info: "See the Technical Writers assigned to Development Guidelines: https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments-to-development-guidelines"
---
# Removals by milestone
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DO NOT EDIT THIS PAGE DIRECTLY
This page is automatically generated from the YAML files in `/data/removals` by the rake task
located at `lib/tasks/gitlab/docs/compile_removals.rake`.
For removal authors (usually Product Managers and Engineering Managers):
- To add a removal, use the example.yml file in `/data/removals/templates` as a template.
- For more information about authoring removals, check the the removal item guidance:
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
To reduce the overall complexity and maintenance burden of GitLab's [object storage feature](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/object_storage.html), support for using `background_upload` has been removed in GitLab 15.0.
This impacts a small subset of object storage providers, including but not limited to:
- **OpenStack** Customers using OpenStack need to change their configuration to use the S3 API instead of Swift.
- **RackSpace** Customers using RackSpace-based object storage need to migrate data to a different provider.
If your object storage provider does not support `background_upload`, please [migrate objects to a supported object storage provider](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/object_storage.html#migrate-objects-to-a-different-object-storage-provider).
All functionality related to the Container Network Security and Container Host Security categories was deprecated in GitLab 14.8 and is scheduled for removal in GitLab 15.0. Users who need a replacement for this functionality are encouraged to evaluate the following open source projects as potential solutions that can be installed and managed outside of GitLab: [AppArmor](https://gitlab.com/apparmor/apparmor), [Cilium](https://github.com/cilium/cilium), [Falco](https://github.com/falcosecurity/falco), [FluentD](https://github.com/fluent/fluentd), [Pod Security Admission](https://kubernetes.io/docs/concepts/security/pod-security-admission/). To integrate these technologies with GitLab, add the desired Helm charts in your copy of the [Cluster Management Project Template](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/clusters/management_project_template.html). Deploy these Helm charts in production by calling commands through GitLab [CI/CD](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/clusters/agent/ci_cd_workflow.html).
As part of this change, the following capabilities within GitLab are scheduled for removal in GitLab 15.0:
- The **Security & Compliance > Threat Monitoring** page.
- The Network Policy security policy type, as found on the **Security & Compliance > Policies** page.
- The ability to manage integrations with the following technologies through GitLab: AppArmor, Cilium, Falco, FluentD, and Pod Security Policies.
- All APIs related to the above functionality.
For additional context, or to provide feedback regarding this change, please reference our [deprecation issue](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/7476).
### Container registry authentication with htpasswd
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The Container Registry supports [authentication](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/container-registry/-/blob/master/docs/configuration.md#auth) with `htpasswd`. It relies on an [Apache `htpasswd` file](https://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/programs/htpasswd.html), with passwords hashed using `bcrypt`.
Since it isn't used in the context of GitLab (the product), `htpasswd` authentication will be deprecated in GitLab 14.9 and removed in GitLab 15.0.
### Custom `geo:db:*` Rake tasks are no longer available
In GitLab 14.8, we [deprecated the `geo:db:*` Rake tasks and replaced them with built-in tasks](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/77269/diffs) after [switching the Geo tracking database to use Rails' 6 support of multiple databases](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/6458).
The following `geo:db:*` tasks have been removed from GitLab 15.0 and have been replaced with their corresponding `db:*:geo` tasks:
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
All functionality related to GitLab Serverless was deprecated in GitLab 14.3 and is scheduled for removal in GitLab 15.0. Users who need a replacement for this functionality are encouraged to explore using the following technologies with GitLab CI/CD:
For additional context, or to provide feedback regarding this change, please reference our [deprecation issue](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/configure/-/epics/6).
### GraphQL permissions change for Package settings
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The GitLab Package stage offers a Package Registry, Container Registry, and Dependency Proxy to help you manage all of your dependencies using GitLab. Each of these product categories has a variety of settings that can be adjusted using the API.
The permissions model for GraphQL is being updated. After 15.0, users with the Guest, Reporter, and Developer role can no longer update these settings:
In GitLab 13.0, we introduced new project and design replication details routes in the Geo Admin UI. These routes are `/admin/geo/replication/projects` and `/admin/geo/replication/designs`. We kept the legacy routes and redirected them to the new routes. These legacy routes `/admin/geo/projects` and `/admin/geo/designs` have been removed in GitLab 15.0. Please update any bookmarks or scripts that may use the legacy routes.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The OAuth implicit grant authorization flow is no longer supported. Any applications that use OAuth implicit grant must switch to alternative [supported OAuth flows](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/oauth2.html).
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
As part of the work to create a [Package Registry GraphQL API](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/6318), the Package group deprecated the `Version` type for the basic `PackageType` type and moved it to [`PackageDetailsType`](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/graphql/reference/index.html#packagedetailstype).
In GitLab 15.0, we will completely remove `Version` from `PackageType`.
