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GitHub, a leading platform in the software development community, has recently announced a groundbreaking improvement in its continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipeline. By leveraging Apple Silicon runners, GitHub has succeeded in reducing the testing time for iOS applications by a remarkable 60%, as reported by The GitHub Blog.
Revolutionary Collaboration Between GitHub and Apple Silicon
The collaboration between GitHub’s iOS and GitHub Actions teams has resulted in the integration of macOS runners powered by Apple Silicon in their workflows. This strategic integration has enabled the teams to test new runner images and hardware well in advance of their public release. The introduction of M1 macOS runners, now available for free in public repositories, has truly transformed the performance of intensive jobs.
Enhanced Testing Efficiency Beyond Measure
Prior to this enhancement, the GitHub iOS team followed a lengthy process that took 38 minutes to build and test the entire codebase using a single workflow. By harnessing the computational power of Apple Silicon and breaking down the test suite into separate jobs for each module, the team successfully reduced their testing time from 38 minutes to a remarkable 15 minutes, marking a 60% improvement in efficiency.
This modular approach not only accelerates feedback but also streamlines issue identification and resolution within specific modules. With some smaller modules completing their tests in just 2-3 minutes, developer productivity has been significantly enhanced.
Dispelling the Monolith Myth
The shift to Apple Silicon runners involved a pivotal transition from a monolithic build and test process to smaller, independent jobs. This granular approach facilitates faster feedback loops and enables quick issue identification, thereby enhancing the overall efficiency of the development process.
GitHub Actions manages each build request, preparing the necessary virtual machines to execute the workflow efficiently. This optimized process ensures that CI jobs are effectively distributed across available resources.
Optimizing CI Performance
Further enhancements were made by dividing each module’s CI process into separate build and test steps, leveraging xcodebuild’s build-without-testing and test-without-building features. This optimization strategy empowered the team to identify and refine long-running tests for improved performance.
Unlocking the Potentials of Apple Silicon
Apple Silicon offers a myriad of benefits, including enhanced build performance, heightened reliability, and native testing for all Apple platforms. By sidestepping cross-compilation and emulation issues, the GitHub iOS team ensures compatibility with the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Concurrent runners further amplify the team’s capacity for parallel testing operations.
Embrace the Future with macOS Runners
Accessible through YAML-driven configurations in the workflow file, GitHub-hosted macOS runners empower development teams to harness the prowess of Apple Silicon and streamline their CI/CD processes swiftly.
With these groundbreaking enhancements, GitHub continues to redefine the frontiers of developer productivity and efficiency, facilitating the expedited delivery of high-quality applications like never before.