2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
---
2022-03-02 08:16:31 +05:30
stage: none
group: unassigned
2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---
2021-12-11 22:18:48 +05:30
# Deploy and release your application **(FREE)**
2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
2021-12-11 22:18:48 +05:30
Deploy your application internally or to the public. Use
2021-09-04 01:27:46 +05:30
flags to release features incrementally.
2022-03-02 08:16:31 +05:30
## Deployments
Deployment is the step of the software delivery process when your application gets deployed to its
final, target infrastructure.
### Deploy with Auto DevOps
[Auto DevOps ](autodevops/index.md ) is an automated CI/CD-based workflow that supports the entire software
supply chain: build, test, lint, package, deploy, secure, and monitor applications using GitLab CI/CD.
It provides a set of ready-to-use templates that serve the vast majority of use cases.
[Auto Deploy ](autodevops/stages.md#auto-deploy ) is the DevOps stage dedicated to software
deployment using GitLab CI/CD.
### Deploy applications to Kubernetes clusters
With the extensive integration between GitLab and Kubernetes, you can safely deploy your applications
to Kubernetes clusters using the [GitLab Agent ](../user/clusters/agent/install/index.md ).
#### GitOps deployments **(PREMIUM)**
With the [GitLab Agent ](../user/clusters/agent/install/index.md ), you can perform pull-based
deployments using Kubernetes manifests. This provides a scalable, secure, and cloud-native
approach to manage Kubernetes deployments.
#### Deploy to Kubernetes with the CI/CD Tunnel
With the [GitLab Agent ](../user/clusters/agent/install/index.md ), you can perform push-based
deployments with the [CI/CD Tunnel ](../user/clusters/agent/ci_cd_tunnel.md ). It provides
a secure and reliable connection between GitLab and your Kubernetes cluster.
### Deploy to AWS with GitLab CI/CD
GitLab provides Docker images that you can use to run AWS commands from GitLab CI/CD, and a template to
facilitate [deployment to AWS ](../ci/cloud_deployment ). Moreover, Auto Deploy has built-in support
for EC2 and ECS deployments.
### General software deployment with GitLab CI/CD
You can use GitLab CI/CD to target any type of infrastructure accessible by the GitLab Runner.
[User and pre-defined environment variables ](../ci/variables/index.md ) and CI/CD templates
support setting up a vast number of deployment strategies.
## Environments
To keep track of your deployments and gain insights into your infrastructure, we recommend
connecting them to [a GitLab Environment ](../ci/environments/index.md ).
## Releases
Use GitLab [Releases ](../user/project/releases/index.md ) to plan, build, and deliver your applications.
### Feature flags
Use [feature flags ](../operations/feature_flags.md ) to control and strategically roullout application deployments.
