GitHub Actions Workflow Generator

This directory contains gen_gh_actions.py, a script to generate GitHub Actions CI workflows from the same configuration logic used for Travis CI.

Usage

The script can generate workflows for different platforms:

# Generate Linux CI workflow (default)
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py linux > .github/workflows/linux-ci.yml

# Generate macOS CI workflow
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py macos > .github/workflows/macos-ci.yml

# Generate Windows CI workflow
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py windows > .github/workflows/windows-ci.yml

# Generate FreeBSD CI workflow
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py freebsd > .github/workflows/freebsd-ci.yml

# Generate combined workflow with all platforms
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py all > .github/workflows/ci-all.yml

Generated Workflows

Linux CI (linux-ci.yml)

• test-linux (AMD64): ubuntu-latest (x86_64)
  • ~96 configurations covering GCC, Clang, various flags
• test-linux-arm64 (ARM64): ubuntu-24.04-arm (aarch64)
  • ~14 configurations including large hugepage tests
  • Note: Free ARM64 runners (Public Preview) - may have longer queue times during peak hours

Total: 110 configurations

macOS CI (macos-ci.yml)

• test-macos (Intel): macos-15-intel (x86_64)
  • ~10 configurations with GCC compiler
• test-macos-arm64 (Apple Silicon): macos-latest (arm64)
  • ~11 configurations including large hugepage tests

Total: 21 configurations

Windows CI (windows-ci.yml)

• test-windows (AMD64): windows-latest (x86_64)
  • 10 configurations covering MinGW-GCC and MSVC compilers
  • 32-bit and 64-bit builds
  • Uses MSYS2 for build environment

Total: 10 configurations

FreeBSD CI (freebsd-ci.yml)

• test-freebsd (AMD64): Runs in FreeBSD VM on ubuntu-latest
  • Matrix testing: debug (on/off), prof (on/off), arch (32/64-bit), uncommon configs
  • 16 total configuration combinations
  • Uses FreeBSD 15.0 via vmactions/freebsd-vm@v1
  • Uses gmake (GNU Make) instead of BSD make

Total: 16 configurations

Architecture Verification

Each workflow includes a "Show OS version" step that prints:

Linux:

=== System Information ===
uname -a              # Kernel and architecture
=== Architecture ===
uname -m              # x86_64, aarch64, etc.
arch                 # Architecture type
=== CPU Info ===
lscpu                # Detailed CPU information

macOS:

=== macOS Version ===
sw_vers              # macOS version and build
=== Architecture ===
uname -m             # x86_64 or arm64
arch                # i386 or arm64
=== CPU Info ===
sysctl machdep.cpu.brand_string  # CPU model

Windows:

=== Windows Version ===
systeminfo           # OS name and version
ver                 # Windows version
=== Architecture ===
PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE  # AMD64, x86, ARM64

GitHub Runner Images

Runner Strategy Explained

We use a hybrid approach to balance stability and maintenance:

Auto-update runners (-latest):

• Linux AMD64: ubuntu-latest - Very stable, rarely breaks, auto-updates to newest Ubuntu LTS
• Windows: windows-latest - Backward compatible, auto-updates to newest Windows Server

Pinned runners (specific versions):

• Linux ARM64: ubuntu-24.04-arm - Free for public repos (Public Preview, may have queue delays)
• macOS Intel: macos-15-intel - Last Intel macOS runner (EOL August 2027)
• macOS Apple Silicon: macos-15 - Pin for control over macOS upgrades

Why this approach?

• Reduces maintenance (auto-update where safe)
• Prevents surprise breakages (pin where needed)
• Balances stability and staying current
• Uses free ARM64 runners for public repositories

ARM64 Queue Times

If you experience long waits for ARM64 jobs:

The ubuntu-24.04-arm runner is free for public repositories but is in Public Preview. GitHub warns: "you may experience longer queue times during peak usage hours".

To reduce wait times we should upgrade to Team/Enterprise plan - then we could use ubuntu-24.04-arm64 for faster, paid runners

Important Deprecation Timeline

Note: macos-15-intel is the last Intel-based macOS runner from GitHub Actions. After August 2027, only Apple Silicon runners will be available.

Platform-Specific Details

Windows Build Process

The Windows workflow uses:

1. MSYS2 setup via msys2/setup-msys2@v2 action
2. MinGW-GCC: Standard autotools build process in MSYS2 shell
3. MSVC (cl.exe): Requires ilammy/msvc-dev-cmd@v1 for environment setup
   • Uses MSYS2_PATH_TYPE: inherit to inherit Windows PATH
   • Exports AR=lib.exe, NM=dumpbin.exe, RANLIB=:
4. mingw32-make: Used instead of make (standard in MSYS2)

macOS Build Process

• Uses Homebrew to install autoconf
• Tests on both Intel (x86_64) and Apple Silicon (ARM64)
• Standard autotools build process
• Excludes certain malloc configurations not supported on macOS

Linux Build Process

• Ubuntu Latest for AMD64, Ubuntu 24.04 for ARM64
• Installs 32-bit cross-compilation dependencies when needed
• Most comprehensive test matrix (110 configurations)

Relationship to Travis CI

This script mirrors the logic from gen_travis.py but generates GitHub Actions workflows instead of .travis.yml. The test matrices are designed to provide equivalent coverage to the Travis CI configuration.

Regenerating Workflows

To regenerate all workflows after modifying gen_gh_actions.py:

./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py linux > .github/workflows/linux-ci.yml
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py macos > .github/workflows/macos-ci.yml
./scripts/gen_gh_actions.py windows > .github/workflows/windows-ci.yml

Note: The generated files should not be edited by hand. All changes should be made to gen_gh_actions.py and then regenerated.