[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":807},["ShallowReactive",2],{"/en-us/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab":3,"navigation-en-us":37,"banner-en-us":447,"footer-en-us":457,"blog-post-authors-en-us-Abubakar Siddiq Ango":698,"blog-related-posts-en-us-getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab":712,"blog-promotions-en-us":744,"next-steps-en-us":797},{"id":4,"title":5,"authorSlugs":6,"body":8,"categorySlug":9,"config":10,"content":14,"description":8,"extension":25,"isFeatured":12,"meta":26,"navigation":27,"path":28,"publishedDate":20,"seo":29,"stem":33,"tagSlugs":34,"__hash__":36},"blogPosts/en-us/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab.yml","Getting Started With Gitlab How To Import Your Projects To Gitlab",[7],"abubakar-siddiq-ango",null,"product",{"slug":11,"featured":12,"template":13},"getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab",false,"BlogPost",{"title":15,"description":16,"authors":17,"heroImage":19,"date":20,"body":21,"category":9,"tags":22},"Getting started with GitLab: How to import your projects to GitLab","Learn how to import your projects from various sources, including Bitbucket, Gitea, GitHub, and GitLab Self-Managed.",[18],"Abubakar Siddiq Ango","https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097248/Blog/Hero%20Images/Blog/Hero%20Images/blog-getting-started-with-gitlab-banner-0497-option4-fy25_cFwd8DYFLekdnOLmbbChp_1750097247785.png","2025-01-28","*Welcome to our \"Getting started with GitLab\" series, where we help newcomers get familiar with the GitLab DevSecOps platform.*\n\nKnowing how to import your projects to GitLab is an essential skill to make the most of the GitLab DevSecOps platform. You’ve [set up your account](https://university.gitlab.com/pages/getting-started), invited users, and [organized](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-manage-users/) them based on your use case or team structure. Now, you need to bring your existing projects into GitLab and start collaborating. These projects can be local files on your computer or hosted on a different source code management platform. Let's explore the options.\n\n## Importing local project files\n\nYou don't want to start from scratch every time you import a project. Follow these steps to get into GitLab existing legacy projects or applications that exist without version control or use version control.\n\n### Git project\n\n1. If Git is [already initiated](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/topics/git/commands.html#git-init) in your local project, create a new project in GitLab and obtain the SSH or HTTPS URL by clicking on the **Code** button in the top right corner of your project page.\n\n![create a new project in GitLab with SSH/HTTPS URLs](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097254/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image8_aHR0cHM6_1750097252717.png)\n\n2. Switch to your terminal and ensure you are in your project folder:\n\n```bash  \ncd /project_folder  \n```\n\n3. Backup your existing [Git origin](https://git-scm.com/book/ms/v2/Git-Basics-Working-with-Remotes):\n\n```bash\ngit remote rename origin old-origin\n```\n\n4. Add the [GitLab remote](https://git-scm.com/book/ms/v2/Git-Basics-Working-with-Remotes) URL for the new origin, when using SSH:\n\n```bash  \ngit remote add origin [git@gitlab.com](mailto:git@gitlab.com):gitlab-da/playground/abubakar/new-test-repo.git  \n```\n\nAnd for HTTPS: \n\n```bash  \ngit remote add origin https://gitlab.com/gitlab-da/playground/abubakar/new-test-repo.git  \n```\n\n5. Then push all existing [branches](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/repository/branches/) and [tags](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/repository/tags/) to GitLab:\n\n```bash  \ngit push --set-upstream origin --all  \ngit push --set-upstream origin --tags  \n```\n\nAll your file project files, branches, and tags will be pushed to GitLab and you can start collaborating.\n\n### Non-Git project\n\nAlternatively, if you have not initiated Git in your project, you will need to initialize Git, commit existing files, and push to GitLab as follows:\n\n```bash  \ngit init --initial-branch=main  \ngit remote add origin git@gitlab.com:gitlab-da/playground/abubakar/new-test-repo.git  \ngit add .  \ngit commit -m \"Initial commit\"  \ngit push --set-upstream origin main  \n```\n\n## Importing from online sources\n\nIf you have your project on GitLab.com or other platforms and you want to move it to another GitLab instance (like a self-managed instance) or from another platform to GitLab.com, GitLab provides the import project feature when you want to create a new project.\n\n![Create a new project screen](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image7_aHR0cHM6_1750097252718.png)\n\nImporting a project migrates the project files and some other components of the project depending on the source. You can import from different sources like Bitbucket, GitHub, Gitea, and a GitLab instance, among other sources. Import sources are enabled by default on GitLab.com, but they need to be [enabled for self-managed](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/settings/import_and_export_settings.html#configure-allowed-import-sources) by an administrator. We will look at a few of these sources in the following sections.\n\n![Import project from third-party sources](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image6_aHR0cHM6_1750097252719.png)\n\n## GitLab sources\n\nYou can export projects from GitLab.com and GitLab Self-Managed instances using the Export project feature in a project’s settings. \n\n![Export project screen](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image9_aHR0cHM6_1750097252720.png)\n\nTo access it:\n\n- Go to your project’s settings and click into the **General** area.\n- Scroll to and **Expand Advanced** section.\n- Select **Export project**.\n- A notification will be shown stating: “Project export started. A download link will be sent by email and made available on this page.”\n- After the export is generated, you can follow the link contained in the email or refresh the project settings page to reveal the “Download export” option.\n\n### Importing the project\n\n![Import an exported GitLab project](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image10_aHR0cHM6_1750097252722.png)\n\n- Click on the **New project** button in your target GitLab instance.  \n- Select **Import project** and click on **GitLab Export** in the list of import sources.  \n- Specify a project name and select the export file, then click **Import project**.  \n- An \"import in progress\" page will be shown and once complete, you will be redirected to the imported project.