GitLab connector
Set up the GitLab connector in Kaivo: authentication, configuration, the 23 BigQuery tables it syncs, and answers to common questions.
Written By Lauri Raivio
Last updated About 4 hours ago
Kaivo is a fully managed data platform that syncs your GitLab data into a Google BigQuery warehouse and keeps it up to date automatically. There is no pipeline to build and no infrastructure to run, so you can spend your time analysing your project management data instead of moving it.
What is the GitLab connector
Sync your GitLab projects, issues, epics, and releases into BigQuery with Kaivo to report on engineering delivery alongside the rest of your data.
Getting started with the GitLab connector
- Sign up for Kaivo and create a workspace.
- Connect your GitLab account.
- Choose which tables to sync.
- Wait for the initial sync to finish.
- Query your data in BigQuery or your favourite AI or BI tool.
Authenticating GitLab
Authenticate with your Private Token.
Configuring the GitLab connector
When you set up the connector, you provide:
Tables and columns synced from GitLab
Kaivo syncs 23 tables from GitLab into a dedicated dataset in your BigQuery warehouse. Click any table to see its columns and types.
How the GitLab sync works
After the first load, Kaivo keeps your BigQuery warehouse up to date for you. Where GitLab supports it, each sync pulls only new and changed records so it stays fast; otherwise it refreshes the whole table. Every record keeps its original ID, so you won't get duplicate rows.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the initial sync take for GitLab?
It depends on how much history is in your GitLab account. Most initial syncs finish within minutes, while large accounts can take a few hours. After that, syncs only fetch new and changed records, so they're much faster.
Can I sync only some tables or columns?
Yes. You pick which tables to sync when you set up the connection and can change the selection later. Tables you don't select are never copied to your warehouse.
What happens when GitLab's schema changes?
New fields are never added automatically. You choose which fields to sync, so data you haven't selected (sensitive personal data, for example) never lands in your warehouse. When a new field appears, it becomes available for you to add. What happens to removed or renamed fields depends on a table's sync mode: full-refresh tables always match what's currently in GitLab, so dropped fields disappear, while incremental tables keep their existing columns and history, so an old field stays and newly added fields fill in over time.
How do I handle GDPR or data deletion requests?
Your data lives in your own Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, so the most direct option is to delete or anonymise specific records right in BigQuery. If you delete data in GitLab instead, full-refresh tables drop it on the next sync, while incremental tables keep it, so you would remove the row in BigQuery or ask us to run a full refresh. To remove everything, delete the GitLab connector in Kaivo and all of its synced data is deleted with it.
Common use cases for GitLab data
Delivery throughput
Track issues and projects to measure throughput and what is shipping across groups.
Epic and milestone progress
Use epics, epic_issues, and milestones to report on progress against larger initiatives.
Release tracking
Analyse releases and tags to see how often you ship and what went into each release.
Team activity
Report on group_members and project_members to see contribution across teams.
Use GitLab data in your AI and BI tools
Once GitLab data lands in your Kaivo-managed BigQuery warehouse, you can explore it with AI tools or any BI tool that connects to BigQuery. Here's how the most common destinations work with GitLab data.
Claude
Use Kaivo's MCP server to give Claude secure, workspace-scoped access to your data. Setup guide →
Power BI
Microsoft's BI tool with a native BigQuery connector. Supports direct query and scheduled refresh. Setup guide →
Data Studio
Free Google BI tool with native BigQuery support. One-click connection to your Kaivo warehouse; great for SMB teams on Google Workspace. Setup guide →
Tableau
The premium analytics standard, with native BigQuery integration. Setup guide →
Google Sheets
Use Connected Sheets to query BigQuery directly from a spreadsheet, with no SQL. Setup guide →
Excel
Connect via Power Query's BigQuery connector. Setup guide →
Metabase
Open-source BI tool with strong BigQuery support. Setup guide →
See our pricing page for GitLab connector pricing and plan details.