diff --git a/.gitpod.yml b/.gitpod.yml
index c9adad3e3fe..762adb72cce 100644
--- a/.gitpod.yml
+++ b/.gitpod.yml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ tasks:
         # ensure gdk.yml has correct instance settings
         gdk config set gitlab.rails.port 443
         gdk config set gitlab.rails.https.enabled true
+        # make documentation builds available
+        gdk config set gitlab_docs.enabled true
         # reconfigure GDK
         echo "$(date) – Reconfiguring GDK" | tee -a /workspace/startup.log
         gdk reconfigure
@@ -83,6 +85,8 @@ ports:
     onOpen: ignore
   - port: 3000  # rails-web
     onOpen: notify
+  - port: 3005  # gitlab-docs
+    onOpen: notify
   - port: 3010  # gitlab-pages
     onOpen: ignore
   - port: 3808  # webpack
@@ -102,3 +106,4 @@ vscode:
     - octref.vetur@0.34.1
     - dbaeumer.vscode-eslint@2.1.8
     - gitlab.gitlab-workflow@3.24.0
+    - DavidAnson.vscode-markdownlint@0.44.4
diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/vue_merge_request_widget/components/states/nothing_to_merge.vue b/app/assets/javascripts/vue_merge_request_widget/components/states/nothing_to_merge.vue
index 7827c79cd31..2d704d3b07a 100644
--- a/app/assets/javascripts/vue_merge_request_widget/components/states/nothing_to_merge.vue
+++ b/app/assets/javascripts/vue_merge_request_widget/components/states/nothing_to_merge.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script>
 import { GlButton, GlSprintf, GlLink, GlSafeHtmlDirective } from '@gitlab/ui';
 import emptyStateSVG from 'icons/_mr_widget_empty_state.svg';
+import api from '~/api';
 import { helpPagePath } from '~/helpers/help_page_helper';
 
 export default {
@@ -22,6 +23,11 @@ export default {
   data() {
     return { emptyStateSVG };
   },
+  methods: {
+    onClickNewFile() {
+      api.trackRedisHllUserEvent('i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file');
+    },
+  },
   ciHelpPage: helpPagePath('/ci/quick_start/index.html'),
   safeHtmlConfig: { ADD_TAGS: ['use'] },
 };
@@ -59,6 +65,7 @@ export default {
             category="secondary"
             variant="success"
             data-testid="createFileButton"
+            @click="onClickNewFile"
           >
             {{ __('Create file') }}
           </gl-button>
diff --git a/app/views/layouts/_loading_hints.html.haml b/app/views/layouts/_loading_hints.html.haml
index e2189009045..fc130490d8b 100644
--- a/app/views/layouts/_loading_hints.html.haml
+++ b/app/views/layouts/_loading_hints.html.haml
@@ -11,5 +11,5 @@
     = preload_link_tag(path_to_stylesheet('application_utilities'), crossorigin: css_crossorigin)
     = preload_link_tag(path_to_stylesheet('application'), crossorigin: css_crossorigin)
   = preload_link_tag(path_to_stylesheet("highlight/themes/#{user_color_scheme}"), crossorigin: css_crossorigin)
-  - if Gitlab::Tracking.enabled? && Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname
-    %link{ rel: 'preconnect', href: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname, crossorigin: '' }
+  - if Gitlab::Tracking.enabled? && Gitlab::Tracking.collector_hostname
+    %link{ rel: 'preconnect', href: Gitlab::Tracking.collector_hostname, crossorigin: '' }
diff --git a/config/initializers/load_balancing.rb b/config/initializers/load_balancing.rb
index a31b11bb2be..df75178740b 100644
--- a/config/initializers/load_balancing.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/load_balancing.rb
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing.base_models.each do |model|
   Gitlab::Cluster::LifecycleEvents.on_before_fork do
     # When forking, we don't want to wait until the connections aren't in use
     # any more, as this could delay the boot cycle.
-    model.connection.load_balancer.disconnect!(timeout: 0)
+    model.load_balancer.disconnect!(timeout: 0)
   end
 
