test nixosConfigurations in a nixos VM

[steveej]

primarily interested in linux-builder-01 for the github action runner:

• github action runner tests would enable auto-updating
• nixos VM tests supposedly don't have internet access; there might be a way around this limitation. we assume there is for further refinement
• use holochain-infra credentials for connecting the GHR to github and ensure it connects successfully.
• trigger a test workflow to ensure the runner processes requests

[steveej]

@holochain/core-dev 👋 i've stumbled upon holochain/holochain#3894 and would like to get insight into what your plans are going forward. is the ultimate goal to decommission the self-hosted github runner infrastructure for any platform for PR checks and release tests alike? what are the motivations, the desired time-frame and the prioritization for that PR specifically and potentially for moving away from the current self-hosting?

this is relevant for this issue because it is "primarily interested in linux-builder-01 for the github action runner".

[neonphog]

@steveej

@holochain/core-dev 👋 i've stumbled upon holochain/holochain#3894 and would like to get insight into what your plans are going forward. is the ultimate goal to decommission the self-hosted github runner infrastructure for any platform for PR checks and release tests alike? what are the motivations, the desired time-frame and the prioritization for that PR specifically and potentially for moving away from the current self-hosting?

this is relevant for this issue because it is "primarily interested in linux-builder-01 for the github action runner".

There is no plan, this is just an experiment. With it, we know it is at least possible to run CI tests on the free runners. If we decided to go forward with it, it wouldn't mean disabling self-hosting because there are other jobs on there we'd have to have separate discussions around moving away from.

The motivations are:

• simplicity
• visibility (not having all the other nix noise going on in parallel with the unit test)
• speed
• able to run windows