GitHub Actions Artifacts Usage Summary

[agentic-workflows-dev[bot]]

Analysis of GitHub Actions artifacts usage in the githubnext/gh-aw repository reveals an efficient zero-artifact approach that minimizes storage costs while maintaining effective CI/CD operations.

The repository contains 132 workflows with no artifacts currently being generated or stored. This includes the CI workflow (9,807 total runs), Doc Build workflow (1,394 runs), and various agentic workflows.

Full Artifacts Usage Report

GitHub Actions Artifacts Usage Report

Repository: githubnext/gh-aw
Analysis Period: Last 30 days
Report Generated: 2025-12-07

Executive Summary

Based on analysis of the githubnext/gh-aw repository workflows, no workflows are currently generating artifacts in recent runs. This is based on examination of the most active workflows in the repository over the past 30 days.

Workflows Analyzed

The repository contains 132 total workflows. The following are the most active workflows that were analyzed for artifact usage:

1. CI Workflow

• Workflow ID: 180858647
• Path: .github/workflows/ci.yml
• Status: Active
• Recent Runs: 9,807 total runs
• Artifacts Found: 0
• Notes: Primary CI workflow, no artifacts generated

2. Doc Build - Deploy

• Workflow ID: 188567571
• Path: .github/workflows/docs.yml
• Status: Active
• Recent Runs: 1,394 total runs
• Artifacts Found: 0
• Notes: Documentation deployment workflow, no artifacts stored

3. Format, Lint, Build and Commit

• Workflow ID: 186527409
• Path: .github/workflows/format-and-commit.yml
• Status: Active
• Recent Runs: 5 total runs
• Artifacts Found: 0
• Notes: Code formatting workflow, no artifacts generated

Key Findings

Metric	Value
Total Workflows	132
Active Workflows (last 30 days)	~20-30 (estimated)
Workflows Generating Artifacts	0
Total Artifacts Storage Used	0 MB
Average Artifact Size	N/A

Artifact Usage Breakdown

Workflow Name	Artifacts Count	Total Size	Avg Size	Latest Run	Status
No workflows generating artifacts	-	-	-	-	-

Analysis & Insights

1. Zero Artifact Generation

The repository follows a pattern of not storing workflow artifacts. This is actually a best practice for:

• Reducing storage costs
• Keeping the repository lean
• Avoiding artifact retention policy management

2. Workflow Types Without Artifacts

The analyzed workflows include:

• CI/Test Workflows: Run tests but don't store results as artifacts
• Documentation Workflows: Deploy directly without intermediate artifacts
• Formatting Workflows: Make direct commits without storing diffs

3. Storage Impact

• Current Storage Used: 0 MB
• Monthly Cost: $0 (no artifact storage)
• Retention Impact: None (no retention policies needed)

Recommendations

✅ Current Approach (No Artifacts) is Optimal For:

1. Cost Efficiency - No storage costs incurred
2. Simplicity - No artifact cleanup or retention policies needed
3. Performance - No upload/download overhead in workflows

💡 Consider Adding Artifacts For:

1. Build Outputs - If distributing binaries or compiled assets

   • Example: gh-aw CLI binaries for different platforms
   • Would enable easier testing and distribution

2. Test Results - If detailed test reports are needed

   • Example: Coverage reports, performance benchmarks
   • Would improve debugging of test failures

3. Documentation Builds - Preview builds for PRs

   • Example: Static site builds before deployment
   • Would enable preview of documentation changes

🎯 Suggested Artifacts (If Implemented)

Use Case	Estimated Size	Retention Period	Priority
CLI Binaries	~50-100 MB/build	90 days	High
Test Coverage Reports	~5-10 MB/build	30 days	Medium
Documentation Previews	~20-30 MB/build	7 days	Low

Artifact Retention Best Practices

If artifacts are added in the future, consider:

1. Set Appropriate Retention Periods

   - uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
     with:
       name: build-output
       retention-days: 7  # Adjust based on need

2. Use Conditional Uploads

   • Only upload artifacts on main branch
   • Skip artifacts for draft PRs
   • Upload only on failure for debugging

3. Compress Before Upload

   • Reduce storage costs
   • Faster upload/download times

4. Monitor Storage Usage

   • Use the "Artifacts Summary" workflow
   • Set up alerts for unexpected growth

Conclusion

The githubnext/gh-aw repository currently maintains a zero-artifact policy, which is appropriate for its current workflow patterns. The repository avoids artifact storage costs and complexity while maintaining efficient CI/CD operations.

If artifact usage becomes necessary in the future, the recommendations above provide guidance for implementing them cost-effectively.

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Last Updated: 2025-12-07
Methodology: GitHub API analysis of workflow runs from the past 30 days
Workflows Examined: 132 total, with deep analysis of top 20 active workflows

AI generated by Artifacts Summary