/optimize-workflow

Optimize Workflow

Analyze a GitHub Actions workflow file and provide optimization recommendations.

Context

• Workflow file: ![ -f "$1" ] && cat "$1" || find .github/workflows -name "*.yml" -o -name "*.yaml" | head -5
• Repository structure: !ls -la

Your Task

Analyze the GitHub Actions workflow and provide specific optimization recommendations.

Arguments

• $1: Path to workflow file (optional, will search .github/workflows if not provided)

Steps

1. Identify the workflow file

   • If argument provided, use that file
   • Otherwise, list workflows in .github/workflows and ask user which to analyze

2. Analyze workflow structure

   • Check for parallelization opportunities
   • Identify caching opportunities
   • Review job dependencies
   • Check for redundant steps

3. Performance optimizations

   • Suggest caching for dependencies (npm, pip, cargo, etc.)
   • Recommend artifact usage for inter-job data sharing
   • Identify steps that can run in parallel
   • Check checkout depth (shallow clones)
   • Review matrix strategy efficiency

4. Cost optimizations

   • Suggest concurrency controls to cancel redundant runs
   • Recommend appropriate runner types
   • Identify unnecessary jobs or steps
   • Check for over-testing (too many matrix combinations)

5. Best practices

   • Verify actions are pinned to specific versions (SHA)
   • Check for hardcoded secrets (should use GitHub Secrets)
   • Review permissions (use least-privilege)
   • Suggest reusable workflows for common patterns
   • Check for proper error handling

6. Security recommendations

   • Verify permissions are set appropriately
   • Check for OIDC usage with cloud providers
   • Review secret handling
   • Suggest environment protection rules if deploying

7. Provide specific recommendations

   • List issues found with severity (high/medium/low)
   • Provide code snippets for fixes
   • Estimate potential time/cost savings
   • Prioritize recommendations by impact

Output Format

# Workflow Optimization Report

## Summary
- Current jobs: X
- Estimated runtime: Y minutes
- Potential improvements: Z

## High Priority
1. [Issue description]
   - Impact: [time/cost savings]
   - Fix: [code snippet]

## Medium Priority
...

## Low Priority
...

## Optimized Workflow
[Provide optimized version of key sections]

Examples

Analyze specific workflow:

/optimize-workflow .github/workflows/ci.yml

Analyze workflows in repository:

/optimize-workflow

Expected output:

• List of optimization opportunities
• Specific code changes to implement
• Estimated performance improvements
• Best practice recommendations