Publishing and installing a package with GitHub Actions

About GitHub Packages with GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions help you automate your software development workflows in the same place you store code and collaborate on pull requests and issues. You can write individual tasks, called actions, and combine them to create a custom workflow. With GitHub Actions you can build end-to-end continuous integration (CI) and continuous deployment (CD) capabilities directly in your repository. For more information, see Writing workflows.

You can extend the CI and CD capabilities of your repository by publishing or installing packages as part of your workflow.

Authenticating to package registries with granular permissions

Some GitHub Packages registries support granular permissions. This means you can choose to allow packages to be scoped to a user or an organization, or linked to a repository. For the list of registries that support granular permissions, see About permissions for GitHub Packages.

For registries that support granular permissions, if your GitHub Actions workflow is using a personal access token to authenticate to a registry, we highly recommend you update your workflow to use the GITHUB_TOKEN. For guidance on updating your workflows that authenticate to a registry with a personal access token, see "Publishing and installing a package with GitHub Actions."

You can use a GITHUB_TOKEN in a GitHub Actions workflow to delete or restore a package using the REST API, if the token has admin permission to the package. Repositories that publish packages using a workflow, and repositories that you have explicitly connected to packages, are automatically granted admin permission to packages in the repository.

For more information about the GITHUB_TOKEN, see "Automatic token authentication." For more information about the best practices when using a registry in actions, see "Security hardening for GitHub Actions."

Authenticating to package registries with repository-scoped permissions

Some GitHub Packages registries only support repository-scoped permissions, and do not support granular permissions. For a list of these registries, see About permissions for GitHub Packages.

If you want your workflow to access a GitHub Packages registry that does not support granular permissions, then we recommend using the GITHUB_TOKEN that GitHub Enterprise Server automatically creates for your repository when you enable GitHub Actions. You should set the permissions for this access token in the workflow file to grant read access for the contents scope and write access for the packages scope. For forks, the GITHUB_TOKEN is granted read access for the parent repository. For more information, see Automatic token authentication.

You can reference the GITHUB_TOKEN in your workflow file using the ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} context. For more information, see Automatic token authentication.

About permissions and package access

Packages scoped to users or organizations

Registries that support granular permissions allow users to create and administer packages as free-standing resources at the organization level. Packages can be scoped to an organization or personal account and you can customize access to each of your packages separately from repository permissions.

All workflows accessing registries that support granular permissions should use the GITHUB_TOKEN instead of a personal access token. For more information about security best practices, see Security hardening for GitHub Actions.

Packages scoped to repositories

When you enable GitHub Actions, GitHub installs a GitHub App on your repository. The GITHUB_TOKEN secret is a GitHub App installation access token. You can use the installation access token to authenticate on behalf of the GitHub App installed on your repository. The token's permissions are limited to the repository that contains your workflow. For more information, see Automatic token authentication.

GitHub Packages allows you to push and pull packages through the GITHUB_TOKEN available to a GitHub Actions workflow.

Default permissions and access settings for packages modified through workflows

For packages in registries that support granular permissions, when you create, install, modify, or delete a package through a workflow, there are some default permission and access settings used to ensure admins have access to the workflow. You can adjust these access settings as well. For the list of registries that support granular permissions, see About permissions for GitHub Packages.

For example, by default if a workflow creates a package using the GITHUB_TOKEN, then:

• The package inherits the visibility and permissions model of the repository where the workflow is run.
• Repository admins where the workflow is run become the admins of the package once the package is created.

These are more examples of how default permissions work for workflows that manage packages.

You can also adjust access to packages in a more granular way or adjust some of the default permissions behavior. For more information, see Configuring a package's access control and visibility.

Publishing a package using an action

You can use GitHub Actions to automatically publish packages as part of your continuous integration (CI) flow. This approach to continuous deployment (CD) allows you to automate the creation of new package versions, if the code meets your quality standards. For example, you could create a workflow that runs CI tests every time a developer pushes code to a particular branch. If the tests pass, the workflow can publish a new package version to GitHub Packages.

