Solving the Frustrating Issue: GitLab CI/CD Pipeline Won’t Run Stage “Deploy”

The Struggle is Real

Have you ever experienced the frustration of setting up a GitLab CI/CD pipeline, only to have it stubbornly refuse to run the “deploy” stage? You’re not alone! This issue can be infuriating, especially when you’ve carefully crafted your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file and are confident that everything should be working smoothly.

Understanding the Problem

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s take a step back and understand what might be causing this issue. The “deploy” stage is a critical part of your CI/CD pipeline, responsible for deploying your application to a production environment. If this stage doesn’t run, your pipeline is essentially useless.

Possible Causes:

• .gitlab-ci.yml file syntax errors
• Incorrect stage ordering or dependencies
• Missing or incorrect environment variables
• Permissions issues or access control problems
• Network connectivity or firewall issues
• GitLab runner configuration problems
• Buggy or outdated GitLab runner version

Troubleshooting and Solutions

Now that we’ve identified some possible causes, let’s walk through a series of troubleshooting steps to help you resolve the issue:

Step 1: Review Your .gitlab-ci.yml File

Open your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file and carefully review the syntax, making sure there are no errors or typos. Pay particular attention to the “deploy” stage definition:

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying to production..."
    - # Your deployment script here
  environment:
    name: production
    url: https://example.com
  only:
    - main

Verify that:

• The “deploy” stage is defined correctly, with a clear `stage:` and `script:` section.
• The `environment:` section is properly configured, with a valid `name:` and `url:`.
• The `only:` section specifies the correct branch (e.g., `main`) for the deployment.

Step 2: Check Stage Ordering and Dependencies

Ensure that the “deploy” stage is correctly ordered in your pipeline, and that any dependencies are properly defined:

stages:
  - build
  - test
  - deploy

build:
  stage: build
  script:
    - echo "Building the application..."

test:
  stage: test
  script:
    - echo "Running tests..."

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying to production..."
  dependsOn:
    - build
    - test

Verify that:

• The “deploy” stage is listed after the “build” and “test” stages.
• The `dependsOn:` section correctly specifies the dependencies for the “deploy” stage.

Step 3: Environment Variables and Permissions

Check that you have the necessary environment variables set up, and that the GitLab runner has the required permissions to access the deployment environment:

variables:
  DEPLOY_TOKEN: $DEPLOY_TOKEN
  DEPLOY_URL: $DEPLOY_URL

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying to production..."
    - curl -X POST \
      https://example.com/deploy \
      -H 'Authorization: Bearer $DEPLOY_TOKEN'

Verify that:

• The necessary environment variables are defined and set correctly.
• The GitLab runner has the required permissions to access the deployment environment.

Step 4: Network Connectivity and Firewall Issues

Ensure that the GitLab runner can connect to the deployment environment, and that there are no firewall issues preventing the deployment:

deploy:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying to production..."
    - ping -c 1 example.com
    - curl -X POST \
      https://example.com/deploy \
      -H 'Authorization: Bearer $DEPLOY_TOKEN'

Verify that:

• The GitLab runner can connect to the deployment environment (e.g., using `ping` or `curl`).
• There are no firewall issues preventing the deployment.

Step 5: GitLab Runner Configuration and Version

Check that the GitLab runner is correctly configured, and that you’re using the latest version:

gitlab-runner --version

Verify that:

• The GitLab runner is correctly configured and registered with your GitLab instance.
• You’re using the latest version of the GitLab runner.

Conclusion

By following these troubleshooting steps, you should be able to identify and resolve the issue preventing your GitLab CI/CD pipeline from running the “deploy” stage. Remember to carefully review your `.gitlab-ci.yml` file, stage ordering, and dependencies, as well as environment variables, permissions, and network connectivity.

If you’re still experiencing issues, consider seeking help from the GitLab community or consulting the official GitLab documentation.

Troubleshooting Step	Possible Causes	Solutions
Review .gitlab-ci.yml file	Syntax errors, incorrect stage definition	Verify syntax, stage ordering, and dependencies
Check stage ordering and dependencies	Incorrect stage ordering, missing dependencies	Verify stage ordering and dependencies
Environment variables and permissions	Mising environment variables, permission issues	Verify environment variables and permissions
Network connectivity and firewall issues	Network connectivity issues, firewall blocks deployment	Verify network connectivity and firewall configuration
GitLab runner configuration and version	Incorrect runner configuration, outdated version	Verify runner configuration and update to latest version

Additional Resources

For further guidance and troubleshooting tips, refer to the following resources:

• GitLab CI/CD .gitlab-ci.yml documentation
• GitLab CI/CD troubleshooting guide
• GitLab runner issue tracker

By following these steps and resources, you should be able to resolve the issue and get your GitLab CI/CD pipeline running smoothly with the “deploy” stage. Happy troubleshooting!

Frequently Asked Question

Stuck with your GitLab CI/CD pipeline? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here are some common issues and their solutions to get your pipeline up and running smoothly.