From Chaos to Order: How GitLab Transforms Testing Cycles for Embedded Systems

Challenges of Traditional Testing Approaches

When working with embedded systems, teams often use two inefficient methods for creating test environments. Each has significant drawbacks that slow down development and increase costs.

• Pipeline-based lifecycle: An approach where a complete virtual testing environment is created for every CI/CD run. This leads to enormous time and money costs, especially when dealing with complex virtual hardware configurations.
• Long-lived environments: To avoid constant rebuilding, teams use environments that persist indefinitely. This causes "infrastructure sprawl," the accumulation of unused resources, and, consequently, uncontrolled cost growth.

"Leftover configurations from previous tests can distort the results of current ones, leading to errors that are difficult to diagnose."

The GitLab Solution: Managed Environment Lifecycles

GitLab offers a compelling alternative - managed environments whose lifecycle is tied not to a pipeline, but to a merge request (MR). This approach provides a balance between speed and resource control.

• Automatic creation: When a developer creates a merge request for a new feature, GitLab automatically deploys the necessary virtual environment for testing.
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• Single source of truth: The merge request becomes a central place where all build results, tests, and environment metadata are stored, ensuring transparency for the entire team.
• Smart cleanup: As soon as the feature is integrated and the branch is deleted, GitLab automatically triggers the environment cleanup process. This prevents the accumulation of unnecessary resources and keeps costs under control.

What Value Does This Bring to the Business?

GitLab's managed environments provide tangible benefits for embedded systems development. Teams working with MATLAB/Simulink or testing on specialized processors (like Infineon AURIX or BlackBerry QNX) no longer have to choose between slow rebuilds or uncontrolled infrastructure sprawl. Complex virtual environments exist for exactly as long as the feature development takes and are automatically deleted upon completion. This allows for:

• Faster development cycles: Teams get feedback more quickly.
• Shorter time-to-market: The product reaches customers faster.
• Lower infrastructure costs: Pay only for the resources that are actually used.
• Higher product quality: Testing becomes more accurate and reliable.

Softprom - Your Partner in Using GitLab Services

As an official GitLab reseller in Eastern Europe, Softprom provides local expertise, support in your language, and the best licensing conditions. We can help you:

• work with GitLab legally (contract, payment in your local currency);
• set up a demo or trial for your specific needs;
• get a consultation or a comparison with your current tools.

Need a consultation or want to test GitLab for your team? Submit a request — and we will help you find the best solution for you.