GitHub Actions: larger hosted runners are now automatically created for customers

Starting today, customers can now enjoy larger runners without any pre-configuration work. GitHub now automatically creates a default runner group configured with four larger runners of our most popular sizes so users can start using larger runners right away.

The default runner group is called "Default Larger Runners" and can be managed by Organization or Enterprise admins. To begin using these runners, simply add the label corresponding to the runner of your choice to your workflow file.

Description Label Image
4-cores Ubuntu Runner ubuntu-latest-4-cores Ubuntu – Latest
8-cores Ubuntu Runner ubuntu-latest-8-cores Ubuntu – Latest
16-cores Ubuntu Runner ubuntu-latest-16-cores Ubuntu – Latest
8-cores Windows Runner windows-latest-8-cores Windows Server – Latest

Note that this change only applies to customers who are onboarded to the beta on October 20, 2022 and later.

Interested in learning more about larger hosted runners? Read the announcement here or sign up for the beta here

New Branch Protections: Last Pusher and Locked Branch

Today we're releasing two new branch protections.

Require approval from someone other than the last pusher

Now, before a pull request can be merged, you can require it to be approved by someone other than the last pusher.
Meaning, the most recent user to push their changes will need a pull request approval regardless of the Require approvals branch protection. Or in the case of 1 approval required, someone other than the last user to push their changes will also need to approve. If the approvals come from other folks than the last pusher, those two approvals will be sufficient.

Screenshot of Last Push protection enabled.

Lock branch

This allows for branches to be locked, prohibiting changes. You can lock a branch allowing you to have a maintenance window and prevent changes, or to protect a fork so it only receives changes from its upstream repository.

To use this feature in a branch protection rule, enable Lock branch.

Screenshot of Lock branch with fork sync enabled

For more information, read About protected branches in the GitHub documentation.

We appreciate feedback on this and other topics in GitHub's public feedback discussions.

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GitHub app in Slack – Issue create and manage experience

We are excited to share with you that we have added a bunch of new capabilities to our GitHub app in Slack. You can now create, track and manage your GitHub issues directly from Slack.

Create issues as you collaborate

You can now create issues with just a click, right from the place where you interact with your team i.e. from your channel, personal app, group or direct chat.
image

  • The content of the chat is automatically added into the description along with the link to the slack conversation.
  • The last used repo in the channel will be automatically filled in. However, you can go ahead and change to the repo if needed.
  • You can optionally fill in labels, assignees and milestones when you create an issue.

Once the issue is created you will receive a confirmation card in the channel/chat where you created the issue.

Issue card updates and threading

You can also update the issue directly from slack. When you see an issue notification card in Slack, you will now be able to comment, edit and close/reopen.
image

As part of this enhancement, we have also introduced threading functionality. Notifications for any issue are grouped under a parent card as replies. Threading gives context, reduces noise in the channel and helps improve collaboration.

For more information about these enhancements, please visit the GitHub app guidance for Slack.

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