\n\nDepending on the size of your project, the import time may vary. It's important to note that not everything in a project might be exported and a few things might change after import. Review the [documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/settings/import_export.html#export-a-project-and-its-data) to understand the limitations. If you want to migrate a whole group instead of individual projects, the [Direct Transfer method](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/import/index.html) is recommended; this creates a copy of an entire group.\n\n## Third-party providers\n\nGitLab supports importing from Bitbucket Cloud, Bitbucket Server, FogBugz, Gitea, and GitHub. The import process is similar across all the supported third parties — the main difference is in the method of authentication. Let's look at a few of them.\n\n### GitHub\n\n![Authenticate with GitHub screen](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image3_aHR0cHM6_1750097252723.png)\n\nThere are three methods to import GitHub projects in to GitLab:\n\n- [Using GitHub OAuth](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/github.html#use-github-oauth)\n- [Using a GitHub personal access token](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/github.html#use-a-github-personal-access-token)\n- [Using the API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/github.html#use-the-api)\n\nImporting using GitHub OAuth and personal access token are similar. The difference lies in how your authorize GitLab to access your repositories. The OAuth method is easier because you only need to click on the “Authorize with GitHub” button and your are redirected to your GitHub account to authorize the connection. Then the list of your projects is loaded for you to pick those you want to import.\n\n![Import repositories from GitHub screen](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image2_aHR0cHM6_1750097252725.png)\n\nAlternatively, you will need to generate a GitHub personal access token, selecting the `repo` and `read:org` scopes, and then provide it on the \"Import\" page.  For API imports, you can use the same personal access token with our [Import REST API endpoints](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/import.html#import-repository-from-github) in your script or application.\n\nIn this demo, GitLab Senior Developer Advocate Fernando Diaz explains how to import a project from GitHub using the OAuth method:\n\n\u003C!-- blank line -->  \n\u003Cfigure class=\"video_container\"> \n  \u003Ciframe src=\"https://www.youtube.com/embed/0Id5oMl1Kqs?si=esF6wbz2j2JlhDVL\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"true\"> \u003C/iframe>  \n\u003C/figure>\n\u003C!-- blank line -->\n\nYou can learn about prerequisites, known issues, importing from GitHub Enterprise, and other valuable information from the GitLab [import documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/github.html).\n\n### Bitbucket\n\nImporting projects from Bitbucket is similar to importing them from GitHub. While using OAuth is applicable to [Bitbucket Cloud](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/bitbucket.html), the SaaS version of Bitbucket, you'll need to provide a URL, username, and personal access token for [Bitbucket Server](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/bitbucket_server.html), the enterprise self-hosted version. Clicking on the Bitbucket Cloud option on the \"Import\" screen automatically takes you to Atlassian authentication for Bitbucket.\n\n![Import project from BitBucket](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image4_aHR0cHM6_1750097252726.png)\n\nYou can also import Bitbucket projects using the [GitLab Import API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/import.html).\n\n### Gitea\n\n![Import project from Gitea](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image5_aHR0cHM6_1750097252727.png)\n\nImporting projects from [Gitea](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/gitea.html) requires the creation of a [personal access token](https://docs.gitea.com/next/development/api-usage#authentication-via-the-api) on the Gitea platform and providing it along with the Gitea server URL on the GitLab import page. OAuth authentication is not supported. \n\n### Generic remote Git repository\n\n![Import project from remote Git repository](https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1750097253/Blog/Content%20Images/Blog/Content%20Images/image1_aHR0cHM6_1750097252728.png)\n\nWhere your Git provider is not supported or import is not possible using the supported methods, a repository can be imported using its accessible `https://` or `git://` URL.  If it's not publicly accessible, you will provide the repository URL along with username and password (or access token where applicable due to multifactor authentication).\n\nThis method can also be used for maintaining a copy of a remote project and keeping it in sync, i.e., [mirroring](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/repository/mirror/). Mirroring allows you to maintain repositories across different platforms and keep them synced. This can be to separate private and public access to project while ensuring both ends have the same copy, which is useful when open-sourcing  internal projects. It can also be used when working with contractors and both parties use different platforms, and access to codebase is necessary on both ends. \n\n## Summary\n\nImporting and migrating between GitLab instances and from other sources is an important process that needs to be planned to ensure the expectations are clear on what gets imported and with which method. While most third-party methods import project items, including files, issues, and merge requests, some methods have known issues and limitations. The [GitLab import section](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/import/) of the documentation has detailed information on all the supported methods that can help you plan your migration.   \n\n> #### Want to take your learning to the next level? [Sign up for GitLab University courses](https://university.gitlab.com/). Or you can get going right away with [a free trial of GitLab Ultimate](https://about.gitlab.com/free-trial/devsecops/).