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[github-learning-lab]

Configuring a workflow

Actions are enabled on your repository by default, but we still have to tell our repository to use them. We do this by creating a workflow file in our repository.

A workflow file can be thought of as the recipe for automating a task. They house the start to finish instructions, in the form of jobs and steps, for what should happen based on specific triggers.

Your repository can contain multiple workflow files that carry out a wide variety of tasks. It is important to consider this when deciding on a name for your workflow. The name you choose should reflect the tasks being performed.

In our case, we will use this one workflow file for many things, which leads us to break this convention for teaching purposes.

📖Read more about workflows

⌨️ Activity: Create a pull request to prepare the repository for actions

1. Create a new workflow file titled my-workflow.yml inside of the folders .github/workflows/ by using the instructions below, or this quicklink.
   • Go to the Actions tab.
   • Choose the Set up a workflow yourself option, located on the top right hand corner of the screen.
   • Change the name of the file to .github/workflows/my-workflow.yml.
2. Commit the workflow to a new branch, you can name it add-initial-workflow.
3. Create a pull request titled Create a workflow.
4. Supply the pull request body content and click Create pull request.

It is important to place meaningful content into the body of the pull requests you create throughout this course. This repository will stay with you long after you complete the course. It is advisable that you use the body of the pull requests you create as a way to take long lived notes about thing you want to remember.

Suggested body content

Workflow files are the recipe for task automation. This is where actions are placed if I want to use them for a task.

I'll respond in the new pull request when I detect it has been created.

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