Concept and mechanism
Actions defines automation through workflows, events, jobs, and steps executed on runners. Job dependencies determine when one result can be used by another. A green workflow supports only what actually ran against the observed version; it does not prove requirements missing from tests. github.dev opens a browser editing experience without compute or a terminal to run the application. Uncommitted changes depend on browser-local storage. Codespaces provides an execution environment configured through a dev container and can install dependencies or execute setup commands. That configuration is part of the review surface when it comes from an external contribution.
Guided application
In a fictional project, use test environments with synthetic data to assess setup changes and avoid adding production credentials for convenience. Copilot can suggest code and support tasks through agents, but review responsibility remains with the team. Compilation does not establish retry idempotency, correct authorization, or failure handling. Model choice does not remove testing either. Individual plans and Business or Enterprise plans have different management models; the organization should confirm licenses and effective policies for features and models. Documentation changes, so avoid designing around assumed quotas or defaults. Record the assessed commit, results, rehearsal limits, and decision before integration.
Browser editing does not execute tests; an environment executing setup needs a trust boundary.
Common pitfalls
Editor as runtime; green CI as all requirements; JSON as harmless; suggestion as approval; personal plan as global policy.
Related topics: Git, local state, and collaboration · Repositories, guidance files, and maintenance · Conversations, traceability, and sharing
Identify where code executes, with what access, and what evidence it produces.
Reference: Actions workflows jobs and runners · GH-900 skills measured January2026;study guide updated2026-02-19