10 Hidden Gems in GitHub Actions for Automating Your Workflow

Here are 10 lesser-known but insanely useful GitHub Actions you should be using.

YAML Validator

- name: Validate YAML
  uses: ibiqlik/action-yaml-lint@v3
  with:
    config_file: '.yamllint'

• Saves you from debugging night-mare inducing YAML misconfigurations

• Essential for Kubernetes, GitHub Workflows and CI/CD.

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Markdown Link Checker

- name: Check Markdown Links
  uses: gaurav-nelson/github-action-markdown-link-check@v1

• Keep documentation flawless.

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Auto Assign PRs

- name: Auto Assign PR
  uses: kentaro-m/auto-assign-action@v1
  with:
    assignees: 'team-lead'
    reviewers: 'senior-dev'

• Save time, specially for those teams who handle multiple PRs daily.

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Commitlint

- name: Commitlint
  uses: wagoid/commitlint-github-action@v5

• Keeping changelogs neat and versioning structured.

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Cache Dependencies

- name: Cache Node Modules
  uses: actions/cache@v3
  with:
    path: ~/.npm
    key: ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ hashFiles('**/package-lock.json') }}
    restore-keys: |
      ${{ runner.os }}-node-

• Reducing build times in active development environments

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Notify Slack

- name: Notify Slack
  uses: rtCamp/action-slack-notify@v2
  with:
    webhook-url: ${{ secrets.SLACK_WEBHOOK }}
    message: "Deployment Status: ${{ job.status }}"

• Keeping teams updated instantly with real-time slack notifications for builds, tests, and deployments.

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License Compilance Checker

- name: License Check
  uses: anchorfree/license-check-action@v2

• If your project depends on external libraries, you need to ensure all licenses are compilant. This action does the checking for you.

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Notify Slack

- name: PR Size Labeler
  uses: kentaro-m/size-label-action@v3

• Helps reviewers by labelling PRs based on size - small, medium, large.

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Security Scan with Trivy

- name: Security Scan
  uses: aquasecurity/trivy-action@v0.3.0
  with:
    image-ref: myapp:latest

• Keeping your Docker images secure.

• Identifying vulnerable dependencies before deployment.

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GitHub Actions for JIRA Integration

- name: Update Jira Issue
  uses: atlassian/gajira-create@v3
  with:
    project: "ENG"
    issuetype: "Task"
    summary: "Automated issue update from GitHub Action"
    description: "Linked PR: ${{ github.event.pull_request.html_url }}"

• This action automatically updates tickets based on GitHub commits and PR.

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Do let me know which one will you use ?