   # Service discovery only needs to run in the worker processes, as the main one
diff --git a/config/metrics/aggregates/code_review.yml b/config/metrics/aggregates/code_review.yml
index 54ebe5da192..36a56a95121 100644
--- a/config/metrics/aggregates/code_review.yml
+++ b/config/metrics/aggregates/code_review.yml
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
     - 'i_code_review_user_resolve_conflict'
     - 'i_code_review_user_searches_diff'
     - 'i_code_review_user_resolve_thread_in_issue'
+    - 'i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file'
 - name: code_review_category_monthly_active_users
   operator: OR
   source: redis
@@ -126,6 +127,7 @@
     - 'i_code_review_user_resolve_conflict'
     - 'i_code_review_user_searches_diff'
     - 'i_code_review_user_resolve_thread_in_issue'
+    - 'i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file'
 - name: code_review_extension_category_monthly_active_users
   operator: OR
   source: redis
diff --git a/config/metrics/counts_28d/20211104154357_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_monthly.yml b/config/metrics/counts_28d/20211104154357_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_monthly.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..1aa0edf60e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/metrics/counts_28d/20211104154357_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_monthly.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+key_path: redis_hll_counters.code_review.i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_monthly
+description: Count of users who click the create file button in the nothing to merge widget state
+product_section: dev
+product_stage: create
+product_group: group::code review
+product_category: code_review
+value_type: number
+status: active
+milestone: '14.5'
+introduced_by_url:
+time_frame: 28d
+data_source: redis_hll
+instrumentation_class: RedisHLLMetric
+options:
+  events:
+    - i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file
+data_category: optional
+distribution:
+  - ce
+  - ee
+tier:
+  - free
+  - premium
+  - ultimate
diff --git a/config/metrics/counts_7d/20211104154352_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_weekly.yml b/config/metrics/counts_7d/20211104154352_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_weekly.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9f8ae151a80
--- /dev/null
+++ b/config/metrics/counts_7d/20211104154352_i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_weekly.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+---
+key_path: redis_hll_counters.code_review.i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file_weekly
+description: Count of users who click the create file button in the nothing to merge widget state
+product_section: dev
+product_stage: create
+product_group: group::code review
+product_category: code_review
+value_type: number
+status: active
+milestone: '14.5'
+introduced_by_url:
+time_frame: 7d
+data_source: redis_hll
+instrumentation_class: RedisHLLMetric
+options:
+  events:
+    - i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file
+data_category: optional
+distribution:
+  - ce
+  - ee
+tier:
+  - free
+  - premium
+  - ultimate
diff --git a/doc/development/snowplow/implementation.md b/doc/development/snowplow/implementation.md
index a7755e285f8..fe1de789eae 100644
--- a/doc/development/snowplow/implementation.md
+++ b/doc/development/snowplow/implementation.md
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ records the same events as the full Snowplow pipeline. To query events, use the
 To install and run Snowplow Micro, complete these steps to modify the 
 [GitLab Development Kit (GDK)](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-development-kit):
 
-1. Ensure Docker is installed and running.
+1. Ensure [Docker is installed](https://docs.docker.com/get-docker/) and running.
 
 1. To install Snowplow Micro, clone the settings in 
 [this project](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/snowplow-micro-configuration).
@@ -436,73 +436,18 @@ To install and run Snowplow Micro, complete these steps to modify the
    ./snowplow-micro.sh
    ```
 
-1. Use GDK to start the PostgreSQL terminal and connect 
-   to the `gitlabhq_development` database:
+1. Set the environment variable to tell the GDK to use Snowplow Micro in development. This overrides two `application_settings` options:
+   - `snowplow_enabled` setting will instead return `true` from `Gitlab::Tracking.enabled?`
+   - `snowplow_collector_hostname` setting will instead always return `localhost:9090` (or whatever is set for `SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI`) from `Gitlab::Tracking.collector_hostname`.
 
