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Loading Azure Pipelines to GitHub Actions Converter...

How to Convert Azure Pipelines to GitHub Actions - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your Azure Pipelines Configuration

Start with your existing Azure Pipelines YAML. Whether you're migrating to GitHub Actions, consolidating CI/CD tools, or evaluating platforms:

•
Paste directly: Copy your azure-pipelines.yml content and paste into the editor
•
Upload file: Click "Upload" to select your pipeline YAML file
•
Try sample: Click "Sample" to load an example Azure Pipelines configuration

Example: Azure Pipelines Configuration

Here's what a typical Azure Pipeline looks like:

trigger:
  branches:
    include:
      - main

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

jobs:
- job: Build
  steps:
  - task: NodeTool@0
    inputs:
      versionSpec: '16.x'
  - script: npm install
  - script: npm run build
  
- job: Test
  dependsOn: Build
  steps:
  - script: npm test
Step 2

Automatic Conversion & Mapping

The converter automatically transforms your Azure Pipeline into GitHub Actions format:

•
Jobs to Jobs: Azure Pipeline jobs convert to GitHub Actions jobs with equivalent structure
•
Tasks to Actions: Common tasks like NodeTool, UsePythonVersion map to setup actions
•
Pools to Runners: Azure agent pools (vmImage) map to GitHub Actions runners
•
Dependencies: Job dependsOn becomes needs in GitHub Actions for proper sequencing
•
Triggers: Branch triggers and PR triggers convert to on: push and on: pull_request
•
Artifacts: PublishBuildArtifacts tasks become actions/upload-artifact@v3

Example: Converted GitHub Actions Workflow

The same pipeline transformed into GitHub Actions YAML:

name: CI Pipeline
on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]

jobs:
  Build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: '16'
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm run build
  
  Test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    needs: Build
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - run: npm test
Step 3

Review and Customize

Review the generated workflow and make necessary adjustments:

•
Check runners: Verify GitHub Actions runners match your platform requirements
•
Configure secrets: Move Azure Pipeline variables to GitHub repository secrets
•
Custom tasks: Azure-specific tasks may need equivalent GitHub Actions from marketplace
•
Service connections: Azure service connections become GitHub environments or secrets
Step 4

Deploy to GitHub

Save your workflow file and activate GitHub Actions:

•
Download workflow: Click "Download" to save the workflow YAML file
•
Create directory: Place file in .github/workflows/ directory
•
Commit and push: Add the workflow file to git and push to GitHub repository
•
Monitor execution: Check the Actions tab to see your workflow run automatically

Frequently Asked Questions

Why migrate from Azure Pipelines to GitHub Actions?

Teams migrate to GitHub Actions for native integration with GitHub repositories, no Azure DevOps subscription needed, generous free minutes for public repos, and a unified platform for code and CI/CD. GitHub Actions also offers a vast marketplace and simpler YAML syntax.

Are Azure Pipeline tasks fully supported?

Common tasks like NodeTool, UsePythonVersion, NuGetCommand, and PublishBuildArtifacts convert automatically. For Azure-specific tasks, you'll need equivalent GitHub Actions. Check the GitHub Actions Marketplace for alternatives to Azure tasks.

How do Azure Pipeline variables map to GitHub Actions?

Azure Pipeline variables become GitHub Actions environment variables or repository secrets. Non-sensitive values can be defined in the workflow env section, while secrets should be configured in Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions. Variable groups map to GitHub environments.

What about Azure service connections?

Azure service connections for AWS, Azure, or other services should be recreated as GitHub repository secrets. For Azure deployments, use Azure login action with service principal credentials stored as secrets. Most cloud providers have official GitHub Actions for authentication.

Can I use self-hosted runners like Azure Pipeline agents?

Yes! GitHub Actions supports self-hosted runners similar to Azure Pipeline agents. Set up self-hosted runners on your infrastructure and reference them in workflows using runs-on: self-hosted. This is useful for accessing private networks or specific hardware.

Can I convert back to Azure Pipelines?

Yes! Use our GitHub Actions to Azure Pipelines converter for the reverse conversion. We also offer converters for CircleCI, Jenkins, and other platforms.

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