Exploring the Events in GitHub

Exploring the Events in GitHub

In GitHub Actions, events trigger workflows to automate tasks. Here’s a detailed explanation of various event types, including scheduled events, code events, manual events, webhook events, and external events.

1. Scheduled Events

These events trigger workflows at specific intervals using cron syntax. They are ideal for automating periodic tasks, such as backups or scheduled reports.

Key Points:

• Defined using the schedule keyword in the on field.

• Uses cron syntax.

• Runs independently of code changes.

Example:

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on:
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  schedule:
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   - cron: "0 0   " # Runs every day at midnight (UTC)

Common Use Cases:

• Cleaning up resources.

• Running periodic tests or builds.

• Sending weekly status reports.

2. Code Events

These events are triggered by actions in the repository, such as commits, branches, or pull requests. They are the most commonly used events in GitHub workflows.

Examples of Code Events:

1. push: Triggered when a commit is pushed to the repository.

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on:
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  push:
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    branches:
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     - main

2. pull_request: Triggered when a pull request is opened, synchronized, reopened, or closed.

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on:
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  pull_request:
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    branches:
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     - main

3. branch_protection_rule: Triggered when a branch protection rule is created, edited, or deleted.

4. release: Triggered when a release is created, published, updated, or deleted.

Common Use Cases:

• Running CI/CD pipelines on code changes.

• Testing pull requests.

• Automating release workflows.

3. Manual Events

These are user-initiated triggers, allowing developers to manually start a workflow.

Key Points:

• Defined using the workflow_dispatch event.

• Provides optional inputs for parameterized workflows.

Example:

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on:
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  workflow_dispatch:
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    inputs:
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      environment:
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        description: 'Deployment environment'
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        required: true
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        default: 'staging'

How to Trigger:

• Go to the "Actions" tab in the repository.

• Select the workflow and click "Run workflow."

• Input any required parameters.

Common Use Cases:

• Manually triggering deployments.

• Running workflows with custom parameters.

• Debugging workflow behavior.

4. Webhook Events

These are triggered by specific GitHub activities (webhooks), such as issue creation, comment updates, or repository management events.

Examples of Webhook Events:

1. issues: Triggered when an issue is created, edited, or closed.

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on:
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  issues:
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    types:
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     - opened
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     - closed

2. issue_comment: Triggered when a comment is added to an issue or pull request.

3. star: Triggered when a repository is starred or unstarred.

4. fork: Triggered when a repository is forked.

Common Use Cases:

• Automating responses to issue creation.

• Updating external tools when repository activity changes.

• Generating metrics or notifications based on user interactions.

5. External Events

External events allow third-party systems to trigger GitHub workflows via the repository dispatch or workflow dispatch APIs.

Key Points:

• Useful for integrating external tools and services with GitHub workflows.

• Requires API calls to trigger the workflow.

Example: repository_dispatch

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on:
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  repository_dispatch:
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    types:
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     - custom-event

Triggering via API:

Use the GitHub REST API to send a custom event:

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curl -X POST -H "Authorization: token <TOKEN>" \
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     -H "Accept: application/vnd.github.v3+json" \
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     https://api.github.com/repos/<OWNER>/<REPO>/dispatches \
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     -d '{"event_type":"custom-event"}'

Common Use Cases:

• Triggering workflows from external CI/CD pipelines.

• Integrating third-party tools with GitHub Actions.

• Custom event-driven workflows.

Summary

Each event type offers unique capabilities and can be combined in workflows to build robust automation pipelines.