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Understand workflow run status language

Add dictionary definitions for unfamiliar words in workflow run details so state updates are easier to scan.

Trigger

GitHub Workflow Run State Changed

Triggers when a GitHub Actions workflow run's status or conclusion changes. Monitors a single workflow run and fires an event whenever it transitions between states (e.g., queued to in_progress, or in_progress to completed) or when its conclusion is set (e.g., success, failure, cancelled).

Action

Get Word Definition V2

Tool to retrieve definitions, phonetics, origin, and meanings of a given word using freedictionaryapi v2. use when you need comprehensive lexical data for a specific word.

Why this helps

Workflow run updates can contain terms that are unfamiliar, creating friction when checking whether a run needs attention.

  • Clarify unfamiliar wording in workflow run updates
  • Reduce the effort of interpreting status details
  • Keep the run context and definitions in one report

Setup

Build it in a few focused steps.

  • 1Connect GitHub and Dictionary API once in the Notis portal.
  • 2Create an automation in Automations, New Automation, or tell Notis to create it in plain language from any channel.
  • 3In one instruction, ask Notis to identify unfamiliar terms in the available workflow run state details and retrieve their definitions.
  • 4Choose the GitHub Workflow Run State Changed trigger and select where run reports should go.
  • 5Test with one real workflow run state change.

Questions about this workflow

Does this workflow detect failed runs?

The trigger fires on run state or conclusion changes. The dictionary action looks up words; it does not diagnose the cause of a failure.

Can it explain every status in GitHub Actions?

It can retrieve definitions for words present in the available event details. Ask Notis to focus on terms that are unfamiliar or meaningful to your review.

When this happens · Trigger

Do this · Action

Supported Triggers and Actions

Notis builds workflows that link GitHub to Dictionary api. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.

GitHub triggers

Dictionary api actions

Recurring trigger

Notis starts this workflow on a schedule, such as daily, weekly, or during business hours.

TriggerScheduled

Get Word Definition V2

Tool to retrieve definitions, phonetics, origin, and meanings of a given word using freedictionaryapi v2. use when you need comprehensive lexical data for a specific word.

ActionInstant

Webhook trigger

Notis starts this workflow when an external tool or custom backend sends an HTTP request.

TriggerInstant

New Workflow Artifact Created

Triggers when a new workflow artifact is created in a GitHub repository. Monitors for newly created GitHub Actions workflow artifacts. Optionally filters by artifact name to restrict monitoring to specific artifacts.

TriggerPolling

Branch Changed

Triggers when a GitHub branch changes. Monitors a specific branch for: - New commits pushed (head commit SHA changes) - Protection status toggled (branch becomes protected or unprotected) - Protection settings changed, including: required status checks and their enforcement level, admin enforcement, required pull request reviews (dismiss stale reviews, code owner reviews, approving review count, last push approval), required linear history, force push allowance, deletion allowance, conversation resolution, branch locking, and fork syncing.

TriggerPolling

New Branch Created

Triggers when a new branch is created in a GitHub repository. Detects newly created branches. Deleted branches do not fire events.

TriggerPolling

Check Run Status / Conclusion Changed

Triggers when a specific GitHub check run changes its status or conclusion. Monitors a single check run for changes to: status (queued, in_progress, completed, etc.), conclusion (success, failure, neutral, cancelled, skipped, timed_out, action_required), started_at, and completed_at.

TriggerPolling

Check Suite Status / Conclusion Changed

Triggers when a GitHub check suite changes its status or conclusion for a given ref. Monitors all check suites associated with a git reference (branch, tag, or commit SHA) for changes to status (queued, in_progress, completed, etc.) and conclusion (success, failure, neutral, cancelled, skipped, timed_out, action_required, startup_failure, stale). Optionally filters by GitHub App ID.

TriggerPolling

New Code Scanning Alert Created

Triggers when a new code scanning alert is created in a repository. Fires an event for each newly created code scanning alert detected in the configured repository. Alerts can be filtered by Git reference, scanning tool, state, and severity. The payload includes the alert number, rule details, tool information, state, severity, and the location of the most recent instance.

TriggerPolling

Connect any two apps with Notis in the middle.

GitHub and Dictionary api, or any other combination from 1,000+ integrations.

When this happens · Trigger

Do this · Action

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