    ```shell
-   gdk psql -d gitlabhq_development
+   export SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE=1
    ```
 
-1. Update your instance's settings to enable Snowplow events and 
-   point to the Snowplow Micro collector:
+   Optionally, you can set the URI for you Snowplow Micro instance as well (the default value is `http://localhost:9090`):
 
    ```shell
-   update application_settings set snowplow_collector_hostname='localhost:9090', snowplow_enabled=true, snowplow_cookie_domain='.gitlab.com';
-   ```
-
-1. Update `DEFAULT_SNOWPLOW_OPTIONS` in `app/assets/javascripts/tracking/constants.js` to remove `forceSecureTracker: true`:
-
-   ```diff
-   diff --git a/app/assets/javascripts/tracking/constants.js b/app/assets/javascripts/tracking/constants.js
-   index 598111e4086..eff38074d4c 100644
-   --- a/app/assets/javascripts/tracking/constants.js
-   +++ b/app/assets/javascripts/tracking/constants.js
-   @@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ export const DEFAULT_SNOWPLOW_OPTIONS = {
-      appId: '',
-      userFingerprint: false,
-      respectDoNotTrack: true,
-   -  forceSecureTracker: true,
-      eventMethod: 'post',
-      contexts: { webPage: true, performanceTiming: true },
-      formTracking: false,
-   ```
-
-1. Update `options` in `lib/gitlab/tracking.rb` to add `protocol` and `port`:
-
-   ```diff
-   diff --git a/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb b/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
-   index 618e359211b..e9084623c43 100644
-   --- a/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
-   +++ b/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
-   @@ -41,7 +41,9 @@ def options(group)
-              cookie_domain: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_cookie_domain,
-              app_id: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_app_id,
-              form_tracking: additional_features,
-   -          link_click_tracking: additional_features
-   +          link_click_tracking: additional_features,
-   +          protocol: 'http',
-   +          port: 9090
-            }.transform_keys! { |key| key.to_s.camelize(:lower).to_sym }
-          end
-   ```
-
-1. Update `emitter` in `lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb` to change `protocol`:
-
-   ```diff
-   diff --git a/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
-   index 4fa844de325..5dd9d0eacfb 100644
-   --- a/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
-   +++ b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
-   @@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def tracker
-            def emitter
-              SnowplowTracker::AsyncEmitter.new(
-                Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname,
-   -            protocol: 'https'
-   +            protocol: 'http'
-              )
-            end
-          end
-
+   export SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI=https://127.0.0.1:8080
    ```
 
 1. Restart GDK:
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing.rb b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing.rb
index 3e322e752b7..52eb0764ae3 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing.rb
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ module Gitlab
         return to_enum(__method__) unless block_given?
 
         base_models.each do |model|
-          yield model.connection.load_balancer
+          yield model.load_balancer
         end
       end
 
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy.rb b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy.rb
index 1be63da8896..9c51fa21936 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,15 @@ module Gitlab
         WriteInsideReadOnlyTransactionError = Class.new(StandardError)
         READ_ONLY_TRANSACTION_KEY = :load_balacing_read_only_transaction
 
-        attr_reader :load_balancer
+        # The load balancer is intentionally not exposed since the returned instance
+        # might be different `model.connection.load_balancer` vs `model.load_balancer`
+        #
+        # The used `model.connection` is dependent on `use_model_load_balancing`.
+        # See more in: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/73949.
+        #
+        # Always use `model.load_balancer` or `model.sticking`.
+        #
+        # attr_reader :load_balancer
 
         # These methods perform writes after which we need to stick to the
         # primary.
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup.rb b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup.rb
index bcb40e45dac..ef38f42f50b 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup.rb
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ module Gitlab
         def setup_connection_proxy
           # We just use a simple `class_attribute` here so we don't need to
           # inject any modules and/or expose unnecessary methods.
+          setup_class_attribute(:load_balancer, load_balancer)
           setup_class_attribute(:connection, ConnectionProxy.new(load_balancer))
           setup_class_attribute(:sticking, Sticking.new(load_balancer))
         end
@@ -107,10 +108,6 @@ module Gitlab
           def connection
             use_model_load_balancing? ? super : ActiveRecord::Base.connection
           end
-
-          def sticking
-            use_model_load_balancing? ? super : ActiveRecord::Base.sticking
-          end
           # rubocop:enable Database/MultipleDatabases
         end
       end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb b/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
index 1f280765bf1..ec032cf2d3c 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/tracking.rb
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ module Gitlab
 
     class << self
       def enabled?
-        Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_enabled?
+        snowplow_micro_enabled? || Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_enabled?
       end
 
