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Using GitLab CI/CD with a GitHub repository (PREMIUM)

GitLab CI/CD can be used with GitHub.com and GitHub Enterprise by creating a CI/CD project to connect your GitHub repository to GitLab.

Watch a video on Using GitLab CI/CD pipelines with GitHub repositories.

Connect with GitHub integration

If the GitHub integration has been enabled by your GitLab administrator:

  1. In GitLab create a CI/CD for external repo project and select GitHub.

    Create project

  2. Once authenticated, you will be redirected to a list of your repositories to connect. Click Connect to select the repository.

    Create project

  3. In GitHub, add a .gitlab-ci.yml to configure GitLab CI/CD.

GitLab will:

  1. Import the project.
  2. Enable Pull Mirroring.
  3. Enable GitHub project integration.
  4. Create a web hook on GitHub to notify GitLab of new commits.

CAUTION: Caution: Due to a 10-token limitation on the GitHub OAuth Implementation, if you import more than 10 times, your oldest imported project's token will be revoked. See issue #9147 for more information.

Connect with Personal Access Token

NOTE: Note: Personal access tokens can only be used to connect GitHub.com repositories to GitLab.

If you are not using the GitHub integration, you can still perform a one-off authorization with GitHub to grant GitLab access your repositories:

  1. Open https://github.com/settings/tokens/new to create a Personal Access Token. This token with be used to access your repository and push commit statuses to GitHub.

    The repo and admin:repo_hook should be enable to allow GitLab access to your project, update commit statuses, and create a web hook to notify GitLab of new commits.

  2. In GitLab create a CI/CD for external repo project and select GitHub.

    Create project

  3. Paste the token into the Personal access token field and click List Repositories. Click Connect to select the repository.

  4. In GitHub, add a .gitlab-ci.yml to configure GitLab CI/CD.

GitLab will import the project, enable Pull Mirroring, enable GitHub project integration, and create a web hook on GitHub to notify GitLab of new commits.

Connect manually

NOTE: Note: To use GitHub Enterprise with GitLab.com use this method.

If the GitHub integration is not enabled, or is enabled for a different GitHub instance, you GitLab CI/CD can be manually enabled for your repository:

  1. In GitHub open https://github.com/settings/tokens/new create a Personal Access Token. GitLab will use this token to access your repository and push commit statuses.

    Enter a Token description and update the scope to allow:

    repo so that GitLab can access your project and update commit statuses

  2. In GitLab create a CI/CD project using the Git URL option and the HTTPS URL for your GitHub repository. If your project is private, use the personal access token you just created for authentication.

    GitLab will automatically configure polling-based pull mirroring.

  3. Still in GitLab, enable the GitHub project integration from Settings > Integrations.

    Check the Active checkbox to enable the integration, paste your personal access token and HTTPS repository URL into the form, and Save.

  4. Still in GitLab create a Personal Access Token with API scope to authenticate the GitHub web hook notifying GitLab of new commits.

  5. In GitHub from Settings > Webhooks create a web hook to notify GitLab of new commits.

    The web hook URL should be set to the GitLab API to trigger pull mirroring, using the GitLab personal access token we just created.

    https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<NAMESPACE>%2F<PROJECT>/mirror/pull?private_token=<PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN>

    Create web hook

  6. In GitHub add a .gitlab-ci.yml to configure GitLab CI/CD.