path: root/doc/development/pipelines.md

# Pipelines for the GitLab project

Pipelines for <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab> and <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss> (as well as the
`dev` instance's mirrors) are configured in the usual
[`.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab-ci.yml)
which itself includes files under
[`.gitlab/ci/`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/tree/master/.gitlab/ci)
for easier maintenance.

We're striving to [dogfood](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/#dogfooding)
GitLab [CI/CD features and best-practices](../ci/yaml/README.md)
as much as possible.

## Overview

### Pipeline types

Since we use the [`rules:`](../ci/yaml/README.md#rules) and [`needs:`](../ci/yaml/README.md#needs) keywords extensively,
we have four main pipeline types which are described below. Note that an MR that includes multiple types of changes would
have a pipelines that include jobs from multiple types (e.g. a combination of docs-only and code-only pipelines).

#### Docs-only MR pipeline

Reference pipeline: <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/pipelines/135236627>

```mermaid
graph LR
  subgraph "No needed jobs";
    1-1["danger-review (3.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8100542&udv=0"
    1-50["docs lint (6.75 minutes)"];
    click 1-50 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356757&udv=0"
  end
```

#### Code-only MR pipeline

Reference pipeline: <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/pipelines/136295694>

```mermaid
graph RL;
  classDef criticalPath fill:#f66;

  subgraph "No needed jobs";
    1-1["danger-review (3.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8100542&udv=0"
    1-2["build-qa-image (3.4 minutes)"];
    click 1-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914325&udv=0"
    1-3["compile-test-assets (9.06 minutes)"];
    click 1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914317&udv=0"
    1-4["compile-test-assets as-if-foss (8.35 minutes)"];
    click 1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356616&udv=0"
    1-5["compile-production-assets (22 minutes)"];
    click 1-5 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914312&udv=0"
    1-6["setup-test-env (8.22 minutes)"];
    click 1-6 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914315&udv=0"
    1-7["review-stop-failed-deployment"];
    1-8["dependency_scanning"];
    1-9["qa:internal, qa:internal-as-if-foss"];
    1-11["qa:selectors, qa:selectors-as-if-foss"];
    1-14["retrieve-tests-metadata (1.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-14 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356697&udv=0"
    1-15["code_quality"];
    1-16["brakeman-sast"];
    1-17["eslint-sast"];
    1-18["kubesec-sast"];
    1-19["nodejs-scan-sast"];
    1-20["secrets-sast"];
    1-21["static-analysis (17 minutes)"];
    click 1-21 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914471&udv=0"

    class 1-3 criticalPath;
    class 1-6 criticalPath;
  end

  2_1-1["graphql-reference-verify (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356715&udv=0"
  2_1-2["memory-static (4.75 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356721&udv=0"
  2_1-3["run-dev-fixtures (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356729&udv=0"
  2_1-4["run-dev-fixtures-ee (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356731&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `setup-test-env`";
    2_1-1 & 2_1-2 & 2_1-3 & 2_1-4 --> 1-6;
  end

  2_2-2["frontend-fixtures (17.2 minutes)"];
  class 2_2-2 criticalPath;
  click 2_2-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910143&udv=0"
  2_2-3["frontend-fixtures-as-if-foss (8.75 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910154&udv=0"
  2_2-4["memory-on-boot (7.19 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356727&udv=0"
  2_2-5["webpack-dev-server (6.1 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-5 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8404303&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `setup-test-env` & `compile-test-assets`";
    2_2-2 & 2_2-4 & 2_2-5 --> 1-6 & 1-3;
    2_2-3 --> 1-6 & 1-4;
  end

  2_3-1["build-assets-image (2.5 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `compile-production-assets`";
    2_3-1 --> 1-5
  end

  2_4-1["package-and-qa (manual)"];
  subgraph "Needs `build-qa-image`";
    2_4-1 --> 1-2;
    click 2_4-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914305&udv=0"
  end

  2_5-1["rspec & db jobs (12-22 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `compile-test-assets`, `setup-test-env`, & `retrieve-tests-metadata`";
    2_5-1 --> 1-3 & 1-6 & 1-14;
    class 2_5-1 criticalPath;
    click 2_5-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations"
  end

  3_1-1["jest (15 minutes)"];
  class 3_1-1 criticalPath;
  click 3_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914204&udv=0"
  3_1-2["karma (8 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914200&udv=0"
  3_1-3["jest-as-if-foss (19.7 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914205&udv=0"
  3_1-4["karma-as-if-foss (7.5 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914203&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `frontend-fixtures`";
    3_1-1 & 3_1-2 --> 2_2-2;
    3_1-3 & 3_1-4 --> 2_2-3;
  end

  3_2-1["rspec:coverage (6.5 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Depends on `rspec` jobs";
    3_2-1 -.->|"(don't use needs because of limitations)"| 2_5-1;
    class 3_2-1 criticalPath;
    click 3_2-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7248745&udv=0"
  end

  4_1-1["coverage-frontend (3.6 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `jest`";
    4_1-1 --> 3_1-1;
    class 4_1-1 criticalPath;
    click 4_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910777&udv=0"
  end
```