       def event(category, action, label: nil, property: nil, value: nil, context: [], project: nil, user: nil, namespace: nil, **extra) # rubocop:disable Metrics/ParameterLists
@@ -18,21 +18,25 @@ module Gitlab
       end
 
       def options(group)
-        additional_features = Feature.enabled?(:additional_snowplow_tracking, group, type: :ops)
-        {
-          namespace: SNOWPLOW_NAMESPACE,
-          hostname: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname,
-          cookie_domain: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_cookie_domain,
-          app_id: Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_app_id,
-          form_tracking: additional_features,
-          link_click_tracking: additional_features
-        }.transform_keys! { |key| key.to_s.camelize(:lower).to_sym }
+        snowplow.options(group)
+      end
+
+      def collector_hostname
+        snowplow.hostname
       end
 
       private
 
       def snowplow
-        @snowplow ||= Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::Snowplow.new
+        @snowplow ||= if snowplow_micro_enabled?
+                        Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::SnowplowMicro.new
+                      else
+                        Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::Snowplow.new
+                      end
+      end
+
+      def snowplow_micro_enabled?
+        Rails.env.development? && Gitlab::Utils.to_boolean(ENV['SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE'])
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
index 07a53b0892b..5596e9acd30 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
+++ b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow.rb
@@ -16,25 +16,53 @@ module Gitlab
           increment_total_events_counter
         end
 
+        def options(group)
+          additional_features = Feature.enabled?(:additional_snowplow_tracking, group, type: :ops)
+          {
+            namespace: Gitlab::Tracking::SNOWPLOW_NAMESPACE,
+            hostname: hostname,
+            cookie_domain: cookie_domain,
+            app_id: app_id,
+            form_tracking: additional_features,
+            link_click_tracking: additional_features
+          }.transform_keys! { |key| key.to_s.camelize(:lower).to_sym }
+        end
+
+        def hostname
+          Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname
+        end
+
         private
 
         def enabled?
           Gitlab::Tracking.enabled?
         end
 
+        def app_id
+          Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_app_id
+        end
+
+        def protocol
+          'https'
+        end
+
+        def cookie_domain
+          Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_cookie_domain
+        end
+
         def tracker
           @tracker ||= SnowplowTracker::Tracker.new(
             emitter,
             SnowplowTracker::Subject.new,
             Gitlab::Tracking::SNOWPLOW_NAMESPACE,
-            Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_app_id
+            app_id
           )
         end
 
         def emitter
           SnowplowTracker::AsyncEmitter.new(
-            Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname,
-            protocol: 'https',
+            hostname,
+            protocol: protocol,
             on_success: method(:increment_successful_events_emissions),
             on_failure: method(:failure_callback)
           )
@@ -68,8 +96,6 @@ module Gitlab
         end
 
         def log_failures(failures)
-          hostname = Gitlab::CurrentSettings.snowplow_collector_hostname
-
           failures.each do |failure|
             Gitlab::AppLogger.error("#{failure["se_ca"]} #{failure["se_ac"]} failed to be reported to collector at #{hostname}")
           end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro.rb b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..b818d349a6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+#
+module Gitlab
+  module Tracking
+    module Destinations
+      class SnowplowMicro < Snowplow
+        include ::Gitlab::Utils::StrongMemoize
+        extend ::Gitlab::Utils::Override
+
+        DEFAULT_URI = 'http://localhost:9090'
+
+        override :options
+        def options(group)
+          super.update(
+            protocol: uri.scheme,
+            port: uri.port,
+            force_secure_tracker: false
+          )
+        end
+
+        override :hostname
+        def hostname
+          "#{uri.host}:#{uri.port}"
+        end
+
+        private
+
+        def uri
+          strong_memoize(:snowplow_uri) do
+            uri = URI(ENV['SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI'] || DEFAULT_URI)
+            uri = URI("http://#{ENV['SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI']}") unless %w[http https].include?(uri.scheme)
+            uri
+          end
+        end
+
+        override :cookie_domain
+        def cookie_domain
+          '.gitlab.com'
+        end
+
+        override :protocol
+        def protocol
+          uri.scheme
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/lib/gitlab/usage_data_counters/known_events/code_review_events.yml b/lib/gitlab/usage_data_counters/known_events/code_review_events.yml
index d4a818f8fe0..429667b62e3 100644
--- a/lib/gitlab/usage_data_counters/known_events/code_review_events.yml
+++ b/lib/gitlab/usage_data_counters/known_events/code_review_events.yml
@@ -249,3 +249,7 @@
   redis_slot: code_review
   category: code_review
   aggregation: weekly
+- name: i_code_review_widget_nothing_merge_click_new_file
+  redis_slot: code_review
+  category: code_review
+  aggregation: weekly
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy_spec.rb
index b81f9c26421..ee2718171c0 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/connection_proxy_spec.rb
@@ -3,12 +3,9 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
-  let(:proxy) do
-    config = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Configuration
-      .new(ActiveRecord::Base)
-
-    described_class.new(Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::LoadBalancer.new(config))
-  end
+  let(:config) { Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Configuration.new(ActiveRecord::Base) }
+  let(:load_balancer) { Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::LoadBalancer.new(config) }
+  let(:proxy) { described_class.new(load_balancer) }
 
