5 GitLab Books That Separate Experts from Amateurs

Insights from Christopher Cowell, Adam O'Grady, and Joost Evertse guide your GitLab mastery with practical expertise.

Updated on June 23, 2025
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What if a handful of books could sharpen your GitLab skills and transform how you manage DevOps pipelines? GitLab’s rise as a cornerstone for modern software development means mastering its nuances is more crucial than ever. From startups to enterprises, teams rely on GitLab’s robust CI/CD features to accelerate delivery without sacrificing quality.

Experts like Christopher Cowell, a former GitLab trainer with decades of R&D experience, and Adam O'Grady, who’s led engineering teams through complex migrations, have shaped key resources that demystify GitLab’s powerful workflows. Their practical insights help professionals navigate both foundational and advanced GitLab topics.

While these expert-curated books provide proven frameworks, readers seeking content tailored to their specific background, skill level, and goals might consider creating a personalized GitLab book that builds on these insights for a truly customized learning experience.

Best for DevOps engineers mastering pipelines
Christopher Cowell brings rare depth to GitLab CI/CD with his background as a former GitLab trainer and decades spent as a scientist and QA engineer at Accenture and Oracle. His frustration with rushed, low-quality software delivery shines through, driving this book’s focus on slowing down and doing things right. Holding a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Berkeley combined with a Harvard Computer Science degree, Cowell uniquely bridges theory and practice to guide you through creating reliable, secure, and efficient DevOps pipelines using GitLab.
2023·348 pages·GitLab, Devops, CI/CD, Continuous Integration, Pipeline Automation

When Christopher Cowell first realized how much the software industry rushes to deliver mediocre code, he set out to change that mindset through this book. You’ll learn how to build efficient GitLab CI/CD pipelines that not only automate your software development lifecycle but also emphasize code verification, security, and deployment. The book walks you through practical setups like GitLab Runners, pipeline structures, and advanced features such as connecting to Kubernetes clusters and using Terraform. If you’re involved in DevOps or software delivery and want to deepen your mastery of GitLab’s pipeline capabilities, this book offers concrete examples and troubleshooting strategies to sharpen your skills without overwhelming you.

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Best for developers new to GitLab
Adam O'Grady hails from Perth, Western Australia, with a background ranging from programming games on calculators in high school to building satellite-based fire prediction systems for government. His journey through diverse tech roles culminates in leading an engineering team at a health start-up, informing his practical approach in this book. His firsthand experience with social media monitoring and complex system development shines through, offering you a guide that goes beyond theory to real-world applications in GitLab setup, migration, and continuous integration.
GitLab Quick Start Guide book cover

by Adam O'Grady··You?

2018·180 pages·GitLab, Version Control, DevOps, Continuous Integration, Continuous Deployment

Unlike most GitLab books that focus solely on features, Adam O'Grady brings a hands-on perspective grounded in real-world experience managing complex projects and migrations. You learn practical skills such as migrating repositories from GitHub and SVN, setting up continuous integration pipelines, and managing issues and merge requests effectively. The book covers installing GitLab on different Linux distros, using issue boards, and configuring CI/CD stages, making it a useful resource if you need to get up to speed quickly with GitLab's ecosystem. It suits developers, DevOps professionals, and site reliability engineers aiming to transition smoothly to GitLab and leverage its workflow for their projects.

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Best for personalized GitLab workflows
This personalized AI book about GitLab workflows is created based on your current skills, project requirements, and team setup. By sharing your specific goals and focus areas, you receive a guide that targets the exact GitLab essentials and advanced workflows you need. This tailored approach makes complex GitLab concepts more accessible and directly relevant to your development challenges, helping you implement best practices efficiently without sifting through unrelated material.
2025·50-300 pages·GitLab, GitLab Essentials, Repository Management, CI/CD Pipelines, Workflow Optimization

This personalized AI book on GitLab mastery provides a tailored framework that aligns with your specific development environment and workflow needs. It covers essential GitLab concepts, from repository management and CI/CD pipelines to advanced automation techniques, focusing on practical implementation rather than abstract principles. The book addresses workflow optimization by integrating GitLab features with your project goals, cutting through generic advice to offer strategies that fit your development context. It also includes best practices for collaboration, security configurations, and issue tracking tailored to different team sizes and project complexities, ensuring that you gain actionable insights directly applicable to your daily workflows.

Tailored Framework
Workflow Optimization
1,000+ Happy Readers
Best for enterprise GitLab administrators
Joost Evertse is a recognized expert in DevOps and software development, with extensive experience in implementing GitLab solutions for enterprises. Known for his practical approach to complex software concepts, he wrote this book to provide clear guidance on optimizing software workflows using GitLab. His background ensures the book covers both foundational installation steps and advanced DevOps practices, making it a valuable resource for professionals seeking to master GitLab in real-world settings.
Mastering GitLab 12 book cover

by Joost Evertse··You?

2019·608 pages·GitLab, DevOps, Software Development, CI/CD, Repository Management

When Joost Evertse began working extensively with GitLab, he recognized a gap in practical resources that thoroughly covered both setup and advanced use of GitLab within enterprise environments. Drawing from his deep experience in DevOps and software development, this book walks you through everything from installing and configuring GitLab on various platforms to migrating repositories from systems like GitHub and SVN. You'll gain detailed knowledge of managing CI/CD pipelines, integrating monitoring tools like Prometheus, and setting up high availability architectures. This guide suits software developers and DevOps professionals aiming to harness GitLab's full capabilities for managing complex software workflows.

