Configuring a CI/CD pipeline for a .NET project using GitHub Actions is a modern DevOps best practice for automating build, test, and deployment workflows. In enterprise ASP.NET Core applications, microservices architecture, SaaS platforms, and cloud-native backend systems, automated Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment ensure faster releases, higher code quality, and reliable production deployments. GitHub Actions provides a powerful, integrated automation platform directly inside GitHub repositories, making it ideal for .NET development teams.
In this step-by-step guide, we will configure a production-ready CI/CD pipeline for a .NET project using GitHub Actions, covering workflow setup, build automation, testing, artifact publishing, and deployment best practices.
What Is GitHub Actions?
GitHub Actions is a CI/CD automation platform that allows developers to create workflows triggered by repository events such as push, pull request, or release. Workflows are defined using YAML configuration files stored inside the repository.
For .NET projects, GitHub Actions can:
This enables fully automated DevOps pipelines for modern .NET applications.
Prerequisites
Before configuring the CI/CD pipeline, ensure:
Your .NET project is hosted in a GitHub repository
The project builds successfully locally
Unit tests are implemented
Deployment target (Azure App Service, Docker registry, etc.) is ready
A clean and testable codebase is essential for a stable CI/CD workflow.
Step 1: Create GitHub Actions Workflow File
Inside your GitHub repository, create the following directory structure:
.github/workflows/
Then create a file named:
ci-cd.yml
This YAML file defines your automation workflow.
Step 2: Configure Basic CI Workflow
Add the following configuration to build and test a .NET project automatically on every push:
name: .NET CI/CD Pipeline
on:
push:
branches: [ main ]
pull_request:
branches: [ main ]
jobs:
build:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- name: Checkout Repository
uses: actions/checkout@v4
- name: Setup .NET
uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v4
with:
dotnet-version: '8.0.x'
- name: Restore Dependencies
run: dotnet restore
- name: Build Project
run: dotnet build --configuration Release --no-restore
- name: Run Unit Tests
run: dotnet test --no-build --verbosity normal
This configuration performs Continuous Integration by restoring dependencies, building the project, and running automated tests on each commit.
Step 3: Publish Build Artifacts
To generate deployable output, add a publish step:
- name: Publish Application
run: dotnet publish -c Release -o ./publish
- name: Upload Artifact
uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
with:
name: dotnet-app
path: ./publish
Artifacts allow you to store compiled application files for deployment or further pipeline stages.
Step 4: Configure Deployment to Azure App Service
To enable Continuous Deployment, add a deployment step.
First, configure secrets in GitHub repository settings:
Then extend the workflow:
deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
needs: build
steps:
- name: Download Artifact
uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
with:
name: dotnet-app
- name: Deploy to Azure Web App
uses: azure/webapps-deploy@v2
with:
app-name: ${{ secrets.AZURE_WEBAPP_NAME }}
publish-profile: ${{ secrets.AZURE_WEBAPP_PUBLISH_PROFILE }}
package: .
This automatically deploys your ASP.NET Core application to Azure after successful build and testing.
Step 5: Secure Secrets and Environment Variables
Never store sensitive information directly inside YAML files.
Use GitHub repository secrets for:
GitHub encrypts secrets and makes them accessible securely during workflow execution.
Secure configuration management is critical in enterprise DevOps pipelines.
Step 6: Implement Branch-Based Deployment Strategy
For production-ready .NET CI/CD pipelines, use separate environments.
Example strategy:
Modify workflow triggers to control deployment environments.
This reduces risk and improves release management in scalable backend systems.
Step 7: Add Code Quality and Security Checks
Enhance your pipeline by adding:
Automated quality gates prevent insecure or broken code from reaching production.
Step 8: Optimize CI/CD Performance
To improve pipeline performance:
Faster pipelines increase development productivity in modern DevOps environments.
Example Complete CI/CD Workflow Structure
Your final workflow structure may include:
Code checkout
.NET setup
Dependency restore
Build
Test
Publish
Artifact upload
Deployment
Notifications
This represents an industry-standard CI/CD pipeline for .NET applications using GitHub Actions.
Best Practices for Production CI/CD in .NET
To build reliable and scalable pipelines:
Keep workflows modular
Fail fast on errors
Use environment-specific configuration
Monitor deployment success
Implement rollback strategy
Use deployment slots for zero-downtime releases
Following these best practices ensures secure and high-availability deployments.
Summary
Configuring a CI/CD pipeline for a .NET project using GitHub Actions enables automated build, test, artifact management, and cloud deployment workflows directly from your GitHub repository. By defining YAML-based workflows, integrating secure secret management, implementing branch-based deployment strategies, and automating Azure App Service deployments, developers can create scalable, production-ready DevOps pipelines for ASP.NET Core applications. A well-structured CI/CD pipeline improves code quality, reduces manual deployment errors, and supports high-performance enterprise .NET applications in modern cloud environments.