GitLab: The DevSecOps Platform

GitLab Inc., through its subsidiaries, develops software for the software development lifecycle in the United States, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers GitLab, a DevOps platform, which is a single application that leads to faster cycle time and allows visibility throughout and control over various stages of the DevOps lifecycle. It helps organizations to plan, build, secure, and deploy software to drive business outcomes. The company also provides related training and professional services. The company was formerly known as GitLab B.V. and changed its name to GitLab Inc. in July 2015. The company was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in San Francisco, California.

Executive Summary

GitLab (GTLB) is the only real competitor to Microsoft GitHub. Their philosophy is "The One Platform." While most companies cobble together 10 tools (Jira for planning + GitHub for code + Jenkins for CI/CD + Aqua for Security), GitLab offers all of it in a single application.

1. The Ultimate Bundle

Cost Consolidation: CFOs love GitLab. "Why pay for 5 vendors when GitLab does it all for $99/year?"
Security Integration: Because Security is built-in (not bolted on), vulnerabilities are caught while the developer is coding, not weeks later in production.

2. The AI Due

GitLab Duo is their answer to Copilot.

Privacy-First: GitLab allows enterprises to bring their own models or run offline. This appeals to banks and defense contractors who don't trust Microsoft/OpenAI with their code.

Risks to the Thesis

Google: Rumors persist that Google might buy HubSpot or... GitLab.
Microsoft Network Effects: GitHub has 100M developers. It is the default social network for code. GitLab is the "Enterprise Tool."

Conclusion

GitLab is the "Apple" approach (integrated garden) vs. the "Android" approach (best of breed components). In a downturn, consolidation wins.