GitLab’s blog identifies three starter tasks to hand to an agent: code reviews, project questions, and failed pipelines; these appear as the entry points for using the Duo Agent Platform.
THREE STARTER TASKS AND HOW THEY WORK
Code Review Flow reads a merge request’s diff, description, and related files (like tests and dependencies), then posts detailed review comments directly on the merge request. It can catch small issues, missed edge cases, and inconsistent patterns on your merge requests, so you can save your judgment for the critical details.
Fix CI/CD Pipeline Flow can diagnose a failing pipeline by analyzing logs and MR changes, potentially proposing inline code fixes or opening a new MR with a fix.
Agentic Chat lets you ask project-wide questions and pull from issues, merge requests, and pipelines to answer, across the GitLab UI and supported IDEs.
- Turn on Code Review Flow to hand off first-pass reviews.
- Use Fix pipeline with Duo for failing pipelines, which can produce inline suggestions or a new MR.
- Open Agentic Chat in the UI to query across projects.
WHAT THE EVIDENCE CANNOT CONFIRM YET (LIMITS TO CONTEXT AND APPLICABILITY)
The blog notes the AI in the editor only knows what’s open in the editor and may lack broader context like MR queue position or failures not reflected in the latest changes.
Without pipeline logs, the agent cannot offer a fix; logs and repository context are required for troubleshooting.
- Context is limited to what is in the editor unless you enable flows that pull from more project data.
- Some fixes may require human review or actions beyond automated suggestions.
WHAT READERS CAN DECIDE OR TRY NOW
On GitLab.com, a group Owner sets up your top-level group: Purchase GitLab Credits. Go to Settings > Billing and select Purchase credits.
Turn on foundational flows. Go to Settings > GitLab Duo. Select Change configuration. Under Flow execution, select Allow flow execution and Allow foundational flows. Select Code Review and Fix CI/CD Pipeline. Select Save changes.
Then try the three starter paths: Code Review Flow for MR reviews, Fix pipeline with Duo for failed pipelines, and Agentic Chat to query across the project.
- On the group, enable the flows under GitLab Duo and adjust the credits pool to fit your team.
- Experiment with Code Review Flow first to gauge how the agent comments and suggestions align with your process.
RELATED COVERAGE
- What the verified evidence says about GitLab’s Recommend Reviewers Flow
- GitLab’s agent orchestration cuts the wait between development stages with Duo Agent Platform
- Governed, agentic code review on GitLab Duo Agent Platform: what the verified evidence says about feasibility, cost, and governance
- GitLab Credits Bring Usage-Based Pricing to Duo Agent Platform
- Developer Tools articles
SOURCES
- GitLab: Three developer tasks worth handing to an agent Published · Primary source
