21 GitLab Interview Questions and Answers

GitLab is a web-based Git repository manager with a wiki and issue-tracking features, used by millions of developers around the world. If you’re applying for a position that involves GitLab, you’re likely to be asked some questions about it during your interview. In this article, we’ll review some of the most common GitLab interview questions and how you can answer them.

GitLab Interview Questions and Answers

Here are 21 commonly asked GitLab interview questions and answers to prepare you for your interview:

1. What is GitLab used for?

GitLab is a web-based Git repository manager with wiki and issue tracking features.

2. Can you explain what a CI/CD pipeline is in the context of software development and deployment?

A CI/CD pipeline is a set of automated processes that allow for the continuous integration and continuous delivery of software. This means that new code changes can be automatically integrated into the main codebase and then automatically deployed to a staging or production environment. This can help to speed up the software development and deployment process, and can also help to ensure that new code changes do not introduce any new bugs or errors.

3. How does GitLab help achieve continuous integration and delivery?

GitLab provides a platform for developers to collaborate on code projects, with built-in tools to help manage the software development lifecycle. This includes features for managing code changes, testing and deploying code, and tracking issues. By providing these tools in a single platform, GitLab helps teams to more easily achieve continuous integration and delivery.

4. What are some common features of GitLab?

Some common features of GitLab include being able to create projects, track issues, and collaborate with other users. GitLab also has a built-in continuous integration and delivery pipeline, making it easy to deploy your code.

5. What are the main components of GitLab?

The main components of GitLab are the GitLab web interface, the GitLab API, the GitLab CI/CD pipelines, and the GitLab Runner. The web interface is the primary way that users interact with GitLab, and it provides a way to view and manage repositories, issues, merge requests, and more. The GitLab API provides a way for developers to access and manipulate data within GitLab, and the GitLab CI/CD pipelines allow for automated testing, building, and deployment of code. The GitLab Runner is a tool that runs jobs and provides feedback to GitLab.

6. What are some major differences between GitLab and GitHub?

Some major differences between GitLab and GitHub include the fact that GitLab is open source and self-hosted, while GitHub is proprietary and hosted by GitHub. Additionally, GitLab has a built-in continuous integration and delivery tool, while GitHub does not. Finally, GitLab offers unlimited private repositories for free, while GitHub charges for private repositories.

7. What is the difference between GitLab Community Edition (CE) and Enterprise Edition (EE)?

GitLab Community Edition is the free and open source version of GitLab, while GitLab Enterprise Edition is the paid, premium version. GitLab Enterprise Edition includes additional features and support not found in the Community Edition, such as LDAP/AD integration, Geo nodes, and multiple project templates.

8. How would you define an issue tracker in the context of software development projects?

An issue tracker is a software application that helps developers manage the tasks and issues associated with a software development project. It is typically used to track bugs, feature requests, and other work items. Issue trackers can be used to track work items for individual developers or for teams of developers working on a project.

9. Is it possible to use GitLab without using source code management services like Git or Mercurial?

No, GitLab requires the use of either Git or Mercurial for source code management in order to function properly.

10. What’s the best way to keep track of issues that need attention across multiple users on your team?

One way to keep track of issues that need attention across multiple users on your team is to use the GitLab issue tracker. This will allow you to assign issues to specific users, set deadlines, and add labels to help organize and prioritize your issues.

11. What is SourceForge and how does it relate to GitLab?

SourceForge is a web-based service that offers software developers a centralized place to control and manage free and open source software development. GitLab is a web-based Git repository manager with wiki and issue tracking features. SourceForge offers GitLab as a service to open source projects.

12. What do you understand about the term “hosted service” as it applies to SaaS platforms like GitLab?

A hosted service is a type of subscription-based service where the provider manages the infrastructure and security for the customer. This type of service is often used for mission-critical applications where the customer does not want to be responsible for managing the underlying infrastructure.

13. What is the main benefit of using a hosted service platform like GitLab over setting up your own server and installing

The main benefit of using a hosted service like GitLab is that it is much easier to set up and maintain. With GitLab, you don’t have to worry about installing and configuring the software, which can be a complex and time-consuming process. Additionally, hosted platforms typically offer more features and integrations than self-hosted solutions.

14. the open-source version of GitLab?

GitLab is an open-source project that provides a web-based interface for managing Git repositories. It is similar to GitHub, but also includes features for project management, issue tracking, and continuous integration.

15. What are milestones and how can they be used to organize issues in GitLab?

Milestones are a way to group issues together in GitLab. You can use them to track progress on a project, or to organize issues by release. To create a milestone, go to the Issues tab of your project and click on the Milestones link. From there, you can create a new milestone and add issues to it.

16. What is GitLab Auto DevOps? Why should I use it?

GitLab Auto DevOps is a feature that can be enabled on GitLab projects to automatically run a set of pre-configured tasks whenever code is pushed to the project repository. These tasks can include things like running tests, building and deploying code, and more. Auto DevOps can save time and effort by automating these tasks, and it can also help to ensure that projects are always up-to-date and compliant with best practices.

17. What is a Wiki page and why is it useful?

A Wiki page is a page that can be edited by anyone who has access to the GitLab project. This makes it a useful tool for collaboration, as it allows users to easily share information and make changes as needed.

18. What are some security concerns with GitLab?

One of the main security concerns with GitLab is that it is a single point of failure for your git repository. If GitLab were to go down, then you would not be able to access your code. Additionally, GitLab is a hosted service, which means that you are trusting them with your code. Another security concern is that GitLab does not offer two-factor authentication, which means that your account could be compromised if your password is guessed or stolen.

19. What is the difference between a project, group, and subgroup in the context of GitLab?

A project is a collection of code repositories and issues related to a specific topic or goal. A group is a collection of projects and subgroups, and is used to organize projects in a logical way. A subgroup is a collection of projects that is nested within a group.

20. Is there any limit on the number of projects that can be created in GitLab?

No, there is no limit on the number of projects that can be created in GitLab.

21. What is the biggest concern when managing large numbers of repositories in GitLab?

One of the main concerns when managing large numbers of repositories in GitLab is the potential for repository sprawl. This can happen when users create too many repositories, or when repositories are not properly maintained and end up being abandoned. Repository sprawl can lead to problems with performance and organization, so it is important to keep it under control.