GitLab Duo

GitLab Duo

GitLab Duo is your AI-native assistant. It can help you write, review, and edit code, along with a variety of other tasks throughout your GitLab workflow. GitLab Duo brings a range of generative and assistive AI features to the GitLab platform and popular IDEs like VS Code, IntelliJ IDEA, and Visual Studio. Solo developers using GitLab may prefer it because it integrates seamlessly with their existing GitLab repositories and CI/CD pipelines. The platform offers comprehensive DevSecOps capabilities beyond code suggestions, covering the entire software development lifecycle.

Strengths

• Platform Integration: Integration with GITLAB platform creates a seamless experience that reduces context switching between development and operations tasks
• DevSecOps Coverage: It can help you troubleshoot your pipeline, write tests, address vulnerabilities, and more throughout the development lifecycle
• Multiple Deployment Options: AI add-on available to GitLab SaaS, self-managed, and Dedicated customers for flexible hosting preferences
• Included with Premium/Ultimate: GitLab Premium and Ultimate now include GitLab Duo essentials for creating and understanding code throughout the software development lifecycle, all at no additional cost
• Wide IDE Support: Extend the features of GitLab to Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs, Visual Studio, and Neovim
• CI/CD Automation: Where it really stands out is the automation of CI/CD repo managements (merge requests, issue management, etc,)

Weaknesses

• GitLab Dependency: Requires GitLab Premium or Ultimate subscription to access most features
• Code Quality Issues: I actually feel like the suggestions seemed to get worse during my month of using it for some reason and may suggest irrelevant code blocks
• Non-standard Branch Organization: It struggles a bit when branches are organized in a non-standard fashion
• Market Position: GitLab Duo Chat faces stiff competition from established alternatives like GitHub, Amazon CodeWhisperer

Best for

Teams already using GitLab who want AI assistance integrated into their existing DevSecOps workflows.

Pricing plans

• GitLab Duo Core — Free with Premium/Ultimate — Included with Premium/Ultimate subscriptions
• GitLab Duo Pro — $19 per user per month — Enhanced code suggestions and organizational controls
• GitLab Duo Enterprise — Unknown — Advanced enterprise features and controls

Tech details

• Type: AI-powered DevSecOps assistant
• IDEs: Visual Studio Code, JetBrains IDEs like IntelliJ, PyCharm, GoLand, Webstorm, and Rubymine, Visual Studio, Neovim
• Key features: Code suggestions, vulnerability analysis, test generation, pipeline troubleshooting, merge request automation, issue management
• Privacy / hosting: Available as SaaS, self-managed, and dedicated deployment options. This API connection securely transmits a context window from your IDE/editor to the GitLab AI gateway, a GitLab hosted service
• Models / context window: Uses large language model APIs through GitLab AI gateway, specific model names and context sizes unknown

When to choose this over Cursor

• You're already invested in GitLab's platform and want integrated AI assistance
• Need AI help with DevSecOps tasks beyond code completion (CI/CD, security, testing)
• Prefer self-hosted or dedicated deployment options for compliance requirements

When Cursor may be a better fit

• You primarily need focused code editing assistance without broader platform integration
• Work across multiple Git platforms or don't use GitLab infrastructure
• Want a standalone AI coding tool without subscription dependencies to specific platforms

Conclusion

GitLab Duo represents one of the comprehensive Cursor alternatives for teams embedded in GitLab ecosystems. It extends AI assistance beyond code completion into full DevSecOps workflows. The platform's strength lies in its integrated approach to development operations. However, its effectiveness depends heavily on GitLab platform adoption and may not suit developers seeking standalone coding assistance.

Sources

• Official site: https://about.gitlab.com/gitlab-duo/
• Docs: https://docs.gitlab.com/user/gitlab_duo/
• Pricing: https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/