Advanced GitLab Training Course

Introduction and Foundational Concepts

• Calibration session: assessing participants' existing knowledge of Git and GitLab.
• Refresher on core Git concepts: commits, branches, merges, and push/pull operations.
• Comparison of GitLab editions (Free vs. Premium vs. Ultimate).
• Exploring typical GitLab use cases and their organizational advantages.

GitLab Features and Architectural Overview

• Navigating the GitLab interface and understanding project structure.
• Key functionalities: repository management, pipeline orchestration, and issue boards.
• High-level view of GitLab CI/CD architecture and runner mechanics.

GitLab Workflow Dynamics

• Comparing common workflows: GitLab Flow versus GitFlow.
• Managing merge requests, approvals, and code review cycles.
• Branch management strategies and permission structures.

Project Organization via Groups and Namespaces

• Demystifying GitLab groups, subgroups, and the concept of namespaces.
• Managing project visibility and group-level permissions.
• Strategies for forking and controlling team access.

CI/CD Implementation in GitLab

• Configuring and registering GitLab Runners.
• Utilizing Docker and Kubernetes executors.
• Docker-in-Docker (DIND): exploring benefits and potential pitfalls.
• Diagnosing and resolving runner-related issues.
• Authoring and structuring the gitlab-ci.yml configuration file.
• Leveraging variables and CI secrets for security.
• Designing CI workflows and defining stages.
• Incorporating templates and creating reusable pipeline definitions.
• Controlling pipelines through triggers, schedules, and manual actions.
• Generating releases and establishing tagging strategies.

Issue Management and Team Collaboration

• Creating issues and establishing links between them.
• Customizing issue boards and applying labels for clarity.
• Tracking progress through milestones and status updates.

Leveraging GitLab Markdown

• Formatting issues, merge requests, and wiki pages.
• Using Markdown for professional documentation and inline visuals.
• Incorporating checklists, code blocks, and tables for better readability.

GitLab Pages

• Deploying static websites directly from GitLab repositories.
• Configuring GitLab Pages with custom domains.
• Integrating CI/CD pipelines for automated Pages deployments.

Security and Access Control

• Managing personal access tokens and project-specific tokens.
• Protecting pipeline secrets and sensitive variables.
• Overview of GitLab’s built-in security scanning capabilities.

Troubleshooting and Diagnostic Techniques

• Identifying and resolving common CI/CD errors.
• Analyzing runner logs and debugging failed jobs.
• Best practices for ensuring pipeline reliability and stability.

Conclusion and Future Directions

• Course summary and open Q&A session.
• Final review or practical evaluation task.
• Feedback collection and course closure.
• Recommended resources for continued professional development.