[petsc-dev] Pause-for-approval Pipelines?

[Satish Balay]

BTW: here are some reasons for using the MR pipeline instead of the web interface pipeline.

- it tests branch+master (more useful?) - instead of branch [web pipeline]. 
- you can skip the forced re-bases that were required when CI changed [i.e even if your branch is off old master - the latest CI settings from latest master will get used by MR pipeline]
- it enables testing of MRs from forks. [so the additional complexity of that workflow is now gone. Note: only developers can start these pipelines - from the pipeline tab on the MR web page]

And as mentioned - developers can ignore this, and continue to start pipelines from the web interface.

There is now some additional complexity in figuring out if the latest changes are tested [and by which pipeline, MR or web etc..] - but this part of the workflow should primarily affect integrator group.

Satish

On Thu, 27 Aug 2020, Satish Balay via petsc-dev wrote:

> On Thu, 27 Aug 2020, Jacob Faibussowitsch wrote:
> 
> > Why does one pipeline request spawn two separate pipelines now? Specifically one is a normal pipeline whereas the other includes some sort of manual approval button which “runs” indefinitely if you don’t either cancel it or approve it.
> 
> The 2 pipelines you see are
> - readdocs pipeline
> - merge-pipeline - auto starts - does the pre stage and pauses.
> 
> > I think this was somewhat discussed in a previous MR (https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/merge_requests/3063 <https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/merge_requests/3063>) which indicates it is useful for doing a pipeline of the branch+destination but how is this different from the existing merge-train infrastructure that was already in place?
> 
> Its not a replacement for merge train.[merge train is a way to do the merge when the MR is tested and ready for merge]
> 
> However you can use this as a replacement for starting a new pipeline from the web interface https://gitlab.com/petsc/petsc/-/pipelines/new
> [i.e instead of starting a web interface pipeline - you just go to the MR page - 'pipeline tab' and hit continue]
> 
> Or you can ignore this and continue to use the web interface.
> 
> 
> > It is annoying to have to manually go in and cancel the phony pipeline every time (not to mention twice as many emails from gitlab notifying me the femtosecond these pipelines fail).
> 
> You shouldn't have to cancel the automatic MR pipeline. They should just stay paused.
> 
> And I don't remember getting e-mails from these stalled MR pipelines. Perhaps you got them because of pre-stage failures?
> 
> However if you have errors in pre stage tests - you might as well check and fix them.
> 
> The one thats causing most trouble is readdocs pipeline. Its probably best to disable it until its issues are resolved.
> 
> Satish