#### Frontend-only MR pipeline

Reference pipeline: <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/pipelines/134661039>

```mermaid
graph RL;
  classDef criticalPath fill:#f66;

  subgraph "No needed jobs";
    1-1["danger-review (3.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8100542&udv=0"
    1-2["build-qa-image (3.4 minutes)"];
    click 1-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914325&udv=0"
    1-3["compile-test-assets (9.06 minutes)"];
    click 1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914317&udv=0"
    1-4["compile-test-assets as-if-foss (8.35 minutes)"];
    click 1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356616&udv=0"
    1-5["compile-production-assets (22 minutes)"];
    click 1-5 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914312&udv=0"
    1-6["setup-test-env (8.22 minutes)"];
    click 1-6 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914315&udv=0"
    1-7["review-stop-failed-deployment"];
    1-8["dependency_scanning"];
    1-9["qa:internal, qa:internal-as-if-foss"];
    1-11["qa:selectors, qa:selectors-as-if-foss"];
    1-14["retrieve-tests-metadata (1.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-14 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356697&udv=0"
    1-15["code_quality"];
    1-16["brakeman-sast"];
    1-17["eslint-sast"];
    1-18["kubesec-sast"];
    1-19["nodejs-scan-sast"];
    1-20["secrets-sast"];
    1-21["static-analysis (17 minutes)"];
    click 1-21 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914471&udv=0"

    class 1-3 criticalPath;
    class 1-5 criticalPath;
    class 1-6 criticalPath;
  end

  2_1-1["graphql-reference-verify (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356715&udv=0"
  2_1-2["memory-static (4.75 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356721&udv=0"
  2_1-3["run-dev-fixtures (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356729&udv=0"
  2_1-4["run-dev-fixtures-ee (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356731&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `setup-test-env`";
    2_1-1 & 2_1-2 & 2_1-3 & 2_1-4 --> 1-6;
  end

  2_2-2["frontend-fixtures (17.2 minutes)"];
  class 2_2-2 criticalPath;
  click 2_2-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910143&udv=0"
  2_2-3["frontend-fixtures-as-if-foss (8.75 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910154&udv=0"
  2_2-4["memory-on-boot (7.19 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356727&udv=0"
  2_2-5["webpack-dev-server (6.1 minutes)"];
  click 2_2-5 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8404303&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `setup-test-env` & `compile-test-assets`";
    2_2-2 & 2_2-4 & 2_2-5 --> 1-6 & 1-3;
    2_2-3 --> 1-6 & 1-4;
  end

  2_3-1["build-assets-image (2.5 minutes)"];
  class 2_3-1 criticalPath;
  subgraph "Needs `compile-production-assets`";
    2_3-1 --> 1-5
  end

  2_4-1["package-and-qa (manual)"];
  subgraph "Needs `build-qa-image` & `build-assets-image`";
    2_4-1 --> 1-2 & 2_3-1;
    click 2_4-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914305&udv=0"
  end

  2_5-1["rspec & db jobs (12-22 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `compile-test-assets`, `setup-test-env, & `retrieve-tests-metadata`";
    2_5-1 --> 1-3 & 1-6 & 1-14;
    class 2_5-1 criticalPath;
    click 2_5-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations"
  end

  2_6-1["review-build-cng (27.3 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `build-assets-image`";
    2_6-1 --> 2_3-1;
    class 2_6-1 criticalPath;
    click 2_6-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914314&udv=0"
  end

  3_1-1["jest (15 minutes)"];
  class 3_1-1 criticalPath;
  click 3_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914204&udv=0"
  3_1-2["karma (8 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914200&udv=0"
  3_1-3["jest-as-if-foss (19.7 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914205&udv=0"
  3_1-4["karma-as-if-foss (7.5 minutes)"];
  click 3_1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914203&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `frontend-fixtures`";
    3_1-1 & 3_1-3 --> 2_2-2;
    3_1-2 & 3_1-4 --> 2_2-3;
  end

  3_2-1["rspec:coverage (6.5 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Depends on `rspec` jobs";
    3_2-1 -.->|"(don't use needs because of limitations)"| 2_5-1;
    class 3_2-1 criticalPath;
    click 3_2-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7248745&udv=0"
  end

  4_1-1["coverage-frontend (3.6 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `jest`";
    4_1-1 --> 3_1-1;
    class 4_1-1 criticalPath;
    click 4_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=7910777&udv=0"
  end

  3_3-1["review-deploy (6 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Played by `review-build-cng`";
    3_3-1 --> 2_6-1;
    class 3_3-1 criticalPath;
    click 3_3-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6721130&udv=0"
  end

  4_2-1["review-qa-smoke (8 minutes)"];
  click 4_2-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6729805&udv=0"
  4_2-2["review-performance (4 minutes)"];
  click 4_2-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356817&udv=0"
  4_2-3["dast (18 minutes)"];
  click 4_2-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356819&udv=0"
  class 4_2-3 criticalPath;
  subgraph "Played by `review-deploy`";
    4_2-1 & 4_2-2 & 4_2-3 -.->|"(don't use needs because of limitations)"| 3_3-1;
  end
```

