I don't use GitLab for my Git repositories (self-hosting).
I've more than 200 repositories (personal + projects) and more than 2k mirrors.
Why trying to use GitLab?
GitLab comes with GitLab CI so yes, it's interesting to use it with a strong integration but I can't use it.
Why mirrors?
I need to be able to rebuild any of my projects without the Internet but also to avoid a very terrible case (2016) so I mirror some of my dependencies.
GitLab == fuck you to any Red Hat's user
You can include CentOS and Fedora without a problem on the list!
GitLab for GitLab CI requires Docker … WTF!
I don't use Docker but Podman and Buildah.
I won't rebuild all with Dockerfile & co for this piece of shit: gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/issue.. (Issue on GitLab for GitLab: Runner executor podman).
So, GitLab's developers prefer to have a hard dependency on Docker… I blacklist GitLab CI for any deployments.
GitLab == Ruby
When you want GitLab, you need to have a lot of Ruby…
Sorry guys but my server won't be a heater.
My setup
I selected Gitea which survives without problem to my strange setup and finally, it works.
For the CI/CD, I've my setup (no disclosure: my closed source solution) and it's working.