   describe '#select' do
     it 'performs a read' do
@@ -143,9 +140,9 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
 
       context 'with a read query' do
         it 'runs the transaction and any nested queries on the replica' do
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read)
+          expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read)
             .twice.and_yield(replica)
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).not_to receive(:read_write)
+          expect(load_balancer).not_to receive(:read_write)
           expect(session).not_to receive(:write!)
 
           proxy.transaction { proxy.select('true') }
@@ -154,8 +151,8 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
 
       context 'with a write query' do
         it 'raises an exception' do
-          allow(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(replica)
-          allow(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write).and_yield(replica)
+          allow(load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(replica)
+          allow(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write).and_yield(replica)
 
           expect do
             proxy.transaction { proxy.insert('something') }
@@ -178,9 +175,9 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
 
       context 'with a read query' do
         it 'runs the transaction and any nested queries on the primary and stick to it' do
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
+          expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
             .twice.and_yield(primary)
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).not_to receive(:read)
+          expect(load_balancer).not_to receive(:read)
           expect(session).to receive(:write!)
 
           proxy.transaction { proxy.select('true') }
@@ -189,9 +186,9 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
 
       context 'with a write query' do
         it 'runs the transaction and any nested queries on the primary and stick to it' do
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
+          expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
             .twice.and_yield(primary)
-          expect(proxy.load_balancer).not_to receive(:read)
+          expect(load_balancer).not_to receive(:read)
           expect(session).to receive(:write!).twice
 
           proxy.transaction { proxy.insert('something') }
@@ -209,7 +206,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
     end
 
     it 'properly forwards keyword arguments' do
-      allow(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
+      allow(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
 
       expect(proxy).to receive(:write_using_load_balancer).and_call_original
 
@@ -234,7 +231,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
       end
 
       it 'properly forwards keyword arguments' do
-        allow(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read)
+        allow(load_balancer).to receive(:read)
 
         expect(proxy).to receive(:read_using_load_balancer).and_call_original
 
@@ -259,7 +256,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
         allow(session).to receive(:use_replicas_for_read_queries?).and_return(false)
 
         expect(connection).to receive(:foo).with('foo')
-        expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
+        expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
 
         proxy.read_using_load_balancer(:foo, 'foo')
       end
@@ -271,7 +268,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
         allow(session).to receive(:use_replicas_for_read_queries?).and_return(true)
 
         expect(connection).to receive(:foo).with('foo')
-        expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
+        expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
 
         proxy.read_using_load_balancer(:foo, 'foo')
       end
@@ -283,7 +280,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
         allow(session).to receive(:use_replicas_for_read_queries?).and_return(true)
 
         expect(connection).to receive(:foo).with('foo')
-        expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
+        expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read).and_yield(connection)
 
         proxy.read_using_load_balancer(:foo, 'foo')
       end
@@ -296,7 +293,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
 
         expect(connection).to receive(:foo).with('foo')
 
-        expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
+        expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write)
           .and_yield(connection)
 
         proxy.read_using_load_balancer(:foo, 'foo')
@@ -314,7 +311,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy do
     end
 
     it 'uses but does not stick to the primary' do
-      expect(proxy.load_balancer).to receive(:read_write).and_yield(connection)
+      expect(load_balancer).to receive(:read_write).and_yield(connection)
       expect(connection).to receive(:foo).with('foo')
       expect(session).not_to receive(:write!)
 
