docs/content/actions/automating-builds-and-tests/building-and-testing-java-with-gradle.md

title, intro, redirect_from, versions, type, topics, shortTitle

title	intro	redirect_from	versions	type	topics	shortTitle
Building and testing Java with Gradle	You can create a continuous integration (CI) workflow in GitHub Actions to build and test your Java project with Gradle.	/actions/language-and-framework-guides/building-and-testing-java-with-gradle /actions/guides/building-and-testing-java-with-gradle	fpt ghes ghae ghec * * * *	tutorial	CI Java Gradle	Build & test Java & Gradle

{% data reusables.actions.enterprise-github-hosted-runners %}

Introduction

This guide shows you how to create a workflow that performs continuous integration (CI) for your Java project using the Gradle build system. The workflow you create will allow you to see when commits to a pull request cause build or test failures against your default branch; this approach can help ensure that your code is always healthy. You can extend your CI workflow to {% ifversion actions-caching %}cache files and{% endif %} upload artifacts from a workflow run.

{% ifversion ghae %} {% data reusables.actions.self-hosted-runners-software %} {% else %} {% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %}-hosted runners have a tools cache with pre-installed software, which includes Java Development Kits (JDKs) and Gradle. For a list of software and the pre-installed versions for JDK and Gradle, see "AUTOTITLE". {% endif %}

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with YAML and the syntax for {% data variables.product.prodname_actions %}. For more information, see:

• "AUTOTITLE"
• "AUTOTITLE"

We recommend that you have a basic understanding of Java and the Gradle framework. For more information, see the Gradle User Manual.

{% data reusables.actions.enterprise-setup-prereq %}

Using a Gradle starter workflow

{% data reusables.actions.starter-workflow-get-started %}

{% data variables.product.prodname_dotcom %} provides a starter workflow for Gradle that should work for most Java with Gradle projects. The subsequent sections of this guide give examples of how you can customize this starter workflow.

{% data reusables.repositories.navigate-to-repo %} {% data reusables.repositories.actions-tab %} {% data reusables.actions.new-starter-workflow %}

1. The "{% ifversion actions-starter-template-ui %}Choose a workflow{% else %}Choose a workflow template{% endif %}" page shows a selection of recommended starter workflows. Search for "Java with Gradle".
2. On the "Java with Gradle" workflow, click {% ifversion actions-starter-template-ui %}Configure{% else %}Set up this workflow{% endif %}.

{%- ifversion ghes or ghae %}

If you don't find the "Java with Gradle" starter workflow, copy the following workflow code to a new file called gradle.yml in the .github/workflows directory of your repository.

name: Java CI with Gradle

on:
  push:
    branches: [ "main" ]
  pull_request:
    branches: [ "main" ]

permissions:
  contents: read

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
    - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-checkout %}
    - name: Set up JDK 11
      uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-setup-java %}
      with:
        java-version: '11'
        distribution: 'temurin'
    - name: Build with Gradle
      uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@bd5760595778326ba7f1441bcf7e88b49de61a25 # v2.6.0
      with:
        arguments: build

{%- endif %}

1. Edit the workflow as required. For example, change the Java version.

   {% indented_data_reference reusables.actions.third-party-actions spaces=3 %}

2. Click Commit changes.

{% ifversion fpt or ghec %} The gradle.yml workflow file is added to the .github/workflows directory of your repository. {% endif %}

{% data reusables.actions.java-jvm-architecture %}

Building and testing your code

You can use the same commands that you use locally to build and test your code.

The starter workflow will run the build task by default. In the default Gradle configuration, this command will download dependencies, build classes, run tests, and package classes into their distributable format, for example, a JAR file.

If you use different commands to build your project, or you want to use a different task, you can specify those. For example, you may want to run the package task that's configured in your ci.gradle file.

steps:
  - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-checkout %}
  - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-setup-java %}
    with:
      java-version: '17'
      distribution: 'temurin'
  - name: Validate Gradle wrapper
    uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@ccb4328a959376b642e027874838f60f8e596de3
  - name: Run the Gradle package task
    uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@749f47bda3e44aa060e82d7b3ef7e40d953bd629
    with:
      arguments: -b ci.gradle package

{% ifversion actions-caching %}

Caching dependencies

Your build dependencies can be cached to speed up your workflow runs. After a successful run, the gradle/gradle-build-action caches important parts of the Gradle user home directory. In future jobs, the cache will be restored so that build scripts won't need to be recompiled and dependencies won't need to be downloaded from remote package repositories.

Caching is enabled by default when using the gradle/gradle-build-action action. For more information, see gradle/gradle-build-action.

{% endif %}

Packaging workflow data as artifacts

After your build has succeeded and your tests have passed, you may want to upload the resulting Java packages as a build artifact. This will store the built packages as part of the workflow run, and allow you to download them. Artifacts can help you test and debug pull requests in your local environment before they're merged. For more information, see "AUTOTITLE."

Gradle will usually create output files like JARs, EARs, or WARs in the build/libs directory. You can upload the contents of that directory using the upload-artifact action.

steps:
  - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-checkout %}
  - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-setup-java %}
    with:
      java-version: '17'
      distribution: 'temurin'
  - name: Validate Gradle wrapper
    uses: gradle/wrapper-validation-action@ccb4328a959376b642e027874838f60f8e596de3
  - name: Build with Gradle
    uses: gradle/gradle-build-action@749f47bda3e44aa060e82d7b3ef7e40d953bd629
    with:
      arguments: build
  - uses: {% data reusables.actions.action-upload-artifact %}
    with:
      name: Package
      path: build/libs