CI Expert Agent

The CI Expert Agent is a specialized agent that helps you create, debug, and optimize GitLab CI/CD pipelines. It combines:

• Deep expertise in GitLab CI/CD syntax and configuration.
• Knowledge of pipeline optimization strategies and best practices.

Use the CI Expert Agent when you need help with:

• Pipeline creation: Generate .gitlab-ci.yml configurations from scratch based on your project requirements.
• Component suggestions: Get CI/CD component recommendations based on your project type. For example, a Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, or Docker project.
• Syntax explanation: Understand CI/CD keywords and configuration options.
• Debugging: Analyze job logs and troubleshoot pipeline failures.
• Optimization: Improve pipeline performance through caching, parallelization, and using the needs keyword to let jobs start earlier.
• Implementing proper use of CI/CD keywords, including rules, artifacts, services, and environments.

Access the CI Expert Agent

Prerequisites:

• Foundational agents must be turned on.

To access the CI Expert Agent:

1. On the top bar, select Search or go to and find your project.

2. On the GitLab Duo sidebar, select Add new chat ( ).

3. From the dropdown list, select CI Expert.

   A Chat conversation opens in the GitLab Duo sidebar on the right side of your screen.

4. Enter your CI/CD-related question or request. To get the best results from your request:

   • Describe your project type and technology stack.
   • Share your existing .gitlab-ci.yml if you have one.
   • Specify your goals. For example, faster builds, deployment to Kubernetes, or running tests in parallel.

Example prompts

• “Create a CI/CD pipeline for my Node.js project with testing and Docker build.”
• “Why is my pipeline failing? Here’s the error: (paste error message)”
• “How do I cache dependencies to speed up my builds?”
• “Add a deployment stage to my pipeline for Kubernetes.”
• “What’s the difference between cache and artifacts?”
• “Help me set up parallel testing for my test suite.”
• “How do I use needs to make jobs start earlier?”
• “Explain what this CI/CD configuration does: (paste configuration)”
• “How do I set up a multi-project pipeline?”
• “What’s the best way to handle secrets in my pipeline?”
• “Help me optimize my pipeline to reduce build times.”
• “How do I run jobs only on merge requests?”
• “Create a .gitlab-ci.yml for my Python project with pytest and linting.”
• “How do I use artifacts to pass data between jobs?”
• “Set up Auto DevOps for my project.”