Create a new workflow file

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 80 views

Introduction

In this article, we will explore the process of creating a GitHub workflow for automated deployment of a Python application using Zappa. A GitHub workflow is a YAML file that defines a series of tasks to be executed on a repository. This can include building, testing, and deploying code. We will create a workflow file that runs on the main branch and uses Zappa for deployment.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following:

A GitHub repository with a Python application
Zappa installed and configured in your project
A zappa_settings.json file in the root directory of your project

Step 1: Create a GitHub Workflow File

To create a GitHub workflow file, navigate to your repository on GitHub and click on the "Actions" tab. Then, click on the "New workflow" button.

Create a new workflow file

name: Deploy to AWS

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2

      - name: Install dependencies
        run: |
          pip install -r requirements.txt

      - name: Deploy to AWS
        uses: aws-actions/deploy@v1
        with:
          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
          region: ${{ secrets.AWS_REGION }}
          deployment-bucket: ${{ secrets.DEPLOYMENT_BUCKET }}
          deployment-package: zappa_settings.json

This workflow file defines a job called deploy that runs on the main branch. The job consists of three steps:

Checkout the code
Install dependencies
Deploy to AWS using Zappa

Step 2: Configure Zappa Settings

To deploy your application using Zappa, you need to configure the zappa_settings.json file in the root directory of your project. This file contains the settings for your Zappa deployment, including the AWS region, deployment bucket, and access keys.

Here is an example zappa_settings.json file:

{
  "dev": {
    "app_function": "app.app",
    "aws_region": "us-west-2",
    "profile_name": "default",
    "s3_bucket": "my-bucket"
  }
}

This file defines a single environment called dev with the following settings:

app_function: The function to deploy
aws_region: The AWS region to deploy to
profile_name: The AWS profile to use
s3_bucket: The S3 bucket to deploy to

Step 3: Store Secrets

To store your AWS access keys and other sensitive information, you need to create a secrets file in your repository. This file contains the secrets that your workflow can access.

Here is an example secrets.yml file:

AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID: your-access-key-id
AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: your-secret-access-key
AWS_REGION: us-west-2
DEPLOYMENT_BUCKET: my-bucket

This file contains the secrets for your AWS deployment, including the access keys and region.

Step 4: Commit and Push Changes

Once you have created the workflow file and configured Zappa settings, commit and push the changes to your repository.

Step 5: Trigger the Workflow

To trigger the workflow, push a change to the main branch. This will trigger the workflow to run and deploy your application to AWS.

Conclusion

In this article, we created a GitHub workflow for automated deployment of a Python application using Zappa. We created a workflow file that runs on the main branch and uses Zappa for deployment. We also configured Zappa settings and stored secrets in a secrets file. Finally, we committed and pushed the changes to our repository and triggered the workflow to deploy our application to AWS.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter any issues during the deployment process, check the following:

Make sure the workflow file is correctly configured and the zappa_settings.json file is in the root directory of your project.
Check the secrets file to ensure that the access keys and other sensitive information are correctly stored.
Verify that the AWS region and deployment bucket are correctly configured in the zappa_settings.json file.

Best Practices

To ensure successful deployment, follow these best practices:

Use a consistent naming convention for your workflow file and secrets file.
Store sensitive information in a secrets file and avoid hardcoding access keys and other sensitive information.
Use a version control system to track changes to your workflow file and secrets file.
Test your workflow file and deployment process regularly to ensure that it is working correctly.
GitHub Workflow for Automated Deployment: Q&A =====================================================

Introduction

In our previous article, we explored the process of creating a GitHub workflow for automated deployment of a Python application using Zappa. In this article, we will answer some frequently asked questions about GitHub workflows and automated deployment.

Q: What is a GitHub workflow?

A: A GitHub workflow is a YAML file that defines a series of tasks to be executed on a repository. This can include building, testing, and deploying code.

Q: What is the purpose of a GitHub workflow?

A: The purpose of a GitHub workflow is to automate the deployment process of a repository. This can include building, testing, and deploying code to a production environment.

Q: How do I create a GitHub workflow?

A: To create a GitHub workflow, navigate to your repository on GitHub and click on the "Actions" tab. Then, click on the "New workflow" button. This will create a new workflow file that you can customize to suit your needs.

Q: What is Zappa?

A: Zappa is a Python library that allows you to deploy your application to AWS Lambda. It provides a simple and easy-to-use interface for deploying your application to AWS.

Q: How do I configure Zappa settings?

A: To configure Zappa settings, you need to create a zappa_settings.json file in the root directory of your project. This file contains the settings for your Zappa deployment, including the AWS region, deployment bucket, and access keys.

Q: What is the difference between a GitHub workflow and a CI/CD pipeline?

A: A GitHub workflow and a CI/CD pipeline are similar, but not the same thing. A GitHub workflow is a YAML file that defines a series of tasks to be executed on a repository, while a CI/CD pipeline is a series of automated tasks that are executed on a repository.

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

A: To troubleshoot issues with your GitHub workflow, check the following:

Make sure the workflow file is correctly configured and the zappa_settings.json file is in the root directory of your project.
Check the secrets file to ensure that the access keys and other sensitive information are correctly stored.
Verify that the AWS region and deployment bucket are correctly configured in the zappa_settings.json file.

Q: What are some best practices for creating a GitHub workflow?

A: Some best practices for creating a GitHub workflow include:

Using a consistent naming convention for your workflow file and secrets file.
Storing sensitive information in a secrets file and avoiding hardcoding access keys and other sensitive information.
Using a version control system to track changes to your workflow file and secrets file.
Testing your workflow file and deployment process regularly to ensure that it is working correctly.

Q: Can I use a GitHub workflow with other deployment tools?

A: Yes, you can use a GitHub workflow with other deployment tools, such as AWS CodePipeline or Jenkins. However, you will need to modify the workflow file to accommodate the specific requirements of the deployment tool.

Q: How do I secure my GitHub workflow?

A: To secure your GitHub workflow, you can use the following best practices:

Store sensitive information in a secrets file and avoid hardcoding access keys and other sensitive information.
Use a version control system to track changes to your workflow file and secrets file.
Test your workflow file and deployment process regularly to ensure that it is working correctly.
Use a secure connection to your deployment environment, such as SSL/TLS.

Conclusion

In this article, we answered some frequently asked questions about GitHub workflows and automated deployment. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of how to create and use a GitHub workflow for automated deployment.