push setup.
You can hand it smaller jobs too, like dependency caching or conditional steps with if:. A best-practices section lists what to avoid: keeping secrets in workflow files, running untrusted code, using secrets.* in pull requests from forks.
Worth installing if your project already lives on GitHub and you want the checks automated. The skill won't create secrets or set access rights for you. You still configure permissions and environment secrets yourself, and without them a workflow simply won't get the access it needs.
What it helps with
- build a CI pipeline that tests several Node versions
- add Docker image build and push to a registry
- set up a release workflow triggered by a tag
- split checks into separate jobs with conditions
- move secrets out of the workflow file
Example prompts for the agent
- Write a CI workflow that runs tests on Node 16, 18 and 20 on push to main
- Add a job that builds a Docker image and pushes it to ghcr.io
- Create a release workflow that runs on a tag
How to install github-actions-workflow
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a claude-code2Manually: put the files in place
~/.claude/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.mdCopy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/github-actions-workflow/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a codex2Manually: put the files in place
.agents/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.mdFor all projects use ~/.agents/skills/
1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a cursor2Manually: put the files in place
.cursor/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.mdCursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/
1GitHub CLI
gh skill install aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts github-actions-workflow2Manually: put the files in place
.github/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.md1Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a gemini-cli2Platform CLI
gemini skills install https://github.com/aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --path skills/github-actions-workflowManually: put the files in place
.devin/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.mdThe legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works
Skills CLI (Vercel)
npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a opencodeClaude.ai
Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to install skills in Claude Code: five ways
Questions about github-actions-workflow
How do I install github-actions-workflow in Claude?
Run npx skills add aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts --skill github-actions-workflow -a claude-code. The skill lands at ~/.claude/skills/github-actions-workflow/SKILL.md.
What does github-actions-workflow do?
It helps the agent write GitHub Actions workflow files for CI, testing, security scanning and deployment. It includes a .github/workflows/ci.yml example and reference guides for CI/CD, releases and Docker.
Do I need secrets for this skill to work?
The skill advises against storing secrets in workflow files and points you to environment secrets and variables. You set the secrets and permissions in your repository settings.
Source text
SKILL.md · MIT
---
name: github-actions-workflow
description: >
Build comprehensive GitHub Actions workflows for CI/CD, testing, security, and
deployment. Master workflows, jobs, steps, and conditional execution.
---
# GitHub Actions Workflow
## Table of Contents
- [Overview](#overview)
- [When to Use](#when-to-use)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Reference Guides](#reference-guides)
- [Best Practices](#best-practices)
## Overview
Create powerful GitHub Actions workflows to automate testing, building, security scanning, and deployment processes directly from your GitHub repository.
## When to Use
- Continuous integration and testing
- Build automation
- Security scanning and analysis
- Dependency updates
- Automated deployments
- Release management
- Code quality checks
## Quick Start
Minimal working example:
```yaml
# .github/workflows/ci.yml
name: CI/CD Pipeline
on:
push:
branches: [main, develop]
pull_request:
branches: [main, develop]
env:
REGISTRY: ghcr.io
IMAGE_NAME: ${{ github.repository }}
jobs:
test:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
strategy:
matrix:
node-version: [16.x, 18.x, 20.x]
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- name: Setup Node ${{ matrix.node-version }}
uses: actions/setup-node@v3
with:
// ... (see reference guides for full implementation)
```
## Reference Guides
Detailed implementations in the `references/` directory:
| Guide | Contents |
|---|---|
| [Complete CI/CD Workflow](references/complete-cicd-workflow.md) | Complete CI/CD Workflow |
| [Automated Release Workflow](references/automated-release-workflow.md) | Automated Release Workflow |
| [Docker Build and Push](references/docker-build-and-push.md) | Docker Build and Push |
## Best Practices
### ✅ DO
- Use caching for dependencies (npm, pip, Maven)
- Run tests in parallel with matrix strategy
- Require status checks on protected branches
- Use environment secrets and variables
- Implement conditional jobs with `if:`
- Lint and format before testing
- Set explicit permissions with permissions
- Use runner labels for specific hardware
- Cache Docker layers for faster builds
### ❌ DON'T
- Store secrets in workflow files
- Run untrusted code in workflows
- Use `secrets.*` with pull requests from forks
- Hardcode credentials or tokens
- Miss error handling with `continue-on-error`
- Create overly complex workflows
- Skip testing on pull requests
© aj-geddes · MIT · aj-geddes/useful-ai-prompts