Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) with GitLab

GitLab is a git platform used for code hosting and collaboration. It can be used to automatically run checks and other code or workflows on GitLab’s servers. The aim of this module is to introduce CI/CD workflows and how to use them to ensure code is robust, reproducible, and preserved.

Prerequisites

This assumes that you’ll have some basic background with your command line, for example:

1. How to execute custom shell scripts (if you are not familiar with the shell, click here)
2. How to run Python scripts (if you are not familiar with Python, click here)
3. How to interact with remotes in git (if you are not familiar with git, click here)

Learning Objectives

After completing this module, participants will be able to:

• Understand the core concepts of continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD).
• Explain how scripts and exit codes control execution in automated workflows.
• Design and implement flexible and extendable CI/CD pipelines using GitLab.
• Understand how CI runners operate and interact with repository code.
• Apply best practices for building reusable and reproducible CI/CD pipelines.
• Manage GitLab permissions and securely handle sensitive information.

HSF Software Training

This training module is part of the HSF Software Training Center, a series of training modules that serves HEP newcomers the software skills needed as they enter the field, and in parallel, instill best practices for writing software.