Testing Custom Actions in GitHub Actions

1. Introduction

Custom Actions in GitHub Actions allow you to extend the functionality of your workflows. Testing these actions is crucial to ensure they work as intended and to prevent failures in your CI/CD pipelines.

2. Understanding Custom Actions

Custom Actions can be defined using JavaScript, Docker, or composite actions. They enable reusable code snippets that can be shared across multiple workflows.

3. Testing Strategies

• Unit Testing: Test individual components of the action.
• Integration Testing: Test how the action interacts with other actions and GitHub events.
• End-to-End Testing: Simulate real-world workflows to ensure everything works together cohesively.

4. Step-by-Step Guide

To effectively test custom actions, follow these steps:

const myAction = require('./index.js');

test('my action does something', () => {
    const response = myAction('input data');
    expect(response).toBe('expected output');
});

npm test

name: CI
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Set up Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v2
        with:
          node-version: '14'
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm install
      - name: Run tests
        run: npm test

5. Best Practices

When testing custom actions, adhere to the following best practices:

• Write clear and descriptive test cases.
• Use environment variables to manage sensitive data.
• Keep your test cases organized and maintainable.

6. FAQ