Gitlab path to production using protected git tags

okay, let's dive into a detailed tutorial on building a gitlab path to production using protected git tags. this approach focuses on promoting specific, tested code versions through your environment pipeline using tags as the central artifact.

**core concepts**

* **git tags:** lightweight or annotated markers in your git repository pointing to specific commits. think of them as "release names" associated with code states. we'll use *annotated tags* for more control.
* **protected tags:** gitlab's feature to restrict who can create, push, or delete tags matching a specified pattern. this is *critical* for ensuring only authorized personnel or processes can promote releases.
* **gitlab ci/cd pipeline:** a series of jobs that run based on events like commits, tags, or scheduled triggers. we'll define stages for building, testing, and deploying.
* **environments:** gitlab environments represent the different stages of your application's lifecycle (e.g., development, staging, production). each tag will be associated with a particular environment.
* **variables:** gitlab ci/cd variables allow you to parameterize your pipelines and deployment scripts. we'll use them to manage environment-specific configurations.
* **deployment jobs:** special jobs within the pipeline that are specifically designated to perform deployment tasks. these jobs can trigger environment updates and associate deployment metadata.
* **merge requests (optional but recommended):** while the primary focus is tag-based deployment, using merge requests for code review before tagging improves code quality.

**the goal**

we want to create a pipeline where:

1. code is developed and reviewed (ideally through merge requests).
2. when a release is ready, an *annotated tag* is created (e.g., `v1.0.0`, `release/1.1.0`). we'll protect these tags with a specific pattern.
3. the creation of the tag triggers a ci/cd pipeline.
4. the pipeline builds, tests, and potentially deploys to a st ...

#GitLab #PathToProduction #ProtectedGitTags

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path to production
protected git tags
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