Before implementing custom tool installation steps in GitHub Actions workflows, check if there’s an existing setup action available on the GitHub Actions marketplace. Marketplace actions are typically more reliable, better maintained, and reduce workflow complexity compared to custom installation scripts.
When adding tool installation to your workflow, first search the marketplace for actions like setup-<tool> (e.g., setup-node, setup-python, setup-go). Only implement custom installation logic when no suitable marketplace action exists or when the existing action doesn’t meet your specific requirements.
Example of preferred approach:
# Preferred: Use marketplace action
- uses: actions/setup-node@v3
with:
node-version: '18'
# Avoid when marketplace alternative exists:
- name: Install Node.js manually
run: |
curl -fsSL https://nodejs.org/dist/v18.17.0/node-v18.17.0-linux-x64.tar.xz
# ... custom installation steps
This approach reduces maintenance burden, improves reliability, and leverages community-tested solutions.
Enter the URL of a public GitHub repository