### Remove `promote-to-primary-node` command from `gitlab-ctl`
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 14.5, we introduced the command `gitlab-ctl promote` to promote any Geo secondary node to a primary during a failover. This command replaces `gitlab-ctl promote-to-primary-node` which was only usable for single-node Geo sites. `gitlab-ctl promote-to-primary-node` has been removed in GitLab 15.0.
### Remove dependency_proxy_for_private_groups feature flag
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
A feature flag was [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/11582) in GitLab 13.7 as part of the change to require authentication to use the Dependency Proxy. Before GitLab 13.7, you could use the Dependency Proxy without authentication.
In GitLab 15.0, we will remove the feature flag, and you must always authenticate when you use the Dependency Proxy.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GraphQL, there are two `pipelines` fields that you can use in a [`PackageDetailsType`](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/graphql/reference/#packagedetailstype) to get the pipelines for package versions:
- The `versions` field's `pipelines` field. This returns all the pipelines associated with all the package's versions, which can pull an unbounded number of objects in memory and create performance concerns.
- The `pipelines` field of a specific `version`. This returns only the pipelines associated with that single package version.
To mitigate possible performance problems, we will remove the `versions` field's `pipelines` field in GitLab 15.0. Although you will no longer be able to get all pipelines for all versions of a package, you can still get the pipelines of a single version through the remaining `pipelines` field for that version.
### Removed feature flag PUSH_RULES_SUPERSEDE_CODE_OWNERS
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The feature flag `PUSH_RULES_SUPERSEDE_CODE_OWNERS` has been removed in GitLab 15.0. From now on, push rules will supersede CODEOWNERS. The CODEOWNERS feature is no longer available for access control.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
[Request profiling](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/monitoring/performance/request_profiling.html) has been removed in GitLab 15.0.
We're working on [consolidating our profiling tools](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/7327) and making them more easily accessible.
We [evaluated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/350152) the use of this feature and we found that it is not widely used.
It also depends on a few third-party gems that are not actively maintained anymore, have not been updated for the latest version of Ruby, or crash frequently when profiling heavy page loads.
For more information, check the [summary section of the deprecation issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/352488#deprecation-summary).
The Static Site Editor was deprecated in GitLab 14.7 and the feature is being removed in GitLab 15.0. Incoming requests to the Static Site Editor will be redirected and open the target file to edit in the Web IDE. Current users of the Static Site Editor can view the [documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/static_site_editor/) for more information, including how to remove the configuration files from existing projects. We will continue investing in improvements to the Markdown editing experience by [maturing the Content Editor](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/5401) and making it available as a way to edit content across GitLab.
### Support for legacy format of `config/database.yml` removed
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The syntax of [GitLab's database](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/database.html)
configuration located in `database.yml` has changed and the legacy format has been removed.
The legacy format supported a single PostgreSQL adapter, whereas the new format supports multiple databases.
The `main:` database needs to be defined as a first configuration item.
This change only impacts users compiling GitLab from source, all the other installation methods handle this configuration automatically.
Instructions are available [in the source update documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/update/upgrading_from_source.html#new-configuration-options-for-databaseyml).
To specify a test coverage pattern, in GitLab 15.0 the
[project setting for test coverage parsing](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/pipelines/settings.html#add-test-coverage-results-to-a-merge-request-removed)
### The `promote-db` command is no longer available from `gitlab-ctl`
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 14.5, we introduced the command `gitlab-ctl promote` to promote any Geo secondary node to a primary during a failover. This command replaces `gitlab-ctl promote-db` which is used to promote database nodes in multi-node Geo secondary sites. The `gitlab-ctl promote-db` command has been removed in GitLab 15.0.
### Update to the Container Registry group-level API
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 15.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 15.0, support for the `tags` and `tags_count` parameters will be removed from the Container Registry API that [gets registry repositories from a group](../api/container_registry.md#within-a-group).
The `GET /groups/:id/registry/repositories` endpoint will remain, but won't return any info about tags. To get the info about tags, you can use the existing `GET /registry/repositories/:id` endpoint, which will continue to support the `tags` and `tag_count` options as it does today. The latter must be called once per image repository.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The vulnerability check feature was deprecated in GitLab 14.8 and is scheduled for removal in GitLab 15.0. We encourage you to migrate to the new security approvals feature instead. You can do so by navigating to **Security & Compliance > Policies** and creating a new Scan Result Policy.
The new security approvals feature is similar to vulnerability check. For example, both can require approvals for MRs that contain security vulnerabilities. However, security approvals improve the previous experience in several ways:
- Users can choose who is allowed to edit security approval rules. An independent security or compliance team can therefore manage rules in a way that prevents development project maintainers from modifying the rules.
- Multiple rules can be created and chained together to allow for filtering on different severity thresholds for each scanner type.