\n\n## \"Getting started with GitLab\" series\n\n- [How to manage users](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-manage-users/)\n- [How to import your projects to GitLab](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab/)  \n- [Mastering project management](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-mastering-project-management/)\n- [Automating Agile workflows with the gitlab-triage gem](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/automating-agile-workflows-with-the-gitlab-triage-gem/)\n- [Working with CI/CD variables](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-working-with-ci-cd-variables/)\n",[9,23,24],"tutorial","DevSecOps platform","yml",{},true,"/en-us/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab",{"title":15,"description":16,"ogTitle":15,"ogDescription":16,"noIndex":12,"ogImage":19,"ogUrl":30,"ogSiteName":31,"ogType":32,"canonicalUrls":30},"https://about.gitlab.com/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab","https://about.gitlab.com","article","en-us/blog/getting-started-with-gitlab-how-to-import-your-projects-to-gitlab",[9,23,35],"devsecops-platform","qInNt_VXU4hCPVYbb-CjJ_IjMIAU-bIrvgUm5o9jHOc",{"data":38},{"logo":39,"freeTrial":44,"sales":49,"login":54,"items":59,"search":367,"minimal":398,"duo":417,"switchNav":426,"pricingDeployment":437},{"config":40},{"href":41,"dataGaName":42,"dataGaLocation":43},"/","gitlab logo","header",{"text":45,"config":46},"Get free trial",{"href":47,"dataGaName":48,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_source=about.gitlab.com&glm_content=default-saas-trial/","free trial",{"text":50,"config":51},"Talk to sales",{"href":52,"dataGaName":53,"dataGaLocation":43},"/sales/","sales",{"text":55,"config":56},"Sign in",{"href":57,"dataGaName":58,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://gitlab.com/users/sign_in/","sign in",[60,87,182,187,288,348],{"text":61,"config":62,"cards":64},"Platform",{"dataNavLevelOne":63},"platform",[65,71,79],{"title":61,"description":66,"link":67},"The intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps",{"text":68,"config":69},"Explore our Platform",{"href":70,"dataGaName":63,"dataGaLocation":43},"/platform/",{"title":72,"description":73,"link":74},"GitLab Duo Agent Platform","Agentic AI for the entire software lifecycle",{"text":75,"config":76},"Meet GitLab Duo",{"href":77,"dataGaName":78,"dataGaLocation":43},"/gitlab-duo-agent-platform/","gitlab duo agent platform",{"title":80,"description":81,"link":82},"Why GitLab","See the top reasons enterprises choose GitLab",{"text":83,"config":84},"Learn more",{"href":85,"dataGaName":86,"dataGaLocation":43},"/why-gitlab/","why gitlab",{"text":88,"left":27,"config":89,"link":91,"lists":95,"footer":164},"Product",{"dataNavLevelOne":90},"solutions",{"text":92,"config":93},"View all Solutions",{"href":94,"dataGaName":90,"dataGaLocation":43},"/solutions/",[96,120,143],{"title":97,"description":98,"link":99,"items":104},"Automation","CI/CD and automation to accelerate deployment",{"config":100},{"icon":101,"href":102,"dataGaName":103,"dataGaLocation":43},"AutomatedCodeAlt","/solutions/delivery-automation/","automated software delivery",[105,109,112,116],{"text":106,"config":107},"CI/CD",{"href":108,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":106},"/solutions/continuous-integration/",{"text":72,"config":110},{"href":77,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":111},"gitlab duo agent platform - product menu",{"text":113,"config":114},"Source Code Management",{"href":115,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":113},"/solutions/source-code-management/",{"text":117,"config":118},"Automated Software Delivery",{"href":102,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":119},"Automated software delivery",{"title":121,"description":122,"link":123,"items":128},"Security","Deliver code faster without compromising security",{"config":124},{"href":125,"dataGaName":126,"dataGaLocation":43,"icon":127},"/solutions/application-security-testing/","security and compliance","ShieldCheckLight",[129,133,138],{"text":130,"config":131},"Application Security Testing",{"href":125,"dataGaName":132,"dataGaLocation":43},"Application security testing",{"text":134,"config":135},"Software Supply Chain Security",{"href":136,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":137},"/solutions/supply-chain/","Software supply chain security",{"text":139,"config":140},"Software Compliance",{"href":141,"dataGaName":142,"dataGaLocation":43},"/solutions/software-compliance/","software compliance",{"title":144,"link":145,"items":150},"Measurement",{"config":146},{"icon":147,"href":148,"dataGaName":149,"dataGaLocation":43},"DigitalTransformation","/solutions/visibility-measurement/","visibility and measurement",[151,155,159],{"text":152,"config":153},"Visibility & Measurement",{"href":148,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":154},"Visibility and Measurement",{"text":156,"config":157},"Value Stream Management",{"href":158,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":156},"/solutions/value-stream-management/",{"text":160,"config":161},"Analytics & Insights",{"href":162,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":163},"/solutions/analytics-and-insights/","Analytics and insights",{"title":165,"items":166},"GitLab for",[167,172,177],{"text":168,"config":169},"Enterprise",{"href":170,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":171},"/enterprise/","enterprise",{"text":173,"config":174},"Small Business",{"href":175,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":176},"/small-business/","small business",{"text":178,"config":179},"Public Sector",{"href":180,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":181},"/solutions/public-sector/","public sector",{"text":183,"config":184},"Pricing",{"href":185,"dataGaName":186,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataNavLevelOne":186},"/pricing/","pricing",{"text":188,"config":189,"link":191,"lists":195,"feature":275},"Resources",{"dataNavLevelOne":190},"resources",{"text":192,"config":193},"View all resources",{"href":194,"dataGaName":190,"dataGaLocation":43},"/resources/",[196,229,247],{"title":197,"items":198},"Getting started",[199,204,209,214,219,224],{"text":200,"config":201},"Install",{"href":202,"dataGaName":203,"dataGaLocation":43},"/install/","install",{"text":205,"config":206},"Quick start guides",{"href":207,"dataGaName":208,"dataGaLocation":43},"/get-started/","quick setup checklists",{"text":210,"config":211},"Learn",{"href":212,"dataGaLocation":43,"dataGaName":213},"https://university.gitlab.com/","learn",{"text":215,"config":216},"Product documentation",{"href":217,"dataGaName":218,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://docs.gitlab.com/","product documentation",{"text":220,"config":221},"Best practice videos",{"href":222,"dataGaName":223,"dataGaLocation":43},"/getting-started-videos/","best practice videos",{"text":225,"config":226},"Integrations",{"href":227,"dataGaName":228,"dataGaLocation":43},"/integrations/","integrations",{"title":230,"items":231},"Discover",[232,237,242],{"text":233,"config":234},"Customer success stories",{"href":235,"dataGaName":236,"dataGaLocation":43},"/customers/","customer success stories",{"text":238,"config":239},"Blog",{"href":240,"dataGaName":241,"dataGaLocation":43},"/blog/","blog",{"text":243,"config":244},"Remote",{"href":245,"dataGaName":246,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/company/culture/all-remote/","remote",{"title":248,"items":249},"Connect",[250,255,260,265,270],{"text":251,"config":252},"GitLab