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How to Convert CircleCI to GitHub Actions - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your CircleCI Configuration

Start with your existing CircleCI config.yml file. Whether you're migrating to GitHub Actions, evaluating platforms, or modernizing your CI/CD:

•
Paste directly: Copy your config.yml content and paste it into the input editor
•
Upload file: Click "Upload" to select your config.yml file from your computer
•
Try sample: Click "Sample" to load an example CircleCI configuration with jobs and workflows

Example: CircleCI Configuration

Here's what a typical CircleCI config looks like:

version: 2.1
jobs:
  build:
    docker:
      - image: cimg/node:16.14
    steps:
      - checkout
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm run build
  
  test:
    docker:
      - image: cimg/node:16.14
    steps:
      - checkout
      - run: npm test

workflows:
  build-and-test:
    jobs:
      - build
      - test:
          requires:
            - build
Step 2

Automatic Conversion & Mapping

The converter automatically transforms your CircleCI workflows into GitHub Actions format:

•
Jobs to Jobs: CircleCI jobs are converted to GitHub Actions jobs with proper structure
•
Steps mapping: Run commands, checkout, and other steps convert to equivalent GitHub Actions syntax
•
Docker images: CircleCI Docker executors map to GitHub Actions runners and container images
•
Caching: restore_cache and save_cache become actions/cache@v3 with proper key matching
•
Workflows: Job dependencies (requires) become needs in GitHub Actions for proper sequencing
•
Artifacts: store_artifacts converts to actions/upload-artifact@v3

Example: Converted GitHub Actions Workflow

The same configuration transformed into GitHub Actions YAML:

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

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - 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 triggers: Verify on: events match your CI/CD requirements (push, pull_request, schedule)
•
Add secrets: Configure GitHub repository secrets for environment variables and credentials
•
Verify dependencies: Ensure job dependencies (needs) reflect your workflow requirements
•
Update orbs: CircleCI orbs need to be replaced with equivalent GitHub Actions from the marketplace
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 in your repository to see the workflow run

Frequently Asked Questions

Why migrate from CircleCI to GitHub Actions?

GitHub Actions offers native integration with GitHub repositories, no separate CI/CD platform to manage, generous free minutes, modern YAML syntax, and a vast marketplace of actions. Many teams migrate to consolidate their development tools and reduce costs while gaining better integration with their code repositories.

Are CircleCI orbs supported in the conversion?

CircleCI orbs need to be replaced with equivalent GitHub Actions from the marketplace. The converter handles basic jobs and steps, but you'll need to manually find and configure replacement actions for orbs. Check the GitHub Actions Marketplace for alternatives to popular CircleCI orbs.

How do CircleCI workflows map to GitHub Actions?

CircleCI workflows with job dependencies (requires) convert to GitHub Actions jobs with needs. Parallel jobs in CircleCI remain parallel in GitHub Actions. Scheduled triggers in CircleCI workflows become schedule cron triggers in GitHub Actions. The overall structure remains similar for easy migration.

What happens to CircleCI environment variables?

CircleCI environment variables and contexts should be configured as GitHub repository secrets. Go to Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions to add them. Reference secrets in workflows using {{ secrets.SECRET_NAME }}. GitHub encrypts all secrets and masks them in logs.

Does caching work the same way in GitHub Actions?

Yes! CircleCI's restore_cache and save_cache convert to actions/cache@v3 in GitHub Actions. The caching mechanism is similar - you specify paths and cache keys. GitHub Actions caching is automatically available across all runners and works efficiently for dependencies, build outputs, and other artifacts.

Can I convert GitHub Actions back to CircleCI?

Yes! Use our GitHub Actions to CircleCI converter to convert workflows back. We also offer converters for GitLab CI, Jenkins, and other CI/CD platforms.

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