Linux Runners in GitHub Actions

1. Introduction

GitHub Actions is a CI/CD tool that allows automation of workflows directly in your GitHub repository. Runners are the servers that execute your workflows. This lesson will focus on Linux Runners, which are commonly used for executing tasks in a Linux environment.

2. What are Runners?

Runners are the components responsible for running your GitHub Actions workflows. They can be hosted by GitHub or self-hosted on your own servers. Linux Runners specifically run on Linux operating systems and are optimized for tasks that require a Linux environment.

3. Linux Runners

Linux Runners come pre-installed with various software and tools commonly used for building, testing, and deploying applications. They support several programming languages and frameworks.

3.1 Features of Linux Runners

• Pre-installed software for various programming languages.
• Ability to run Docker containers.
• Fast execution times due to lightweight nature.
• Supports parallel job execution.

4. Setting Up Linux Runners

You can either use GitHub-hosted runners or set up your own self-hosted Linux Runner. Below is a step-by-step guide to setting up a self-hosted Linux Runner.

4.1 Step-by-Step Guide for Self-Hosted Linux Runner

1. Go to your GitHub repository.
2. Select Settings > Actions > Runners.
3. Click on Add runner.
4. Select the operating system (Linux).
5. Follow the instructions to set up the runner on your machine.
6. Run the provided command in your terminal to register the runner.
7. Start the runner.

5. Best Practices

5.1 Optimize Runner Usage

• Use caching to speed up builds.
• Keep your runner software updated.
• Regularly clean up unused artifacts.
• Monitor runner performance for optimization.

5.2 Security Considerations

• Limit the scope of permissions for your runners.
• Regularly rotate secrets and tokens used in workflows.
• Use encrypted secrets for sensitive data.

6. FAQ