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup_spec.rb
index dfdf7d19e72..953d83d3b48 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/setup_spec.rb
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Setup do
 
       setup.setup_connection_proxy
 
-      expect(model.connection.load_balancer).to eq(lb)
+      expect(model.load_balancer).to eq(lb)
       expect(model.sticking)
         .to be_an_instance_of(Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking)
     end
@@ -265,17 +265,19 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Setup do
         stub_env('GITLAB_USE_MODEL_LOAD_BALANCING', env_GITLAB_USE_MODEL_LOAD_BALANCING)
         stub_env('GITLAB_LOAD_BALANCING_REUSE_PRIMARY_ci', env_GITLAB_LOAD_BALANCING_REUSE_PRIMARY_ci)
         stub_feature_flags(use_model_load_balancing: ff_use_model_load_balancing)
-      end
 
-      it 'results match expectations' do
-        result = models.transform_values do |model|
-          # Make load balancer to force init with a dedicated replicas connections
+        # Make load balancer to force init with a dedicated replicas connections
+        models.each do |_, model|
           described_class.new(model).tap do |subject|
             subject.configuration.hosts = [subject.configuration.replica_db_config.host]
             subject.setup
           end
+        end
+      end
 
-          load_balancer = model.connection.load_balancer
+      it 'results match expectations' do
+        result = models.transform_values do |model|
+          load_balancer = model.connection.instance_variable_get(:@load_balancer)
 
           {
             read: load_balancer.read { |connection| connection.pool.db_config.name },
@@ -285,6 +287,13 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Setup do
 
         expect(result).to eq(expectations)
       end
+
+      it 'does return load_balancer assigned to a given connection' do
+        models.each do |name, model|
+          expect(model.load_balancer.name).to eq(name)
+          expect(model.sticking.instance_variable_get(:@load_balancer)).to eq(model.load_balancer)
+        end
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_client_middleware_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_client_middleware_spec.rb
index 08dd6a0a788..9acf80e684f 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_client_middleware_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_client_middleware_spec.rb
@@ -181,11 +181,11 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::SidekiqClientMiddleware do
     end
 
     context 'when worker data consistency is :delayed' do
-      include_examples  'mark data consistency location', :delayed
+      include_examples 'mark data consistency location', :delayed
     end
 
     context 'when worker data consistency is :sticky' do
-      include_examples  'mark data consistency location', :sticky
+      include_examples 'mark data consistency location', :sticky
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_server_middleware_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_server_middleware_spec.rb
index 06efdcd8f99..de2ad662d16 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_server_middleware_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sidekiq_server_middleware_spec.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::SidekiqServerMiddleware, :clean_
       let(:wal_locations) { { Gitlab::Database::MAIN_DATABASE_NAME.to_sym => location } }
 
       it 'does not stick to the primary', :aggregate_failures do
-        expect(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+        expect(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
           .to receive(:select_up_to_date_host)
           .with(location)
           .and_return(true)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::SidekiqServerMiddleware, :clean_
         let(:job) { { 'job_id' => 'a180b47c-3fd6-41b8-81e9-34da61c3400e', 'dedup_wal_locations' => wal_locations } }
 
         before do
-          allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+          allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
             .to receive(:select_up_to_date_host)
             .with(wal_locations[:main])
             .and_return(true)
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::SidekiqServerMiddleware, :clean_
         let(:job) { { 'job_id' => 'a180b47c-3fd6-41b8-81e9-34da61c3400e', 'database_write_location' => '0/D525E3A8' } }
 
         before do
-          allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+          allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
             .to receive(:select_up_to_date_host)
             .with('0/D525E3A8')
             .and_return(true)
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sticking_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sticking_spec.rb
index 9d0937f004c..d88554614cf 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sticking_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing/sticking_spec.rb
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
   let(:sticking) do
-    described_class.new(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+    described_class.new(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
   end
 
   after do
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
   end
 
   describe '#all_caught_up?' do
-    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer }
+    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer }
     let(:last_write_location) { 'foo' }
 
     before do
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
   end
 
   describe '#unstick_or_continue_sticking' do
-    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer }
+    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer }
 
     it 'simply returns if no write location could be found' do
       allow(sticking)
@@ -182,13 +182,13 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
 
