Documentation Generation in GitLab CI/CD Pipelines

This module will cover how to use MkDocs to generate and deploy documentation for your project. MkDocs is a powerful tool for creating static sites from Markdown files and integrates seamlessly with GitLab Pages. By the end of this module, you’ll be able to set up MkDocs, write documentation, and deploy it through GitLab CI/CD.

Objectives

Understand MkDocs and its configuration.

• Set up a MkDocs project.
• Write and structure documentation using Markdown.
• Build and preview documentation locally.
• Configure GitLab CI/CD to deploy documentation to GitLab Pages.

1. Introduction to MkDocs

MkDocs is a static site generator that uses Markdown for content creation and YAML for configuration. It provides an easy-to-use interface for generating project documentation.

Key Features:

• Markdown Support: Write documentation in Markdown.
• Customizable Themes: Choose from built-in themes or customize your own.
• GitLab Pages Integration: Easily deploy documentation to GitLab Pages.

Practical Exercise

1. Install MkDocs:

   • Install MkDocs locally on your machine. You can do this using pip:

     pip install mkdocs
     

2. Create a New MkDocs Project:

   • Run the following command in your terminal to create a new MkDocs project:

     mkdocs new my-project-docs
     cd my-project-docs
     

3. Structure Your Documentation:

   • Explore the generated project structure. Locate the mkdocs.yml configuration file and the docs/ directory.

4. Run the Development Server:

   • Start the MkDocs development server to preview your documentation:

     mkdocs serve
     

   • Open your browser and navigate to http://127.0.0.1:8000 to see the default documentation.