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

Step 1

Input Your GitHub Actions Workflow

Start with your existing GitHub Actions workflow. Whether you're evaluating CircleCI, comparing CI/CD platforms, or migrating workflows:

•
Paste directly: Copy your workflow YAML from .github/workflows/ and paste into the editor
•
Upload file: Click "Upload" to select your workflow YAML file
•
Try sample: Click "Sample" to load an example GitHub Actions workflow

Example: GitHub Actions Workflow

Here's what a typical GitHub Actions workflow looks like:

name: CI Pipeline
on: [push, pull_request]

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 2

Automatic Conversion & Mapping

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

•
Jobs to Jobs: GitHub Actions jobs convert to CircleCI jobs with proper structure and steps
•
Actions to Steps: Common actions like checkout, cache, setup-node convert to CircleCI equivalents
•
Runners to Executors: GitHub runners (ubuntu-latest) map to CircleCI Docker images (cimg/base)
•
Dependencies: Job needs become requires in CircleCI workflows for proper sequencing
•
Caching: actions/cache@v3 converts to restore_cache and save_cache with matching keys
•
Artifacts: upload-artifact actions become store_artifacts in CircleCI

Example: Converted CircleCI Configuration

The same workflow transformed into CircleCI config.yml:

version: 2.1
jobs:
  build:
    docker:
      - image: cimg/base:stable
    steps:
      - checkout
      - run:
          name: Setup Node.js
          command: nvm install 16 && nvm use 16
      - run: npm install
      - run: npm run build
  
  test:
    docker:
      - image: cimg/base:stable
    steps:
      - checkout
      - run: npm test

workflows:
  ci-pipeline:
    jobs:
      - build
      - test:
          requires:
            - build
Step 3

Review and Customize

Review the generated configuration and make necessary adjustments:

•
Docker images: Update CircleCI Docker images to match your project requirements (node, python, etc.)
•
Environment variables: Configure CircleCI contexts or project environment variables
•
Verify workflows: Check job dependencies and workflow triggers match your CI/CD needs
•
Custom actions: GitHub Actions from marketplace may need CircleCI orb equivalents
Step 4

Deploy to CircleCI

Save your configuration file and set up CircleCI:

•
Download config: Click "Download" to save the config.yml file
•
Create directory: Place file in .circleci/ directory at repository root
•
Connect repository: Add your GitHub repository to CircleCI via the CircleCI dashboard
•
Commit and push: CircleCI automatically detects the config and starts running pipelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Why convert GitHub Actions to CircleCI?

Teams convert to CircleCI for advanced features like SSH debugging, performance insights, test splitting, and dedicated support. CircleCI also offers competitive pricing for private repositories, Docker layer caching, and more granular resource class options for different workload requirements.

Are GitHub Actions marketplace actions supported?

Common actions like checkout, cache, setup-node, and upload-artifact convert automatically. For marketplace-specific actions, you'll need to find equivalent CircleCI orbs or implement custom steps. Most popular actions have CircleCI equivalents.

How do GitHub secrets map to CircleCI?

GitHub repository secrets become CircleCI project environment variables or contexts. Configure them in CircleCI Project Settings → Environment Variables. For secrets shared across projects, use CircleCI Contexts which provide better organization and access control.

Does CircleCI support matrix builds like GitHub Actions?

Yes! CircleCI supports matrix builds using parameters and workflows. While the syntax differs from GitHub Actions matrix strategy, you can achieve the same parallel testing across multiple versions, operating systems, or configurations using CircleCI's workflow jobs and parameters.

What about CircleCI's Docker layer caching?

CircleCI offers Docker Layer Caching (DLC) as a premium feature that dramatically speeds up Docker builds by caching image layers. This is similar to GitHub Actions' Docker buildx caching but often faster. Enable it in your CircleCI plan and add setup_remote_docker with DLC enabled.

Can I convert back to GitHub Actions?

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

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