   RSpec.shared_examples 'sticking' do
     before do
-      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
         .to receive(:primary_write_location)
         .and_return('foo')
     end
 
     it 'sticks an entity to the primary', :aggregate_failures do
-      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
         .to receive(:primary_only?)
         .and_return(false)
 
@@ -227,11 +227,11 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
 
   describe '#mark_primary_write_location' do
     it 'updates the write location with the load balancer' do
-      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
         .to receive(:primary_write_location)
         .and_return('foo')
 
-      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer)
+      allow(ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer)
         .to receive(:primary_only?)
         .and_return(false)
 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking, :redis do
   end
 
   describe '#select_caught_up_replicas' do
-    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer }
+    let(:lb) { ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer }
 
     context 'with no write location' do
       before do
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing_spec.rb
index d1b811deca9..65ffe539910 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/load_balancing_spec.rb
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing do
 
       context 'when a read connection is used' do
         it 'returns :replica' do
-          proxy.load_balancer.read do |connection|
+          load_balancer.read do |connection|
             expect(described_class.db_role_for_connection(connection)).to eq(:replica)
           end
         end
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing do
 
       context 'when a read_write connection is used' do
         it 'returns :primary' do
-          proxy.load_balancer.read_write do |connection|
+          load_balancer.read_write do |connection|
             expect(described_class.db_role_for_connection(connection)).to eq(:primary)
           end
         end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzer_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzer_spec.rb
index b8356522e55..3567bd6a058 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database/query_analyzer_spec.rb
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database::QueryAnalyzer do
     end
 
     def process_sql(sql)
-      ApplicationRecord.connection.load_balancer.read_write do |connection|
+      ApplicationRecord.load_balancer.read_write do |connection|
         described_class.new.send(:process_sql, sql, connection)
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/database_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/database_spec.rb
index a2e7b6d27b9..1ab08314a39 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/database_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/database_spec.rb
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Database do
 
     context 'when replicas are configured', :database_replica do
       it 'returns the name for a replica' do
-        replica = ActiveRecord::Base.connection.load_balancer.host
+        replica = ActiveRecord::Base.load_balancer.host
 
         expect(described_class.db_config_name(replica)).to eq('main_replica')
       end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro_spec.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6004698d092
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking/destinations/snowplow_micro_spec.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+
+require 'spec_helper'
+
+RSpec.describe Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::SnowplowMicro do
+  include StubENV
+
+  before do
+    stub_application_setting(snowplow_enabled: true)
+    stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE', '1')
+    allow(Rails.env).to receive(:development?).and_return(true)
+  end
+
+  describe '#hostname' do
+    context 'when SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI is set' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI', 'http://gdk.test:9091')
+      end
+
+      it 'returns hostname URI part' do
+        expect(subject.hostname).to eq('gdk.test:9091')
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI is without protocol' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI', 'gdk.test:9091')
+      end
+
+      it 'returns hostname URI part' do
+        expect(subject.hostname).to eq('gdk.test:9091')
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI is hostname only' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI', 'uriwithoutport')
+      end
+
+      it 'returns hostname URI with default HTTP port' do
+        expect(subject.hostname).to eq('uriwithoutport:80')
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when SNOWPLOW_MICRO_URI is not set' do
+      it 'returns localhost hostname' do
+        expect(subject.hostname).to eq('localhost:9090')
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
diff --git a/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking_spec.rb b/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking_spec.rb
index b9902ab42e5..61b2c89ffa1 100644
--- a/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/lib/gitlab/tracking_spec.rb
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 require 'spec_helper'
 