- A two-step approval process can be enforced for any desired changes to security approval rules.
- A single set of security policies can be applied to multiple development projects to allow for ease in maintaining a single, centralized ruleset.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The `Managed-Cluster-Applications.gitlab-ci.yml` CI/CD template is being removed. If you need an alternative, try the [Cluster Management project template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/333610) instead. If your are not ready to move, you can copy the [last released version](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/blob/v14.10.1/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Managed-Cluster-Applications.gitlab-ci.yml) of the template into your project.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The `omniauth-kerberos` gem is no longer supported. This gem has not been maintained and has very little usage. Therefore, we
removed support for this authentication method and recommend using [SPEGNO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SPNEGO) instead. You can
follow the [upgrade instructions](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/integration/kerberos.html#upgrading-from-password-based-to-ticket-based-kerberos-sign-ins)
to upgrade from the removed integration to the new supported one.
We are not removing Kerberos SPNEGO integration. We are removing the old password-based Kerberos.
### Permissions change for downloading Composer dependencies
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 14.10
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
The GitLab Composer repository can be used to push, search, fetch metadata about, and download PHP dependencies. All these actions require authentication, except for downloading dependencies.
Downloading Composer dependencies without authentication is deprecated in GitLab 14.9, and will be removed in GitLab 15.0. Starting with GitLab 15.0, you must authenticate to download Composer dependencies.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 14.4, GitLab released an integrated error tracking backend that replaces Sentry. This feature caused database performance issues. In GitLab 14.9, integrated error tracking is removed from GitLab.com, and turned off by default in GitLab self-managed. While we explore the future development of this feature, please consider switching to the Sentry backend by [changing your error tracking to Sentry in your project settings](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/operations/error_tracking.html#sentry-error-tracking).
For additional background on this removal, please reference [Disable Integrated Error Tracking by Default](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/7580). If you have feedback please add a comment to [Feedback: Removal of Integrated Error Tracking](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/355493).
### Limit the number of triggered pipeline to 25K in free tier
A large amount of triggered pipelines in a single project impacts the performance of GitLab.com. In GitLab 14.6, we are limiting the number of triggered pipelines in a single project on GitLab.com at any given moment to 25,000. This change applies to projects in the free tier only, Premium and Ultimate are not affected by this change.
### Release CLI distributed as a generic package
The [release-cli](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/release-cli) will be released as a [generic package](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/release-cli/-/packages) starting in GitLab 14.2. We will continue to deploy it as a binary to S3 until GitLab 14.5 and stop distributing it in S3 in GitLab 14.6.
## 14.3
### Introduced limit of 50 tags for jobs
GitLab values efficiency and is prioritizing reliability for [GitLab.com in FY22](https://about.gitlab.com/direction/#gitlab-hosted-first). In 14.3, GitLab CI/CD jobs must have less than 50 [tags](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/yaml/index.html#tags). If a pipeline contains a job with 50 or more tags, you will receive an error and the pipeline will not be created.
### List project pipelines API endpoint removes `name` support in 14.3
In GitLab 14.3, we will remove the ability to filter by `name` in the [list project pipelines API endpoint](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/pipelines.html#list-project-pipelines) to improve performance. If you currently use this parameter with this endpoint, you must switch to `username`.
### Use of legacy storage setting
The support for [`gitlab_pages['use_legacy_storage']` setting](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/pages/index.html#domain-source-configuration-before-140) in Omnibus installations has been removed.
In 14.0 we removed [`domain_config_source`](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/pages/index.html#domain-source-configuration-before-140) which had been previously deprecated, and allowed users to specify disk storage. In 14.0 we added `use_legacy_storage` as a **temporary** flag to unblock upgrades, and allow us to debug issues with our users and it was deprecated and communicated for removal in 14.3.
## 14.2
### Max job log file size of 100 MB
GitLab values efficiency for all users in our wider community of contributors, so we're always working hard to make sure the application performs at a high level with a lovable UX.
In GitLab 14.2, we have introduced a [job log file size limit](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/instance_limits.html#maximum-file-size-for-job-logs), set to 100 megabytes by default. Administrators of self-managed GitLab instances can customize this to any value. All jobs that exceed this limit are dropped and marked as failed, helping prevent performance impacts or over-use of resources. This ensures that everyone using GitLab has the best possible experience.
## 14.1
### Remove support for `prometheus.listen_address` and `prometheus.enable`
The support for `prometheus.listen_address` and `prometheus.enable` has been removed from `gitlab.yml`. Use `prometheus.enabled` and `prometheus.server_address` to set up Prometheus server that GitLab instance connects to. Refer to [our documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/install/installation.html#prometheus-server-setup) for details.
This only affects new installations from source where users might use the old configurations.