Configuration steps vary by package client. For general information about configuring a workflow for GitHub Actions, see "Writing workflows."

The following example demonstrates how you can use GitHub Actions to build and test your app, and then automatically create a Docker image and publish it to GitHub Packages. The relevant settings are explained in the code. For full details about each element in a workflow, see Workflow syntax for GitHub Actions.

Create a new workflow file in your repository (such as .github/workflows/deploy-image.yml), and add the following YAML.

#
name: Create and publish a Docker image

# Configures this workflow to run every time a change is pushed to the branch called `release`.
on:
  push:
    branches: ['release']

jobs:
# This job checks out the repository contents, installs `npm`, uses npm and webpack to build the app, and uploads the built files as an artifact that can be downloaded later in the workflow.
# It assumes that the built files are written to a directory called `public`.
  run-npm-build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: npm install and build webpack
        run: |
          npm install
          npm run build
      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public/

# This job uses `npm test` to test the code. `needs: run-npm-build` makes this job dependent on the `run-npm-build` job.
  run-npm-test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-build
    strategy:
      matrix:
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
        node-version: [14.x, 16.x]
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public
      - name: npm install, and test
        run: |
          npm install
          npm test
        env:
          CI: true

# This job publishes the package. `needs: run-npm-test` makes this job dependent on the `run-npm-test` job.
  build-and-push-image:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-test 
    # Sets the permissions granted to the `GITHUB_TOKEN` for the actions in this job.
    permissions:
      contents: read
      packages: write 
      #
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
      # Uses the `docker/login-action` action to log in to the registry using the account and password that will publish the packages. Once published, the packages are scoped to the account defined here.
      - name: Log in to GitHub Docker Registry
        uses: docker/login-action@65b78e6e13532edd9afa3aa52ac7964289d1a9c1
        with:
          registry: docker.pkg.github.com
          username: ${{ github.actor }}
          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
      # This step uses the `docker/build-push-action` action to build the image, based on your repository's `Dockerfile`. If the build succeeds, it pushes the image to GitHub Packages.
      # It uses the `tags` parameter to tag the image with the SHA of the commit that triggered the workflow.
      - name: Build and push Docker image
        uses: docker/build-push-action@f2a1d5e99d037542a71f64918e516c093c6f3fc4
        with:
          push: true
          tags: |
            docker.pkg.github.com/${{ github.repository }}/octo-image:${{ github.sha }}

name: Create and publish a Docker image

on:
  push:
    branches: ['release']
jobs:

  run-npm-build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: npm install and build webpack
        run: |
          npm install
          npm run build
      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public/

  run-npm-test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-build
    strategy:
      matrix:
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
        node-version: [14.x, 16.x]
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public
      - name: npm install, and test
        run: |
          npm install
          npm test
        env:
          CI: true

  build-and-push-image:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-test 

    permissions:
      contents: read
      packages: write 

    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Log in to GitHub Docker Registry
        uses: docker/login-action@65b78e6e13532edd9afa3aa52ac7964289d1a9c1
        with:
          registry: docker.pkg.github.com
          username: ${{ github.actor }}
          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

      - name: Build and push Docker image
        uses: docker/build-push-action@f2a1d5e99d037542a71f64918e516c093c6f3fc4
        with:
          push: true
          tags: |
            docker.pkg.github.com/${{ github.repository }}/octo-image:${{ github.sha }}

#
name: Create and publish a Docker image

# Configures this workflow to run every time a change is pushed to the branch called `release`.
on:
  push:
    branches: ['release']

jobs:
# This job checks out the repository contents, installs `npm`, uses npm and webpack to build the app, and uploads the built files as an artifact that can be downloaded later in the workflow.
# It assumes that the built files are written to a directory called `public`.
  run-npm-build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: npm install and build webpack
        run: |
          npm install
          npm run build
      - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public/