 RSpec.describe Gitlab::Tracking do
+  include StubENV
+
   before do
     stub_application_setting(snowplow_enabled: true)
     stub_application_setting(snowplow_collector_hostname: 'gitfoo.com')
@@ -12,17 +14,62 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Tracking do
   end
 
   describe '.options' do
-    it 'returns useful client options' do
-      expected_fields = {
-        namespace: 'gl',
-        hostname: 'gitfoo.com',
-        cookieDomain: '.gitfoo.com',
-        appId: '_abc123_',
-        formTracking: true,
-        linkClickTracking: true
-      }
+    shared_examples 'delegates to destination' do |klass|
+      before do
+        allow_next_instance_of(klass) do |instance|
+          allow(instance).to receive(:options).and_call_original
+        end
+      end
 
-      expect(subject.options(nil)).to match(expected_fields)
+      it "delegates to #{klass} destination" do
+        expect_next_instance_of(klass) do |instance|
+          expect(instance).to receive(:options)
+        end
+
+        subject.options(nil)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when destination is Snowplow' do
+      it_behaves_like 'delegates to destination', Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::Snowplow
+
+      it 'returns useful client options' do
+        expected_fields = {
+          namespace: 'gl',
+          hostname: 'gitfoo.com',
+          cookieDomain: '.gitfoo.com',
+          appId: '_abc123_',
+          formTracking: true,
+          linkClickTracking: true
+        }
+
+        expect(subject.options(nil)).to match(expected_fields)
+      end
+    end
+
+    context 'when destination is SnowplowMicro' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE', '1')
+        allow(Rails.env).to receive(:development?).and_return(true)
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'delegates to destination', Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::SnowplowMicro
+
+      it 'returns useful client options' do
+        expected_fields = {
+          namespace: 'gl',
+          hostname: 'localhost:9090',
+          cookieDomain: '.gitlab.com',
+          appId: '_abc123_',
+          protocol: 'http',
+          port: 9090,
+          force_secure_tracker: false,
+          formTracking: true,
+          linkClickTracking: true
+        }
+
+        expect(subject.options(nil)).to match(expected_fields)
+      end
     end
 
     it 'when feature flag is disabled' do
@@ -71,7 +118,23 @@ RSpec.describe Gitlab::Tracking do
       end
     end
 
-    it_behaves_like 'delegates to destination', Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::Snowplow
+    context 'when destination is Snowplow' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE', '0')
+        allow(Rails.env).to receive(:development?).and_return(true)
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'delegates to destination', Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::Snowplow
+    end
+
+    context 'when destination is SnowplowMicro' do
+      before do
+        stub_env('SNOWPLOW_MICRO_ENABLE', '1')
+        allow(Rails.env).to receive(:development?).and_return(true)
+      end
+
+      it_behaves_like 'delegates to destination', Gitlab::Tracking::Destinations::SnowplowMicro
+    end
 
     it 'tracks errors' do
       expect(Gitlab::ErrorTracking).to receive(:track_and_raise_for_dev_exception).with(
diff --git a/spec/support/database_load_balancing.rb b/spec/support/database_load_balancing.rb
index 014575e8a82..d2902ddcc7c 100644
--- a/spec/support/database_load_balancing.rb
+++ b/spec/support/database_load_balancing.rb
@@ -2,17 +2,17 @@
 
 RSpec.configure do |config|
   config.around(:each, :database_replica) do |example|
-    old_proxies = []
+    old_proxies = {}
 
     Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing.base_models.each do |model|
+      old_proxies[model] = [model.load_balancer, model.connection, model.sticking]
+
       config = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Configuration
         .new(model, [model.connection_db_config.configuration_hash[:host]])
-      lb = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::LoadBalancer.new(config)
 
-      old_proxies << [model, model.connection]
-
-      model.connection =
-        Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy.new(lb)
+      model.load_balancer = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::LoadBalancer.new(config)
+      model.sticking = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Sticking.new(model.load_balancer)
+      model.connection = Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::ConnectionProxy.new(model.load_balancer)
     end
 
     Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Session.clear_session
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ RSpec.configure do |config|
     Gitlab::Database::LoadBalancing::Session.clear_session
     redis_shared_state_cleanup!
 
-    old_proxies.each do |(model, proxy)|
-      model.connection = proxy
+    old_proxies.each do |model, proxy|
+      model.load_balancer, model.connection, model.sticking = proxy
     end
   end
 end