### Remove support for older browsers
In GitLab 14.1, we are cleaning up and [removing old code](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/63994) that was specific for browsers that we no longer support. This has no impact on users when one of our [supported web browsers](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/install/requirements.html#supported-web-browsers) is used.
Most notably, support for the following browsers has been removed:
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 14.0, we will update the [Auto Deploy](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/topics/autodevops/stages.html#auto-deploy) CI template to the latest version. This includes new features, bug fixes, and performance improvements with a dependency on the v2 [auto-deploy-image](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cluster-integration/auto-deploy-image). Auto Deploy CI template v1 is deprecated going forward.
Since the v1 and v2 versions are not backward-compatible, your project might encounter an unexpected failure if you already have a deployed application. Follow the [upgrade guide](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/topics/autodevops/upgrading_auto_deploy_dependencies.html#upgrade-guide) to upgrade your environments. You can also start using the latest template today by following the [early adoption guide](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/topics/autodevops/upgrading_auto_deploy_dependencies.html#early-adopters).
GitLab 14.0 renews the Terraform CI template to the latest version. The new template is set up for the GitLab Managed Terraform state, with a dependency on the GitLab `terraform-images` image, to provide a good user experience around GitLab's Infrastructure-as-Code features.
The current stable and latest templates are not compatible, and the current latest template becomes the stable template beginning with GitLab 14.0, your Terraform pipeline might encounter an unexpected failure if you run a custom `init` job.
By default, the Code Quality feature has not provided support for Ruby 2.6+ if you're using the Code Quality template. To better support the latest versions of Ruby, the default RuboCop version is updated to add support for Ruby 2.4 through 3.0. As a result, support for Ruby 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 is removed. You can re-enable support for older versions by [customizing your configuration](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/merge_requests/code_quality.html#rubocop-errors).
Relevant Issue: [Default `codeclimate-rubocop` engine does not support Ruby 2.6+](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/ci-cd/codequality/-/issues/28)
Clair, the default container scanning engine, was deprecated in GitLab 13.9 and is removed from GitLab 14.0 and replaced by Trivy. We advise customers who are customizing variables for their container scanning job to [follow these instructions](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/container_scanning/#change-scanners) to ensure that their container scanning jobs continue to work.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
In GitLab 14.0, we've removed the stages defined in the current `DAST.gitlab-ci.yml` template to avoid the situation where the template overrides manual changes made by DAST users. We're making this change in response to customer issues where the stages in the template cause problems when used with customized DAST configurations. Because of this removal, `gitlab-ci.yml` configurations that do not specify a `dast` stage must be updated to include this stage.
GitLab 13.8 renamed multiple environment variables to support their broader usage in different workflows. In GitLab 14.0, the old variables have been permanently removed and will no longer work. Any configurations using these variables must be updated to the new variable names. Any scans using these variables in GitLab 14.0 and later will fail to be configured correctly. These variables are:
Browser Performance Testing has run in a job named `performance` by default. With the introduction of [Load Performance Testing](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/merge_requests/load_performance_testing.html) in GitLab 13.2, this naming could be confusing. To make it clear which job is running [Browser Performance Testing](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/merge_requests/browser_performance_testing.html), the default job name is changed from `performance` to `browser_performance` in the template in GitLab 14.0.
In GitLab 14.0, DAST has removed the current method of resetting the scan to the hostname when starting to spider. Prior to GitLab 14.0, the spider would not begin at the specified target path for the URL but would instead reset the URL to begin crawling at the host root. GitLab 14.0 changes the default for the new variable `DAST_SPIDER_START_AT_HOST` to `false` to better support users' intention of beginning spidering and scanning at the specified target URL, rather than the host root URL. This change has an added benefit: scans can take less time, if the specified path does not contain links to the entire site. This enables easier scanning of smaller sections of an application, rather than crawling the entire app during every scan.
### Default branch name for new repositories now `main`
Every Git repository has an initial branch, which is named `master` by default. It's the first branch to be created automatically when you create a new repository. Future [Git versions](https://lore.kernel.org/git/pull.656.v4.git.1593009996.gitgitgadget@gmail.com/) will change the default branch name in Git from `master` to `main`. In coordination with the Git project and the broader community, [GitLab has changed the default branch name](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/223789) for new projects on both our SaaS (GitLab.com) and self-managed offerings starting with GitLab 14.0. This will not affect existing projects.
GitLab has already introduced changes that allow you to change the default branch name both at the [instance level](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/repository/branches/default.html#instance-level-custom-initial-branch-name) (for self-managed users) and at the [group level](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/group/#use-a-custom-name-for-the-initial-branch) (for both SaaS and self-managed users). We encourage you to make use of these features to set default branch names on new projects.
For more information, check out our [blog post](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2021/03/10/new-git-default-branch-name/).
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
As mentioned in [13.9](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/02/22/gitlab-13-9-released/#deprecations-for-dependency-scanning) and [this blog post](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2021/02/08/composition-analysis-14-deprecations-and-removals/) several removals for Dependency Scanning take effect.