# This job uses `npm test` to test the code. `needs: run-npm-build` makes this job dependent on the `run-npm-build` job.
  run-npm-test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-build
    strategy:
      matrix:
        os: [ubuntu-latest]
        node-version: [14.x, 16.x]
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Use Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }}
        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
        with:
          node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
      - uses: actions/download-artifact@v3
        with:
          name: webpack artifacts
          path: public
      - name: npm install, and test
        run: |
          npm install
          npm test
        env:
          CI: true

# This job publishes the package. `needs: run-npm-test` makes this job dependent on the `run-npm-test` job.
  build-and-push-image:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: run-npm-test 
    # Sets the permissions granted to the `GITHUB_TOKEN` for the actions in this job.
    permissions:
      contents: read
      packages: write 
      #
    steps:
      - name: Checkout
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
      # Uses the `docker/login-action` action to log in to the registry using the account and password that will publish the packages. Once published, the packages are scoped to the account defined here.
      - name: Log in to GitHub Docker Registry
        uses: docker/login-action@65b78e6e13532edd9afa3aa52ac7964289d1a9c1
        with:
          registry: docker.pkg.github.com
          username: ${{ github.actor }}
          password: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
      # This step uses the `docker/build-push-action` action to build the image, based on your repository's `Dockerfile`. If the build succeeds, it pushes the image to GitHub Packages.
      # It uses the `tags` parameter to tag the image with the SHA of the commit that triggered the workflow.
      - name: Build and push Docker image
        uses: docker/build-push-action@f2a1d5e99d037542a71f64918e516c093c6f3fc4
        with:
          push: true
          tags: |
            docker.pkg.github.com/${{ github.repository }}/octo-image:${{ github.sha }}

This new workflow will run automatically every time you push a change to a branch named release in the repository. You can view the progress in the Actions tab.

A few minutes after the workflow has completed, the new package will be visible in your repository. To find your available packages, see Viewing packages.

Installing a package using an action

You can install packages as part of your CI flow using GitHub Actions. For example, you could configure a workflow so that anytime a developer pushes code to a pull request, the workflow resolves dependencies by downloading and installing packages hosted by GitHub Packages. Then, the workflow can run CI tests that require the dependencies.

Installing packages hosted by GitHub Packages through GitHub Actions requires minimal configuration or additional authentication when you use the GITHUB_TOKEN.

Configuration steps vary by package client. For general information about configuring a workflow for GitHub Actions, see "Writing workflows."

Upgrading a workflow that accesses a registry using a personal access token

GitHub Packages supports the GITHUB_TOKEN for easy and secure authentication in your workflows. If you're using a registry that supports granular permissions, and your workflow is using a personal access token to authenticate to the registry, then we highly recommend you update your workflow to use the GITHUB_TOKEN.

For more information about the GITHUB_TOKEN, see Automatic token authentication.

Using the GITHUB_TOKEN, instead of a personal access token (classic) with the repo scope, increases the security of your repository as you don't need to use a long-lived personal access token that offers unnecessary access to the repository where your workflow is run. For more information about security best practices, see Security hardening for GitHub Actions.

1. Navigate to your package landing page.

2. In the left sidebar, click Actions access.

3. To ensure your package has access to your workflow, you must add the repository where the workflow is stored to your package. Click Add repository and search for the repository you want to add.

   

   Note

   Adding a repository to your package through the Actions access menu option is different than connecting your package to a repository. For more information, see Configuring a package's access control and visibility and Connecting a repository to a package.

4. Optionally, use the Role drop-down menu to select the default access level that you'd like the repository to have to your package.

5. Open your workflow file. On the line where you log in to the registry, replace your personal access token with ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}.

For example, this workflow publishes a Docker image to the Container registry and uses ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }} to authenticate. For more information, see Set up Automated Builds in the Docker documentation.