#### QA-only MR pipeline

Reference pipeline: <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/pipelines/134645109>

```mermaid
graph RL;
  classDef criticalPath fill:#f66;

  subgraph "No needed jobs";
    1-1["danger-review (3.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8100542&udv=0"
    1-2["build-qa-image (3.4 minutes)"];
    click 1-2 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914325&udv=0"
    1-3["compile-test-assets (9.06 minutes)"];
    click 1-3 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914317&udv=0"
    1-4["compile-test-assets as-if-foss (8.35 minutes)"];
    click 1-4 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356616&udv=0"
    1-5["compile-production-assets (22 minutes)"];
    click 1-5 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914312&udv=0"
    1-6["setup-test-env (8.22 minutes)"];
    click 1-6 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914315&udv=0"
    1-7["review-stop-failed-deployment"];
    1-8["dependency_scanning"];
    1-9["qa:internal, qa:internal-as-if-foss"];
    1-11["qa:selectors, qa:selectors-as-if-foss"];
    1-14["retrieve-tests-metadata (1.5 minutes)"];
    click 1-14 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356697&udv=0"
    1-15["code_quality"];
    1-16["brakeman-sast"];
    1-17["eslint-sast"];
    1-18["kubesec-sast"];
    1-19["nodejs-scan-sast"];
    1-20["secrets-sast"];
    1-21["static-analysis (17 minutes)"];
    click 1-21 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914471&udv=0"

    class 1-5 criticalPath;
  end

  2_1-1["graphql-reference-verify (5 minutes)"];
  click 2_1-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=8356715&udv=0"
  subgraph "Needs `setup-test-env`";
    2_1-1 --> 1-6;
  end

  2_3-1["build-assets-image (2.5 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `compile-production-assets`";
    2_3-1 --> 1-5
    class 2_3-1 criticalPath;
  end

  2_4-1["package-and-qa (108 minutes)"];
  subgraph "Needs `build-qa-image` & `build-assets-image`";
    2_4-1 --> 1-2 & 2_3-1;
    class 2_4-1 criticalPath;
    click 2_4-1 "https://app.periscopedata.com/app/gitlab/652085/Engineering-Productivity---Pipeline-Build-Durations?widget=6914305&udv=0"
  end
```