Previously, to exclude a DS analyzer, you needed to remove it from the default list of analyzers, and use that to set the `DS_DEFAULT_ANALYZERS` variable in your project’s CI template. We determined it should be easier to avoid running a particular analyzer without losing the benefit of newly added analyzers. As a result, we ask you to migrate from `DS_DEFAULT_ANALYZERS` to `DS_EXCLUDED_ANALYZERS` when it is available. Read about it in [issue #287691](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/287691).
Previously, to prevent the Gemnasium analyzers to fetch the advisory database at runtime, you needed to set the `GEMNASIUM_DB_UPDATE` variable. However, this is not documented properly, and its naming is inconsistent with the equivalent `BUNDLER_AUDIT_UPDATE_DISABLED` variable. As a result, we ask you to migrate from `GEMNASIUM_DB_UPDATE` to `GEMNASIUM_UPDATE_DISABLED` when it is available. Read about it in [issue #215483](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/215483).
In accordance with our [GraphQL deprecation and removal process](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/graphql/#deprecation-process), the following fields that were deprecated prior to 13.7 are [fully removed in 14.0](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/267966):
The first release of the DevOps Adoption report had a concept of **Segments**. Segments were [quickly removed from the report](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/5251) because they introduced an additional layer of complexity on top of **Groups** and **Projects**. Subsequent iterations of the DevOps Adoption report focus on comparing adoption across groups rather than segments. GitLab 14.0 removes all references to **Segments** [from the GraphQL API](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/324414) and replaces them with **Enabled groups**.
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
GitLab Pages [API-based configuration](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/pages/#gitlab-api-based-configuration) has been available since GitLab 13.0. It replaces the unsupported `disk` source configuration removed in GitLab 14.0, which can no longer be chosen. You should stop using `disk` source configuration, and move to `gitlab` for an API-based configuration. To migrate away from the 'disk' source configuration, set `gitlab_pages['domain_config_source'] = "gitlab"` in your `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb` file. We recommend you migrate before updating to GitLab 14.0, to identify and troubleshoot any potential problems before upgrading.
### Experimental prefix in Sidekiq queue selector options
WARNING:
This feature was changed or removed in 14.0
as a [breaking change](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/development/contributing/#breaking-changes).
Before updating GitLab, review the details carefully to determine if you need to make any
changes to your code, settings, or workflow.
GitLab supports a [queue selector](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/operations/extra_sidekiq_processes.html#queue-selector) to run only a subset of background jobs for a given process. When it was introduced, this option had an 'experimental' prefix (`experimental_queue_selector` in Omnibus, `experimentalQueueSelector` in Helm charts).
As announced in the [13.6 release post](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2020/11/22/gitlab-13-6-released/#sidekiq-cluster-queue-selector-configuration-option-has-been-renamed), the 'experimental' prefix is no longer supported. Instead, `queue_selector` for Omnibus and `queueSelector` in Helm charts should be used.
For self-managed instances using the experimental [external pipeline validation service](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/external_pipeline_validation.html), the range of error codes GitLab accepts will be reduced. Currently, pipelines are invalidated when the validation service returns a response code from `400` to `499`. In GitLab 14.0 and later, pipelines will be invalidated for the `406: Not Accepted` response code only.
As [announced in GitLab 13.3](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2020/08/22/gitlab-13-3-released/#geo-foreign-data-wrapper-settings-deprecated), the following configuration settings in `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb` have been removed in 14.0:
GitLab is deprecating the [OAuth 2 implicit grant flow](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/oauth2.html#implicit-grant-flow) as it has been removed for [OAuth 2.1](https://oauth.net/2.1/).
In 14.0, we are now pulling the GitLab Runner [helper image](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/configuration/advanced-configuration.html#helper-image) from the GitLab Container Registry instead of Docker Hub. Refer to [issue #27218](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/27218) for details.
### GitLab Runner installation to ignore the `skel` directory
In GitLab Runner 14.0, the installation process will ignore the `skel` directory by default when creating the user home directory. Refer to [issue #4845](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/4845) for details.
Now that Praefect supports a [primary election strategy](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/gitaly/praefect.html#repository-specific-primary-nodes) for each repository, we have removed the `sql` election strategy.
The `per_repository` election strategy is the new default, which is automatically used if no election strategy was specified.
If you had configured the `sql` election strategy, you must follow the [migration instructions](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/gitaly/praefect.html#migrate-to-repository-specific-primary-gitaly-nodes) before upgrading to 14.0.
