Build and Push MaxText Docker Images workflow (AI-Hypercomputer/maxtext)
The Build and Push MaxText Docker Images workflow from AI-Hypercomputer/maxtext, explained and optimized by Latchkey.
CI health: B - good
Point runs-on at Latchkey and get job timeouts, SHA-pinned actions, self-healing for flaky steps, and up to 58% lower cost, applied automatically.
What it does
This is the Build and Push MaxText Docker Images workflow from the AI-Hypercomputer/maxtext repository, a real project running GitHub Actions. It is shown here with attribution under its Apache-2.0 license.
Below, Latchkey shows a faster, safer version produced by its optimization engine.
The workflow
# Copyright 2023-2026 Google LLC
# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
# You may obtain a copy of the License at
# https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
# limitations under the License.
# This workflow will build and push MaxText Docker image to GCR.
name: Build and Push MaxText Docker Images
on:
workflow_call:
inputs:
image_name:
required: true
type: string
device:
required: true
type: string
build_mode:
required: true
type: string
dockerfile:
required: true
type: string
maxtext_sha:
required: true
type: string
workflow:
required: false
type: string
default: 'pre-training'
include_test_assets:
required: false
type: boolean
default: false
run_tests:
required: false
type: boolean
default: true
outputs:
build_result:
description: 'The result of build_and_push job.'
value: ${{ jobs.build_and_push.result }}
secrets:
HF_TOKEN:
required: true
permissions:
contents: read
jobs:
pre_build_check:
name: Pre-build Check
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
outputs:
should_run: ${{ steps.check.outputs.should_run }}
steps:
- name: Check if build should run
id: check
shell: bash
run: |
EVENT_NAME="${{ github.event_name }}"
# Default to 'all' if the input is null/empty
TARGET_DEVICE="${{ github.event.inputs.target_device || 'all' }}"
INPUT_DEVICE="${{ inputs.device }}"
SHOULD_RUN="false"
if [[ "$EVENT_NAME" == "release" || "$EVENT_NAME" == "schedule" || "$EVENT_NAME" == "pull_request" ]]; then
SHOULD_RUN="true"
elif [[ "$EVENT_NAME" == "workflow_dispatch" ]]; then
if [[ "$TARGET_DEVICE" == "all" || "$TARGET_DEVICE" == "$INPUT_DEVICE" ]]; then
SHOULD_RUN="true"
fi
fi
if [[ "$SHOULD_RUN" == "true" ]]; then
echo "should_run=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
echo "Building ${{ inputs.image_name }} for device: ${{ inputs.device }} in ${{ inputs.build_mode }} mode."
else
echo "should_run=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT
echo "Skipping ${{ inputs.image_name }} build for device: ${{ inputs.device }} in ${{ inputs.build_mode }} mode."
fi
build_and_push:
name: Build and Push Docker Image
needs: pre_build_check
runs-on: linux-x86-n2-16-buildkit
container: google/cloud-sdk:524.0.0
if: needs.pre_build_check.outputs.should_run == 'true'
steps:
- name: Matrix Debugger
run: |
echo "device: ${{ inputs.device }}"
echo "workflow: ${{ inputs.workflow }}"
echo "build_mode: ${{ inputs.build_mode }}"
echo "image_name: ${{ inputs.image_name }}"
echo "dockerfile: ${{ inputs.dockerfile }}"
- name: Checkout MaxText
uses: actions/checkout@v5
with:
ref: ${{ inputs.maxtext_sha }}
- name: Mark git repositories as safe
run: git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE}
- name: Configure Docker
run: gcloud auth configure-docker us-docker.pkg.dev,gcr.io -q
- name: Set up Docker BuildX
uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3.11.1
with:
driver: remote
endpoint: tcp://localhost:1234
- name: Download MaxText wheel
uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
with:
name: maxtext-wheel
path: .