### `workflow:rules`

We're using the [`workflow:rules` keyword](../ci/yaml/README.md#workflowrules) to
define default rules to determine whether or not a pipeline is created.

These rules are defined in <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab-ci.yml>
and are as follows:

1. If `$FORCE_GITLAB_CI` is set, create a pipeline.
1. For merge requests, create a pipeline.
1. For `master` branch, create a pipeline (this includes on schedules, pushes, merges, etc.).
1. For tags, create a pipeline.
1. If `$GITLAB_INTERNAL` isn't set, don't create a pipeline.
1. For stable, auto-deploy, and security branches, create a pipeline.
1. For any other cases (e.g. when pushing a branch with no MR for it), no pipeline is created.

### PostgreSQL versions testing

#### Current versions testing

| Where? | PostgreSQL version |
| ------ | ------ |
| MRs | 11 |
| `master` (non-scheduled pipelines) | 11 |
| 2-hourly scheduled pipelines | 11 |

#### Long-term plan

We follow the [PostgreSQL versions shipped with Omnibus GitLab](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/package-information/postgresql_versions.html):

| PostgreSQL version | 12.10 (April 2020) | 13.0 (May 2020) | 13.1 (June 2020) | 13.2 (July 2020) | 13.3 (August 2020) | 13.4, 13.5   | 13.6 (November 2020) | 14.0 (May 2021?) |
| ------ | ------------------ | --------------- | ---------------- | ---------------- | ------------------ | ------------ | -------------------- | ---------------- |
| PG9.6  | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | -               | -                | -                | -                  | -            | -                    | -                |
| PG10   | `nightly`           | -               | -                | -                | -                  | -            | -                    | -                |
| PG11   | `master`/`2-hour` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly` | `nightly`              | -                |
| PG12   | -                  | -               | -                | -                | `master`/`2-hour` | `master`/`2-hour` | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly`         | `master`/`2-hour` |
| PG13   | -                  | -               | -                | -                | -                  | -            | -                    | MRs/`master`/`2-hour`/`nightly`     |

### Test jobs

Consult [GitLab tests in the Continuous Integration (CI) context](testing_guide/ci.md)
for more information.

### Review app jobs

Consult the [Review Apps](testing_guide/review_apps.md) dedicated page for more information.

### As-if-FOSS jobs

The `* as-if-foss` jobs allows to run GitLab's test suite "as-if-FOSS", meaning as if the jobs would run in the context
of the `gitlab-org/gitlab-foss` project. These jobs are only created in the following cases:

- `gitlab-org/security/gitlab` merge requests.
- Merge requests which include `RUN AS-IF-FOSS` in their title.
- Merge requests that changes the CI configuration.

The `* as-if-foss` jobs have the `FOSS_ONLY='1'` variable set and gets their EE-specific
folders removed before the tests start running.

The intent is to ensure that a change won't introduce a failure once the `gitlab-org/gitlab` project will be synced to
the `gitlab-org/gitlab-foss` project.

## Performance

### Interruptible pipelines

By default, all jobs are [interruptible](../ci/yaml/README.md#interruptible), except the
`dont-interrupt-me` job which runs automatically on `master`, and is `manual`
otherwise.

If you want a running pipeline to finish even if you push new commits to a merge
request, be sure to start the `dont-interrupt-me` job before pushing.