Services",{"href":253,"dataGaName":254,"dataGaLocation":43},"/services/","services",{"text":256,"config":257},"Community",{"href":258,"dataGaName":259,"dataGaLocation":43},"/community/","community",{"text":261,"config":262},"Forum",{"href":263,"dataGaName":264,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://forum.gitlab.com/","forum",{"text":266,"config":267},"Events",{"href":268,"dataGaName":269,"dataGaLocation":43},"/events/","events",{"text":271,"config":272},"Partners",{"href":273,"dataGaName":274,"dataGaLocation":43},"/partners/","partners",{"backgroundColor":276,"textColor":277,"text":278,"image":279,"link":283},"#2f2a6b","#fff","Insights for the future of software development",{"altText":280,"config":281},"the source promo card",{"src":282},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1758208064/dzl0dbift9xdizyelkk4.svg",{"text":284,"config":285},"Read the latest",{"href":286,"dataGaName":287,"dataGaLocation":43},"/the-source/","the source",{"text":289,"config":290,"lists":292},"Company",{"dataNavLevelOne":291},"company",[293],{"items":294},[295,300,306,308,313,318,323,328,333,338,343],{"text":296,"config":297},"About",{"href":298,"dataGaName":299,"dataGaLocation":43},"/company/","about",{"text":301,"config":302,"footerGa":305},"Jobs",{"href":303,"dataGaName":304,"dataGaLocation":43},"/jobs/","jobs",{"dataGaName":304},{"text":266,"config":307},{"href":268,"dataGaName":269,"dataGaLocation":43},{"text":309,"config":310},"Leadership",{"href":311,"dataGaName":312,"dataGaLocation":43},"/company/team/e-group/","leadership",{"text":314,"config":315},"Team",{"href":316,"dataGaName":317,"dataGaLocation":43},"/company/team/","team",{"text":319,"config":320},"Handbook",{"href":321,"dataGaName":322,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/","handbook",{"text":324,"config":325},"Investor relations",{"href":326,"dataGaName":327,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://ir.gitlab.com/","investor relations",{"text":329,"config":330},"Trust Center",{"href":331,"dataGaName":332,"dataGaLocation":43},"/security/","trust center",{"text":334,"config":335},"AI Transparency Center",{"href":336,"dataGaName":337,"dataGaLocation":43},"/ai-transparency-center/","ai transparency center",{"text":339,"config":340},"Newsletter",{"href":341,"dataGaName":342,"dataGaLocation":43},"/company/contact/#contact-forms","newsletter",{"text":344,"config":345},"Press",{"href":346,"dataGaName":347,"dataGaLocation":43},"/press/","press",{"text":349,"config":350,"lists":351},"Contact us",{"dataNavLevelOne":291},[352],{"items":353},[354,357,362],{"text":50,"config":355},{"href":52,"dataGaName":356,"dataGaLocation":43},"talk to sales",{"text":358,"config":359},"Support portal",{"href":360,"dataGaName":361,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://support.gitlab.com","support portal",{"text":363,"config":364},"Customer portal",{"href":365,"dataGaName":366,"dataGaLocation":43},"https://customers.gitlab.com/customers/sign_in/","customer portal",{"close":368,"login":369,"suggestions":376},"Close",{"text":370,"link":371},"To search repositories and projects, login to",{"text":372,"config":373},"gitlab.com",{"href":57,"dataGaName":374,"dataGaLocation":375},"search login","search",{"text":377,"default":378},"Suggestions",[379,381,385,387,391,395],{"text":72,"config":380},{"href":77,"dataGaName":72,"dataGaLocation":375},{"text":382,"config":383},"Code Suggestions (AI)",{"href":384,"dataGaName":382,"dataGaLocation":375},"/solutions/code-suggestions/",{"text":106,"config":386},{"href":108,"dataGaName":106,"dataGaLocation":375},{"text":388,"config":389},"GitLab on AWS",{"href":390,"dataGaName":388,"dataGaLocation":375},"/partners/technology-partners/aws/",{"text":392,"config":393},"GitLab on Google Cloud",{"href":394,"dataGaName":392,"dataGaLocation":375},"/partners/technology-partners/google-cloud-platform/",{"text":396,"config":397},"Why GitLab?",{"href":85,"dataGaName":396,"dataGaLocation":375},{"freeTrial":399,"mobileIcon":404,"desktopIcon":409,"secondaryButton":412},{"text":400,"config":401},"Start free trial",{"href":402,"dataGaName":48,"dataGaLocation":403},"https://gitlab.com/-/trials/new/","nav",{"altText":405,"config":406},"Gitlab Icon",{"src":407,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1758203874/jypbw1jx72aexsoohd7x.svg","gitlab icon",{"altText":405,"config":410},{"src":411,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1758203875/gs4c8p8opsgvflgkswz9.svg",{"text":413,"config":414},"Get Started",{"href":415,"dataGaName":416,"dataGaLocation":403},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_source=about.gitlab.com/get-started/","get started",{"freeTrial":418,"mobileIcon":422,"desktopIcon":424},{"text":419,"config":420},"Learn more about GitLab Duo",{"href":77,"dataGaName":421,"dataGaLocation":403},"gitlab duo",{"altText":405,"config":423},{"src":407,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},{"altText":405,"config":425},{"src":411,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},{"button":427,"mobileIcon":432,"desktopIcon":434},{"text":428,"config":429},"/switch",{"href":430,"dataGaName":431,"dataGaLocation":403},"#contact","switch",{"altText":405,"config":433},{"src":407,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},{"altText":405,"config":435},{"src":436,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1773335277/ohhpiuoxoldryzrnhfrh.png",{"freeTrial":438,"mobileIcon":443,"desktopIcon":445},{"text":439,"config":440},"Back to pricing",{"href":185,"dataGaName":441,"dataGaLocation":403,"icon":442},"back to pricing","GoBack",{"altText":405,"config":444},{"src":407,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},{"altText":405,"config":446},{"src":411,"dataGaName":408,"dataGaLocation":403},{"title":448,"button":449,"config":454},"See how agentic AI transforms software delivery",{"text":450,"config":451},"Watch GitLab Transcend now",{"href":452,"dataGaName":453,"dataGaLocation":43},"/events/transcend/virtual/","transcend event",{"layout":455,"icon":456,"disabled":27},"release","AiStar",{"data":458},{"text":459,"source":460,"edit":466,"contribute":471,"config":476,"items":481,"minimal":687},"Git is a trademark of Software Freedom Conservancy and our use of 'GitLab' is under license",{"text":461,"config":462},"View page source",{"href":463,"dataGaName":464,"dataGaLocation":465},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/","page source","footer",{"text":467,"config":468},"Edit this page",{"href":469,"dataGaName":470,"dataGaLocation":465},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/-/blob/main/content/","web ide",{"text":472,"config":473},"Please contribute",{"href":474,"dataGaName":475,"dataGaLocation":465},"https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/marketing/digital-experience/about-gitlab-com/-/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md/","please