Authoring Actions Overview

GitHub Actions gives us several ways to package custom automation so it can be reused across jobs, workflows, and repositories. Throughout this module you'll explore four primary authoring patterns—composite actions, reusable workflows, JavaScript/TypeScript actions, and container actions—using the examples from the course companion repository.

Reusable building blocks at a glance

• Composite actions: For bundling a reusable steps written in shell. Runs as a step inside a job.
• Reusable workflows: For standardizing an entire workflow across repos. Runs as a job inside the caller workflow.
• JavaScript / TypeScript actions: Rich logic with tight GitHub integration. Runs as a step with Node.js runtime.
• Container actions: Using any language or heavy dependencies. Runs as a step inside a container.

Use this overview as a reference while the subsequent lessons dive into each pattern, cover workflow commands, and explain how to choose and share the right approach for your team.