GitHub Actions Workflow Template for Gradle Projects

When creating a GitHub Actions CI workflow for a Gradle/Java project, use this template:

name: CI

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

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest

    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4

      - name: Set up JDK 17
        uses: actions/setup-java@v4
        with:
          java-version: '17'
          distribution: 'temurin'

      - name: Setup Gradle
        uses: gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v4
        with:
          cache-read-only: false

      - name: Build with Gradle
        run: ./gradlew build

Key Points

1. Action versions (as of December 2025):

   • actions/checkout@v4
   • actions/setup-java@v4
   • gradle/actions/setup-gradle@v4

2. Do NOT use deprecated actions:

   • gradle/wrapper-validation-action - no longer needed, wrapper validation is included in gradle/actions/setup-gradle
   • gradle/gradle-build-action - replaced by gradle/actions/setup-gradle

3. Avoid redundant steps:

   • ./gradlew build already runs tests, so a separate ./gradlew test step is unnecessary

4. Gradle caching: The gradle/actions/setup-gradle action handles caching automatically. Use cache-read-only: false to allow cache writes.

Customization

Adjust as needed for your project:

• Change java-version if using a different JDK version
• Add additional branches to the trigger
• Add environment variables or secrets as required