With the maturity of GitLab Secure scanning tools, we've needed to add more granularity to our release process. Previously, GitLab shared a major version number for [all analyzers and tools](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#supported-languages-and-frameworks). This requires all tools to share a major version, and prevents the use of [semantic version numbering](https://semver.org/). In GitLab 14.0, SAST removes the `SAST_ANALYZER_IMAGE_TAG` global variable in our [managed `SAST.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Jobs/SAST.gitlab-ci.yml) CI template, in favor of the analyzer job variable setting the `major.minor` tag in the SAST vendored template.
Each analyzer job now has a scoped `SAST_ANALYZER_IMAGE_TAG` variable, which will be actively managed by GitLab and set to the `major` tag for the respective analyzer. To pin to a specific version, [change the variable value to the specific version tag](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#pinning-to-minor-image-version).
If you override or maintain custom versions of `SAST.gitlab-ci.yml`, update your CI templates to stop referencing the global `SAST_ANALYZER_IMAGE_TAG`, and move it to a scoped analyzer job tag. We strongly encourage [inheriting and overriding our managed CI templates](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#overriding-sast-jobs) to future-proof your CI templates. This change allows you to more granularly control future analyzer updates with a pinned `major.minor` version.
This deprecation and removal changes our [previously announced plan](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2021/02/22/gitlab-13-9-released/#pin-static-analysis-analyzers-and-tools-to-minor-versions) to pin the Static Analysis tools.
Our CI/CD templates have been updated to no longer use hard-coded references to a `master` branch. In 14.0, they all use a variable that points to your project's configured default branch instead. If your CI/CD pipeline relies on our built-in templates, verify that this change works with your current configuration. For example, if you have a `master` branch and a different default branch, the updates to the templates may cause changes to your pipeline behavior. For more information, [read the issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/324131).
Helm v2 was [officially deprecated](https://helm.sh/blog/helm-v2-deprecation-timeline/) in November of 2020, with the `stable` repository being [de-listed from the Helm Hub](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2020/11/09/ensure-auto-devops-work-after-helm-stable-repo/) shortly thereafter. With the release of GitLab 14.0, which will include the 5.0 release of the [GitLab Helm chart](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/), Helm v2 will no longer be supported.
The legacy method of DAST Domain Validation for CI/CD scans was deprecated in GitLab 13.8, and is removed in GitLab 14.0. This method of domain validation only disallows scans if the `DAST_FULL_SCAN_DOMAIN_VALIDATION_REQUIRED` environment variable is set to `true` in the `gitlab-ci.yml` file, and a `Gitlab-DAST-Permission` header on the site is not set to `allow`. This two-step method required users to opt in to using the variable before they could opt out from using the header.
Legacy feature flags became read-only in GitLab 13.4. GitLab 14.0 removes support for legacy feature flags, so you must migrate them to the [new version](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/operations/feature_flags.html). You can do this by first taking a note (screenshot) of the legacy flag, then deleting the flag through the API or UI (you don't need to alter the code), and finally create a new Feature Flag with the same name as the legacy flag you deleted. Also, make sure the strategies and environments match the deleted flag. We created a [video tutorial](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAJY2IGep7Y) to help with this migration.
As a part of the migration to a common report format for all of the Secure scanners in GitLab, DAST is making changes to the DAST JSON report. Certain legacy fields were deprecated in 13.8 and have been completely removed in 14.0. These fields are `@generated`, `@version`, `site`, and `spider`. This should not affect any normal DAST operation, but does affect users who consume the JSON report in an automated way and use these fields. Anyone affected by these changes, and needs these fields for business reasons, is encouraged to open a new GitLab issue and explain the need.
As [announced in GitLab 13.0](https://about.gitlab.com/releases/2020/05/22/gitlab-13-0-released/#planned-removal-of-legacy-storage-in-14.0), [legacy storage](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/repository_storage_types.html#legacy-storage) has been removed in GitLab 14.0.
In 13.0, we deprecated the License-Management CI template and renamed it License-Scanning. We have been providing backward compatibility by warning users of the old template to switch. Now in 14.0, we are completely removing the License-Management CI template. Read about it in [issue #216261](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/216261) or [this blog post](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2021/02/08/composition-analysis-14-deprecations-and-removals/).
To improve performance, we are limiting the number of projects returned from the `GET /groups/:id/` API call to 100. A complete list of projects can still be retrieved with the `GET /groups/:id/projects` API call.
In GitLab Runner 13.2, PowerShell Core support was added to the Shell executor. In 14.0, PowerShell Core, `pwsh` is now the default shell for newly-registered Windows runners. Windows `CMD` will still be available as a shell option for Windows runners. Refer to [issue #26419](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/26419) for details.
Until GitLab 13.9, if you wanted to avoid running one particular GitLab SAST analyzer, you needed to remove it from the [long string of analyzers in the `SAST.gitlab-ci.yml` file](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/390afc431e7ce1ac253b35beb39f19e49c746bff/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/SAST.gitlab-ci.yml#L12) and use that to set the [`SAST_DEFAULT_ANALYZERS`](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#docker-images) variable in your project's CI file. If you did this, it would exclude you from future new analyzers because this string hard codes the list of analyzers to execute. We avoid this problem by inverting this variable's logic to exclude, rather than choose default analyzers.
