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How to Convert Travis CI to GitHub Actions - Step by Step Guide

Step 1

Input Your Travis CI Configuration

Start with your existing .travis.yml file. Whether you're migrating due to Travis CI pricing changes, wanting better GitHub integration, or seeking more features:

•
Paste directly: Copy your .travis.yml content and paste into the editor
•
Upload file: Click "Upload" to select your .travis.yml file
•
Try sample: Click "Sample" to load an example Travis CI configuration

Example: Travis CI Configuration

Here's what a typical Travis CI .travis.yml looks like:

language: node_js
node_js:
  - "16"

cache:
  - npm

branches:
  only:
    - main

script:
  - npm test
  - npm run build
Step 2

Automatic Conversion & Mapping

The converter automatically transforms your Travis CI configuration into GitHub Actions format:

•
Language environments: Travis CI language/version converts to setup actions (setup-node, setup-python, etc.)
•
Build lifecycle: before_install, install, script phases map to GitHub Actions steps
•
Caching: Travis CI cache (npm, pip, bundler) converts to actions/cache
•
Branch filtering: Travis branches.only becomes GitHub Actions push/pull_request triggers
•
Environment variables: Travis env.global converts to job-level env in GitHub Actions
•
OS selection: Travis os settings map to GitHub Actions runs-on

Example: Converted GitHub Actions Workflow

The same configuration transformed into GitHub Actions YAML:

name: CI
on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Setup Node.js
        uses: actions/setup-node@v3
        with:
          node-version: '16'
      - name: Cache npm dependencies
        uses: actions/cache@v3
        with:
          path: ~/.npm
          key: ${{ runner.os }}-node-${{ hashFiles('**/package-lock.json') }}
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: npm ci
      - name: Run tests
        run: |
          npm test
          npm run build
Step 3

Review and Customize

Review the generated workflow and make necessary adjustments:

•
Check secrets: Travis CI encrypted variables need to be added to GitHub repository secrets
•
Deploy keys: Travis CI deployment keys need GitHub deployment tokens or SSH keys
•
Build matrix: Travis CI matrix builds can use GitHub Actions matrix strategy
•
Services: Travis CI services (databases, etc.) map to GitHub Actions service containers
Step 4

Deploy to GitHub Actions

Save your workflow file and set up GitHub Actions:

•
Download workflow: Click "Download" to save the workflow.yml file
•
Create directory: Create .github/workflows/ in your repository root
•
Add workflow: Place the workflow.yml file in .github/workflows/
•
Commit and push: GitHub Actions will automatically detect and run your workflow

Frequently Asked Questions

Why migrate from Travis CI to GitHub Actions?

GitHub Actions offers better integration with GitHub (no third-party service), more free minutes (2,000/month vs Travis's limited free tier), faster startup times, larger ecosystem of actions, and no credit card required for open source. Travis CI also changed pricing in 2020, making GitHub Actions more cost-effective for many teams.

Will all my Travis CI features work in GitHub Actions?

Most Travis CI features have GitHub Actions equivalents. Build lifecycle hooks (before_install, install, script) become steps. Travis CI build matrix becomes GitHub Actions matrix strategy. Services (databases) become service containers. Some Travis-specific features may need manual adjustment.

How do I migrate Travis CI encrypted secrets?

Travis CI encrypted secrets (using travis encrypt) need to be recreated in GitHub. Go to your repository Settings → Secrets and variables → Actions, then add your secrets. Reference them in workflows as ${{ secrets.SECRET_NAME }}.

What about Travis CI build matrix with multiple versions?

Travis CI build matrix (testing multiple Node versions, for example) converts to GitHub Actions matrix strategy. Instead of node_js: ["12", "14", "16"], use strategy: matrix: node-version: [12, 14, 16] in your workflow.

Can I run both Travis CI and GitHub Actions during migration?

Yes! You can keep your .travis.yml and add .github/workflows/ simultaneously. This lets you verify GitHub Actions works correctly before removing Travis CI. Many teams run both in parallel during migration to ensure no issues.

Are there other CI/CD platforms I can migrate to?

Yes! We also offer converters for CircleCI, Jenkins, Azure Pipelines, and GitLab CI to GitHub Actions.

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