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How to Convert GitHub Actions to GitLab CI - Complete Guide

Step 1

Input Your GitHub Actions Workflow

Start by providing your GitHub Actions workflow. Whether you're migrating an existing CI/CD pipeline or exploring GitLab CI, you have several convenient options:

•
Paste directly: Copy your workflow YAML from .github/workflows/*.yml and paste into the input editor
•
Upload workflow files: Click "Upload" to select your GitHub Actions YAML files from your repository
•
Try the sample: Click "Sample" to load a complete CI pipeline example and see the conversion in action

Example: GitHub Actions Workflow

Here's what a typical GitHub Actions workflow looks like:

name: CI Pipeline
on:
  push:
    branches: [ main ]
  pull_request:
    branches: [ main ]
jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Run tests
        run: npm test
Step 2

Automatic Conversion Process

The conversion happens instantly! Our intelligent converter analyzes your GitHub Actions syntax and automatically translates it to GitLab CI format:

•
Jobs → Stages: Converts GitHub Actions jobs to GitLab CI stages with proper ordering and dependencies
•
Triggers: Translates on: push/pull_request to GitLab rules and branch filters
•
Environment variables: Preserves all env vars and converts GitHub secrets syntax to GitLab CI variables
•
Actions → Scripts: Converts common GitHub Actions (checkout, setup-node, etc.) to equivalent GitLab CI before_script commands
•
Matrix builds: Translates strategy.matrix to parallel jobs in GitLab CI
•
Service containers: Converts services like PostgreSQL, Redis, or Docker-in-Docker to GitLab services: syntax

What Gets Converted

The converter intelligently maps GitHub Actions syntax:

✓jobs → stages and job definitions
✓runs-on → image (Docker images)
✓steps → script commands
✓needs → dependencies between jobs
Step 3

Review GitLab CI Configuration

Review the generated .gitlab-ci.yml configuration in the output panel. The converter creates a complete, production-ready GitLab CI pipeline:

•
Stages defined: All pipeline stages (build, test, deploy) are properly organized with correct execution order
•
Rules configured: Branch filters, merge request triggers, and conditional execution rules are set up
•
Artifacts handling: Build outputs and test results are configured as GitLab CI artifacts
•
Cache setup: Dependencies and build caches are optimized for faster pipeline runs

Example: Resulting GitLab CI

The same workflow, now as .gitlab-ci.yml:

stages:
  - build

build:
  stage: build
  image: ubuntu:latest
  script:
    - npm test
  rules:
    - if: $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH == "main"
    - if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "merge_request_event"
Step 4

Download and Deploy to GitLab

Now you're ready to deploy your pipeline to GitLab! Download the generated .gitlab-ci.yml and set up your GitLab CI/CD:

•
Download the file: Click "Download" to save .gitlab-ci.yml to your local machine
•
Commit to repository: Place the file in your GitLab repository root (same directory as your README.md)
•
Configure variables: Set up required CI/CD variables in GitLab Settings → CI/CD → Variables
•
Test the pipeline: Push your changes to trigger the first pipeline run in GitLab's CI/CD → Pipelines section
•
Monitor results: View logs, artifacts, and job status in GitLab's pipeline visualization

Quick Start Commands

Essential commands for GitLab CI setup:

# Add the CI config to your repo
git add .gitlab-ci.yml
# Commit and push
git commit -m "Add GitLab CI pipeline"
git push origin main

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between GitHub Actions and GitLab CI?

GitHub Actions uses YAML workflows with jobs and steps, plus a marketplace for reusable actions. GitLab CI uses stages and jobs with built-in DevOps features like container registry, package registry, and security scanning. Both platforms are powerful, but GitLab CI offers a more integrated DevOps experience while GitHub Actions has broader third-party action support.

Are GitHub Actions marketplace actions directly convertible?

Popular actions like checkout, setup-node, setup-python, and cache are converted to equivalent GitLab CI commands or Docker images. For example, actions/checkout@v3 becomes a simple git clone (handled automatically by GitLab), and actions/setup-node@v3 becomes a Node.js Docker image like node:18. Less common actions may need manual replacement with equivalent scripts.

Do I need to change my application code?

Absolutely not! The converter only translates CI/CD configuration from one platform to another. Your application code, test suites, build scripts, and deployment scripts remain completely unchanged. You'll just need to ensure any GitHub-specific environment variables or secrets are configured in GitLab's CI/CD settings.

How are secrets and environment variables handled?

GitHub secrets (${{ secrets.API_KEY }}) are converted to GitLab CI variables ($API_KEY or $CI_API_KEY). After conversion, you'll need to manually configure these variables in your GitLab project under Settings → CI/CD → Variables. GitLab supports masked and protected variables just like GitHub's encrypted secrets.

Can I convert workflows with matrix builds?

Yes! GitHub Actions strategy.matrix is converted to GitLab CI parallel jobs. For example, testing across Node 16, 18, and 20 will create three separate jobs in GitLab that run in parallel. This allows you to maintain the same test coverage across multiple versions or configurations.

Is my workflow data secure?

Yes! All conversion happens entirely in your browser using client-side JavaScript. No data is sent to any server, ensuring your CI/CD configuration, secrets references, and pipeline logic remain completely private and secure.

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