### Caching strategy

1. All jobs must only pull caches by default.
1. All jobs must be able to pass with an empty cache. In other words, caches are only there to speed up jobs.
1. We currently have 6 different caches defined in
   [`.gitlab/ci/global.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/global.gitlab-ci.yml),
   with fixed keys:
   - `.rails-cache`.
   - `.static-analysis-cache`.
   - `.qa-cache`
   - `.yarn-cache`.
   - `.assets-compile-cache` (the key includes `${NODE_ENV}` so it's actually two different caches).
1. Only 6 specific jobs, running in 2-hourly scheduled pipelines, are pushing (i.e. updating) to the caches:
   - `update-rails-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/rails.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/rails.gitlab-ci.yml).
   - `update-static-analysis-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/rails.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/rails.gitlab-ci.yml).
   - `update-qa-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/qa.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/qa.gitlab-ci.yml).
   - `update-assets-compile-production-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml).
   - `update-assets-compile-test-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml).
   - `update-yarn-cache`, defined in [`.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/frontend.gitlab-ci.yml).
1. These jobs will run in merge requests whose title include `UPDATE CACHE`.

### Pre-clone step

The `gitlab-org/gitlab` project on GitLab.com uses a [pre-clone step](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/39134)
to seed the project with a recent archive of the repository. This is done for
several reasons:

- It speeds up builds because a 800 MB download only takes seconds, as opposed to a full Git clone.
- It significantly reduces load on the file server, as smaller deltas mean less time spent in `git pack-objects`.

The pre-clone step works by using the `CI_PRE_CLONE_SCRIPT` variable
[defined by GitLab.com shared runners](../user/gitlab_com/index.md#pre-clone-script).

The `CI_PRE_CLONE_SCRIPT` is currently defined as a project CI/CD
variable:

```shell
echo "Downloading archived master..."
wget -O /tmp/gitlab.tar.gz https://storage.googleapis.com/gitlab-ci-git-repo-cache/project-278964/gitlab-master.tar.gz

if [ ! -f /tmp/gitlab.tar.gz ]; then
    echo "Repository cache not available, cloning a new directory..."
    exit
fi

rm -rf $CI_PROJECT_DIR
echo "Extracting tarball into $CI_PROJECT_DIR..."
mkdir -p $CI_PROJECT_DIR
cd $CI_PROJECT_DIR
tar xzf /tmp/gitlab.tar.gz
rm -f /tmp/gitlab.tar.gz
chmod a+w $CI_PROJECT_DIR
```

The first step of the script downloads `gitlab-master.tar.gz` from
Google Cloud Storage. There is a [GitLab CI job named `cache-repo`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/cache-repo.gitlab-ci.yml#L5)
that is responsible for keeping that archive up-to-date. Every two hours
on a scheduled pipeline, it does the following:

1. Creates a fresh clone of the `gitlab-org/gitlab` repository on GitLab.com.
1. Saves the data as a `.tar.gz`.
1. Uploads it into the Google Cloud Storage bucket.

When a CI job runs with this configuration, you'll see something like
this:

```shell
$ eval "$CI_PRE_CLONE_SCRIPT"
Downloading archived master...
Extracting tarball into /builds/group/project...
Fetching changes...
Reinitialized existing Git repository in /builds/group/project/.git/
```

Note that the `Reinitialized existing Git repository` message shows that
the pre-clone step worked. The runner runs `git init`, which
overwrites the Git configuration with the appropriate settings to fetch
from the GitLab repository.

`CI_REPO_CACHE_CREDENTIALS` contains the Google Cloud service account
JSON for uploading to the `gitlab-ci-git-repo-cache` bucket. These
credentials are stored in the 1Password GitLab.com Production vault.

Note that this bucket should be located in the same continent as the
runner, or [network egress charges will apply](https://cloud.google.com/storage/pricing).

