Useful GitHub Actions for iOS CI/CD

Setting GitHub actions is a headache, and it takes time to run correctly. I’ll share what actions I daily use.

How to Add GitHub Actions

Add GitHub Actions to Your Branch

.github/workflows/xxxx.yml

Trigger a GitHub Action from a Pull Request Comment

Scenario 1: Share a New Build with Someone

You can define commands to run action

For example, If you want to share something to test, use this action.

share is command
test is userId

And you can leave a comment using github.issues.createComment

This action is very useful. You can integrate third-party services like Slack, WhatsApp, or Linear. Listening share command and trigger action whatever you want to share it.

screenshot 2025 01 11 at 6.49.36e280afpm

			
name: Comment Action
on:
  issue_comment:
    types: [created]
jobs:
  comment_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Check Comment Type
        id: check_comment
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const comment = context.payload.comment.body.trim();
            console.log(`Received comment: ${comment}`);
            const issueOrPrNumber = context.payload.issue?.number || context.payload.pull_request?.number;
            if (!issueOrPrNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine issue or PR number.");
            }
            let action = '';
            if (comment.startsWith('share')) {
              action = 'share';
            }
            core.setOutput('action', action);
            core.setOutput('comment', comment);
            core.setOutput('issue_or_pr_number', issueOrPrNumber);
      
      - name: Handle Share Command
        if: steps.check_comment.outputs.action == 'share'
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const comment = '${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.comment }}';
            const issueOrPrNumber = '${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.issue_or_pr_number }}';
            if (!issueOrPrNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine the issue or PR number.");
            }
            const splitComment = comment.split(' ');
            if (splitComment.length < 2) {
              throw new Error("Invalid 'share' command format. Expected: 'share <id>'");
            }
            const recipientId = splitComment[1]; // Extract ID after "share"
            const commentBody = `Sharing this with: ${recipientId}`;
            console.log(`Adding a share comment for ID: ${recipientId}`);
            await github.issues.createComment({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueOrPrNumber,
              body: commentBody
            });

		

Scenario 2: Rebuild When the Build Fails

There are 2 yml files in workflows

When you get a build failed message, you can rebuild it by leaving a comment.

screenshot 2025 01 11 at 9.56.42e280afpm

comment_action.yml

Get PR Number using github.pulls.get
Pass issue_or_pr_number as Inputs to build.yml

			
name: Comment Action
on:
  issue_comment:
    types: [created]
jobs:
  comment_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: GitHub CLI Login
        run: |
          gh auth login --with-token <<< "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
      - name: Check Comment Type
        id: check_comment
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const comment = context.payload.comment.body.trim();
            console.log(`Received comment: ${comment}`);
        
            const issueOrPrNumber = context.payload.issue?.number || context.payload.pull_request?.number;
            const isPR = Boolean(context.payload.issue.pull_request);
            if (!isPR) {
              throw new Error("This comment is not associated with a pull request.");
            }
            const { data: pullRequest } = await github.pulls.get({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              pull_number: issueOrPrNumber,
            });
            const sourceBranch = pullRequest.head.ref;
            const targetBranch = pullRequest.base.ref;
            console.log(`Source branch: ${sourceBranch}`);
            console.log(`Target branch: ${targetBranch}`);
            if (!issueOrPrNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine issue or PR number.");
            }
            let action = '';
            if (comment === 'rebuild') {
              action = 'rebuild';
            }
            core.setOutput('action', action);
            core.setOutput('comment', comment);
            core.setOutput('issue_or_pr_number', issueOrPrNumber);
            core.setOutput('source_branch', sourceBranch);
            core.setOutput('target_branch', targetBranch);
      - name: Rebuild
        run: |
          echo "🟢 Issue or PR Number: ${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.issue_or_pr_number }}"
          gh workflow run rebuild.yml --ref ${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.target_branch }} -f issue_or_pr_number=${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.issue_or_pr_number }}
        env:
          GITHUB_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}

		

build.yml

define workflow_dispatch and inputs

			
name: build
on:
  workflow_dispatch:
    inputs:
      issue_or_pr_number:
        description: "The issue or PR number to comment on"
        required: true
jobs:
  reusable_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Build
        run: echo "Running workflow"
      - name: Rebuild triggered
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const issueOrPrNumber = ${{ github.event.inputs.issue_or_pr_number }};
            console.log(`🟢 Input issue_or_pr_number: ${issueOrPrNumber}`);
            if (!issueOrPrNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine the issue or PR number.");
            }
            const commentBody = `Rebuild triggered`;
            await github.issues.createComment({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueOrPrNumber,
              body: commentBody
            });