Beginning with 13.9, [we migrated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/14fed7a33bfdbd4663d8928e46002a5ef3e3282c/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/SAST.gitlab-ci.yml#L13) to `SAST_EXCLUDED_ANALYZERS` in our `SAST.gitlab-ci.yml` file. We encourage anyone who uses a [customized SAST configuration](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#customizing-the-sast-settings) in their project CI file to migrate to this new variable. If you have not overridden `SAST_DEFAULT_ANALYZERS`, no action is needed. The CI/CD variable `SAST_DEFAULT_ANALYZERS` has been removed in GitLab 14.0, which released on June 22, 2021.
In GitLab Runner 13.0, [issue #5069](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/5069), we introduced new timing options for the GitLab Docker Machine executor. In GitLab Runner 14.0, we have removed the old configuration option, [off peak time mode](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/configuration/autoscale.html#off-peak-time-mode-configuration-deprecated).
Support for [OpenSUSE Leap 15.1 is being deprecated](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/omnibus-gitlab/-/merge_requests/5135). Support for 15.1 will be dropped in 14.0. We are now providing support for openSUSE Leap 15.2 packages.
PostgreSQL 12 will be the minimum required version in GitLab 14.0. It offers [significant improvements](https://www.postgresql.org/about/news/postgresql-12-released-1976/) to indexing, partitioning, and general performance benefits.
Starting in GitLab 13.7, all new installations default to version 12. From GitLab 13.8, single-node instances are automatically upgraded as well. If you aren't ready to upgrade, you can [opt out of automatic upgrades](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/database.html#opt-out-of-automatic-postgresql-upgrades).
The [deployment frequency project-level API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/dora4_project_analytics.html#list-project-deployment-frequencies) endpoint has been deprecated in favor of the [DORA 4 API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/dora/metrics.html), which consolidates all the metrics under one API with the specific metric as a required field. As a result, the timestamp field, which doesn't allow adding future extensions and causes performance issues, will be removed. With the old API, an example response would be `{ "2021-03-01": 3, "date": "2021-03-01", "value": 3 }`. The first key/value (`"2021-03-01": 3`) will be removed and replaced by the last two (`"date": "2021-03-01", "value": 3`).
GitLab 14.0 removes support for the release description in the Tags API. You can no longer add a release description when [creating a new tag](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/tags.html#create-a-new-tag). You also can no longer [create](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/tags.html#create-a-new-release) or [update](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/tags.html#update-a-release) a release through the Tags API. Please migrate to use the [Releases API](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/api/releases/#create-a-release) instead.
To better support the latest versions of Ruby, the template is changed to use `ruby:latest`, which is currently 3.0. To better understand the changes in Ruby 3.0, please reference the [Ruby-lang.org release announcement](https://www.ruby-lang.org/en/news/2020/12/25/ruby-3-0-0-released/).
With the release of [SAST Custom Rulesets](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#customize-rulesets) in GitLab 13.5 we allow greater flexibility in configuration options for our Go analyzer (GoSec). As a result we no longer plan to support our less flexible [`SAST_GOSEC_CONFIG`](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#analyzer-settings) analyzer setting. This variable was deprecated in GitLab 13.10.
GitLab 14.0 removes the old `SAST_GOSEC_CONFIG variable`. If you use or override `SAST_GOSEC_CONFIG` in your CI file, update your SAST CI configuration or pin to an older version of the GoSec analyzer. We strongly encourage [inheriting and overriding our managed CI templates](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/sast/#overriding-sast-jobs) to future-proof your CI templates.
Service Templates are [removed in GitLab 14.0](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics/5672). They were used to apply identical settings to a large number of projects, but they only did so at the time of project creation.
While they solved part of the problem, _updating_ those values later proved to be a major pain point. [Project Integration Management](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/admin_area/settings/project_integration_management.html) solves this problem by enabling you to create settings at the Group or Instance level, and projects within that namespace inheriting those settings.
In GitLab Runner 13.5, we introduced `failed` and `success` states for a job. To support Prometheus rules, we chose to convert `success/failure` to `finished` for the metric. In 14.0, the conversion has now been removed. Refer to [issue #26900](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/26900) for details.
As we continuously [develop GitLab's Terraform integrations](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/325312), to minimize customer disruption, we maintain two GitLab CI/CD templates for Terraform:
- The ["latest version" template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Terraform.latest.gitlab-ci.yml), which is updated frequently between minor releases of GitLab (such as 13.10, 13.11, etc).
- The ["major version" template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Terraform.gitlab-ci.yml), which is updated only at major releases (such as 13.0, 14.0, etc).