contribute",{"twitter":477,"facebook":478,"youtube":479,"linkedin":480},"https://twitter.com/gitlab","https://www.facebook.com/gitlab","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnMGQ8QHMAnVIsI3xJrihhg","https://www.linkedin.com/company/gitlab-com",[482,529,582,626,653],{"title":183,"links":483,"subMenu":498},[484,488,493],{"text":485,"config":486},"View plans",{"href":185,"dataGaName":487,"dataGaLocation":465},"view plans",{"text":489,"config":490},"Why Premium?",{"href":491,"dataGaName":492,"dataGaLocation":465},"/pricing/premium/","why premium",{"text":494,"config":495},"Why Ultimate?",{"href":496,"dataGaName":497,"dataGaLocation":465},"/pricing/ultimate/","why ultimate",[499],{"title":500,"links":501},"Contact Us",[502,505,507,509,514,519,524],{"text":503,"config":504},"Contact sales",{"href":52,"dataGaName":53,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":358,"config":506},{"href":360,"dataGaName":361,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":363,"config":508},{"href":365,"dataGaName":366,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":510,"config":511},"Status",{"href":512,"dataGaName":513,"dataGaLocation":465},"https://status.gitlab.com/","status",{"text":515,"config":516},"Terms of use",{"href":517,"dataGaName":518,"dataGaLocation":465},"/terms/","terms of use",{"text":520,"config":521},"Privacy statement",{"href":522,"dataGaName":523,"dataGaLocation":465},"/privacy/","privacy statement",{"text":525,"config":526},"Cookie preferences",{"dataGaName":527,"dataGaLocation":465,"id":528,"isOneTrustButton":27},"cookie preferences","ot-sdk-btn",{"title":88,"links":530,"subMenu":538},[531,534],{"text":24,"config":532},{"href":70,"dataGaName":533,"dataGaLocation":465},"devsecops platform",{"text":535,"config":536},"AI-Assisted Development",{"href":77,"dataGaName":537,"dataGaLocation":465},"ai-assisted development",[539],{"title":540,"links":541},"Topics",[542,547,552,557,562,567,572,577],{"text":543,"config":544},"CICD",{"href":545,"dataGaName":546,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/ci-cd/","cicd",{"text":548,"config":549},"GitOps",{"href":550,"dataGaName":551,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/gitops/","gitops",{"text":553,"config":554},"DevOps",{"href":555,"dataGaName":556,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/devops/","devops",{"text":558,"config":559},"Version Control",{"href":560,"dataGaName":561,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/version-control/","version control",{"text":563,"config":564},"DevSecOps",{"href":565,"dataGaName":566,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/devsecops/","devsecops",{"text":568,"config":569},"Cloud Native",{"href":570,"dataGaName":571,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/cloud-native/","cloud native",{"text":573,"config":574},"AI for Coding",{"href":575,"dataGaName":576,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/devops/ai-for-coding/","ai for coding",{"text":578,"config":579},"Agentic AI",{"href":580,"dataGaName":581,"dataGaLocation":465},"/topics/agentic-ai/","agentic ai",{"title":583,"links":584},"Solutions",[585,587,589,594,598,601,605,608,610,613,616,621],{"text":130,"config":586},{"href":125,"dataGaName":130,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":119,"config":588},{"href":102,"dataGaName":103,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":590,"config":591},"Agile development",{"href":592,"dataGaName":593,"dataGaLocation":465},"/solutions/agile-delivery/","agile delivery",{"text":595,"config":596},"SCM",{"href":115,"dataGaName":597,"dataGaLocation":465},"source code management",{"text":543,"config":599},{"href":108,"dataGaName":600,"dataGaLocation":465},"continuous integration & delivery",{"text":602,"config":603},"Value stream management",{"href":158,"dataGaName":604,"dataGaLocation":465},"value stream management",{"text":548,"config":606},{"href":607,"dataGaName":551,"dataGaLocation":465},"/solutions/gitops/",{"text":168,"config":609},{"href":170,"dataGaName":171,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":611,"config":612},"Small business",{"href":175,"dataGaName":176,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":614,"config":615},"Public sector",{"href":180,"dataGaName":181,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":617,"config":618},"Education",{"href":619,"dataGaName":620,"dataGaLocation":465},"/solutions/education/","education",{"text":622,"config":623},"Financial services",{"href":624,"dataGaName":625,"dataGaLocation":465},"/solutions/finance/","financial services",{"title":188,"links":627},[628,630,632,634,637,639,641,643,645,647,649,651],{"text":200,"config":629},{"href":202,"dataGaName":203,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":205,"config":631},{"href":207,"dataGaName":208,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":210,"config":633},{"href":212,"dataGaName":213,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":215,"config":635},{"href":217,"dataGaName":636,"dataGaLocation":465},"docs",{"text":238,"config":638},{"href":240,"dataGaName":241,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":233,"config":640},{"href":235,"dataGaName":236,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":243,"config":642},{"href":245,"dataGaName":246,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":251,"config":644},{"href":253,"dataGaName":254,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":256,"config":646},{"href":258,"dataGaName":259,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":261,"config":648},{"href":263,"dataGaName":264,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":266,"config":650},{"href":268,"dataGaName":269,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":271,"config":652},{"href":273,"dataGaName":274,"dataGaLocation":465},{"title":289,"links":654},[655,657,659,661,663,665,667,671,676,678,680,682],{"text":296,"config":656},{"href":298,"dataGaName":291,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":301,"config":658},{"href":303,"dataGaName":304,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":309,"config":660},{"href":311,"dataGaName":312,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":314,"config":662},{"href":316,"dataGaName":317,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":319,"config":664},{"href":321,"dataGaName":322,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":324,"config":666},{"href":326,"dataGaName":327,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":668,"config":669},"Sustainability",{"href":670,"dataGaName":668,"dataGaLocation":465},"/sustainability/",{"text":672,"config":673},"Diversity, inclusion and belonging (DIB)",{"href":674,"dataGaName":675,"dataGaLocation":465},"/diversity-inclusion-belonging/","Diversity, inclusion and belonging",{"text":329,"config":677},{"href":331,"dataGaName":332,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":339,"config":679},{"href":341,"dataGaName":342,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":344,"config":681},{"href":346,"dataGaName":347,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":683,"config":684},"Modern