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Deprecation of the `gitlab-runner exec` command from GitLab Runner

For guidance on the overall deprecations, removals and breaking changes workflow, please visit Breaking changes, deprecations, and removing features

Deprecation Summary

The gitlab-runner exec feature was initially developed to provide the ability to validate a GitLab CI pipeline on a local system without needing to commit the updates to a GitLab instance. However, with the continued evolution of GitLab CI, replicating all GitLab CI features into gitlab-runner exec was no longer viable.

With this context, we have determined that it is no longer tenable to continue to incur the technical debt of this legacy feature. As a result, we plan to include a new deprecation notice in the 15.8 release post and fully remove gitlab-runner exec from the runner code base in the 16.0 release.

Breaking Change

Yes

Affected Topology

Affected Tier

  • Free
  • Premium
  • Ultimate

Checklists

Labels

  • This issue is labeled deprecation, and with the relevant ~devops::, ~group::, and ~Category: labels.
  • This issue is labeled breaking change if the removal of the deprecated item will be a breaking change.

Timeline

Please add links to the relevant merge requests.

  • As soon as possible, but no later than the third milestone preceding the major release (for example, given the following release schedule: 14.8, 14.9, 14.10, 15.0 – 14.8 is the third milestone preceding the major release):
  • On or before the major milestone: A removal entry has been created so the removal will appear on the removals by milestones page and be announced in the release post.
  • On the major milestone:

Mentions

  • Your stage's stable counterparts have been @mentioned on this issue. For example, Customer Support, Customer Success (Technical Account Manager), Product Marketing Manager.
    • To see who the stable counterparts are for a product team visit product categories
      • If there is no stable counterpart listed for Sales/CS please mention @timtams
      • If there is no stable counterpart listed for Support please mention @gitlab-com/support/managers
      • If there is no stable counterpart listed for Marketing please mention @cfoster3
  • Your GPM has been @mentioned so that they are aware of planned deprecations. The goal is to have reviews happen at least two releases before the final removal of the feature or introduction of a breaking change.

Deprecation Milestone

Planned Removal Milestone

17.0

Links

Community and customer feedback issue

Edited by Darren Eastman