2021-01-29 00:20:46 +05:30
---
stage: none
group: unassigned
2022-11-25 23:54:43 +05:30
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
2021-01-29 00:20:46 +05:30
---
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
# Frontend Development Guidelines
This document describes various guidelines to ensure consistency and quality
2021-02-22 17:27:13 +05:30
across the GitLab frontend team.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
## Overview
2021-04-29 21:17:54 +05:30
GitLab is built on top of [Ruby on Rails ](https://rubyonrails.org ). It uses [Haml ](https://haml.info/ ) and a JavaScript-based frontend with [Vue.js ](https://vuejs.org ).
2021-10-27 15:23:28 +05:30
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
<!-- vale gitlab.Spelling = NO -->
2021-10-27 15:23:28 +05:30
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
Be wary of [the limitations that come with using Hamlit ](https://github.com/k0kubun/hamlit/blob/master/REFERENCE.md#limitations ).
2021-10-27 15:23:28 +05:30
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
<!-- vale gitlab.Spelling = YES -->
2021-10-27 15:23:28 +05:30
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
We also use [SCSS ](https://sass-lang.com ) and plain JavaScript with
2020-05-24 23:13:21 +05:30
modern ECMAScript standards supported through [Babel ](https://babeljs.io/ ) and ES module support through [webpack ](https://webpack.js.org/ ).
2018-10-15 14:42:47 +05:30
2021-11-11 11:23:49 +05:30
Working with our frontend assets requires Node (v12.22.1 or greater) and Yarn
2019-03-02 22:35:43 +05:30
(v1.10.0 or greater). You can find information on how to install these on our
2020-05-24 23:13:21 +05:30
[installation guide ](../../install/installation.md#4-node ).
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
### Browser Support
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
For supported browsers, see our [requirements ](../../install/requirements.md#supported-web-browsers ).
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-07-28 23:09:34 +05:30
Use [BrowserStack ](https://www.browserstack.com/ ) to test with our supported browsers.
2021-02-22 17:27:13 +05:30
Sign in to BrowserStack with the credentials saved in the **Engineering** vault of the GitLab
2020-07-28 23:09:34 +05:30
[shared 1Password account ](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/security/#1password-guide ).
2019-10-12 21:52:04 +05:30
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
## Initiatives
2022-10-11 01:57:18 +05:30
You can find current frontend initiatives with a cross-functional impact on epics
with the label [frontend-initiative ](https://gitlab.com/groups/gitlab-org/-/epics?state=opened&page=1&sort=UPDATED_AT_DESC&label_name[]=frontend-initiative ).
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Principles
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
[High-level guidelines ](principles.md ) for contributing to GitLab.
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Development Process
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
How we [plan and execute ](development_process.md ) the work on the frontend.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Architecture
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2021-02-22 17:27:13 +05:30
How we go about [making fundamental design decisions ](architecture.md ) in the GitLab frontend team
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
or make changes to our frontend development guidelines.
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Testing
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
How we write [frontend tests ](../testing_guide/frontend_testing.md ), run the GitLab test suite, and debug test related
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
issues.
2019-12-21 20:55:43 +05:30
## Pajamas Design System
Reusable components with technical and usage guidelines can be found in our
[Pajamas Design System ](https://design.gitlab.com/ ).
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Design Patterns
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
JavaScript [design patterns ](design_patterns.md ) in the GitLab codebase.
## Design Anti-patterns
JavaScript [design anti-patterns ](design_anti_patterns.md ) we try to avoid.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Vue.js Best Practices
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
Vue specific [design patterns and practices ](vue.md ).
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Vuex
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
[Vuex ](vuex.md ) specific design patterns and practices.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Axios
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
[Axios ](axios.md ) specific practices and gotchas.
2018-03-17 18:26:18 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## GraphQL
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
How to use [GraphQL ](graphql.md ).
2019-02-15 15:39:39 +05:30
2021-10-27 15:23:28 +05:30
## HAML
How to use [HAML ](haml.md ).
2022-08-13 15:12:31 +05:30
## ViewComponent
How we use [ViewComponent ](view_component.md ).
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
## Icons and Illustrations
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2020-04-08 14:13:33 +05:30
How we use SVG for our [Icons and Illustrations ](icons.md ).
## Dependencies
General information about frontend [dependencies ](dependencies.md ) and how we manage them.
2018-03-17 18:26:18 +05:30
2021-01-03 14:25:43 +05:30
## Keyboard Shortcuts
How we implement [keyboard shortcuts ](keyboard_shortcuts.md ) that can be customized and disabled.
2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
## Editors
2021-09-30 23:02:18 +05:30
GitLab text editing experiences are provided by the [Source Editor ](source_editor.md ) and
2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
the [Content Editor ](content_editor.md ).
2019-07-31 22:56:46 +05:30
## Frontend FAQ
Read the [frontend's FAQ ](frontend_faq.md ) for common small pieces of helpful information.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
## Style Guides
2020-01-01 13:55:28 +05:30
See the relevant style guides for our guidelines and for information on linting:
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-01-01 13:55:28 +05:30
- [JavaScript ](style/javascript.md ). Our guide is based on
2020-05-24 23:13:21 +05:30
the excellent [Airbnb ](https://github.com/airbnb/javascript ) style guide with a few small
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
changes.
2021-04-17 20:07:23 +05:30
- [SCSS ](style/scss.md ): [our SCSS conventions ](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/frontend/gitlab-stylelint-config ) which are enforced through [`stylelint` ](https://stylelint.io ).
2020-01-01 13:55:28 +05:30
- [HTML ](style/html.md ). Guidelines for writing HTML code consistent with the rest of the codebase.
- [Vue ](style/vue.md ). Guidelines and conventions for Vue code may be found here.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-03-13 15:44:24 +05:30
## [Tooling](tooling.md)
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2020-01-01 13:55:28 +05:30
Our code is automatically formatted with [Prettier ](https://prettier.io ) to follow our guidelines. Read our [Tooling guide ](tooling.md ) for more detail.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
## [Performance](performance.md)
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
Best practices for monitoring and maximizing frontend performance.
## [Security](security.md)
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
Frontend security practices.
2021-11-18 22:05:49 +05:30
## Accessibility
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2021-11-18 22:05:49 +05:30
Our [accessibility standards and resources ](accessibility.md ).
## Logging
Best practices for [client-side logging ](logging.md ) for GitLab frontend development.
2017-08-17 22:00:37 +05:30
2018-03-17 18:26:18 +05:30
## [Internationalization (i18n) and Translations](../i18n/externalization.md)
2019-07-07 11:18:12 +05:30
2022-08-27 11:52:29 +05:30
Frontend internationalization support is described in [this document ](../i18n/index.md ).
2018-03-17 18:26:18 +05:30
The [externalization part of the guide ](../i18n/externalization.md ) explains the helpers/methods available.
2021-03-11 19:13:27 +05:30
## [Troubleshooting](troubleshooting.md)
Running into a Frontend development problem? Check out [this guide ](troubleshooting.md ) to help resolve your issue.