Slavery Transparency Statement",{"href":685,"dataGaName":686,"dataGaLocation":465},"https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/legal/modern-slavery-act-transparency-statement/","modern slavery transparency statement",{"items":688},[689,692,695],{"text":690,"config":691},"Terms",{"href":517,"dataGaName":518,"dataGaLocation":465},{"text":693,"config":694},"Cookies",{"dataGaName":527,"dataGaLocation":465,"id":528,"isOneTrustButton":27},{"text":696,"config":697},"Privacy",{"href":522,"dataGaName":523,"dataGaLocation":465},[699],{"id":700,"title":18,"body":8,"config":701,"content":703,"description":8,"extension":25,"meta":707,"navigation":27,"path":708,"seo":709,"stem":710,"__hash__":711},"blogAuthors/en-us/blog/authors/abubakar-siddiq-ango.yml",{"template":702},"BlogAuthor",{"name":18,"config":704},{"headshot":705,"ctfId":706},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1749660104/Blog/Author%20Headshots/abuango-headshot.jpg","abuango",{},"/en-us/blog/authors/abubakar-siddiq-ango",{},"en-us/blog/authors/abubakar-siddiq-ango","u5Jv4JxCpfmcGQuXEU4Lr5xVBJP9LAB2NkXRMLeYwPE",[713,727,733],{"content":714,"config":725},{"title":715,"description":716,"authors":717,"heroImage":719,"date":720,"body":721,"category":9,"tags":722},"GitLab 18.11: Budget guardrails for GitLab Credits","Learn how new spending caps and per-user credit limits give organizations the budget guardrails to scale GitLab Duo Agent Platform.",[718],"Bryan Rothwell","https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1776259080/cakqnwo5ecp255lo8lzo.png","2026-04-16","Teams using GitLab Duo Agent Platform with on-demand GitLab Credits are shipping faster, catching bugs earlier, and automating tasks that used to take entire sprints. But as adoption grows, so does oversight from finance, procurement, and platform teams to prove that AI spending is bounded, predictable, and controllable.\n\nOne of the greatest barriers to broader AI adoption isn't skepticism about the technology. It's uncertainty about managing spend. Without budget caps, a busy month could produce unexpected expenses. Without per-user limits, a handful of power users could burn through the team's credits before the month is over. And without either, engineering leaders who want to expand their use of agentic AI for software development have to jump through more hoops for budget approval.\n\nSince its [general availability](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/gitlab-duo-agent-platform-is-generally-available/), GitLab Duo Agent Platform has provided usage governance and visibility. With GitLab 18.11, we're introducing usage controls for [GitLab Credits](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/introducing-gitlab-credits/): spending caps and budget guardrails that give your organization even more control and transparency over how credits are consumed.\n\n## Managing GitLab Credits\n\nGitLab 18.11 adds three layers of control over GitLab Credits consumption: a subscription-level spending cap, per-user credit limits, and visibility into cap status and enforcement.\n\n### Subscription-level spending cap\n\nBilling account managers can now set a hard monthly ceiling for on-demand GitLab Credits consumption for their entire subscription.\n\nHere's how it works:\n\n* **Set a cap** in the `Customers Portal` under your subscription's GitLab Credits settings.  \n* **Enforce spend limits automatically.**  When on-demand usage reaches the cap, DAP access is paused for all users on that subscription until the next monthly period begins.  \n* **Make adjustments as you go.** Raise or disable the cap mid-month to restore access.\n\nThe cap resets each monthly period and your configured limit carries forward unless you change it. Because usage data is synchronized periodically rather than in real time, a small amount of additional usage may occur after the cap is reached before enforcement takes effect. See the [GitLab Credits documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/subscriptions/gitlab_credits/) for details.\n\n### User-level spending caps\n\nNot every user consumes credits at the same rate, and that's expected. But when one or two power users account for a disproportionate share of the pool, the rest of the team can lose access before the month is over.\n\nPer-user credit caps prevent any single user from consuming more than their fair share:\n\n* **Flat per-user cap.** Set a uniform credit limit that applies equally to every user on the subscription through the GitLab GraphQL API. Unlike the subscription-level cap, the per-user cap applies to a user's total consumption across all credit sources.  \n* **Custom per-user overrides.** For organizations that need differentiated limits, you can set individual credit caps for specific users through the GraphQL API. For example, you could give your staff engineers a higher allocation while applying a standard limit to the broader team.  \n* **Individual enforcement.** When a user reaches their cap, they retain full access to GitLab. Only their Duo Agent Platform credit usage is paused until the next billing cycle. Everyone else keeps working uninterrupted until they hit their own limit or the subscription-level cap is reached, whichever comes first.\n\n### Visibility and notifications\n\nWhen a subscription-level cap is reached, GitLab sends an email notification to billing account managers so they can take action: raise the cap, wait for the next period, or redistribute credits.\n\nWithin GitLab, group owners (GitLab.com) and instance administrators (Self-Managed) can view which users have been blocked due to reaching their per-user cap and restore access by adjusting the cap through the GraphQL API. \n\n## How budget guardrails help organizations scale AI usage\n\nGuardrails are essential as organizations ramp up their AI adoption. Here's why:\n\n### Predictable AI budgets\n\nUsage controls for GitLab Duo Agent Platform turn AI into a bounded, predictable budget item using on-demand GitLab Credits. That makes it easier to deploy agents across the software development lifecycle and get sign-off from finance, justify renewals, and plan quarterly spend.\n\n### Governance and chargeback\n\nLarge organizations often need to align AI consumption with internal budgets, cost centers, or departmental policies. Per-user caps give platform teams a straightforward mechanism to allocate credits fairly and track consumption at the individual level. The API import options make it practical to manage caps at enterprise scale. Combined with per-user usage data from the GitLab Credits dashboard, organizations can track consumption patterns to inform their own internal chargeback or budget allocation processes.