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GitLab - DevOps & CI/CD | Klero Resources

A practical guide to GitLab: source control, CI/CD pipelines, and DevOps in one platform. Learn what actually saves time and when it fits.

Gitlab

GitLab is a DevOps platform that bundles Git hosting, CI/CD, container registry, and security scanning in one product. You get repositories, merge requests, and pipelines from a single UI. This guide focuses on what matters for product and engineering: when to use GitLab over GitHub-style “Git + separate CI,” and how to get value from pipelines early.

Intro to CI/CD with GitLab

Why gitlab fits product work

  • All-in-one - Repos, merge requests, CI/CD, and (on paid tiers) registry and security live in one place. Fewer accounts and fewer “where does this run?” moments.
  • Merge requests as review - Same idea as pull requests: propose changes, get comments, run the pipeline, then merge. History stays traceable.
  • Built-in CI/CD - Pipelines are defined in the repo (.gitlab-ci.yml). No separate SaaS to wire up for basic build-and-test.
  • Runners and parallelism - Use GitLab.com shared runners (free tier) or your own. Scale jobs and define stages (test → build → deploy) in one file.
  • Issues and boards - Track work; use boards for kanban or milestones. Integrations (e.g. Jira, Slack) exist for teams that already use them.

    • Core concepts that matter

    Repositories and merge requests

    A repository holds the codebase. Branches are lines of work. A merge request (MR) proposes merging one branch into another (e.g. into main). Use MRs for every change that touches shared code: describe the change, link issues, assign reviewers. Pipelines run on the MR branch; merge when they pass and review is done.

    Pipelines and `.gitlab-ci.yml`

    A pipeline is a set of jobs grouped into stages (e.g. test → build → deploy). Each job runs in a runner (GitLab-hosted or self-hosted). The definition lives in `.gitlab-ci.yml` at the repo root. You specify stages, jobs, scripts, and when each job runs (e.g. only on main, or only when certain files change). One file, one place to look.

    Intro to CI/CD - GitLab Webinar

    Jobs and runners

    A job is one unit of work: run tests, build a Docker image, deploy to staging. Runners execute jobs. GitLab.com provides shared runners (free with limits); you can add your own for more control or for private/compliance needs. Use artifacts to pass build output (e.g. a binary or archive) to a later job or to download from the UI.

    Container registry and security (paid)

    On Premium/Ultimate, GitLab includes a container registry and dependency/container scanning. Images built in CI can be pushed to the same org; scanners run in the pipeline. Useful when you want “code + pipeline + images + scanning” in one product.

    Practical habits

  • One `.gitlab-ci.yml` per repo - Keep stages few and clear: e.g. lint → test → build. Add deploy when you have a target (e.g. staging, production).
  • Run tests in every MR - Make the test stage mandatory and fast. Don’t merge if tests fail.
  • Use MR approvals - Require one or more approvals and passing pipeline. Protects default branch and keeps history sane.
  • Link issues in MRs - Use “Closes #123” so merging auto-closes the issue. Boards and burndown stay in sync.
  • Start with shared runners - Use GitLab.com runners until you hit limits or need custom envs; then add your own runners.

    • When gitlab isn’t the fit

  • “Just Git + simple CI” - If you’re fine with GitHub + GitHub Actions (or similar), GitLab’s all-in-one might be more than you need.
  • Tiny or throwaway repos - For one-off scripts, a lighter host (e.g. GitHub, Bitbucket) can be enough.
  • Heavy GitHub ecosystem - If the team lives in GitHub, Copilot, and third-party GitHub apps, switching to GitLab has a migration and habit cost.

    • Pricing (high level)

    Free - Unlimited private repos and collaborators, 400 compute minutes/month on shared runners, issues and boards. Enough for small teams and side projects.

    Premium - More compute, MR approvals, advanced CI (e.g. parallel matrix), container registry, and support. Ultimate - Security scanning, compliance, and enterprise features. See GitLab’s pricing for current plans.

    For teams that want Git, code review, and CI in one place-and are okay with learning GitLab’s UI and YAML-GitLab is a strong default. Start with merge requests and a small pipeline; add stages and runners as you grow.

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