github-actions-failure-debugging
Debug guide for failing GitHub Actions workflows. Use when CI fails, tests fail on Actions, or logs show exit code != 0.
When & Why to Use This Skill
This Claude skill provides a structured framework for diagnosing and resolving GitHub Actions workflow failures. It streamlines the debugging process by identifying root causes in CI/CD pipelines, analyzing runner logs for specific error patterns, and generating precise code or configuration fixes to restore build stability and deployment flow.
Use Cases
- Troubleshooting CI Pipeline Failures: Quickly identify the root cause of failed builds or test steps in GitHub Actions by analyzing runner logs and exit codes.
- Resolving Dependency and Environment Issues: Diagnose errors related to package managers, runtime versions, or environment variable configurations within the CI runner environment.
- Fixing Permission and Secret Errors: Debug authentication failures involving GITHUB_TOKEN, repository secrets, or third-party service integrations during the deployment phase.
- Local Reproduction of CI Errors: Generate deterministic reproduction plans to simulate and fix complex CI failures on a local development machine.
| name | github-actions-failure-debugging |
|---|---|
| description | Debug guide for failing GitHub Actions workflows. Use when CI fails, tests fail on Actions, or logs show exit code != 0. |
Goals
- Identify the first failing step and the real root cause (not the cascade).
- Produce a minimal fix (workflow or code) and re-run checks.
Procedure
- Find the failing workflow run and the failing job/step. Extract:
- runner OS, language/runtime versions, cache usage
- exact command that failed
- Classify failure:
- build tool / dependency resolution
- test failure
- lint/static analysis
- auth/permissions/secrets
- Reproduce locally when possible:
- use the same command as the workflow
- if not possible, provide a deterministic reproduction plan.
- Fix strategy:
- prefer smallest change
- avoid disabling checks unless justified
- Verification:
- ensure job matrix still passes
- update docs if workflow usage changed
Output format
- Root cause (1-2 sentences)
- Evidence (log excerpt references)
- Fix diff + why it works
- How to validate (exact commands)