GitLab

Introduction

This GitLab series walks through source code management, merge requests, CI/CD pipelines, DevSecOps features, package and container registries, and administration. Each post includes practical steps to help teams ship faster with robust, secure workflows.

A. Fundamentals

Getting Started with GitLab — Projects, groups, permissions, and navigation.
Repos, Issues & Merge Requests — Collaboration workflows and code reviews.
SSH Keys & Authentication — Secure access and identity.

B. Source Workflows

Branching Strategies — GitFlow, trunk-based, and release flows.
Code Reviews & Approvals — Protecting branches and enforcing quality.
Issues, Epics & Boards — Planning and tracking work efficiently.

C. CI/CD Pipelines

.gitlab-ci.yml Basics — Jobs, stages, variables, and artifacts.
Runners & Executors — Shell, Docker, Kubernetes executors.
Pipelines, Triggers & Schedules — Efficient automation patterns.

D. DevSecOps

Security Scanning (SAST/DAST) — Detecting vulnerabilities early.
Dependency & License Compliance — Policies and approvals.
Code Quality & Coverage — Gates in pipelines.

E. Packages & Deployment

Container & Package Registries — Docker, Helm, Maven, npm.
Release Management & Environments — Review apps and deployments.
Kubernetes & Auto DevOps — GitOps-friendly delivery.

F. Admin & Advanced

Self-Managed vs SaaS — Choosing and operating GitLab.
Backups, Migrations & Maintenance — Reliability and upgrades.
Integrations & Webhooks — Extending GitLab in your ecosystem.

Conclusion

By the end of this series, you'll be able to design efficient GitLab workflows, automate CI/CD with confidence, integrate security early, and run dependable release management at scale.