GitLab CI/CD
GitLabs integrated CI/CD platform with built-in Docker/Kubernetes support and auto DevOps capabilities.
GitLab CI/CD is a robust continuous integration and delivery platform built into GitLab. It offers a complete DevOps lifecycle in a single application, from planning to monitoring. With native Kubernetes integration, auto DevOps, and built-in container registry, it provides a comprehensive solution for teams wanting an all-in-one platform. It supports distributed runners, complex pipelines with DAG, and detailed merge request integrations.
Features
Cache Management
Built-in caching mechanisms to speed up builds
Cache with paths, distributed caching via S3
Deployment Gate Approvals
Manual approval steps before production deployments
Manual jobs in pipeline, environment approvals
Docker/Kubernetes Support
Native support for building and deploying containerized applications
Docker-in-Docker, K8s integration, container registry
Hosted Runners
Managed build infrastructure provided by the platform
Shared runners on GitLab.com
Marketplace/Plugins
Extensible ecosystem of pre-built integrations and plugins
Limited, primarily custom images
Matrix Builds
Run tests across multiple OS and language versions in parallel
Parallel matrix jobs in GitLab 13+
Parallel Execution
Run multiple jobs simultaneously to reduce build times
Parallel jobs, DAG pipelines, needs keyword
Pipeline as Code
Define CI/CD pipelines through code files in the repository
.gitlab-ci.yml in repository root
Secrets Management
Secure storage and injection of API keys and credentials
CI/CD Variables with masking and scoping
Self-Hosted Runners
Ability to run build agents on your own infrastructure
Bring your own runners