How to Integrate GitHub Actions API to Automate Workflows in Node.js

Integrate GitHub Actions API into Node.js Workflows

• GitHub Actions provides a powerful API that allows automation of various workflow processes. With Node.js, you can interact with this API to start workflows, check their status, or manage jobs.

npm install axios

const axios = require('axios');

// Personal access token for authentication
const token = 'YOUR_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN';
const owner = 'repo-owner';
const repo = 'repo-name';
const workflowId = 'workflow-file-name.yml';

// Create an axios instance with GitHub API authorization
const githubAPI = axios.create({
  baseURL: 'https://api.github.com',
  headers: {
    Authorization: `token ${token}`,
    Accept: 'application/vnd.github.v3+json',
  },
});

// Function to trigger a workflow
async function triggerWorkflow() {
  try {
    const response = await githubAPI.post(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}/actions/workflows/${workflowId}/dispatches`, {
      ref: 'main' // Specify the branch
    });
    console.log('Workflow triggered:', response.status);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error triggering workflow:', error);
  }
}

triggerWorkflow();

Monitor Workflow Status

• Once you trigger a workflow, you might want to check its status to ensure everything is proceeding as expected. Using the GitHub Actions API, you can list workflow runs and check their statuses.

// Function to get workflow runs
async function getWorkflowRuns() {
  try {
    const response = await githubAPI.get(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}/actions/runs`);
    const runs = response.data.workflow_runs;
    runs.forEach(run => {
      console.log(`Run ID: ${run.id}, Status: ${run.status}, Conclusion: ${run.conclusion}`);
    });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching workflow runs:', error);
  }
}

getWorkflowRuns();

Handle Specific Workflow Jobs

• Individual jobs within a workflow can be managed or assessed separately using the Jobs aspect of the GitHub Actions API. This control allows you to delve deeper into workflows and manage individual jobs when needed.

const runId = 'specific-run-id'; // Replace with an actual run ID

// Function to get jobs for a run
async function getJobsForRun() {
  try {
    const response = await githubAPI.get(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}/actions/runs/${runId}/jobs`);
    const jobs = response.data.jobs;
    jobs.forEach(job => {
      console.log(`Job ID: ${job.id}, Name: ${job.name}, Status: ${job.status}, Conclusion: ${job.conclusion}`);
    });
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error fetching jobs for run:', error);
  }
}

getJobsForRun();

Manage Secrets for Security

• To ensure security while automating workflows, it's pivotal to manage secrets properly. Secrets help you manage sensitive information like tokens and passwords securely within your workflows.

// Example function to create or update a secret
async function createOrUpdateSecret(secretName, encryptedValue) {
  try {
    const response = await githubAPI.put(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}/actions/secrets/${secretName}`, {
      encrypted_value: encryptedValue,  // Ensure you encrypt the value before sending
    });
    console.log(`Secret ${secretName} updated:`, response.status);
  } catch (error) {
    console.error('Error updating secret:', error);
  }
}

createOrUpdateSecret('MY_SECRET', 'encrypted-value');

Enrich Automation Scripts

• Leverage GitHub Actions API and enrich your repository automation scripts in Node.js. The flexibility and power of GitHub Actions allow you to scale operations, optimize workflow tasks, and seamlessly integrate various services.
• Testing and iterations play crucial roles in achieving seamless integrations. Modify and extend scripts to align them with specific project needs and maintain the efficiency of automated workflows.