\n\n### Confidence to scale\n\nMany customers start GitLab Duo Agent Platform with a small pilot group. Usage controls remove risks associated with expanding that pilot across the organization. You can roll out Duo Agent Platform to hundreds or thousands of developers knowing there's a hard ceiling protecting your budget. If usage grows faster than expected, you'll hit the cap, not an unexpected invoice.\n\n## Addressing the seat-based and visibility conundrum\n\nMany AI coding tools take a seat-based approach to cost management. You buy a fixed number of seats at a flat per-user price, and that's your budget. It's simple, but rigid. You pay the same whether a developer uses the tool ten times a day or never touches it. And as vendors introduce premium models and usage-based overages on top of seat pricing, the cost predictability that seat-based licensing promised starts to erode.\n\n\nGitLab takes a different approach. Usage-based pricing with hard caps and a single governance dashboard. You get the flexibility of paying for what your teams actually use, with the budget predictability of enforced spending limits.\n\n## Real-world usage controls\n\n**One example is a mid-size SaaS customer that wants to protect their monthly budget.** A 200-person engineering organization sets a subscription-level cap equal to their expected on-demand usage. Their VP of Engineering can confidently tell finance that GitLab Duo Agent Platform spend will never exceed the approved amount, even as they onboard new teams. If they approach the cap mid-month, the billing account manager gets a notification and can decide whether to raise the limit or wait for the next period.\n\n**At GitLab, we also work with large enterprises that want to keep usage fair across teams.** A global financial services company with 2,000 developers uses per-user caps to ensure equitable access. Staff engineers working on complex refactoring projects get a higher individual allocation via API, while most developers receive a standard flat cap. No single user can exhaust the pool, and the platform team uses the per-user usage data in the GitLab Credits dashboard to track consumption patterns and inform quarterly budget planning.\n\n## Getting started\n\nUsage controls are available for both GitLab.com and Self-Managed customers running GitLab 18.11. Different controls are configured in different places depending on the scope and your role.\n\n**Subscription-level cap**\n\nBilling account managers set the subscription-level on-demand cap in the Customers Portal:\n\n1. Sign in to the `Customers Portal`.  \n2. On your subscription card, navigate to **GitLab Credits** settings.  \n3. Enable the monthly on-demand credits cap and enter your desired limit.\n\n**Flat per-user cap**\n\nThe flat per-user cap can be set through the GitLab GraphQL API by namespace owners (GitLab.com) or instance administrators (Self-Managed). Check the [GitLab Credits documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/subscriptions/gitlab_credits/) for the latest on available configuration surfaces.\n\n**Custom per-user overrides**\n\nFor differentiated limits, namespace owners (GitLab.com) and instance administrators (Self-Managed) can set individual caps programmatically. This is useful for automation and infrastructure-as-code workflows.\n\n**Monitor usage and cap status**\n\n* **Customers Portal:** View detailed usage and cap status.  \n* **GitLab.com:** Group owners can view blocked users under **Settings > GitLab Credits**.  \n* **Self-Managed:** Instance administrators can view cap status and blocked users under **Admin > GitLab Credits**.\n\n## GitLab Duo Agent Platform is ready to scale\n\nUsage controls are available now in GitLab 18.11. If you've been waiting for the right guardrails before expanding GitLab Duo Agent Platform across your organization, this is your moment. Set your caps, roll out Duo Agent Platform to more teams, and start shipping faster!\n\n> [Learn more about GitLab Credits and usage controls](https://docs.gitlab.com/subscriptions/gitlab_credits/).",[9,723,724],"AI/ML","news",{"featured":12,"template":13,"slug":726},"gitlab-18-11-budget-guardrails-for-gitlab-credits",{"content":728,"config":731},{"title":729,"heroImage":719,"description":730,"date":720,"category":9},"GitLab 18.11 release","This release includes Agentic SAST Vulnerability Resolution, Data Analyst Foundational Agent, CI Expert Agent, and more.",{"featured":12,"template":13,"externalUrl":732},"https://docs.gitlab.com/releases/18/gitlab-18-11-released/",{"content":734,"config":742},{"title":735,"description":736,"authors":737,"heroImage":719,"date":720,"body":739,"category":9,"tags":740},"GitLab 18.11: CI Expert and Data Analyst AI agents target development gaps","Set up CI and query your software development lifecycle data with two new GitLab Duo Agent Platform foundational agents available in GitLab 18.11.",[738],"Corinne Dent","AI-generated code moves faster than the systems around it can keep up with. More code means more merge requests queued, more pipelines to configure, more questions about delivery that nobody has time to answer — and most of the tooling teams rely on wasn't built for this pace.\n\nIn GitLab 18.11, two new foundational agents for Duo Agent Platform address specific gaps in the development lifecycle that AI has largely left untouched:\n* CI Expert Agent (now in beta) focuses on the gap between writing code and getting it into a running pipeline\n* Data Analyst Agent (now generally available) focuses on the gap between shipping code and being able to answer basic questions about how that delivery is actually going.\n\n\nThese are problem areas that couldn't be solved by a general-purpose assistant. A tool running outside GitLab can generate a YAML file or answer a question, but it has no awareness of how your pipelines have historically performed, where failures cluster, or what your actual MR cycle times look like. That context lives in GitLab. These agents do too.\n## Fast CI setup with CI Expert Agent\n\nAI has made it easier than ever to write code. Getting that code into a running pipeline is still something most teams do days, or weeks, later — if at all. The blank-page problem isn't in the editor anymore. The blank page is now in `.gitlab-ci.yml`.\n\nDevelopers who have never configured CI don't know what language detection looks like in YAML, what their test commands should be, or how to validate the result before pushing. Teams either copy a config from a previous project that may not fit, stitch together examples from documentation, or wait for the one person who's done it before. If that person isn't available, CI becomes the thing you'll \"get to later.\" Later becomes never.