DevOps

CI/CD with GitHub Actions: Build and Deploy Docker to a Server

AuthorLiam K.
DateMarch 08, 2026
Time14 minutes

Why use Actions for Docker?

GitHub Actions provides easy integration with repositories, secrets and runners. We demonstrate a minimal pipeline to build, push and deploy images securely.

Example Workflow

yaml

name: CI
on: [push]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Build image
        run: docker build -t myapp:\${{ github.sha }} .
      - name: Push to registry
        run: |
          echo "$DOCKER_PASS" | docker login -u "$DOCKER_USER" --password-stdin registry.example.com
          docker tag myapp:\${{ github.sha }} registry.example.com/myorg/myapp:\${{ github.sha }}
          docker push registry.example.com/myorg/myapp:\${{ github.sha }}
      - name: Deploy via SSH
        uses: appleboy/ssh-action@v0.1.7
        with:
          host: \${{ secrets.DEPLOY_HOST }}
          username: deploy
          key: \${{ secrets.DEPLOY_KEY }}
          script: |
            docker pull registry.example.com/myorg/myapp:\${{ github.sha }}
            docker-compose down && docker-compose up -d