GitLab 14.0 is now available! 🌻
Tags: gitlab, git, news, github
Published: 2021-07-21 15:20:59

---
title: GitLab 14.0 is now available! 🌻
published: true
date: 2021-07-08 23:15:00 UTC
tags: gitlab, git, news, github
canonical_url: https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/gitlab-14-0-is-now-available
cover_image: https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-14-0-is-now-available.jpg
---
As I was on vacation for the past two weeks, I didn't take the time to review the released features of the latest **GitLab** version, the **14.0**. Fortunately, it is [never too late](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL2ZwXj1tXM) to read about them. 😉

Below are some of the features that might interest you. For the full release notes, you can read their blog post: _[GitLab 14.0 released with a celebration of GitLab 14](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/)_.

## **Security**

### [Container Scanning Integration with Trivy](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#container-scanning-integration-with-trivy)

I usually ignore the features that are not available to me in the free plan, but this one caught my eye. This change was marked on the [_Ultimate_ plan](https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/), but I personally add the **[Trivy](https://aquasecurity.github.io/trivy)** tool for container scanning at work, with a free self-hosted plan and it works. Maybe it's more integrated in GitLab? I'm going to have to investigate further to understand the differences between our use and theirs. 🔍

### [Static Analysis Analyzer Updates](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#static-analysis-analyzer-updates)

GitLab currently has a team that actively maintains a set of **[security analyzers](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/security-products/analyzers)**, but I haven't taken the time to try them out yet. It's definitely going on my personal TODO list, especially with the new tool [Semgrep](https://semgrep.dev/), which is expected to replace [ESLint](https://eslint.org/) in their toolset.

## **UX/UI**

In this release, the team has improved the visual of the application, so you might get a bit lost at first, but I'm sure you will find your way around soon! 😌

### [Streamlined top navigation menu](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#streamlined-top-navigation-menu)

![Screenshot of the top bar](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-new-header-menu.JPG)<figcaption>A cleaner top bar, with most of the options hidden in a context menu.</figcaption>

It decluttered the top navigation bar a lot, at least, I think, because I can't remember the previous one! 😅

### [Sidebar navigation redesign](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#sidebar-navigation-redesign)

![Screenshot of the sidebar](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-new-collapse-sidebar.JPG)<figcaption>A more compact collapsible sidebar in a project with most features disabled.</figcaption>

I have been waiting for this overhaul for a while! As GitLab continues to add functionalities in the sidebar navigation, I always had a scroll bar in that section for projects that didn't [turn off the unused features](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/settings-of-my-gitlab-repositories#visibility-project-features-permissions)! 🖱️

## **Inclusivity**

### [Set pronouns on GitLab user profiles](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#set-pronouns-on-gitlab-user-profiles)

![Screenshot of a GitLab profile](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-profil-with-pronouns-1.jpg)<figcaption>My GitLab profile, with my pronouns next to my name (<code>he/him</code>).</figcaption>

We can now define the correct pronouns that we want other to use when referring to us, which will help raise awareness around self-identity. I don't know if anyone at work will use it, but at least now they have the option! 🌈

### [Default branch name for new repositories now `main`](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#default-branch-name-for-new-repositories-now-main)

![Screenshot of the default branch name configuration](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-main-default-branch.JPG)<figcaption>The default branch name will now be <code>main</code> for new Git projects.</figcaption>

Another important step has been taken to replace the `master` word by `main` in Git projects for the default branch name! Ab easy step towards a [more inclusive language in IT](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/toward-an-inclusive-language-in-it). 🧑‍🤝‍🧑

### [WIP merge requests renamed ‘draft merge requests’](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#wip-merge-requests-renamed-draft-merge-requests)

![Screenshot of a Draft Merge Request](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/images/gitlab-draft-merge-request.jpg)<figcaption>A non-ready Merge Request preceded with the <code>Draft:</code> keyword.</figcaption>

I'm pretty sure that _Draft_ feature was already in previous versions of GitLab, so this note is probably to tell us that we can no longer use the `WIP` accronym (_Work in progress_) in the Merge Request title to let other know that it's not yet ready to be reviewed. 🍌

## **CI/CD variables**

Two quick notes on some CI/CD variables that has changed or were introduced in this release. 📝 If you want to see more predefined variables, you check out my [GitLab CI predefined variables](https://www.benjaminrancourt.ca/gitlab-ci-predefined-variables) post. 😉

- [`CI_PROJECT_CONFIG_PATH` variable has been removed](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#ciprojectconfigpath-variable-has-been-removed)
- [Predefined CI/CD variable for environment action](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/06/22/gitlab-14-0-released/#predefined-cicd-variable-for-environment-action)