How user research transformed GitLab Runner Fleet dashboard visibility and metrics

GitLab has embarked on a project to enhance the GitLab Runner Fleet dashboard, aiming to improve visibility, usability, and support for managing self-managed runners in continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) processes. Historically, the GitLab Runner, which executes CI/CD jobs, was limited in user interface capabilities, prompting a user-centric redesign focused on offering detailed insights into runner system failures, runner load, and wait times for job execution. Through problem validation research and moderated usability testing, GitLab identified key features such as the importance of quickly identifying runner failures, understanding runner load, and reducing wait times for job execution. The updated design includes visualizations for wait times, lists of the busiest runners, and summaries of recent failures, providing administrators with a comprehensive view of runner performance and potential issues. This initiative is part of ongoing plans to iterate and improve the dashboard, with feedback being solicited from an Early Adopters Program to ensure the enhancements align with user needs and contribute to a more efficient runner management experience.

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