wrkflw is a command-line tool for validating and running GitHub Actions workflows locally. It lets developers test workflows on their own machine before pushing changes to GitHub, helping catch syntax errors, job dependency issues, trigger mismatches, and runtime problems earlier in the development process.
The tool can run workflows through Docker, Podman, emulation, or a sandboxed secure emulation mode, and also offers an interactive terminal interface for managing workflows, logs, triggers, secrets, and execution details.
wrkflw also includes support for matrix builds, reusable workflows, composite actions, artifacts, caches, inter-job outputs, diff-aware filtering, watch mode, remote workflow triggering, and GitLab CI validation. This makes it useful for developers who want a local workflow testing environment without relying entirely on hosted CI runs.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Validates GitHub Actions workflow files with syntax checks and structural validation.
- Runs workflows locally using Docker, Podman, emulation, or sandboxed secure emulation.
- Offers an interactive terminal interface with workflow, execution, DAG, log, trigger, secret, and help views.
- Supports watch mode to rerun workflows automatically when files change.
- Provides diff-aware filtering to skip workflows that wouldn’t match the simulated event and changed files.
- Runs individual jobs and resolves job dependencies automatically.
- Supports matrix builds, reusable workflows, composite actions, artifacts, caches, and inter-job outputs.
- Includes secrets handling with environment, file, Vault, AWS, Azure, and GCP providers.
- Can trigger remote GitHub workflow_dispatch runs and GitLab pipelines.
- Validates GitLab CI pipeline files.
- Cross-platform support – runs under Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Website: github.com/bahdotsh/wrkflw
Support:
Developer: Gokul
License: MIT License

wrkflw is written in Rust. Learn Rust with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
| Git Workflow Tools | |
|---|---|
| git-extras | Superb collection of tools for Git |
| forgit | Utility for using git interactively |
| wrkflw | Validate and run GitHub Actions workflows locally |
| git-branchless | Branchless workflow for git |
| git-absorb | Super-charging git rebase |
| git-toolbelt | Suite of useful Git commands |
| git-open | Adds a handy git open command to Git. |
| git-town | Automate the creation, synchronization, shipping, and cleanup |
| git-fuzzy | Interactive git with the help of fzf |
| git-recent | Jump between recently used local Git branches |
| git-machete | Robust tool that simplifies your git workflows |
| git-flow-next | Modern implementation of the Git-flow branching model |
| Git Interactive Rebase Tool | Terminal-based sequence editor for interactive rebase |
| git-crecord | Interactively select changes to commit or stage |
| git-xargs | Update across multiple GitHub repositories |
| git-prompt.zsh | Lightweight git prompt for zsh |
| git-imerge | Incremental merge and rebase for Git |
| git revise | Git subcommand and Python library |
| wtp | Enhanced Git worktree management |
| LazyWorktree | Git worktree management for the terminal |
| Hug SCM | The Humane Source Control Management Interface |
| git-smart | Small collection of Git helper commands |
| stax | CLI and TUI for stacked Git branches and PRs |
| git-fixup | Command-line helper for Git users |
| git-autofixup | Git helper that creates fixup commits for topic branches |
| Branchlet | Create and manage Git worktrees |
| git-when-merged | Merge commit finder |
| git-flow | High-level repository operations |
Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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