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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.