Diving into GitHub APIs & Webhooks — REST, GraphQL, or Events?

[Alxdelira]

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Hey, I've been diving into GitHub integrations for our CI/CD pipeline at work. GitHub has two main APIs—REST and GraphQL—plus webhooks for event-driven stuff. Which do you use more, and why?

[meeran-jeelani]

REST API is commonly used in CI/CD because it’s straightforward, well-documented, and easy to debug for standard tasks like repositories, workflows, PRs, and status checks.
GraphQL is better suited when multiple related data points are needed in a single request, reducing API calls for dashboards or analytics.
Webhooks are ideal for event-driven automation since they trigger actions in real time without polling.

In practice: REST for simplicity, GraphQL for efficient data fetching, and Webhooks for automation.

[Alxdelira]

Thanks for the clear and well-structured explanation — it captures the practical trade-offs very well.
A few complementary points worth highlighting:
REST also tends to be the safest choice for CI/CD pipelines because of its maturity, stability, and wide tooling support. Many CI/CD platforms and SDKs are built around REST-first assumptions.
GraphQL, while powerful, requires more care in CI/CD contexts (schema management, query complexity, rate limits). Its real strength shines in observability, dashboards, and cross-domain insights where overfetching becomes a concern.
Webhooks not only reduce polling but also improve scalability and responsiveness. When designed with idempotency and retries, they become a robust backbone for event-driven CI/CD automation.
Overall, the combination you described reflects a pragmatic and production-ready approach: choosing the right interface based on intent, not trend.