GitLab CI/CD: integrated DevOps platform

Cloud & Web Apps

Development of modern web applications and APIs, cloud native architectures, containers, CI/CD. End-to-end open source tech stack.

Discover →

DevOps platform

GitLab (2011, Dmitriy Zaporozhets, Sid Sijbrandij) is born as a self-hosted GitHub clone. From 2012 it introduces GitLab CI as integrated feature; GitLab Runner stable in 2015. Native integration distinguishes GitLab from competition: a single UI manages repo, CI/CD, container registry, package registry, issue tracking, security scanning, monitoring.

The model

• .gitlab-ci.yml — YAML pipeline in repo root
• GitLab Runner — executor (shell, Docker, Kubernetes, VirtualBox, SSH) registrable
• Jobs grouped in sequential stages
• Artifacts shared between jobs
• Cache for speed
• Environment — dev/staging/prod with protection

stages: [build, test, deploy]

build:
  stage: build
  image: node:20
  script:
    - npm ci
    - npm run build
  artifacts:
    paths: [dist/]

test:
  stage: test
  image: node:20
  script: [npm test]

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  only: [main]
  script: [./deploy.sh]
  environment:
    name: production

Distinctive features

• Auto DevOps — auto-generated pipeline for detected framework
• Review App — every MR has temporary environment
• Merge Train — serial pipelines on main to avoid collisions
• Child pipelines — dynamic pipeline generation
• Parent-child / trigger — multi-project pipeline
• CI/CD Catalog (2024+) — template marketplace
• DAST/SAST/Secret Detection — built-in scanning (part Ultimate tier, some OSS)
• Kubernetes integration — Agent and Auto Deploy
• GitLab Runner Operator — K8s autoscaling

Editions

• Community Edition (CE) — MIT, free self-hosted
• Enterprise Edition (EE) — proprietary, additional features (Audit, advanced SAML SSO, Geo replica)
• GitLab.com — SaaS (free, premium, ultimate tier)
• GitLab Dedicated — single-tenant SaaS (2023+)

Comparison with GitHub Actions

In the Italian context

GitLab is very widespread in Italy where it is preferred self-hosted:

• Banks and insurance — self-hosted GitLab for data sovereignty
• Digital PA — Italian PA teams use GitLab (SPID DevOps, MaaS, Developers Italia aggregator)
• Universities and research centres — free GitLab CE
• Tech SMEs — GitHub Enterprise alternative
• MSPs — GitLab Runner K8s for clients

Often combined with GitLab Runner on K8s, Harbor registry, Vault secrets, ArgoCD for downstream GitOps.

References: GitLab CI introduction (2012). GitLab Runner stable (2015). GitLab Inc (Dmitriy Zaporozhets, Sid Sijbrandij). CE MIT, EE proprietary. Features: Auto DevOps, Review App, Merge Train, DAST/SAST. CI/CD Catalog (2024).