# GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is a continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform that lets you automate your build, test, and deployment pipeline. IntelliJ IDEA recognizes GitHub YAML files and provides coding assistance for them. This includes workflow files stored in the `.github/workflows` directory of your repository and action files stored in the `.github/actions` directory. For more information, refer to the [GitHub Actions documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/actions).

Procedure: Enable the GitHub plugin

This functionality relies on the [GitHub](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/13115-github)  plugin, which  is bundled and enabled in IntelliJ IDEA   by default. If the relevant features are not available, make sure that you did not disable the plugin.

1. Press `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS)) to open settings and then select `Plugins`.

2. Open the Installed tab, find the GitHub plugin, and select the checkbox next to the plugin name.

> **Tip:**
> To make sure that the GitHub actions support is enabled, go to `Settings | Advanced Settings` and check that the GitHub actions authoring support (requires IDE restart) option is selected.

IntelliJ IDEA supports the following features for working with GitHub files:

* [Syntax highlighting](configuring-colors-and-fonts.html) IntelliJ IDEA provides syntax highlighting for the YAML structure of files. You can customize the color scheme in `Settings | Editor | Color Scheme | YAML`.

*

* [Inspections](https://www.jetbrains.com.cn/en-us/help/inspectopedia/GitHub-actions.html) You can detect cyclic job dependencies, invalid parameters or standard library function calls, undefined action or file references, undefined job dependencies, and undefined parameters in GitHub files. ![An inspection example: Undefined job dependency](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/github-actions-inspection-example.png) You can manage GitHub Actions inspections in the Settings dialog (`Ctrl+Alt+S` (Windows), `⌘ Comma` (macOS), `⌘ Comma` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ Comma` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (XWin), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (KDE), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Sublime Text), `⌘ Comma` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Visual Studio), `⌘ Comma` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Ctrl+Alt+S` (Eclipse), `⌘ Comma` (Eclipse (macOS))) under `Editor | Inspections | GitHub actions`.

* [Code completion](auto-completing-code.html) IntelliJ IDEA provides extensive completion support to help you write GitHub workflows and actions faster. This includes: * Completion for various GitHub Actions contexts, including `github.*`, `env.*`, `steps.*`, and `inputs.*`. This simplifies the process of scripting complex workflows and reduces the time spent searching for context-specific syntax and parameters. [Video](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/github-workflow-context-completion.mp4) * Job dependency completion for `needs` and `runs-on` attributes. * YAML structure suggestions. * Action parameters, names, and version autocompletion for local actions and actions published in the `actions` organization on GitHub. * CRON expression support with validation and completion for scheduled workflows. ![CRON expression in a GitHub file](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/cron-github-yaml.png) * Docker image and tag suggestions to integrate Docker containers into your actions. * JavaScript file path completion. * Branding support in `action.yml`, allowing you to specify icons and colors to visually distinguish your actions in GitHub Marketplace and workflows. [Video](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/github-actions-branding.mp4)

* [Code navigation](navigating-through-the-source-code.html) You can quickly navigate between declarations and usages of symbols in GitHub Actions files.

* [Quick documentation](viewing-reference-information.html) Hover over a symbol or use the Documentation tool window (`Ctrl+Q` (Windows), `F1` (macOS), `⌃ J` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ I` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Ctrl+Q` (XWin), `Ctrl+Q` (GNOME), `Ctrl+Q` (KDE), `Ctrl+Q` (Emacs), `Ctrl+Q` (Sublime Text), `Ctrl+Q` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Ctrl+Q` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+K, I` (Visual Studio), `⌘ K, I` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Alt+Middle-Click` (Eclipse), `⌥ Middle-Click` (Eclipse (macOS))) to view quick documentation.

Procedure: Create a new GitHub workflow

> **Note:**
> IntelliJ IDEA allows you to create YAML files for GitHub workflows only in the `.github/workflows` directory.

1. In the  Project tool window , right-click the `.github/workflows` directory and select New (or press `Alt+Insert` (Windows), `⌘ N` (macOS), `⌃ N` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ N` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Insert` (XWin), `Alt+Insert` (GNOME), `Alt+Insert` (KDE), `Alt+Insert` (Emacs), `Ctrl+N` (Sublime Text), `⌘ N` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Insert` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+N` (Visual Studio), `⌘ N` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Alt+Insert` (Eclipse), `⌘ N` (Eclipse (macOS))). Then, select the GitHub Workflow  file type.

2. In the New GitHub Workflow File  dialog, specify the file name and press `Enter` (Windows), `⏎` (macOS), `⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Enter` (XWin), `Enter` (GNOME), `Enter` (KDE), `Enter` (Emacs), `Enter` (Sublime Text), `⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Enter` (NetBeans), `Enter` (Visual Studio), `⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Enter` (Eclipse), `⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)).

Procedure: Create a new GitHub action

> **Note:**
> IntelliJ IDEA allows you to create YAML files for GitHub actions only in the `.github/actions` directory.

1. In the  Project tool window , right-click the `.github/actions` directory and select New (or press `Alt+Insert` (Windows), `⌘ N` (macOS), `⌃ N` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⌘ N` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Alt+Insert` (XWin), `Alt+Insert` (GNOME), `Alt+Insert` (KDE), `Alt+Insert` (Emacs), `Ctrl+N` (Sublime Text), `⌘ N` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Alt+Insert` (NetBeans), `Ctrl+N` (Visual Studio), `⌘ N` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Alt+Insert` (Eclipse), `⌘ N` (Eclipse (macOS))). Then, select the  GitHub Action file type.

2. In the  New GitHub Action File dialog, specify the file name and press `Enter` (Windows), `⏎` (macOS), `⏎` (IntelliJ IDEA Classic (macOS)), `⏎` (macOS System Shortcuts), `Enter` (XWin), `Enter` (GNOME), `Enter` (KDE), `Enter` (Emacs), `Enter` (Sublime Text), `⏎` (Sublime Text (macOS)), `Enter` (NetBeans), `Enter` (Visual Studio), `⏎` (Visual Studio (macOS)), `Enter` (Eclipse), `⏎` (Eclipse (macOS)).