GitHub Actions: How to Access Repository’s Code in GitHub Actions?

Learn how to use the actions/checkout action to access your repository’s code from the virtual machine provided by GitHub Actions. Ensure your workflow can utilize the latest version of your codebase.

Question

Which action would you use to access a repository’s code from the virtual machine provided by GitHub Actions?

A. actions/upload-artifact
B. actions/checkout
C. npm install
D. actions/setup-node

Answer

B. actions/checkout

Explanation

The actions/checkout action accesses a repository’s code from the virtual machine provided by GitHub Actions

To access a repository’s code from the virtual machine provided by GitHub Actions, you should use the `actions/checkout` action. This action allows you to fetch the latest version of your repository into the virtual machine, making it available for subsequent steps in your workflow.

Here’s why `actions/checkout` is the correct answer:

1. `actions/checkout` is a built-in action provided by GitHub that enables you to clone your repository into the virtual machine running your workflow.
2. By using `actions/checkout`, you ensure that your workflow has access to the latest version of your codebase, including any changes made in the triggering event (e.g., push or pull request).
3. Once the repository is checked out, you can run other actions or commands that depend on your code, such as building, testing, or deploying your application.

The other options are not suitable for accessing a repository’s code:

• `actions/upload-artifact` is used to upload artifacts (e.g., build outputs) from your workflow to be stored and potentially downloaded later.
• `npm install` is a command to install Node.js dependencies listed in the `package.json` file, not for accessing the repository’s code.
• `actions/setup-node` is an action used to set up a specific version of Node.js in the virtual machine, but it does not handle accessing the repository’s code.

In summary, to access your repository’s code from the virtual machine in GitHub Actions, you should use the `actions/checkout` action. This ensures that your workflow has the latest version of your codebase available for subsequent steps.

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