\n\nWhen CI never happens, the impact shows up everywhere else. Changes ship without a reliable safety net, regressions surface in production instead of in pipelines, and work piles up in bigger, riskier batches because no one wants to be the person who “breaks the build.” Over time, teams normalize working in the dark, often relying on undocumented institutional knowledge and ad-hoc testing, instead of having a fast, predictable feedback loop baked into every change.\n\nCI Expert Agent, now available in beta, removes that friction. It inspects your repository, identifies your language and framework, and proposes a working build and test pipeline tailored to what's actually there — then explains every decision in plain language. The target: a running pipeline in minutes, with no YAML written by hand.\n\nWhat CI Expert Agent does:\n\n* Repo-aware pipeline generation detects language, framework, and test setup \n* Generates valid, runnable build and test configurations   \n* Guided first-pipeline flow with plain-language explanation of each step in Agentic Chat  \n* Native GitLab CI semantics with no config translation required\n\nBecause it runs inside GitLab and sees real pipeline behavior over time, each improvement can build on how teams actually work, not just on static examples.\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1183458036?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"CI/CD Expert Agent\">\u003C/iframe>\u003Cscript src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js\">\u003C/script>\n\u003Cbr>\u003C/br>\n\nCI Expert Agent is available on GitLab.com, Self-Managed, Dedicated; Free, Premium, Ultimate Editions with Duo Agent Platform enabled.\n\n## Query GitLab data in plain language with Data Analyst Agent\n\nAI has sped up how teams ship. Answering basic questions about how that work is going has gotten harder, not easier.\n\nHow long are MRs sitting in review? Which pipelines are slowing teams down? Are deployment targets actually being hit? These questions used to be answerable by glancing at a dashboard. Now, with more code, more teams, and more complexity, the data exists — it's in GitLab — but accessing it still means waiting on an analytics team, filing a dashboard request, or learning GLQL.\n\nData Analyst Agent targets that gap. Ask a natural-language question and get an instant visualization in Agentic Chat. No query language, no dashboard request, no waiting for the answers to be assembled by someone else.\n\nFor example, the agent can answer questions about the following topics for these roles:\n\n* Engineering managers: MR cycle time, throughput by project, where reviews get stuck  \n* Developers: Contribution patterns, flaky tests blocking their MRs, pipeline speed trends  \n* DevOps and platform engineers: Pipeline success/failure rates, runner utilization, deployment frequency  \n* Engineering leadership: Cross-portfolio deployment frequency, project health metrics, lead time comparisons\n\nNow generally available in 18.11, the agent covers MRs, issues, projects, pipelines, and jobs — full software development lifecycle coverage, expanded from the beta scope. Because Data Analyst Agent queries what's already in GitLab, the context is always current, and there's no pipeline to maintain or third-party tool to keep synchronized. Generated GitLab Query Language queries can be copied and used anywhere GitLab Flavored Markdown is supported, with direct export to work items and dashboards on the roadmap.\n\n\u003Ciframe src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1183094817?badge=0&amp;autopause=0&amp;player_id=0&amp;app_id=58479\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;\" title=\"Data Analyst agent demo\">\u003C/iframe>\u003Cscript src=\"https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js\">\u003C/script>\n\u003Cbr>\u003C/br>\n\nData Analyst Agent is available on GitLab.com, Self-Managed, Dedicated; Free, Premium and Ultimate Edition with Duo Agent Platform enabled.\n\n## One platform, connected context\n\nBoth agents run inside GitLab, with access to the code, pipelines, issues, and merge requests already there. That's what separates platform-native AI from a disconnected assistant: the context is always current, and it only gets more useful over time. CI Expert Agent and Data Analyst Agent represent two concrete steps toward a platform where AI doesn't just help you write code faster; it helps you understand, ship, and maintain what gets built.\n\n> [Start a free trial of GitLab Duo Agent Platform](https://about.gitlab.com/gitlab-duo/) to experience these foundational AI agents.",[723,741,9],"features",{"featured":27,"template":13,"slug":743},"ci-expert-and-data-analyst-ai-agents-target-development-gaps",{"promotions":745},[746,760,771,783],{"id":747,"categories":748,"header":750,"text":751,"button":752,"image":757},"ai-modernization",[749],"ai-ml","Is AI achieving its promise at scale?","Quiz will take 5 minutes or less",{"text":753,"config":754},"Get your AI maturity score",{"href":755,"dataGaName":756,"dataGaLocation":241},"/assessments/ai-modernization-assessment/","modernization assessment",{"config":758},{"src":759},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138786/qix0m7kwnd8x2fh1zq49.png",{"id":761,"categories":762,"header":763,"text":751,"button":764,"image":768},"devops-modernization",[9,566],"Are you just managing tools or shipping innovation?",{"text":765,"config":766},"Get your DevOps maturity score",{"href":767,"dataGaName":756,"dataGaLocation":241},"/assessments/devops-modernization-assessment/",{"config":769},{"src":770},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138785/eg818fmakweyuznttgid.png",{"id":772,"categories":773,"header":775,"text":751,"button":776,"image":780},"security-modernization",[774],"security","Are you trading speed for security?",{"text":777,"config":778},"Get your security maturity score",{"href":779,"dataGaName":756,"dataGaLocation":241},"/assessments/security-modernization-assessment/",{"config":781},{"src":782},"https://res.cloudinary.com/about-gitlab-com/image/upload/v1772138786/p4pbqd9nnjejg5ds6mdk.png",{"id":784,"paths":785,"header":788,"text":789,"button":790,"image":795},"github-azure-migration",[786,787],"migration-from-azure-devops-to-gitlab","integrating-azure-devops-scm-and-gitlab","Is your team ready for GitHub's Azure move?","GitHub is already rebuilding around Azure. Find out what it means for you.",{"text":791,"config":792},"See how GitLab compares to GitHub",{"href":793,"dataGaName":794,"dataGaLocation":241},"/compare/gitlab-vs-github/github-azure-migration/","github azure migration",{"config":796},{"src":770},{"header":798,"blurb":799,"button":800,"secondaryButton":805},"Start building faster today","See what your team can do with the intelligent orchestration platform for DevSecOps.\n",{"text":801,"config":802},"Get your free trial",{"href":803,"dataGaName":48,"dataGaLocation":804},"https://gitlab.com/-/trial_registrations/new?glm_content=default-saas-trial&glm_source=about.gitlab.com/","feature",{"text":503,"config":806},{"href":52,"dataGaName":53,"dataGaLocation":804},1776442971183]