## CI configuration internals

### Stages

The current stages are:

- `sync`: This stage is used to synchronize changes from <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab> to
  <https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss>.
- `prepare`: This stage includes jobs that prepare artifacts that are needed by
  jobs in subsequent stages.
- `build-images`: This stage includes jobs that prepare Docker images
  that are needed by jobs in subsequent stages or downstream pipelines.
- `fixtures`: This stage includes jobs that prepare fixtures needed by frontend tests.
- `test`: This stage includes most of the tests, DB/migration jobs, and static analysis jobs.
- `post-test`: This stage includes jobs that build reports or gather data from
  the `test` stage's jobs (e.g. coverage, Knapsack metadata etc.).
- `review-prepare`: This stage includes a job that build the CNG images that are
  later used by the (Helm) Review App deployment (see
  [Review Apps](testing_guide/review_apps.md) for details).
- `review`: This stage includes jobs that deploy the GitLab and Docs Review Apps.
- `qa`: This stage includes jobs that perform QA tasks against the Review App
  that is deployed in the previous stage.
- `post-qa`: This stage includes jobs that build reports or gather data from
  the `qa` stage's jobs (e.g. Review App performance report).
- `pages`: This stage includes a job that deploys the various reports as
  GitLab Pages (e.g. [`coverage-ruby`](https://gitlab-org.gitlab.io/gitlab/coverage-ruby/),
  [`coverage-javascript`](https://gitlab-org.gitlab.io/gitlab/coverage-javascript/),
  [`webpack-report`](https://gitlab-org.gitlab.io/gitlab/webpack-report/).

### Default image

The default image is defined in [`.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab-ci.yml).

It includes Ruby, Go, Git, Git LFS, Chrome, Node, Yarn, PostgreSQL, and Graphics Magick.

The images used in our pipelines are configured in the
[`gitlab-org/gitlab-build-images`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-build-images)
project, which is push-mirrored to [`gitlab/gitlab-build-images`](https://dev.gitlab.org/gitlab/gitlab-build-images)
for redundancy.

The current version of the build images can be found in the
["Used by GitLab section"](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-build-images/blob/master/.gitlab-ci.yml).

### Default variables

In addition to the [predefined variables](../ci/variables/predefined_variables.md),
each pipeline includes default variables defined in
<https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab-ci.yml>.

### Common job definitions

Most of the jobs [extend from a few CI definitions](../ci/yaml/README.md#extends)
defined in [`.gitlab/ci/global.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/global.gitlab-ci.yml)
that are scoped to a single [configuration parameter](../ci/yaml/README.md#configuration-parameters).

| Job definitions  | Description |
|------------------|-------------|
| `.default-tags` | Ensures a job has the `gitlab-org` tag to ensure it's using our dedicated runners. |
| `.default-retry` | Allows a job to [retry](../ci/yaml/README.md#retry) upon `unknown_failure`, `api_failure`, `runner_system_failure`, `job_execution_timeout`, or `stuck_or_timeout_failure`. |
| `.default-before_script` | Allows a job to use a default `before_script` definition suitable for Ruby/Rails tasks that may need a database running (e.g. tests). |
| `.rails-cache` | Allows a job to use a default `cache` definition suitable for Ruby/Rails tasks. |
| `.static-analysis-cache` | Allows a job to use a default `cache` definition suitable for static analysis tasks. |
| `.yarn-cache` | Allows a job to use a default `cache` definition suitable for frontend jobs that do a `yarn install`. |
| `.assets-compile-cache` | Allows a job to use a default `cache` definition suitable for frontend jobs that compile assets. |
| `.use-pg11` | Allows a job to use the `postgres:11.6` and `redis:alpine` services. |
| `.use-pg11-ee` | Same as `.use-pg11` but also use the `docker.elastic.co/elasticsearch/elasticsearch:6.4.2` services. |
| `.use-kaniko` | Allows a job to use the `kaniko` tool to build Docker images. |
| `.as-if-foss` | Simulate the FOSS project by setting the `FOSS_ONLY='1'` environment variable. |

### `rules`, `if:` conditions and `changes:` patterns

We're using the [`rules` keyword](../ci/yaml/README.md#rules) extensively.

All `rules` definitions are defined in
<https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/rules.gitlab-ci.yml>,
then included in individual jobs via [`extends`](../ci/yaml/README.md#extends).

