GitLab workflows and delivery
GitLab puts source control, CI, registry and issue tracking in one product — and it can run on your own infrastructure. For organisations with data-residency requirements, that combination is often decisive.
GitLab in practice
GitLab bundles source control, CI, container registry, issue tracking and security scanning into one product — and, crucially, one that can run on your own infrastructure as a first-class option rather than a stripped-down edition. For organisations with data-residency requirements, that combination frequently decides the choice on its own.
The integrated model has a real practical benefit: pipelines, registry and environments are all aware of each other, so there are no tokens to wire between four vendors. The trade is a smaller ecosystem than GitHub and, if you self-host, a substantial application to operate and keep patched.
What we build with GitLab
Build, test, security-scan and deploy stages in one file, with environments and approvals modelled explicitly.
On-premise GitLab where code cannot leave the organisation’s own infrastructure.
Images built, stored and deployed inside the same platform, without a separate registry to secure.
Is GitLab right for you?
Ask usA good fit when
- Code that must stay on the organisation’s own infrastructure
- Teams wanting repository, CI, registry and issues in one product
- Regulated environments needing built-in security scanning
- Organisations already licensed for GitLab
Probably not when
- Small teams with no reason to self-host
- Projects relying on the GitHub ecosystem and Actions marketplace
- Organisations with no capacity to operate a self-hosted instance
What we run alongside GitLab
The rest of the setup, and why each piece is there. We keep this list short on purpose — every dependency is something someone has to maintain.
- GitLab CI
- Pipelines defined in one file, with environments and approvals modelled explicitly.
- Container registry
- Images built and stored in the same platform that deploys them.
- Merge request approvals
- Rules matched to the team’s real review process.
- Security scanning
- Dependency, container and secret detection inside the pipeline.
- Self-hosted runners
- Build capacity inside your own network.
Why GitLab
Let’s talkOne integrated platform
Repository, pipelines, registry and issues in one tool rather than four with integrations between them.
Self-hosting is first-class
The on-premise option is a real product, not a stripped-down afterthought.
Built-in security scanning
Dependency, container and secret scanning are part of the pipeline rather than an extra vendor.
What we get called in to fix
Get a second opinionPipelines that grew unreadable
One enormous .gitlab-ci.yml nobody can safely change. Splitting into includes and templates helps immediately.
Runner capacity problems
Builds queuing because runner scaling was never configured against real demand.
Neglected self-hosted instances
Versions behind on security patches because upgrades were never scheduled.
Registry growth
Images accumulating with no cleanup policy until storage becomes the problem.
GitLab or the alternative
The comparisons we are actually asked to make, answered the way we would answer them on a call.
GitLab for self-hosting and integration. GitHub for ecosystem and familiarity.
GitLab CI when you are already on GitLab — far less to operate. Jenkins for specialised hardware or plugin needs.
Self-host only for a real reason. Operating GitLab is a genuine ongoing commitment.
CircleCI
GitHub
Jenkins
Ansible
Appium
ArgoCD
AWS
Azure
Cypress
Datadog
DockerGot an idea? Let’s make it real.
Tell us the short version
This could be the first step towards a new and successful collaboration. A one-line idea and a finished spec are both fine — tell us the problem, the deadline you’re working to and what’s in your way.
Keep looking
Frequently asked questions
GitLab when you need self-hosting or want one integrated platform. GitHub for the wider ecosystem and familiarity.
Yes. We work in the client’s own environment regularly, including behind VPN access.
Yes, including history, issues and pipeline translation from another CI system.
Yes, including behind VPN. We do this regularly on enterprise engagements.
Yes — repositories with history, issues, and translating pipelines between CI systems.