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GitLab for Slack app - FY25 and beyond Roadmap preparation

Current state

GitLab for Slack app supersedes Slack Notifications and Slack Slash commands. Those integrations are both based on webhooks and Slack has recommended Slack Apps over the legacy incoming webhooks functionality.

GitLab for Slack app is available on GitLab.com and for self-managed instances, but the setup for SM instances is cumbersome and needs improvements. Automate the process for self-managed to update... (#401920)

With GitLab for Slack user can use slash commands and set up notifications, however this functionality is possible only for the projects that have GitLab for Slack set up as integration. Only project Maintainers can add and configure integrations, so if notifications from the project should be received by a Slack channel, Maintainer needs to perform this setup.

GitLab for Slack doesn't make use of Slack block kit interactive components (e.g. modals), or shortcuts - both are elements that can improve UX.

Features with Customer interest

  1. Enable GitLab for Slack app for Instances and G... (#391526 - closed)
  2. Enable DM-based Notifications: Add slack direct messages as a notification option (#17958)
  3. &5238 - generally the idea of fine-grained notifications is of user's interest. We need to understand what this idea means to customers, what are their related needs.
  4. Ability to connect multiple Slack workspaces with one GitLab project - GitLab for Slack app support for multiple works... (#424190 - closed) - currently this is not possible, as GL project can have one one integration of a kind.
  5. Link unfurls, &6389.
  6. Using Slack Actions.
  7. Slack notifications for user current work reminders (e.g. Slack Integration - Merge Request Reminders (#334286)).
  8. Slack app should support socket mode, so that SM GL offline instances (not publicly available on the web) could use it #416491

Need for transition from using Slack Notifications to GitLab for Slack app:

  • #372412 Enable migration from Slack Notifications integration to Slack App and set deprecation for Slack Notifications integration

Comparison with Best-in-class Solutions

There are technical limitations, described in &9418 (closed), that might become an obstacle on the way for GitLab for Slack app to become one of the best-in-class solutions.

Example: GitLab for Slack app doesn't allow for labels in the same project to point to different Slack channels (see comment). That is not scalable for customers with monorepos or otherwise large projects, on which multiple teams collaborate.

TDB: comparison of best-in-class solution to GitLab for Slack app

Related epics

The issues are placed across few high-level epics.

Edited by Magdalena Frankiewicz