Migrating from GitLab CI/CD to GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions and GitLab CI/CD share several configuration similarities, which makes migrating to GitHub Actions relatively straightforward.

In this article

Introduction

GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions both allow you to create workflows that automatically build, test, publish, release, and deploy code. GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions share some similarities in workflow configuration:

  • Workflow configuration files are written in YAML and are stored in the code's repository.
  • Workflows include one or more jobs.
  • Jobs include one or more steps or individual commands.
  • Jobs can run on either managed or self-hosted machines.

There are a few differences, and this guide will show you the important differences so that you can migrate your workflow to GitHub Actions.

Jobs

Jobs in GitLab CI/CD are very similar to jobs in GitHub Actions. In both systems, jobs have the following characteristics:

  • Jobs contain a series of steps or scripts that run sequentially.
  • Jobs can run on separate machines or in separate containers.
  • Jobs run in parallel by default, but can be configured to run sequentially.

You can run a script or a shell command in a job. In GitLab CI/CD, script steps are specified using the script key. In GitHub Actions, all scripts are specified using the run key.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for jobs

job1:
  variables:
    GIT_CHECKOUT: "true"
  script:
    - echo "Run your script here"

GitHub Actions syntax for jobs

jobs:
  job1:
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - run: echo "Run your script here"

Runners

Runners are machines on which the jobs run. Both GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions offer managed and self-hosted variants of runners. In GitLab CI/CD, tags are used to run jobs on different platforms, while in GitHub Actions it is done with the runs-on key.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for runners

windows_job:
  tags:
    - windows
  script:
    - echo Hello, %USERNAME%!

linux_job:
  tags:
    - linux
  script:
    - echo "Hello, $USER!"

GitHub Actions syntax for runners

windows_job:
  runs-on: windows-latest
  steps:
    - run: echo Hello, %USERNAME%!

linux_job:
  runs-on: ubuntu-latest
  steps:
    - run: echo "Hello, $USER!"

For more information, see "Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions."

Docker images

Both GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions support running jobs in a Docker image. In GitLab CI/CD, Docker images are defined with an image key, while in GitHub Actions it is done with the container key.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for Docker images

my_job:
  image: node:20-bookworm-slim

GitHub Actions syntax for Docker images

jobs:
  my_job:
    container: node:20-bookworm-slim

For more information, see "Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions."

Condition and expression syntax

GitLab CI/CD uses rules to determine if a job will run for a specific condition. GitHub Actions uses the if keyword to prevent a job from running unless a condition is met.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for conditions and expressions

deploy_prod:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploy to production server"
  rules:
    - if: '$CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "master"'

GitHub Actions syntax for conditions and expressions

jobs:
  deploy_prod:
    if: contains( github.ref, 'master')
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo "Deploy to production server"

For more information, see "Evaluate expressions in workflows and actions."

Dependencies between Jobs

Both GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions allow you to set dependencies for a job. In both systems, jobs run in parallel by default, but job dependencies in GitHub Actions can be specified explicitly with the needs key. GitLab CI/CD also has a concept of stages, where jobs in a stage run concurrently, but the next stage will start when all the jobs in the previous stage have completed. You can recreate this scenario in GitHub Actions with the needs key.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system. The workflows start with two jobs named build_a and build_b running in parallel, and when those jobs complete, another job called test_ab will run. Finally, when test_ab completes, the deploy_ab job will run.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for dependencies between jobs

stages:
  - build
  - test
  - deploy

build_a:
  stage: build
  script:
    - echo "This job will run first."

build_b:
  stage: build
  script:
    - echo "This job will run first, in parallel with build_a."

test_ab:
  stage: test
  script:
    - echo "This job will run after build_a and build_b have finished."

deploy_ab:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "This job will run after test_ab is complete"

GitHub Actions syntax for dependencies between jobs

jobs:
  build_a:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo "This job will be run first."

  build_b:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - run: echo "This job will be run first, in parallel with build_a"

  test_ab:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: [build_a,build_b]
    steps:
      - run: echo "This job will run after build_a and build_b have finished"

  deploy_ab:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: [test_ab]
    steps:
      - run: echo "This job will run after test_ab is complete"

For more information, see "Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions."

Scheduling workflows

Both GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions allow you to run workflows at a specific interval. In GitLab CI/CD, pipeline schedules are configured with the UI, while in GitHub Actions you can trigger a workflow on a scheduled interval with the "on" key.

For more information, see "Events that trigger workflows."

Variables and secrets

GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions support setting variables in the pipeline or workflow configuration file, and creating secrets using the GitLab or GitHub UI.

For more information, see "Store information in variables" and "Using secrets in GitHub Actions."

Caching

GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions provide a method in the configuration file to manually cache workflow files.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for caching

image: node:latest

cache:
  key: $CI_COMMIT_REF_SLUG
  paths:
    - .npm/

before_script:
  - npm ci --cache .npm --prefer-offline

test_async:
  script:
    - node ./specs/start.js ./specs/async.spec.js

GitHub Actions syntax for caching

jobs:
  test_async:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
    - name: Cache node modules
      uses: actions/cache@v3
      with:
        path: ~/.npm
        key: v1-npm-deps-${{ hashFiles('**/package-lock.json') }}
        restore-keys: v1-npm-deps-

Artifacts

Both GitLab CI/CD and GitHub Actions can upload files and directories created by a job as artifacts. In GitHub Actions, artifacts can be used to persist data across multiple jobs.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for artifacts

script:
artifacts:
  paths:
    - math-homework.txt

GitHub Actions syntax for artifacts

- name: Upload math result for job 1
  uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
  with:
    name: homework
    path: math-homework.txt

For more information, see "Storing and sharing data from a workflow."

Databases and service containers

Both systems enable you to include additional containers for databases, caching, or other dependencies.

In GitLab CI/CD, a container for the job is specified with the image key, while GitHub Actions uses the container key. In both systems, additional service containers are specified with the services key.

Below is an example of the syntax for each system.

GitLab CI/CD syntax for databases and service containers

container-job:
  variables:
    POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres
    # The hostname used to communicate with the
    # PostgreSQL service container
    POSTGRES_HOST: postgres
    # The default PostgreSQL port
    POSTGRES_PORT: 5432
  image: node:20-bookworm-slim
  services:
    - postgres
  script:
    # Performs a clean installation of all dependencies
    # in the `package.json` file
    - npm ci
    # Runs a script that creates a PostgreSQL client,
    # populates the client with data, and retrieves data
    - node client.js
  tags:
    - docker

GitHub Actions syntax for databases and service containers

jobs:
  container-job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    container: node:20-bookworm-slim

    services:
      postgres:
        image: postgres
        env:
          POSTGRES_PASSWORD: postgres

    steps:
      - name: Check out repository code
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      # Performs a clean installation of all dependencies
      # in the `package.json` file
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm ci

      - name: Connect to PostgreSQL
        # Runs a script that creates a PostgreSQL client,
        # populates the client with data, and retrieves data
        run: node client.js
        env:
          # The hostname used to communicate with the
          # PostgreSQL service container
          POSTGRES_HOST: postgres
          # The default PostgreSQL port
          POSTGRES_PORT: 5432

For more information, see "About service containers."