		

Scenario 3: Read the Latest Successful Build Message and Share It

screenshot 2025 01 12 at 12.06.04e280afam

build.yml

Just leave a comment on PR

			
name: Build
on:
  pull_request:
    branches:
      - master
    types:
      - opened
      - synchronize
      - reopened
      - edited
jobs:
  run_on_pr:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - name: Checkout Code
        uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: Comment on PR
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const issueOrPrNumber = context.payload.pull_request.number;
            console.log(issueOrPrNumber);
            await github.issues.createComment({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueOrPrNumber,
              body: "iOS v12.0(1022)"
            });
            await github.issues.createComment({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueOrPrNumber,
              body: "Android 15.0(1022)"
            });

		

screenshot 2025 01 11 at 11.32.18e280afpm

comment_action.yml

await github.issues.listComments
- default page_num is 30. If your PR have many comments, I suggest you set page_num 100

			
name: Comment Action
on:
  issue_comment:
    types: [created]
jobs:
  comment_job:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - name: GitHub CLI Login
        run: |
          gh auth login --with-token <<< "${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}"
      - name: Check Comment Type
        id: check_comment
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const comment = context.payload.comment.body.trim();
            console.log(`Received comment: ${comment}`);
        
            const issueOrPrNumber = context.payload.issue?.number || context.payload.pull_request?.number;
            const isPR = Boolean(context.payload.issue.pull_request);
            if (!isPR) {
              throw new Error("This comment is not associated with a pull request.");
            }
            const { data: pullRequest } = await github.pulls.get({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              pull_number: issueOrPrNumber
            });
            const sourceBranch = pullRequest.head.ref;
            const targetBranch = pullRequest.base.ref;
            console.log(`Source branch: ${sourceBranch}`);
            console.log(`Target branch: ${targetBranch}`);
            core.setOutput('source_branch', sourceBranch);
            core.setOutput('target_branch', targetBranch);
            if (!issueOrPrNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine issue or PR number.");
            }
            let action = '';
            if (comment.startsWith('share')) {
              action = 'share';
            }
            core.setOutput('action', action);
            core.setOutput('comment', comment);
            core.setOutput('issue_or_pr_number', issueOrPrNumber);
      - name: Get Latest Build Comments
        if: steps.check_comment.outputs.action == 'share'
        uses: actions/github-script@v4
        with:
          github-token: ${{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}
          script: |
            const issueNumber = ${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.issue_or_pr_number }};
            const comment = '${{ steps.check_comment.outputs.comment }}';
            if (!issueNumber) {
              throw new Error("Could not determine the issue or PR number.");
            }
            const splitComment = comment.split(' ');
            if (splitComment.length < 2) {
              throw new Error("Invalid 'share' command format. Expected: 'share <id>'");
            }
            const recipientId = splitComment[1]; // Extract ID after "share"
            
            // Fetch all comments on the PR
            const comments = await github.issues.listComments({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueNumber,
              per_page: 100,
            });
            console.log("✅ All Comments")
            comments.data.forEach(comment => console.log(`- ${comment.body}`));
            // Filter and find the most recent iOS-related comment
            const latestIOS = comments.data
              .filter(comment => comment.body.startsWith('iOS'))
              .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.updated_at) - new Date(a.updated_at))[0];
            // Filter and find the most recent Android-related comment
            const latestAndroid = comments.data
              .filter(comment => comment.body.startsWith('Android'))
              .sort((a, b) => new Date(b.updated_at) - new Date(a.updated_at))[0];
            if (latestIOS) {
              console.log(`Latest iOS Comment: ${latestIOS.body}`);
              core.setOutput('latest_ios_comment', latestIOS.body);
            } else {
              console.log('No iOS-related comments found.');
            }
            if (latestAndroid) {
              console.log(`Latest Android Comment: ${latestAndroid.body}`);
              core.setOutput('latest_android_comment', latestAndroid.body);
            } else {
              console.log('No Android-related comments found.');
            }
            const commentBody = `Sharing this with: ${recipientId}\nReady for Testing\n${latestIOS.body}\n${latestAndroid.body}`;
            await github.issues.createComment({
              owner: context.repo.owner,
              repo: context.repo.repo,
              issue_number: issueNumber,
              body: commentBody
            });

		

Useful GitHub Actions for iOS CI/CD

How to Add GitHub Actions

Add GitHub Actions to Your Branch

Trigger a GitHub Action from a Pull Request Comment

Scenario 1: Share a New Build with Someone

Scenario 2: Rebuild When the Build Fails

Scenario 3: Read the Latest Successful Build Message and Share It

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