New Module: GitHub Actions workflows

[a-a-ron]

With the addition of reusable workflows, I think we have enough content to validate the need for a workflow specific module. We'll eventually move into this direction for core parts of a main features anyway so making this move now makes sense instead of adding this content to push the scope of existing module.

Some content resources

• Source: https://github.blog/2021-11-18-7-advanced-workflow-automation-features-with-github-actions/
• Source: https://github.blog/2022-02-10-using-reusable-workflows-github-actions/

[rmallorybpc]

This section should be moved.

https://github.com/githubpartners/microsoft-learn/blob/github-actions-ci/github/github-actions-ci/includes/2-github-actions-workflows-ci.md#simplify-using-secrets-with-reusable-workflows

[a-a-ron]

This section should be moved.

Perhaps. This new workflows module will dive into more specific functions of workflows that don't fit into the other modules. We do need to discuss workflows in most Actions modules to make things make sense. Once I get the module outline figured out I'll have a better idea of content we need to port over.

Thanks for the callout though! It's possible we will move this content but I'm not sure yet.

[a-a-ron]

Potential outline

Title: Create and manage GitHub Actions workflows

Units

Workflow syntax and commands

• Overview of YAML syntax
• Commands "see note in section below"

Create, use, and share starter workflows

• create
• use
• share

How to trigger a workflow

• Events
• Activity types
• filters
• Defining inputs for manually triggered workflows
• Further controlling how your workflow will run

Reuse workflows

• Content from blog post / What @rmallorybpc has drafted
• https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/reusing-workflows

Customize your workflow with artifact data and environment variables

• Content from this unit in the Actions CI module
  • Copy and pasted the section, Pass artifact data between jobs, did not remove from microsoft-learn/github/github-actions-ci/includes/2b-github-actions-essential-features.md in github-actions-ci
  • Copy and pasted, Custom environment variables, did not remove from microsoft-learn/github/github-actions-ci/includes/2b-github-actions-essential-features.md in github-actions-ci

---

Notes for consideration

Content that needs to be moved to this new module

• https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/create-custom-github-actions/create-custom-github-action
• Section on "Workflow commands"

Remodel the Build continuous integration (CI) workflows by using GitHub Actions module

• Take out "extra workflow content" and add to the new module above
• Stick to "getting started with CI" content
• docs for reference
• The skills exercise does not match the content. The content is goes a lot deeper than what the exercise validates. The skill exercise should match the content.

[rmallorybpc]

Introduction

https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/creating-starter-workflows-for-your-organization
https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/essential-features-of-github-actions
https://docs.github.com/en/actions/learn-github-actions/understanding-github-actions

2-workflow-syntax-and-commands.md

• Workflow syntax
  https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/workflow-syntax-for-github-actions
• Workflow commands
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/modules/create-custom-github-actions/create-custom-github-action
  • Moved the section from that module/unit to this module/unit

3-create-use-share-workflows.md

• create
  • Adding an action to your workflow
• use
• share

Trigger a workflow

Introduction for the unit

• About workflow triggers

Unit sections

• Events
  • https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/triggering-a-workflow
• Activity types
• Filters
• Defining inputs for manually triggered workflows
• Further controlling how your workflow will run
  • content written with this topic pending

Reuse workflows

Content from blog post, moved from 3b-resuable-workflows.md

• https://docs.github.com/en/actions/using-workflows/reusing-workflows

[rmallorybpc]

Knowledge check questions:
From 2-workflow-syntax-and-commands.md

1. What enables you to communicate with the GitHub Actions runner machine by printing formatted lines of text to the console?

• Workflow commands
• Activity types
• Workflow syntax

From 3-create-use-share-workflows.md
2. Which ready-to-use high level category workflow greets users who are first time contributors to the repository?

• Automation
• Deployment (CD)
• Security

From 4-how-to-trigger-workflow.md
3. What do you use to target specific branches for pull request events?

• Filters
• Created
• Assigned

From 5-reuse-workflows.md
4. When can a reusable workflow be used by another workflow?

• Both workflows are in the same repository
• The called workflow is stored in a different private repository
• The called workflow is called within the job steps

From 7-customize-your-workflow-artifact-data.md
5. Pending