How to validate URDF files in GitHub Actions without installing ROS

Ravindhar — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 18:59:27 +0000

The problem: ROS CI pipelines are slow because check_urdf
needs a full ROS install (1GB+)
The solution: a 3-line GitHub Action that validates URDFs
via API (show your Action YAML)
Real example: I ran NASA Robonaut 2's URDF through it
and found... (show the results)
How to set it up (step by step with screenshots)
Free tier: 50 validations/month, no credit card

built a free validator:

🔒
Your files are safe

Never stored: file contents exist only in memory during the request. Not written to disk, database, or logs.

Never used for training: We do not use uploads to train AI models or for any purpose beyond your requested validation.

Never shared: We do not share uploaded files with third parties.

Metadata logged 30 days: File size in bytes, validation result (valid/invalid), error count, and timestamp. Used for abuse prevention only.

After response: file content is garbage-collected and unrecoverable.

DEV Community: Ravindhar