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Best for CI/CD specialists optimizing workflows
Adam Jones is a recognized authority in software development, specializing in CI/CD practices. With years of experience in the tech industry, he has helped numerous organizations optimize their development workflows. His insights into GitLab CI/CD have made him a sought-after speaker and consultant, which forms the foundation of this detailed guide. This book reflects his expertise, aimed at helping you unlock the full potential of GitLab for faster, reliable software delivery.
2024·302 pages·GitLab, CI/CD, Continuous Deployment, Continuous Integration, Pipeline Security

Advanced GitLab CI/CD Pipelines offers a deep dive into optimizing software development workflows using GitLab's continuous integration and deployment features. Adam Jones, a seasoned software development expert specializing in CI/CD, draws on his extensive industry experience to guide you through creating, securing, and scaling pipelines effectively. You'll learn how to manage artifacts, integrate external services, and deploy complex applications with Docker and Kubernetes orchestration. This book suits both beginners setting up their first pipeline and professionals seeking to enhance performance through practical troubleshooting and optimization strategies.

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Best for sysadmins managing GitLab servers
Jeroen Van Baarsen is a member of the GitLab core team, bringing extensive experience in managing and administering GitLab servers. His expertise in software development and system administration makes him a valuable resource for developers and DevOps professionals looking to optimize their use of GitLab. This book emerged from his hands-on work with GitLab installations, offering practical recipes to help you install, maintain, and secure your own GitLab server setup.
Gitlab Cookbook book cover

by Jeroen Van Baarsen··You?

2014·172 pages·GitLab, DevOps, System Administration, Continuous Integration, User Management

Unlike most GitLab books that focus purely on theory, this one offers over 60 hands-on recipes directly from a core GitLab team member. You get clear guidance on installing and managing your own GitLab instance, including user management, project visibility, and securing your codebase. The book dives into advanced topics like continuous integration and LDAP integration, making it a solid toolkit whether you're a developer or DevOps professional. Chapters on the GitLab API and system hooks show you how to automate workflows effectively. If you're running or planning to self-host GitLab, this book gives you practical insights to maximize your setup without assuming deep sysadmin expertise.

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Best for daily pipeline mastery
This AI-created book on GitLab pipeline optimization is tailored to your skill level and specific goals. You share your background and which areas of pipeline development and optimization interest you most, and this book provides a precise 30-day plan focused on daily actions. The personalized structure makes it easier to build competence efficiently without wading through irrelevant details, delivering exactly what you need to improve your CI/CD workflows.
2025·50-300 pages·GitLab, GitLab Basics, CI/CD Fundamentals, Pipeline Configuration, Runner Setup

This personalized book offers a tailored approach to mastering GitLab pipelines through daily, actionable steps. It provides a structured 30-day plan that focuses on creating and optimizing CI/CD pipelines efficiently, eliminating extraneous information to fit your specific experience and project context. The book guides you through foundational pipeline concepts before advancing to optimization techniques, emphasizing hands-on implementation strategies for real-world pipeline challenges. By concentrating on daily tasks and targeted improvements, it cuts through generic advice to deliver a personalized framework designed to accelerate your proficiency in GitLab's CI/CD environment, matching your unique goals and background.

Tailored Framework
Pipeline Fine-Tuning
3,000+ Custom Books Made

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Conclusion

Together, these five books cover critical facets of GitLab—from getting started and migrating projects to mastering complex CI/CD pipelines and managing your own GitLab server. They reveal a common theme: practical, real-world application trumps theory alone.

If you’re just starting out or migrating codebases, the GitLab Quick Start Guide offers a solid foundation. For those managing enterprise-scale deployments, Mastering GitLab 12 and Gitlab Cookbook provide in-depth strategies and administrative recipes. Meanwhile, Automating DevOps with GitLab CI/CD Pipelines and Advanced GitLab CI/CD Pipelines unlock pipeline automation and optimization techniques.

Once you’ve absorbed these expert insights, create a personalized GitLab book to bridge the gap between general principles and your specific situation. Tailored guidance accelerates your journey from GitLab user to skilled practitioner.

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm overwhelmed by choice – which book should I start with?

Start with the "GitLab Quick Start Guide" if you're new to GitLab. It covers setup, migration, and basic workflows in a practical way that eases you into the platform.

Are these books too advanced for someone new to GitLab?

Not at all. While some books dive deep, like "Mastering GitLab 12," others such as "GitLab Quick Start Guide" and "Automating DevOps with GitLab CI/CD Pipelines" are approachable for beginners and gradually build your skills.

What's the best order to read these books?

Begin with the "GitLab Quick Start Guide" to grasp fundamentals, then explore pipeline-focused books like "Automating DevOps with GitLab CI/CD Pipelines" before tackling administration-heavy works like "Gitlab Cookbook" and "Mastering GitLab 12."

Do I really need to read all of these, or can I just pick one?

You can pick based on your role and goals. Developers may focus on pipeline books, while sysadmins benefit from the "Gitlab Cookbook." Each offers distinct expertise tailored to different needs.

Are any of these books outdated given how fast GitLab changes?

These books remain relevant by emphasizing core GitLab concepts and workflows that evolve gradually. For the latest updates, combining these with official GitLab docs or personalized resources helps stay current.

Can personalized GitLab books complement these expert guides?

Yes! While these books provide expert insights, personalized GitLab books tailor content to your experience, goals, and projects. They’re a great way to apply general principles directly to your situation. Learn more here.

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