Using the Omnibus GitLab package to ship GitLab

What this post added

This post introduces and explains the Omnibus GitLab package as a solution to simplify GitLab installation and upgrades. It details the 'Omnibus concept' from Chef, where a single binary package includes all dependencies and components, ensuring predictable behavior. The post contrasts this with the complexity of installing GitLab from source, highlighting the length and potential stress of manual installations and upgrades. It outlines the benefits of Omnibus for both users (ease of installation, configuration, and upgrades) and maintainers (consistent environments, easier support, streamlined releases). The post also discusses alternatives considered, such as Docker images, native Debian/Fedora packages (mentioning ongoing community efforts), and configuration management tools, explaining the trade-offs and why Omnibus remains the primary solution for frequent GitLab updates. It concludes by encouraging contributions to the Omnibus project and offering support for platform-specific packaging efforts.