Options for GPU-Enabled CI with GitHub Actions

[niketagrawal]

GitHub’s free plan only provides CPU-based runners, making it challenging to run CI for codebases requiring GPU support (e.g., PyTorch). For researchers building AI applications, we need GPU-enabled CI on GitHub Actions. How can we set up workflows with NVIDIA GPU dependencies? What options exist for enabling GPU-based CI within GitHub Actions?

The goal of this discussion thread is to identify and document practical solutions.

[niketagrawal]

GitHub offers GPU enabled runners under the category of large runners as documented in this announcement.

The large runners are only available under the paid plans: GitHub Team or Enterprise and they are billed per minute making it unfeasible for use for the target audience.

Using a self-hosted runner is another option. This option is not explored yet, for example, using a on-premise machine with GPU as a runner and connecting it with GitHub.