Step-by-Step Guide: How to Host a Website on GitLab

by Devop · 16/08/2024

Want to host your website for free? GitLab Pages is a great option. This guide will walk you through each step, from setting up your GitLab account to deploying your site. Whether you’re new to web hosting or just new to GitLab, this tutorial will help you get your site live in no time.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Learn how to set up a GitLab account and create your first project.
Understand how to prepare your website files and organize your project structure.
Get to know GitLab CI/CD and how to write and test your first pipeline.
Discover how to deploy your website using GitLab Pages and access it online.
Find out how to customize your GitLab Pages site with a custom domain and HTTPS.

Setting Up Your GitLab Account

Creating a GitLab Account

First things first, you need a GitLab account. Head over to the GitLab website and click on the Sign Up button. Fill in your details, verify your email, and you’re good to go. If you already have an account, simply sign in.

Navigating the GitLab Dashboard

Once you’re logged in, you’ll land on the GitLab dashboard. This is your control center. Here, you can see your projects, groups, and activity feed. Spend a few minutes clicking around to get familiar with the layout.

Understanding GitLab Projects

In GitLab, everything revolves around projects. A project is where your code lives. You can create new projects, import existing ones, and manage them all from the dashboard. Think of it as your project’s home base.

Getting comfortable with the GitLab dashboard is crucial for managing your projects effectively.

Creating Your First Project

Starting a New Project

First things first, let’s get your project up and running. After you sign into your GitLab account, look for the "Create new project" button on your dashboard. Click it, and then select the "Create blank project" option. Now, give your project a name. You can also add a description if you like. Once you’re done, hit the "Create project" button. Boom! You’ve got your first project.

Configuring Project Settings

Now that your project is created, it’s time to tweak some settings. Head over to the project settings by clicking on the gear icon. Here, you can adjust the visibility of your project—make it public, private, or internal. You can also set up collaborators and manage permissions. Don’t forget to configure your repository settings to suit your needs.

Adding a README File

A README file is essential for any project. It gives an overview of what your project is about. To add one, click on the "+" button and select "New File." Name the file README.md and add some introductory text about your project. Commit the file to the main branch, and you’re all set. Your project now has a README file that will greet visitors when they land on your project page.

Remember, a well-documented project is easier to understand and collaborate on. Always keep your README file updated.

Preparing Your Website Files

Creating HTML Files

First, you need to create the basic structure of your website using HTML. Open your text editor and start by creating an index.html file. This file will serve as the homepage of your website. Make sure to include the essential HTML tags like <!DOCTYPE html>, <html>, <head>, and <body>. Save the file in your project directory.

Setting Up CSS and JavaScript

Next, you’ll want to add some style and interactivity to your website. Create a styles.css file for your CSS and a scripts.js file for your JavaScript. Link these files in your index.html using the <link> and <script> tags. This will help you keep your code organized and make it easier to manage.

Organizing Your Project Structure

It’s important to keep your project files well-organized. Create separate folders for your HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files. For example, you can have a css folder for your stylesheets and a js folder for your scripts. This will make it easier to navigate your project and find the files you need. Make sure to set up the volumes location correctly to avoid any issues later on.

Keeping your project structure organized will save you a lot of time and headaches in the long run.

By following these steps, you’ll have a solid foundation for your website files, making it easier to deploy and manage your site on GitLab.

Configuring GitLab CI/CD

Understanding .gitlab-ci.yml

The .gitlab-ci.yml file is the heart of your CI/CD pipeline. This file tells GitLab how to run your jobs. It’s crucial to get this right. YAML syntax is sensitive, so be careful with spaces and indentation. You can define stages, jobs, and scripts here. Each job runs in its own environment, which can be a Docker container or a virtual machine.

Writing Your First Pipeline

Start by creating a simple pipeline. Add a .gitlab-ci.yml file to your project root. Define stages like build, test, and deploy. Each stage can have multiple jobs. For example:

stages:
  - build
  - test
  - deploy

build-job:
  stage: build
  script:
    - echo "Building..."

test-job:
  stage: test
  script:
    - echo "Testing..."

deploy-job:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "Deploying..."

This simple pipeline will run the build job first, then the test job, and finally the deploy job.

Testing Your CI/CD Configuration

Before pushing your code, it’s a good idea to test your CI/CD configuration locally. You can use tools like gitlab-runner to simulate the pipeline. This helps catch errors early. Once you’re confident, push your .gitlab-ci.yml file to your repository. GitLab will automatically detect it and start running your pipeline.