- name: Install uv and set Python version
uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v7
with:
python-version: '3.12'
enable-cache: true
- name: Install MaxText wheel
shell: bash
run: |
uv venv --seed
source .venv/bin/activate
maxtext_wheel=$(ls maxtext-*-py3-none-any.whl 2>/dev/null)
uv pip install ${maxtext_wheel}[runner] --resolution=lowest
- name: Copy tests assets to package directory
if: inputs.include_test_assets == true
shell: bash
run: |
source .venv/bin/activate
cp -r ${PWD}/tests .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/
cp ${PWD}/pytest.ini .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/
- name: Build and push Docker image
uses: docker/build-push-action@v6
with:
push: true
context: .
file: .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/dependencies/dockerfiles/${{ inputs.dockerfile }}
tags: gcr.io/${{ vars.PROJECT_NAME }}/${{ inputs.image_name }}:${{ github.run_id }}
cache-from: type=gha
outputs: type=image,compression=zstd,force-compression=true
build-args: |
DEVICE=${{ inputs.device }}
MODE=${{ inputs.build_mode }}
WORKFLOW=${{ inputs.workflow }}
PACKAGE_DIR=.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages
INCLUDE_TEST_ASSETS=${{ inputs.include_test_assets }}
- name: Add tags to Docker image
shell: bash
run: |
SOURCE_IMAGE="gcr.io/${{ vars.PROJECT_NAME }}/${INPUTS_IMAGE_NAME}"
TEMP_IMG="${SOURCE_IMAGE}:${{ github.run_id }}"
# Add date tag
IMAGE_DATE="$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
gcloud container images add-tag "${TEMP_IMG}" "$SOURCE_IMAGE:$IMAGE_DATE" --quiet
# Convert date to YYYYMMDD format
clean_date=$(echo "$IMAGE_DATE" | sed 's/[-:]//g' | cut -c1-8)
# Add MaxText tag
MAXTEXT_SHA=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD)
gcloud container images add-tag "${TEMP_IMG}" "${SOURCE_IMAGE}:maxtext_${MAXTEXT_SHA}_${clean_date}" --quiet
env:
INPUTS_IMAGE_NAME: ${{ inputs.image_name }}
run_ci_tests:
name: Run Unit and Integration Tests
needs: [pre_build_check, build_and_push]
if: needs.pre_build_check.outputs.should_run == 'true' && inputs.include_test_assets == true && inputs.run_tests == true
uses: ./.github/workflows/run_ci_tests.yml
with:
image_name: ${{ inputs.image_name }}
image_tag: ${{ github.run_id }}
device: ${{ inputs.device }}
workflow: ${{ inputs.workflow }}
The same workflow, on Latchkey
Removes redundant runs and caps runaway jobs. Added and changed lines are highlighted.
# Copyright 2023-2026 Google LLC # Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License"); # you may not use this file except in compliance with the License. # You may obtain a copy of the License at # https://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0 # Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software # distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS, # WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied. # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and # limitations under the License. # This workflow will build and push MaxText Docker image to GCR. name: Build and Push MaxText Docker Images on: workflow_call: inputs: image_name: required: true type: string device: required: true type: string build_mode: required: true type: string dockerfile: required: true type: string maxtext_sha: required: true type: string workflow: required: false type: string default: 'pre-training' include_test_assets: required: false type: boolean default: false run_tests: required: false type: boolean default: true outputs: build_result: description: 'The result of build_and_push job.' value: ${{ jobs.build_and_push.result }} secrets: HF_TOKEN: required: true permissions: contents: read jobs: pre_build_check: timeout-minutes: 30 name: Pre-build Check runs-on: latchkey-small outputs: should_run: ${{ steps.check.outputs.should_run }} steps: - name: Check if build should run id: check shell: bash run: | EVENT_NAME="${{ github.event_name }}" # Default to 'all' if the input is null/empty TARGET_DEVICE="${{ github.event.inputs.target_device || 'all' }}" INPUT_DEVICE="${{ inputs.device }}" SHOULD_RUN="false" if [[ "$EVENT_NAME" == "release" || "$EVENT_NAME" == "schedule" || "$EVENT_NAME" == "pull_request" ]]; then SHOULD_RUN="true" elif [[ "$EVENT_NAME" == "workflow_dispatch" ]]; then if [[ "$TARGET_DEVICE" == "all" || "$TARGET_DEVICE" == "$INPUT_DEVICE" ]]; then SHOULD_RUN="true" fi fi if [[ "$SHOULD_RUN" == "true" ]]; then echo "should_run=true" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT echo "Building ${{ inputs.image_name }} for device: ${{ inputs.device }} in ${{ inputs.build_mode }} mode." else echo "should_run=false" >> $GITHUB_OUTPUT echo "Skipping ${{ inputs.image_name }} build for device: ${{ inputs.device }} in ${{ inputs.build_mode }} mode." fi build_and_push: timeout-minutes: 30 name: Build and Push Docker Image needs: pre_build_check runs-on: linux-x86-n2-16-buildkit container: google/cloud-sdk:524.0.0 if: needs.pre_build_check.outputs.should_run == 'true' steps: - name: Matrix Debugger run: | echo "device: ${{ inputs.device }}" echo "workflow: ${{ inputs.workflow }}" echo "build_mode: ${{ inputs.build_mode }}" echo "image_name: ${{ inputs.image_name }}" echo "dockerfile: ${{ inputs.dockerfile }}" - name: Checkout MaxText uses: actions/checkout@v5 with: ref: ${{ inputs.maxtext_sha }} - name: Mark git repositories as safe run: git config --global --add safe.directory ${GITHUB_WORKSPACE} - name: Configure Docker run: gcloud auth configure-docker us-docker.pkg.dev,gcr.io -q - name: Set up Docker BuildX uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3.11.1 with: driver: remote endpoint: tcp://localhost:1234 - name: Download MaxText wheel uses: actions/download-artifact@v4 with: name: maxtext-wheel path: . - name: Install uv and set Python version uses: astral-sh/setup-uv@v7 with: python-version: '3.12' enable-cache: true - name: Install MaxText wheel shell: bash run: | uv venv --seed source .venv/bin/activate maxtext_wheel=$(ls maxtext-*-py3-none-any.whl 2>/dev/null) uv pip install ${maxtext_wheel}[runner] --resolution=lowest - name: Copy tests assets to package directory if: inputs.include_test_assets == true shell: bash run: | source .venv/bin/activate cp -r ${PWD}/tests .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/ cp ${PWD}/pytest.ini .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/ - name: Build and push Docker image uses: docker/build-push-action@v6 with: push: true context: . file: .venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages/dependencies/dockerfiles/${{ inputs.dockerfile }} tags: gcr.io/${{ vars.PROJECT_NAME }}/${{ inputs.image_name }}:${{ github.run_id }} cache-from: type=gha outputs: type=image,compression=zstd,force-compression=true build-args: | DEVICE=${{ inputs.device }} MODE=${{ inputs.build_mode }} WORKFLOW=${{ inputs.workflow }} PACKAGE_DIR=.venv/lib/python3.12/site-packages INCLUDE_TEST_ASSETS=${{ inputs.include_test_assets }} - name: Add tags to Docker image shell: bash run: | SOURCE_IMAGE="gcr.io/${{ vars.PROJECT_NAME }}/${INPUTS_IMAGE_NAME}" TEMP_IMG="${SOURCE_IMAGE}:${{ github.run_id }}" # Add date tag IMAGE_DATE="$(date +%Y-%m-%d)" gcloud container images add-tag "${TEMP_IMG}" "$SOURCE_IMAGE:$IMAGE_DATE" --quiet # Convert date to YYYYMMDD format clean_date=$(echo "$IMAGE_DATE" | sed 's/[-:]//g' | cut -c1-8) # Add MaxText tag MAXTEXT_SHA=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) gcloud container images add-tag "${TEMP_IMG}" "${SOURCE_IMAGE}:maxtext_${MAXTEXT_SHA}_${clean_date}" --quiet env: INPUTS_IMAGE_NAME: ${{ inputs.image_name }} run_ci_tests: timeout-minutes: 30 name: Run Unit and Integration Tests needs: [pre_build_check, build_and_push] if: needs.pre_build_check.outputs.should_run == 'true' && inputs.include_test_assets == true && inputs.run_tests == true uses: ./.github/workflows/run_ci_tests.yml with: image_name: ${{ inputs.image_name }} image_tag: ${{ github.run_id }} device: ${{ inputs.device }} workflow: ${{ inputs.workflow }}
What changed
- Run on Latchkey managed runners with one line (
runs-on), which apply the fixes below automatically and self-heal transient failures. This example useslatchkey-small; pick the runner size that fits the job. - Add a job timeout so a hung step cannot burn hours of runner time.
3 third-party actions are referenced by a movable tag. Pin them to the commit SHA (Latchkey resolves and applies this automatically) so a repointed tag cannot change what runs.
What Latchkey heals here
This workflow has steps that commonly fail on transient issues (network, registries, flaky browsers). On Latchkey managed runners they are detected, retried, and self-healed instead of failing your build:
- Dependency installs
- Container pulls and builds
This workflow runs 3 jobs per trigger. On Latchkey the same minutes cost up to 58% less than GitHub-hosted, with zero queue time.