Custom Base Images for GitHub Actions

Accelerate your workflows by pre-installing dependencies directly into your runner's base image. Instead of installing packages at runtime during every job, custom base images let you create optimized runners with your tools already available, eliminating repetitive setup steps and reducing job execution time.

Preinstalled packages

Enable custom base image

Go to the desired Runner Profile and select a customizable base image.

Select APT packages

Type the Ubuntu packages to install.

You can find the list of available packages from the Ubuntu website.

Submit the profile

After updating your profile definition the custom base image will be built. Once the image is ready to use, you will see a confirmation in the profile editor.

You can modify the list of pre-installed packages at any time. Any update to the selection will automatically update the base image.

Custom Dockerfile base

You can also customize your base image through a custom Dockerfile. Full Dockerfile syntax allows customization beyond pre-installing APT packages.

Enable custom base image

Go to the desired Runner Profile and select a customizable base image.

Add customization steps

Submit the profile

After updating your profile definition the custom base image will be built. Once the image is ready to use, you will see a confirmation in the profile editor.

You can modify the Dockerfile at any time. Any update will automatically rebuild the base image.