[TECH ED] GitHub Actions For Backend

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Introduction

In this advanced module, we will explore the world of GitHub Actions for backend deployments. GitHub Actions is a powerful tool that allows us to automate our workflows, making it easier to manage and deploy our applications. In this guide, we will walk you through the process of setting up GitHub Actions for your CYF Hotel backend deployments to EC2.

Setup GitHub Actions for CYF Hotel Backend Deployments to EC2

To get started, we need to create a new YAML file in our CYF Hotel repository under .github/workflows. This file will contain the configuration for our GitHub Actions workflow. Let's name it backend-ec2-deploy.yml.

Create GitHub Actions Workflow File

Create a new YAML file in your CYF Hotel repository under .github/workflows, and name it appropriately, like backend-ec2-deploy.yml.

name: Backend EC2 Deploy

on:
  push:
    branches:
      - main

jobs:
  deploy:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout code
        uses: actions/checkout@v2
      - name: Configure AWS credentials
        uses: aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials@v1
        with:
          aws-access-key-id: ${{ secrets.AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID }}
          aws-secret-access-key: ${{ secrets.AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
          aws-region: ${{ secrets.AWS_REGION }}
      - name: SSH into EC2 instance
        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v0
        with:
          host: ${{ secrets.EC2_HOST }}
          username: ${{ secrets.EC2_USERNAME }}
          key: ${{ secrets.EC2_KEY }}
      - name: Pull latest code
        run: |
          git pull origin main
      - name: Restart backend service
        run: |
          sudo service backend restart

Configure AWS and SSH Credentials

Store your AWS and SSH credentials securely using GitHub Secrets. These will be used to authenticate and connect to your EC2 instance.

To store your AWS and SSH credentials securely, we need to create a new secret in our GitHub repository. Go to your repository settings, click on "Actions", and then click on "Secrets". Create a new secret for each of the following:

  • AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID
  • AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
  • AWS_REGION
  • EC2_HOST
  • EC2_USERNAME
  • EC2_KEY

Write EC2 Deployment Steps

Outline the steps in the YAML file for SSHing into your EC2 instance, pulling the latest code, and restarting your backend service.

In the YAML file, we have outlined the steps for SSHing into our EC2 instance, pulling the latest code, and restarting our backend service. The steps are as follows:

  1. Checkout code: This step checks out the code from our repository.
  2. Configure AWS credentials: This step configures our AWS credentials using the aws-actions/configure-aws-credentials action.
  3. SSH into EC2 instance: This step SSHs into our EC2 instance using the appleboy/ssh-action.
  4. Pull latest code: This step pulls the latest code from our repository using git pull.
  5. Restart backend service: This step restarts our backend service using sudo service backend restart.

Test the Workflow

Like with the frontend, push a change to your repository or manually trigger the workflow from GitHub Actions to ensure that your backend is successfully deployed to the EC2 instance.

To test the workflow, we need to push a change to our repository or manually trigger the workflow from GitHub Actions. If the workflow is successful, we should see our backend service restarted on our EC2 instance.

Conclusion

In this guide, we have walked you through the process of setting up GitHub Actions for your CYF Hotel backend deployments to EC2. We have created a new YAML file, configured our AWS and SSH credentials, and outlined the steps for SSHing into our EC2 instance, pulling the latest code, and restarting our backend service. We have also tested the workflow by pushing a change to our repository and manually triggering the workflow from GitHub Actions. With this guide, you should now be able to automate your backend deployments using GitHub Actions.

Maximum Time in Hours

4 hours

How to Get Help

  • Ask calm, curious questions with links, code samples, and no screenshots.
  • Visit the Code Your Future guide for more information.

How to Submit

  • In this advanced module, you will demo your work.
  • You may wish to make notes for case studies to add to your portfolio.
    GitHub Actions for Backend: Q&A =====================================

Frequently Asked Questions

In this Q&A article, we will address some of the most frequently asked questions about GitHub Actions for backend deployments.

Q: What is GitHub Actions?

A: GitHub Actions is a powerful tool that allows us to automate our workflows, making it easier to manage and deploy our applications.

Q: Why do I need to use GitHub Actions for my backend deployments?

A: GitHub Actions allows us to automate our backend deployments, making it easier to manage and deploy our applications. This can save us time and reduce the risk of errors.

Q: How do I set up GitHub Actions for my backend deployments?

A: To set up GitHub Actions for your backend deployments, you need to create a new YAML file in your repository under .github/workflows. This file will contain the configuration for your GitHub Actions workflow.

Q: What are the steps involved in setting up GitHub Actions for my backend deployments?

A: The steps involved in setting up GitHub Actions for your backend deployments are as follows:

  1. Create a new YAML file in your repository under .github/workflows.
  2. Configure your AWS and SSH credentials using GitHub Secrets.
  3. Outline the steps in the YAML file for SSHing into your EC2 instance, pulling the latest code, and restarting your backend service.
  4. Test the workflow by pushing a change to your repository or manually triggering the workflow from GitHub Actions.

Q: How do I configure my AWS and SSH credentials using GitHub Secrets?

A: To configure your AWS and SSH credentials using GitHub Secrets, you need to create a new secret in your GitHub repository. Go to your repository settings, click on "Actions", and then click on "Secrets". Create a new secret for each of the following:

  • AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID
  • AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
  • AWS_REGION
  • EC2_HOST
  • EC2_USERNAME
  • EC2_KEY

Q: What are the benefits of using GitHub Actions for my backend deployments?

A: The benefits of using GitHub Actions for your backend deployments are as follows:

  • Automation: GitHub Actions allows us to automate our backend deployments, making it easier to manage and deploy our applications.
  • Time-saving: GitHub Actions saves us time by automating our backend deployments.
  • Reduced risk of errors: GitHub Actions reduces the risk of errors by automating our backend deployments.

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

A: To troubleshoot issues with your GitHub Actions workflow, you can follow these steps:

  1. Check the GitHub Actions logs for any errors.
  2. Check the AWS and SSH credentials for any issues.
  3. Check the YAML file for any syntax errors.
  4. Test the workflow by pushing a change to your repository or manually triggering the workflow from GitHub Actions.

Q: Can I use GitHub Actions for other types of deployments besides backend deployments?

A: Yes, you can use GitHub Actions for other types of deployments besides backend deployments. GitHub Actions can be used for any type of deployment that requires automation.

Q: How do I get started with GitHub Actions?

A: To get started with GitHub Actions, you need to create a new YAML file in your repository under .github/workflows. This file will contain the configuration for your GitHub Actions workflow. You can then configure your AWS and SSH credentials using GitHub Secrets and outline the steps in the YAML file for your specific deployment needs.

Conclusion

In this Q&A article, we have addressed some of the most frequently asked questions about GitHub Actions for backend deployments. We hope that this article has provided you with a better understanding of GitHub Actions and how it can be used to automate your backend deployments.