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GitHub Actions (complex pipelines) Dagger

hard

Dagger lets you write CI pipelines in TypeScript/Go/Python that run identically locally and in CI. Eliminates YAML hell and 'works in CI but not locally'.

Estimated: 8-16h · 6 steps
Progress0%
Step 1: Install Dagger CLI
curl -L https://dl.dagger.io/dagger/install.sh | DAGGER_VERSION=0.11.0 sh
Step 2: Initialize Dagger module
dagger init --sdk typescript --name my-pipeline
Step 3: Convert pipeline steps

Translate GitHub Actions steps to Dagger Container API calls. docker pull → dag.container().from(). run: → .withExec(['...']).

import { dag } from '@dagger.io/dagger'
const ctr = dag.container().from('node:20').withDirectory('/src', dag.host().directory('.'))
Step 4: Run locally to test

Execute the pipeline locally before pushing. Same result as CI.

dagger call build
Step 5: Update GitHub Actions

Replace complex YAML steps with a single Dagger call. GitHub Actions just triggers Dagger.

- run: dagger call test --source=.
Step 6: Verify parity
Pipeline runs identically locally and in GitHub Actions. Build artifacts match.

What this migration involves

Moving from GitHub Actions (complex pipelines) to Dagger is rated hard and takes about 8-16h on a typical project. The guide breaks it into 6 steps, 5 of which ship with runnable commands and 1 with a verification check.

FAQ

How long does migrating from GitHub Actions (complex pipelines) to Dagger take?

Around 8-16h for a typical project — 6 steps, difficulty rated hard, 5 of them with copy-paste commands.

Is moving from GitHub Actions (complex pipelines) to Dagger reversible?

No reverse guide is tracked yet, so treat this as a one-way move and keep a full export of your GitHub Actions (complex pipelines) data before you start.

What does Dagger cost compared to GitHub Actions (complex pipelines)?

Dagger: open-source from $0/mo, free plan available.