actions/q-154: ADD question r/t Docker container actions#708
actions/q-154: ADD question r/t Docker container actions#708mcummings128 wants to merge 2 commits into
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Adds a new question regarding when to use Docker container actions (and what they are): - Highlights appropriate use cases (consistent runtime dependencies and full control) - Explains Docker container actions are not low-overhead - Clarifies that they run only on Linux runners, - Explains they have slower startup than JavaScript/composite actions - One explanation gives a brief summary of a composite action (so the user understands/remembers this as a separate concept) -Explains all actions require an action.yml.
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| documentation: "https://docs.github.com/en/actions/concepts/workflows-and-actions/custom-actions#docker-container-actions" | ||
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| - [x] When you need to utilize runtime environments with consistent, specific dependencies and libraries |
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"consistent, specific dependencies and libraries"
isn't this the same for other workflows - you install dependencies from lockfiles, lock actions to specific versions etc
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| - [x] When you need to utilize runtime environments with consistent, specific dependencies and libraries | ||
| - [x] When you need full control over the execution environment |
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This sounds more like a self hosted runner thing
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It sounds like it somewhat. Researching it here and there it seems like Docker container actions can be used when you require tools that aren't preinstalled on GitHub-hosted runners.
When you use a Docker action, it seems like everything is run inside the container, separate from the runner itself. Can you think of a scenario where that sort of isolation would be preferred, so I could work that idea into an answer?
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This is one of the first actions I created (or the first)
https://github.com/FidelusAleksander/gh-action-regex
For me it really mainly was to use a language that I was comfortable with at the time - which was python, not JS.
I'm sure there are also other scenarios where controlled environments are needed - I just haven't ran into that
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Why did you choose a Docker container action vs. doing something like actions/setup-python? The answer to that might help me formulate another good additional answer.
I will definitely work on a more general answer (easier to use Ruby, Go, etc.) regardless
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I'm not sure I like the correct answers. Maybe include something related to running non javascript actions - e.g Go
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Adds a new question regarding when to use Docker container actions (and what they are):
-Explains all actions require an action.yml.
For the correct answers in this, let me know if they're too similar and I can consolidate them into one, or edit one of them to be more specific to Docker container actions' use cases. I really don't know much about them, nor containers/images in general so I generally get what the docs (and Claude, who I fact-checked against :) ) are saying but I would totally get if this could be worded better
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