Use ChatGPT to Talk to Your GitLab Data via CData Connect AI

ChatGPT is an AI chatbot developed by OpenAI, launched in November 2022. Based on large language models (LLMs), it enables users to refine and steer conversations through natural language processing. ChatGPT's developer mode, available to Plus and Pro subscribers, provides full Model Context Protocol (MCP) support for connecting to external data sources and tools.

CData Connect AI offers a dedicated cloud-to-cloud interface for connecting to GitLab data. The CData Connect AI Remote MCP Server enables secure communication between ChatGPT and GitLab. This allows you to ask questions and take actions on your GitLab data using ChatGPT, all without the need for data replication to a natively supported database. With its inherent optimized data processing capabilities, CData Connect AI efficiently channels all supported SQL operations, including filters and JOINs, directly to GitLab. This leverages server-side processing to swiftly deliver the requested GitLab data.

Step 1: Configure GitLab Connectivity for ChatGPT

Connectivity to GitLab from ChatGPT is made possible through CData Connect AI Remote MCP. To interact with GitLab data from ChatGPT, we start by creating and configuring a GitLab connection in CData Connect AI.

1. Log into your Connect AI account, click Sources, and then click Add Connection.

2. Select "GitLab" from the Add Connection panel.

3. Enter the necessary authentication properties to connect to GitLab.

   To connect to GitLab, use either OAuth or a personal access token:

   Using OAuth

   Register an OAuth application in GitLab under Edit Profile > Applications (or group Settings > Applications). Set the Redirect URI to https://oauth.cdata.com/oauth/. Note the Application ID (OAuth Client Id) and Secret (shown once). Then set:

   • OAuth Client Id: The Application ID from your GitLab OAuth application.
   • OAuth Client Secret: The Secret from your GitLab OAuth application.

   Click Sign In to complete OAuth authentication.

   Using a Personal Access Token

   In GitLab, navigate to Edit Profile > Access Tokens > Add new token. Select the required scopes (such as api, read_api, read_user, read_repository) and set an expiration date. Copy the token immediately (shown only once). Then set:

   • API Key: The personal access token from your GitLab account.
   
4. Click Save & Test

With the connection configured, we are ready to connect to GitLab data from ChatGPT.

Step 2: Connect ChatGPT to CData Connect AI

Follow these steps to add a CData Connect AI connection in ChatGPT:

1. Sign in to ChatGPT with a Plus or Pro subscription.
2. Navigate to Apps from the left panel.
3. Select the CData Connect AI app from the list.
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4. Click Connect to authenticate to your Connect AI account.

5. Click Sign in with CData Connect AI to add Connect AI to your ChatGPT account.

6. After successful authorization, you will be redirected back to ChatGPT.
7. Click Start Chat to start a new conversation in ChatGPT with Connect AI connected at the background.

Step 3: Explore Live GitLab Data with ChatGPT

1. Start a new conversation in ChatGPT.
2. Connect AI should ideally be automatically enabled in the chat. If not, navigate to -> More -> CData Connect AI, under the chatbox, to enable the connector from the dropdown

3. You can now start exploring your data with natural language prompts. ChatGPT will use the Connect AI MCP server to query your live GitLab data. Example prompts:
   • "Show me all customers from the last 30 days"
   • "What are my top performing products?"
   • "Analyze sales trends for this quarter"
   • "List all active projects and their current status"
   Refer to CData prompt library for more prompt ideas.

4. Permit ChatGPT to access your GitLab data. Click Query Data to continue, or Deny to refuse.

5. ChatGPT translates your natural language queries into SQL and execute them against your GitLab data through the Connect AI MCP server.

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