The `rules` definitions are composed of `if:` conditions and `changes:` patterns,
which are also defined in
[`rules.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/.gitlab/ci/rules.gitlab-ci.yml)
and included in `rules` definitions via [YAML anchors](../ci/yaml/README.md#anchors)

#### `if:` conditions

| `if:` conditions | Description | Notes |
|------------------|-------------|-------|
| `if-not-canonical-namespace`                                 | Matches if the project isn't in the canonical (`gitlab-org/`) or security (`gitlab-org/security`) namespace. | Use to create a job for forks (by using `when: on_success\|manual`), or **not** create a job for forks (by using `when: never`). |
| `if-not-ee`                                                  | Matches if the project isn't EE (i.e. project name isn't `gitlab` or `gitlab-ee`). | Use to create a job only in the FOSS project (by using `when: on_success|manual`), or **not** create a job if the project is EE (by using `when: never`). |
| `if-not-foss`                                                | Matches if the project isn't FOSS (i.e. project name isn't `gitlab-foss`, `gitlab-ce`, or `gitlabhq`). | Use to create a job only in the EE project (by using `when: on_success|manual`), or **not** create a job if the project is FOSS (by using `when: never`). |
| `if-default-refs`                                            | Matches if the pipeline is for `master`, `/^[\d-]+-stable(-ee)?$/` (stable branches), `/^\d+-\d+-auto-deploy-\d+$/` (auto-deploy branches), `/^security\//` (security branches), merge requests, and tags. | Note that jobs won't be created for branches with this default configuration. |
| `if-master-refs`                                             | Matches if the current branch is `master`. | |
| `if-master-or-tag`                                           | Matches if the pipeline is for the `master` branch or for a tag. | |
| `if-merge-request`                                           | Matches if the pipeline is for a merge request. | |
| `if-nightly-master-schedule`                                 | Matches if the pipeline is for a `master` scheduled pipeline with `$NIGHTLY` set. | |
| `if-dot-com-gitlab-org-schedule`                             | Limits jobs creation to scheduled pipelines for the `gitlab-org` group on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-dot-com-gitlab-org-master`                               | Limits jobs creation to the `master` branch for the `gitlab-org` group on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-dot-com-gitlab-org-merge-request`                        | Limits jobs creation to merge requests for the `gitlab-org` group on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-dot-com-gitlab-org-and-security-tag`                     | Limits job creation to tags for the `gitlab-org` and `gitlab-org/security` groups on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-dot-com-gitlab-org-and-security-merge-request`           | Limit jobs creation to merge requests for the `gitlab-org` and `gitlab-org/security` groups on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-dot-com-ee-schedule`                                     | Limits jobs to scheduled pipelines for the `gitlab-org/gitlab` project on GitLab.com. | |
| `if-cache-credentials-schedule`                              | Limits jobs to scheduled pipelines with the `$CI_REPO_CACHE_CREDENTIALS` variable set. | |

#### `changes:` patterns

| `changes:` patterns          | Description                                                              |
|------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `ci-patterns`                | Only create job for CI config-related changes.                           |
| `yaml-patterns`              | Only create job for YAML-related changes.                                |
| `docs-patterns`              | Only create job for docs-related changes.                                |
| `frontend-dependency-patterns` | Only create job when frontend dependencies are updated (i.e. `package.json`, and `yarn.lock`). changes. |
| `frontend-patterns`          | Only create job for frontend-related changes.                           |
| `backstage-patterns`         | Only create job for backstage-related changes (i.e. Danger, fixtures, RuboCop, specs). |
| `code-patterns`              | Only create job for code-related changes.                                |
| `qa-patterns`                | Only create job for QA-related changes.                                  |
| `code-backstage-patterns`    | Combination of `code-patterns` and `backstage-patterns`.                 |
| `code-qa-patterns`           | Combination of `code-patterns` and `qa-patterns`.                        |
| `code-backstage-qa-patterns` | Combination of `code-patterns`, `backstage-patterns`, and `qa-patterns`. |

---

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