Super sidebar: GitLab Next

Challenge

Define GitLab Next behaviour for the super sidebar.

Exploration

What is GitLab Next?

GitLab Next is the SaaS 'canary environment'. It is is used to test the latest code on a sub-set of users. Normally this results in getting features a few hours early. However, an increase in errors on this code can alert team members to a potential issue. They can stop the deployment to production and investigate. Finding issues with a small number of users, reduces the chances of production incidents that affect all SaaS users.

As documented in the handbook, 5% of all users' requests / traffic and all requests to https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/* and https://gitlab.com/gitlab-com/* are routed to Next, unless the user has opted out.

Current pattern

Origins

Documented in these two issues. Initial goals were to help advanced users resolve issues. Those who understood canary environment process could use this information as a troubleshooting step.

At the time, it looks like there were questions about how many users would understand 'canary' and 'next'.

Internally, my assumption is this information is mostly used by teamDelivery .

Behaviour

Next badge is shown in nav. Badge links to a page where user can opt-out.

In nav Linked page
Screenshot_2023-03-15_at_11.11.35 Screenshot_2023-03-15_at_11.11.42

Proposal

Closing this issue as the solution proposed in Super sidebar: Admin impersonation (#396689 - closed), changes in !115563 (merged), and work implemented in !113104 (merged) mean nothing further is needed for the Navigation redesign .

We might still want to make changes in the future, if so we can reopen this issue or create a new one.

#396690 (comment 1333201320)

Additional Context

Edited by Dan MH — OOO