#
name: Demo Push

# This workflow runs when any of the following occur:
# - A push is made to a branch called `main` or `seed`
# - A tag starting with "v" is created
# - A pull request is created or updated
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
      - seed
    tags:
      - v*
  pull_request:
  # This creates an environment variable called `IMAGE_NAME ` with the value `ghtoken_product_demo`.
env:
  IMAGE_NAME: ghtoken_product_demo
#
jobs:
  # This pushes the image to GitHub Packages.
  push:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    permissions:
      packages: write
      contents: read
      #
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Build image
        run: docker build . --file Dockerfile --tag $IMAGE_NAME --label "runnumber=${GITHUB_RUN_ID}"

      - name: Log in to registry
        run: echo "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" | docker login ghcr.io -u ${{ github.actor }} --password-stdin
        #
      - name: Push image
        run: |
          IMAGE_ID=ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/$IMAGE_NAME

          # This changes all uppercase characters to lowercase.
          IMAGE_ID=$(echo $IMAGE_ID | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')
          # This strips the git ref prefix from the version.
          VERSION=$(echo "${{ github.ref }}" | sed -e 's,.*/\(.*\),\1,')
          # This strips the "v" prefix from the tag name.
          [[ "${{ github.ref }}" == "refs/tags/"* ]] && VERSION=$(echo $VERSION | sed -e 's/^v//')
          # This uses the Docker `latest` tag convention.
          [ "$VERSION" == "main" ] && VERSION=latest
          echo IMAGE_ID=$IMAGE_ID
          echo VERSION=$VERSION
          docker tag $IMAGE_NAME $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION
          docker push $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION

name: Demo Push

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
      - seed
    tags:
      - v*
  pull_request:

env:
  IMAGE_NAME: ghtoken_product_demo

jobs:

  push:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    permissions:
      packages: write
      contents: read

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Build image
        run: docker build . --file Dockerfile --tag $IMAGE_NAME --label "runnumber=${GITHUB_RUN_ID}"
      - name: Log in to registry
        run: echo "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" | docker login ghcr.io -u ${{ github.actor }} --password-stdin

      - name: Push image
        run: |
          IMAGE_ID=ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/$IMAGE_NAME

          IMAGE_ID=$(echo $IMAGE_ID | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')

          VERSION=$(echo "${{ github.ref }}" | sed -e 's,.*/\(.*\),\1,')

          [[ "${{ github.ref }}" == "refs/tags/"* ]] && VERSION=$(echo $VERSION | sed -e 's/^v//')

          [ "$VERSION" == "main" ] && VERSION=latest
          echo IMAGE_ID=$IMAGE_ID
          echo VERSION=$VERSION
          docker tag $IMAGE_NAME $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION
          docker push $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION

#
name: Demo Push

# This workflow runs when any of the following occur:
# - A push is made to a branch called `main` or `seed`
# - A tag starting with "v" is created
# - A pull request is created or updated
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
      - seed
    tags:
      - v*
  pull_request:
  # This creates an environment variable called `IMAGE_NAME ` with the value `ghtoken_product_demo`.
env:
  IMAGE_NAME: ghtoken_product_demo
#
jobs:
  # This pushes the image to GitHub Packages.
  push:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    permissions:
      packages: write
      contents: read
      #
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Build image
        run: docker build . --file Dockerfile --tag $IMAGE_NAME --label "runnumber=${GITHUB_RUN_ID}"

      - name: Log in to registry
        run: echo "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}" | docker login ghcr.io -u ${{ github.actor }} --password-stdin
        #
      - name: Push image
        run: |
          IMAGE_ID=ghcr.io/${{ github.repository_owner }}/$IMAGE_NAME

          # This changes all uppercase characters to lowercase.
          IMAGE_ID=$(echo $IMAGE_ID | tr '[A-Z]' '[a-z]')
          # This strips the git ref prefix from the version.
          VERSION=$(echo "${{ github.ref }}" | sed -e 's,.*/\(.*\),\1,')
          # This strips the "v" prefix from the tag name.
          [[ "${{ github.ref }}" == "refs/tags/"* ]] && VERSION=$(echo $VERSION | sed -e 's/^v//')
          # This uses the Docker `latest` tag convention.
          [ "$VERSION" == "main" ] && VERSION=latest
          echo IMAGE_ID=$IMAGE_ID
          echo VERSION=$VERSION
          docker tag $IMAGE_NAME $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION
          docker push $IMAGE_ID:$VERSION