Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Learning Technology Guide - DEV

GitLab*

communication

What is it?

It is an agile project management tool. Gitlab is almost a total package for the software development lifecycle. It has git repositories, issue tracking, labelling, sprint management, continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery/continuous deployment (CD), Wiki, container repository, and more. It also enables AI for some use cases. 

GitLab is an open-source code repository and collaborative software development platform for large DevOps (development and Operations) projects. GitLab offers a location for online code storage and capabilities for issue tracking and CI/CD. It also connects to many repositories like  GitHub and BitBucket.

What is its purpose?

The purpose of GitLab is to assist companies in effectively handling the increasing complexities associated with software development, security, and deployment. 

GitLab achieves this by streamlining the toolchain, enabling teams to spend less time on tool maintenance. They claim their DevSecOps platform leads to 7 times faster development cycles, enhanced developer productivity, decreased software expenses, and more dedicated time for focusing on the unique features that distinguish your business.

How do I use it?

Go to https://about.gitlab.com/. There are multiple ways to Register and sign-in to use freemium:

  • Make a new username and password.
  • Use your Google account.
  • Use GitHub, BitBucket, FogBug, SalesForce accounts- You can also import your projects from these platforms.

GitLab has different tiers of using the application. Each has its pros and limitations.

You can use it two ways: 1- as a SaaS, in which there is no technical knowledge needed for setup. 2- self-managed; in this option, you must install GitLab on your host, which requires Linux knowledge. In this type, you will not have limitations on the storage or compute speed. If you use it as a SaaS, different membership has limitations for the storage, speed and users.

In Freemium, for instance, you can have five users. Annual payment for Premium will be USD 348 per user and USD 1188 per user for the Ultimate tier. You can try Ultimate trial  for 30 days for free.

Why would I use it?

 

Management for Big Software Companies and Multiple Projects:

  • Helps in managing continuous issues.
  • Ideal for handling multiple software projects at various stages of the life cycle.
  • Enables comprehensive process management, from issues in launched software to new development pipelines and milestone tracking.

Complexity for Small Companies and Non-Agile Users:

  • Could be complex for small projects or companies.
  • May pose challenges for organizations not using agile methodologies, because it utilizes and adopts the terms and structures of agile methodologies for development.

Mobile Applications:

  •  As this is an open-source application, you can find some mobile applications connecting to the app, but the company has not developed them. 
  • By the time of writing this manuscript, none of the available mobile apps had high-ranked reviews.

Usage considerations

GitLab provides both free and paid plans for managing software projects.

Quick Facts
Category
Productivity and Organizational Technologies
Rating Level 
Web Search
Website
GitLab*
Last Modified
18 June 2024
Created
02 November 2023
License Available 
No
Security Concerns
No
Technical Support 
Vendor
Platform(s) 
Web

Ratings Information

CITL Rating

Select any category below for details about the criteria for each rating.

Functionality: ★★☆
Scale:★★★
Works Well.
Ease of Use:★★☆
Minor Concerns. May pose challenges for organizations/people not familiar with agile methodologies, because it is designed based on the structure of agile methodologies for software development.
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Instructors):★★☆
Minor Concerns. Although there is no document specifically designed for instructors, you can find various information on Microsoft’s YouTube and support channels.
Tech Support/Help Availability (for Students):★★☆
Minor Concerns. Although there is no document specifically designed for students, you can find various information on Microsoft’s YouTube and support channels.
Hypermediality :★★★
Works Well. You can connect your repositories to the platforms, which provide a wide range of document sharing.
Accessibility: ★★★
Accessibility Standards:★★☆
Minor Concerns. No W3C. GitLab product has not been evaluated for WCAG 2.0 Level AAA conformance, but they included the report for Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.0 or WCAG 2.0 (ISO/IEC 40500) Level A and AA. More info: https://design.gitlab.com/accessibility/wcag
User-focused participation:
Not Applicable.
Required Equipment:★★★
Works Well.
Technical: ★★★
Integration/Embedding within a Learning Management System (LMS) :
Not Applicable.
Operating Systems:★★★
Works Well.
Web Browser:★★★
Works Well.
Additional Technical Requirements:★★★
Works Well.
Mobile Design: ★☆☆
Access:★☆☆
Serious Concerns. The company did not offer a mobile application. Available mobile apps are developed by other entities, considering the platform is open-sourced.
Functionality:★☆☆
Serious Concerns. The company did not offer a mobile application. Available mobile apps are developed by other entities, considering the platform is open-sourced.
Offline Access:
Not Applicable.
Usage and Account Set Up: ★★☆
Sign Up/Sign In:★☆☆
Serious Concerns. Memorial University of Newfoundland does not have an account.
Cost of Use:★★☆
Minor Concerns. Different tiers of membership are offered, with their limitations.
Archiving, Saving, and Exporting Data :★★★
Works Well.
Data Privacy and Ownership:★★★
Works Well.
Social Presence: ★★★
Collaboration :★★★
Works Well. They have various supporting channels. Also, they have an active YouTube channel : https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnMGQ8QHMAnVIsI3xJrihhg
User Accountability:
Not Applicable.
Diffusion:★★☆
Minor Concerns. This platform is mainly for software companies rather than individuals. Due to the limited access to an individual and freemium subscription, students could have various levels of familiarity with the tool.
Teaching Presence:
Facilitation:
Not Applicable.
Customization:
Not Applicable.
Learning Analytics:
Not Applicable.
Cognitive Presence:
Enhancement of Cognitive Task(s):
Not Applicable.
Higher Order Thinking:
Not Applicable.
Feedback on Learning:
Not Applicable.

Security and Privacy

There are currently no security or privacy concerns for this tool.

Support Information

GitLab lists all the supporting channels in Here!

They also have an active YouTube account!

Note: Instructional Support is available through CITL. Please connect with Learning Technology Coaches for assistance ltc_citl@mun.ca or visit the Teaching and Learning Exchange in ED 1001, St. John’s Campus.

Contact

Centre for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

230 Elizabeth Ave, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1B 3X9

Postal Address: P.O. Box 4200, St. John's, NL, CANADA, A1C 5S7

Tel: (709) 864-8000