Automating Archive Creation with GitHub Actions

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 19 views

Automating Archive Creation with GitHub Actions

In this article, we will explore how to set up an archive on release using GitHub Actions. We will cover the process of creating a GitHub Action that archives the current wdds_schema folder with the release tag, and discuss the necessary configuration for triggering the action on release creation.

Understanding GitHub Actions and Releases

GitHub Actions is a powerful tool for automating tasks and workflows on GitHub. It allows developers to create custom actions that can be triggered by various events, such as push, pull request, and release creation. Releases are a way to mark a specific version of your code and make it available for download.

Creating a GitHub Action for Archive Creation

To create a GitHub Action for archive creation, we will use the softprops/action-gh-release action, which is a popular and well-maintained action for creating releases on GitHub. We will also use the git-scm documentation on tagging to understand how to create tags for our releases.

Configuring the GitHub Action

Here is an example of how to configure the GitHub Action for archive creation:

name: Archive on Release

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

jobs:
  archive:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Archive wdds_schema folder
        run: |
          mkdir -p archive
          cp -r wdds_schema archive/
          tar -czf archive/wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz archive/wdds_schema
          rm -rf archive

This configuration tells GitHub Actions to run the archive job when a release is created. The job checks out the code, archives the wdds_schema folder, and creates a tarball with the release tag as the filename.

Triggering the GitHub Action on Release Creation

To trigger the GitHub Action on release creation, we need to configure the on section of the workflow file to listen for the release event. We can use the types filter to specify that we only want to trigger the action when a release is created.

Here is an example of how to configure the on section:

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

This configuration tells GitHub Actions to trigger the archive job when a release is created.

Using Filters to Target Specific Branches or Tags

We can use filters to target specific branches or tags for push events. For example, we can use the branches filter to specify that we only want to trigger the action when a release is created on the main branch:

on:
  release:
    types: [created]
    branches: [main]

This configuration tells GitHub Actions to trigger the archive job when a release is created on the main branch.

Troubleshooting GitHub Actions on Release Created Workflow Trigger

If you are experiencing issues with your GitHub Actions workflow trigger not working on release created, you can refer to the following Stack Overflow question: GitHub Actions on Release Created Workflow Trigger Not Working.

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored how to set up an archive on release using GitHub Actions. We have covered the process of creating a GitHub Action that archives the current wdds_schema folder with the release tag, and discussed the necessary configuration for triggering the action on release creation. We have also discussed how to use filters to target specific branches or tags for push events, and how to troubleshoot issues with GitHub Actions workflow triggers.

Best Practices for Setting Up Archive on Release

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when setting up an archive on release:

Use a consistent naming convention for your archives, such as wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz.
Make sure to remove any temporary files or directories after the archive is created.
Use a secure way to store your archives, such as using a encrypted storage solution.
Test your GitHub Action workflow to ensure that it is working correctly.

Common Issues and Solutions

Here are some common issues and solutions to keep in mind when setting up an archive on release:

Issue: The GitHub Action workflow is not triggering on release created.
Solution: Check that the on section of the workflow file is configured correctly to listen for the release event.
Issue: The archive is not being created correctly.
Solution: Check that the archive job is running correctly and that the tar command is being executed correctly.

Future Improvements

Here are some potential future improvements to consider when setting up an archive on release:

Automating the creation of tags: Consider automating the creation of tags for your releases using a GitHub Action.
Using a more secure way to store archives: Consider using a more secure way to store your archives, such as using an encrypted storage solution.
Adding additional metadata to archives: Consider adding additional metadata to your archives, such as the release date or the version number.
Setup Archive on Release: Q&A ==============================

Frequently Asked Questions

In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about setting up an archive on release using GitHub Actions.

Q: What is the purpose of creating an archive on release?

A: The purpose of creating an archive on release is to make it easy to download and access the code for a specific version of your project. This can be useful for testing, debugging, or even for creating a backup of your code.

Q: How do I configure the GitHub Action to archive the wdds_schema folder?

A: To configure the GitHub Action to archive the wdds_schema folder, you need to add the following code to your workflow file:

name: Archive on Release

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

jobs:
  archive:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Archive wdds_schema folder
        run: |
          mkdir -p archive
          cp -r wdds_schema archive/
          tar -czf archive/wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz archive/wdds_schema
          rm -rf archive

This code tells GitHub Actions to run the archive job when a release is created, and to archive the wdds_schema folder.

Q: How do I trigger the GitHub Action on release creation?

A: To trigger the GitHub Action on release creation, you need to configure the on section of the workflow file to listen for the release event. You can use the types filter to specify that you only want to trigger the action when a release is created.

Here is an example of how to configure the on section:

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

This code tells GitHub Actions to trigger the archive job when a release is created.

Q: How do I use filters to target specific branches or tags?

A: You can use filters to target specific branches or tags for push events. For example, you can use the branches filter to specify that you only want to trigger the action when a release is created on the main branch.

Here is an example of how to use the branches filter:

on:
  release:
    types: [created]
    branches: [main]

This code tells GitHub Actions to trigger the archive job when a release is created on the main branch.

Q: What are some common issues and solutions when setting up an archive on release?

A: Here are some common issues and solutions to keep in mind when setting up an archive on release:

Issue: The GitHub Action workflow is not triggering on release created.
Solution: Check that the on section of the workflow file is configured correctly to listen for the release event.
Issue: The archive is not being created correctly.
Solution: Check that the archive job is running correctly and that the tar command is being executed correctly.

Q: What are some best practices for setting up an archive on release?

A: Here are some best practices to keep in mind when setting up an archive on release:

Use a consistent naming convention for your archives, such as wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz.
Make sure to remove any temporary files or directories after the archive is created.
Use a secure way to store your archives, such as using an encrypted storage solution.
Test your GitHub Action workflow to ensure that it is working correctly.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with my GitHub Action workflow?

A: Here are some steps you can follow to troubleshoot issues with your GitHub Action workflow:

Check the GitHub Actions logs to see if there are any errors or warnings.
Check the workflow file to make sure that it is configured correctly.
Test the workflow file by running it manually.
Check the GitHub Actions documentation to see if there are any known issues or limitations.

Q: Can I automate the creation of tags for my releases?

A: Yes, you can automate the creation of tags for your releases using a GitHub Action. Here is an example of how to do it:

name: Create Tag on Release

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

jobs:
  create-tag:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Create tag
        run: |
          git tag -a ${GITHUB_REF##*/} -m "Release ${GITHUB_REF##*/}"
          git push origin ${GITHUB_REF##*/}

This code tells GitHub Actions to create a tag for the release when it is created.

Q: Can I use a more secure way to store my archives?

A: Yes, you can use a more secure way to store your archives, such as using an encrypted storage solution. Here is an example of how to do it:

name: Archive on Release

on:
  release:
    types: [created]

jobs:
  archive:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Archive wdds_schema folder
        run: |
          mkdir -p archive
          cp -r wdds_schema archive/
          tar -czf archive/wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz archive/wdds_schema
          rm -rf archive
      - name: Encrypt archive
        run: |
          openssl enc -aes-256-cbc -in archive/wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz -out archive/wdds_schema_${GITHUB_REF##*/}.tar.gz.enc

This code tells GitHub Actions to encrypt the archive before storing it.