## Overview This epic captures the FY27 Q1 goals and planning for the Dashboard Foundations initiative. For the full roadmap and strategic context, see the [GitLab Dashboard Foundations Roadmap](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/18072) and https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20515+. **Aligned with:** https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-operating-model/-/work_items/705+s --- ## Q1 Objectives Summary | Objective | Status | Team | DRI | |-----------|--------|------|-----| | **[Data Analyst GA Release (18.11)](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20337)** | :construction: In progress | ~"group::platform insights" ~frontend ~backend | @jiaan | | **[New Dashboard Space](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20765)** - First iteration behind a feature flag | :construction: Started | ~"group::optimize" ~frontend | @ekigbo | | **[Data Aggregation in GLQL](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/21207)** - Established a common pattern for aggregation with a first use case in GLQL | :construction: Started | ~"group::optimize" ~backend & ~"group::platform insights" ~GLQL | @pshutsin | | **[Storage API for Custom Dashboards](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19431)** | :construction: In progress | ~"group::platform insights" ~backend | @nogundu | --- ## 1. Data Analyst GA Release **Goal:** Launch the Data Analyst Agent to General Availability, enabling customers to self-service their analytical needs through AI-powered data exploration, visualization, and insights generation. **Tracking:** [&20337 - GA release of Data Analyst Agent](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20337) **Aligned with:** [&705 - DE&M: Data Products - Launch Series of Specialized Data Agents](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-operating-model/-/work_items/705) ### Key Deliverables - Resolve all GA blockers (bugs, critical feedback) - Prompt improvements for better user experience - Add impactful data source and document/streamline the process - Feature flag cleanup and documentation updates - Automated testing and metrics implementation - Make agent available to free tier ### Impact Customers can use the Data Analyst to partially self-service their analytical needs: - Find and explore data available to them - Visualize and help explain data - Surface visualizations on the platform --- ## 2. New Analytics Dashboard Space **Goal:** Create a unified entry point for all data exploration and visualization capabilities in GitLab. **Tracking:** [&20765 - New Analytics Dashboard space](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20765) **Design Reference:** [&20408 - Demo of Analytics at Scale](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20408) (see mockup flow) ### Key Deliverables - **New navigation item** - Top-level entry point for dashboards/analytics - **Unified listing experience** - Single page to discover and access all dashboards - **New GLQL-powered dashboard page** - Support for GLQL panels, filters, and visualizations (~backend / ~GLQL) - **Integration with Data Analyst** _(stretch goal)_ - Connect navigation to AI-powered exploration ### Vision A single entry point where users can: - Access all OOTB dashboards (Engineering Intelligence, VSA, DORA, Duo & SDLC trends) - Create and manage custom dashboards - Drill into data with multi-select project/group controls - Compare metrics across their entire organization ### Impact The new dashboard space transforms how users interact with analytics in GitLab: - **Reduced friction** - No more navigating through multiple menus to find dashboards; one click from top navigation - **Improved discoverability** - Users can easily find and access all available dashboards (OOTB and custom) in one place - **Consistent experience** - Unified UX patterns across all dashboard types using the layout framework - **Foundation for customization** - Enables the dashboard CRUD flow and custom dashboard creation - **Enterprise readiness** - Supports the "single pane of glass" vision for engineering leaders to monitor their entire organization --- ## 3. Data Aggregation in GLQL **Tracking:** Multiple related issues (no single tracking epic) **Goal:** Enable aggregation capabilities in GLQL to support advanced analytics and dashboard visualizations. ### Key Deliverables - **Create an aggregation engine and integrate with GraphQL API** - Target: At least one data source added to GLQL with aggregation support - Document/streamline the process of adding a new engine - **Add aggregation support to GLQL** - Enable queries that can summarize, count, and aggregate data across entities ### Impact Aggregation capabilities unlock: - Summary statistics across projects/groups - Trend analysis and comparisons - Performance metrics at scale - Foundation for Engineering Intelligence dashboards --- ## 4. Storage API for Custom Dashboards **Goal:** Deliver a backend API to store and manage custom dashboard configurations, enabling users to CRUD dashboards outside the traditional group → project hierarchy. **Tracking:** [&19431 - Implement custom dashboards storage solution](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19431) **Parent Epic:** [&19430 - Implement custom dashboards](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19430) ### Key Deliverables - **Dashboard CRUD API (GraphQL)** - Create, read, update, delete dashboard configurations - **Dashboard Search** - Search for dashboards across organization or group - **Permissions Model** - Fine-grained access control for dashboard sharing - **Schema Validation** - Define and validate final config schema for custom dashboards - **Feature Flag Rollout** - Progressive rollout of `custom_dashboard_storage` flag - **Documentation:** How to migrate/add a dashboard to the dashboards API ### Technical Requirements - PostgreSQL storage for dashboard configurations (Cells-compatible) - Optimistic locking for concurrent edits - Audit and change events for compliance - Support for favorites/starred dashboards ### Impact The Storage API is a **critical dependency** for: - Dashboard customization UI framework ([&18158](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/18158)) - Dashboard CRUD flow implementation ([&19544](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19544)) - Enabling users to create, save, and share custom dashboards --- ## Dependencies & Risks | Dependency | Impact | Mitigation | |------------|--------|------------| | GLQL data source expansion | Required for Data Analyst GA | Prioritize core data sources | | Storage API completion | Blocks custom dashboard UI | Backend prioritization in Q1 | | Cells/Organizations work | Blocks full navigation vision | Implement incremental improvements | | Data Insights Platform | Enables scale analytics | Coordinate with platform team | --- ## :date: Milestones & Timeline _To be filled in with specific milestone assignments and target dates_ --- ## Related Links - [GitLab Dashboard Foundations Roadmap](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/18072) - [GA release of Data Analyst Agent](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20337) - [Demo of Analytics at Scale](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/20408) - [Implement custom dashboards](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19430) - [Implement custom dashboards storage solution](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/work_items/19431) - [DE&M: Data Products - Data Analyst Agent](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-operating-model/-/work_items/705) - [DE&M: Data Products - GitLab Impact Analytics Dashboard](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-operating-model/-/work_items/85)