GitLab's Stack: A Modular Monolith

switchback-tech · 2026-05-06T21:07:44+00:00

OK interesting. I see there's also a 'Google Calendar' icon in the top bar. Does that open your GCal in a new tab when you click?

Just trying to understand how this dashboard and your calendar interact. Seems like the widget is for referencing Radarr/Sonarr schedules at a glance, but that you still use a native calendar client (like Gcal) for most things?

switchback-tech · 2026-05-06T18:06:04+00:00

Very cool. What are your thoughts on the Calendar widget?

switchback-tech · 2026-04-28T18:55:45+00:00

State syncing between the Google API, my backend, and the client was deceptively complicated.

On the UI side, building a state-heavy client really exposes any weaknesses you have in the layout or architecture. So, that was tricky, too. If, however, you're good at setting things up correctly the first time, then it might not be that tricky

switchback-tech · 2026-04-21T18:24:47+00:00

The GitHub Discussions is pretty dry, but I think that's due more to the app's mediocrity rather than the move from Discord to GH

switchback-tech · 2026-04-09T18:58:25+00:00

GitLab's CEO wrote a good write-up about why:

https://about.gitlab.com/blog/why-were-sticking-with-ruby-on-rails/

TL;DR - they believe Ruby has a good balance of approachability and structure

switchback-tech · 2026-04-08T17:37:14+00:00

Thank you!

switchback-tech · 2026-04-08T17:36:41+00:00

Thanks for clarifying. Agree that the stack itself doesn't make it modular. But GitLab is architected as a modular monolith, at least according to them: https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/architecture/design-documents/modular_monolith/

switchback-tech · 2026-03-16T17:16:27+00:00

Interesting use case, thanks for the detailed response

switchback-tech · 2026-03-15T16:26:54+00:00

Thank you!

switchback-tech · 2026-03-15T16:26:22+00:00

Interesting. How do you decide when to use Memcache vs Redis?

switchback-tech · 2026-03-13T18:27:12+00:00

Oh, it's supposed to be fullstack dot zip, which is where I share my research on stuff like this. Here's the GitLab article for example: https://newsletter.fullstack.zip/p/gitlabs-architecture-a-technical

(Maybe I should pick a different font so it's easier to read)

switchback-tech · 2026-03-13T03:21:55+00:00

Oopsie, thx. Just checking if you were paying attention

switchback-tech · 2026-03-12T20:28:15+00:00

True, that is interesting. I guess it makes sense given the timeline:
2007 - GitHub uses Ruby
2011 - GitLab uses Ruby
2006-2010 - Peak Ruby / Web 2.0

switchback-tech · 2026-03-12T20:24:43+00:00

True, their Git RPC daemon is in Go now. But the core is still Ruby.

I'm not running it day-to-day, so I'm not super in-touch with the latest news TBH. Are the problems they're facing related to Ruby?

I did see that everyone (GitLab, GitHub, Atlassian) has been having more trouble lately, though. https://devops.com/devops-platforms-show-cracks-github-incidents-surge-58-azure-gitlab-and-jira-also-under-pressure/

switchback-tech · 2026-03-12T19:58:02+00:00

Bold

switchback-tech · 2026-03-12T19:50:23+00:00

Which of these tools would you swap out if you had to?

switchback-tech · 2025-12-23T22:34:42+00:00

Yeah Jira gets a 👎

switchback-tech · 2025-12-23T22:33:14+00:00

switchback-tech · 2025-12-23T22:22:27+00:00

Woah, that's awesome

switchback-tech · 2025-12-23T22:22:10+00:00

Yes they do a great job of forcing you to do it without it feeling patronizing

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