GitHub Actions by Example: Environment Variables

name: env-vars-example

on:

  push:

Environment variables can be set for the entire workflow.

 
env:

  VENI: 'I came'

jobs:

  use-env-vars:

    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

Environment variables can be set for specific jobs.

 
    env:

      VIDI: 'I saw'

    steps:

      -

        name: Show me the vars

Use your operating system’s normal method for reading environment variables.

 
        run: echo "$VENI, $VIDI, $VICI"

Environment variables can be set for individual steps.

 
        env:

          VICI: 'I conquered'

      -

        name: Create env var

Set new environment variables by appending a line to a file whose name is in the GITHUB_ENV variable. The variable will be available in all subsequent steps. Note: the environment won’t be updated according to GITHUB_ENV until the next step.

 
        run: echo "foo=bar" >> $GITHUB_ENV

      -

        name: Useful default vars

        run: |

There are many environment variables available by default. Here are a few, see a full list here.

 
          echo "Workflow name:  $GITHUB_WORKFLOW"

          echo "Workspace:      $GITHUB_WORKSPACE"

          echo "Event:          $GITHUB_EVENT_NAME"

          echo "SHA:            $GITHUB_SHA"

          echo "Ref:            $GITHUB_REF"

Next example: Parallel Jobs

By Ted Summer | Source | Inspired by Go by Example