The latest template supports the [Terraform Merge Request widget](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/infrastructure/iac/mr_integration.html) and
doesn't need additional setup to work with the [GitLab managed Terraform state](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/infrastructure/iac/terraform_state.html).
To check the new changes, see the [new "major version" template](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Terraform.gitlab-ci.yml).
Ubuntu 16.04 [reached end-of-life in April 2021](https://ubuntu.com/about/release-cycle), and no longer receives maintenance updates. We strongly recommend users to upgrade to a newer release, such as 20.04.
Ubuntu 19.10 (Eoan Ermine) reached end of life on Friday, July 17, 2020. In GitLab Runner 14.0, Ubuntu 19.10 (Eoan Ermine) is no longer available from our package distribution. Refer to [issue #26036](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/26036) for details.
[Support for Unicorn](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/omnibus-gitlab/-/issues/6078) has been removed in GitLab 14.0 in favor of Puma. [Puma has a multi-threaded architecture](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/administration/operations/puma.html) which uses less memory than a multi-process application server like Unicorn. On GitLab.com, we saw a 40% reduction in memory consumption by using Puma.
The WIP (work in progress) status for merge requests signaled to reviewers that the merge request in question wasn't ready to merge. We've renamed the WIP feature to **Draft**, a more inclusive and self-explanatory term. **Draft** clearly communicates the merge request in question isn't ready for review, and makes no assumptions about the progress being made toward it. **Draft** also reduces the cognitive load for new users, non-English speakers, and anyone unfamiliar with the WIP acronym.
The Web Application Firewall (WAF) was deprecated in GitLab 13.6 and is removed from GitLab 14.0. The WAF had limitations inherent in the architectural design that made it difficult to meet the requirements traditionally expected of a WAF. By removing the WAF, GitLab is able to focus on improving other areas in the product where more value can be provided to users. Users who currently rely on the WAF can continue to use the free and open source [ModSecurity](https://github.com/SpiderLabs/ModSecurity) project, which is independent from GitLab. Additional details are available in the [deprecation issue](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/271276).
In 14.0, we have removed Windows Server 1903. Microsoft ended support for this version on 2020-08-12. Refer to [issue #27551](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/27551) for details.
In 14.0, we have removed Windows Server 1909. Microsoft ended support for this version on 2021-05-11. Refer to [issue #27899](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/27899) for details.
In GitLab Runner 13.3, a symlink was added from `/user/lib/gitlab-runner/gitlab-runner` to `/usr/bin/gitlab-runner`. In 14.0, the symlink has been removed and the runner is now installed in `/usr/bin/gitlab-runner`. Refer to [issue #26651](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/26651) for details.
To create a consistent experience for users based on their preferences, support for toggling whitespace changes via URL parameter has been removed in GitLab 14.0.
In 14.0, we have deactivated the `FF_RESET_HELPER_IMAGE_ENTRYPOINT` feature flag. Refer to issue [#26679](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/26679) for details.
In [GitLab Runner 13.1](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/executors/shell.html#gitlab-131-and-later), [issue #3376](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/3376), we introduced `sigterm` and then `sigkill` to a process in the Shell executor. We also introduced a new feature flag, `FF_SHELL_EXECUTOR_USE_LEGACY_PROCESS_KILL`, so you can use the previous process termination sequence. In GitLab Runner 14.0, [issue #6413](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/6413), the feature flag has been removed.
GitLab Runner 14.0 removes the `FF_USE_GO_CLOUD_WITH_CACHE_ARCHIVER` feature flag. Refer to [issue #27175](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issues/27175) for details.
To ensure Secret Detection was scanning both default branches and feature branches, we introduced two separate secret detection CI jobs (`secret_detection_default_branch` and `secret_detection`) in our managed [`Secret-Detection.gitlab-ci.yml`](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/master/lib/gitlab/ci/templates/Security/Secret-Detection.gitlab-ci.yml) template. These two CI jobs created confusion and complexity in the CI rules logic. This deprecation moves the `rule` logic into the `script` section, which then determines how the `secret_detection` job is run (historic, on a branch, commits, etc).
If you override or maintain custom versions of `SAST.gitlab-ci.yml` or `Secret-Detection.gitlab-ci.yml`, you must update your CI templates. We strongly encourage [inheriting and overriding our managed CI templates](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/application_security/secret_detection/#custom-settings-example) to future-proof your CI templates. GitLab 14.0 no longer supports the old `secret_detection_default_branch` job.
GitLab Runner was updated in GitLab 13.4 to internally stop passing the `trace` parameter to the `/api/jobs/:id` endpoint. GitLab 14.0 deprecates the `trace` parameter entirely for all other requests of this endpoint. Make sure your [GitLab Runner version matches your GitLab version](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/#gitlab-runner-versions) to ensure consistent behavior.