Remember, GitLab Ultimate offers advanced features like security scanning and compliance checks, which can be integrated into your CI/CD pipeline.

If something goes wrong, check the pipeline logs for errors. GitLab provides detailed logs for each job, making it easier to debug issues. Happy coding!

Deploying Your Website with GitLab Pages

Setting Up GitLab Pages

First, ensure that GitLab Pages is enabled for your project. Navigate to Settings > General and expand the Visibility, project features, permissions section. Toggle the Pages option to on. This step is crucial to make your site live.

Pushing Your Code to GitLab

To deploy your website, you need to push your code to your GitLab repository. Make sure your website files are in a folder named public at the root level of your project. This is where GitLab Pages looks for the files to serve.

Add your files to the public folder.
Commit your changes with a meaningful message.
Push the commit to your GitLab repository.

Accessing Your Live Website

Once your code is pushed, GitLab CI/CD will automatically build and deploy your site. You can monitor the pipeline’s progress under CI/CD > Pipelines. When the pipeline completes, your site will be live. Access it via the default GitLab Pages domain, yourusername.gitlab.io/yourprojectname, or your custom domain if configured.

Pro Tip: Always check the pipeline logs if your site doesn’t deploy as expected. They provide valuable insights into what might have gone wrong.

Customizing Your GitLab Pages Site

Adding a Custom Domain

To make your website more professional, you can add a custom domain. From your project’s dashboard, go to Settings > Pages > New Domain. Enter your domain name in the first field. If you have an SSL/TLS certificate, add it; otherwise, leave it blank. Click on ‘Create New Domain’. Finally, access your domain control panel and create a new DNS A record pointing to the IP of the GitLab Pages server.

Enabling HTTPS

Securing your website with HTTPS is crucial. If you’re using GitLab’s default domain, your site is automatically secure. For custom domains, you can use free SSL/TLS certificates from Let’s Encrypt. GitLab will automatically obtain and renew these certificates for you. This ensures your site is always secure without any extra effort on your part.

Using Static Site Generators

Static Site Generators (SSGs) can make your life easier by automating the creation of your website. GitLab Pages supports many SSGs like Jekyll, Hugo, and Gatsby. Choose one that fits your needs, and follow its documentation to set it up. Once configured, your SSG will generate the static files needed for your site, which you can then push to GitLab.

Customizing your GitLab Pages site can make it stand out and function better. Whether you’re adding a custom domain, enabling HTTPS, or using a static site generator, these steps will help you create a more professional and secure website.

By following these steps, you can make your GitLab Pages site truly your own. Open your project on GitLab, select settings, and start customizing today!

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Debugging Build Failures

When your build fails, it can be frustrating. Start by checking the build logs for any error messages. These logs often provide clues about what went wrong. Common issues include missing dependencies or syntax errors in your code. Make sure all required packages are installed and your code is free of typos.

Fixing Deployment Errors

Deployment errors can occur for various reasons. Ensure that your deployment scripts are correctly configured. Double-check your environment variables and make sure they are set properly. If you’re using SSH for deployment, ensure that you generated your SSH key pair correctly and added the public SSH key to your GitLab profile. Try to manually register your private SSH key by running ssh-add.

Getting Help from the GitLab Community

Sometimes, you might need a bit of extra help. The GitLab community is a great resource for troubleshooting. You can ask questions in the GitLab forums or join the GitLab Slack channel. Don’t forget to check the GitLab documentation as well; it often has solutions to common problems.

Remember, troubleshooting is a process of elimination. Take it step by step, and you’ll find the solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is GitLab Pages?

GitLab Pages is a service that lets you host static websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript directly from a GitLab repository. It’s free and easy to use.

Can I use a custom domain with GitLab Pages?

Yes, you can use a custom domain for your GitLab Pages site. You need to configure your DNS settings and add your domain to your GitLab project settings.

What types of websites can I host on GitLab Pages?

You can host any static website on GitLab Pages. This includes sites built with static site generators like Jekyll, Hugo, and Hexo.

Do I need to make my GitLab repository public to use GitLab Pages?

No, your GitLab repository can be private, public, or internal. However, only the static site will be visible to the public.

How do I start a new project on GitLab?

To start a new project, log in to your GitLab account, click on the ‘New Project’ button, and follow the prompts to set up your project.

What is .gitlab-ci.yml?

The .gitlab-ci.yml file is a configuration file for GitLab CI/CD. It contains the instructions for building and deploying your project, including your GitLab Pages site.