Publish NPM Packages to GitLab Package Registry using GitLab CI | GitLab Package Registry Tutorials

Introduction

This tutorial will guide you through the process of publishing NPM packages to the GitLab Package Registry using GitLab CI. Understanding how to utilize GitLab's CI/CD capabilities can streamline your development workflow and enhance your package management strategies.

Step 1: Understand GitLab Package Registry

• The GitLab Package Registry allows you to host and share your own package libraries.
• It supports multiple package formats, including NPM.
• By using the GitLab CI/CD pipeline, you can automate the publishing process, ensuring consistency and efficiency.

Step 2: Set Up Your Project for NPM

1. Initialize Your NPM Project

   • Use the command to create a new NPM project:

     npm init
     

   • Follow the prompts to configure your package details.

2. Configure Your Package for GitLab

   • In your package.json file, add the following configuration:

     "publishConfig": {
       "registry": "https://gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<your_project_id>/packages/npm/"
     }
     

   • Replace <your_project_id> with your actual project ID from GitLab.

Step 3: Authenticate with GitLab

• Create a personal access token in GitLab with the read_package and write_package scopes.
• Set this token as an environment variable in your GitLab repository settings:
  • Navigate to Settings > CI/CD > Variables.
  • Add a new variable, for example, NPM_TOKEN, with your access token value.

Step 4: Configure GitLab CI/CD Pipeline

1. Create a .gitlab-ci.yml File

   • In the root of your repository, create a .gitlab-ci.yml file with the following content:

     stages:
       - deploy
     
     deploy_package:
       stage: deploy
       image: node:latest
       script:
         - npm install
         - echo "//gitlab.com/api/v4/projects/<your_project_id>/packages/npm/:_authToken=\${NPM_TOKEN}" > .npmrc
         - npm publish
     

   • Ensure to replace <your_project_id> with your actual project ID.

2. Add Job Context

   • This configuration sets up a deploy stage that will install dependencies and publish the package to the GitLab Package Registry using the NPM token for authentication.

Step 5: Push Your Changes

• Commit your changes and push them to your GitLab repository:

  git add .
  git commit -m "Setup NPM package publishing"
  git push origin main
  

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully publish NPM packages to the GitLab Package Registry using GitLab CI. This method enhances your workflow by automating the process and ensuring that your packages are readily available for use. For further reading, consider checking out the additional resources mentioned in the video description. Happy coding!