GitLab CI/CD Certification

Module 1: Introduction to GitLab CI/CD

• GitLab CI/CD overview
• Continuous integration
• Continuous delivery
• Continuous deployment
• Automation workflows
• Common use cases

Module 2: GitLab CI/CD Architecture

• GitLab repositories
• Pipelines
• Jobs
• Stages
• Runners
• Pipeline execution

Module 3: Creating Your First Pipeline

• .gitlab-ci.yml
• YAML fundamentals
• Basic pipeline structure
• Defining jobs
• Defining stages
• Running pipelines

Module 4: Pipeline Stages & Jobs

• Stage configuration
• Job configuration
• Job dependencies
• Sequential execution
• Parallel execution
• Pipeline organization

Module 5: GitLab Runners

• Runner architecture
• Shared runners
• Project runners
• Group runners
• Runner registration
• Runner management

Module 6: Runner Executors

• Shell executor
• Docker executor
• Kubernetes executor concepts
• Executor selection
• Runner environments
• Execution considerations

Module 7: Pipeline Variables

• CI/CD variables
• Predefined variables
• Custom variables
• Variable scope
• Protected variables
• Masked variables

Module 8: Pipeline Rules & Conditions

• Rules
• Conditional execution
• Branch conditions
• Merge request conditions
• File changes
• Pipeline control

Module 9: Continuous Integration Workflows

• Source integration
• Build triggers
• Merge requests
• Automated validation
• Feedback loops
• Integration practices

Module 10: Build Automation

• Build processes
• Dependency installation
• Compilation
• Build scripts
• Build validation
• Build optimization

Module 11: Automated Testing

• Unit testing
• Integration testing
• Functional testing
• Test execution
• Test reports
• Code coverage

Module 12: Artifacts

• Job artifacts
• Artifact creation
• Artifact paths
• Artifact dependencies
• Retention
• Artifact management

Module 13: Dependency Caching

• Pipeline caching
• Cache keys
• Dependency caching
• Cache policies
• Cache reuse
• Pipeline acceleration

Module 14: Docker with GitLab CI/CD

• Docker images
• Docker builds
• Containerized jobs
• Container Registry
• Image tagging
• Image publishing

Module 15: Deployment Pipelines

• Deployment jobs
• Deployment stages
• Application delivery
• Deployment validation
• Automated deployment
• Release workflows

Module 16: Environments & Releases

• GitLab environments
• Development environments
• Staging environments
• Production environments
• Release management
• Environment tracking

Module 17: Reusable CI/CD Configuration

• Includes
• Templates
• YAML anchors
• Extends
• Reusable jobs
• Pipeline standardization

Module 18: Secrets & Secure Pipelines

• Sensitive variables
• Protected variables
• Credentials
• Tokens
• Secret management
• Least-privilege practices

Module 19: DevSecOps with GitLab

• Static application security testing
• Dependency scanning
• Container scanning
• Secret detection
• Security reports
• Security gates

Module 20: Advanced Pipeline Workflows

• Parent-child pipelines
• Multi-project pipelines
• Dynamic pipelines
• Manual jobs
• Scheduled pipelines
• Pipeline dependencies

Module 21: Monitoring, Troubleshooting & Optimization

• Pipeline history
• Job logs
• Failed jobs
• Runner problems
• Pipeline bottlenecks
• Performance optimization

Module 22: Practical GitLab CI/CD Project

• Repository configuration
• Pipeline development
• Automated build and testing
• Docker integration
• Deployment workflow
• Pipeline troubleshooting