Visualize Live GitLab Data in Power BI (via CData Connect AI)

Power BI transforms your company's data into rich visuals for you to collect and organize so you can focus on what matters to you. When paired with CData Connect AI, you get access to GitLab data for visualizations, dashboards, and more. This article shows how to use CData Connect to create a live connection to GitLab, connect to GitLab data from Power BI and then create reports on GitLab data in Power BI.

Configure GitLab Connectivity for Power BI

Connectivity to GitLab from Power BI is made possible through CData Connect AI. To work with GitLab data from Power BI, we start by creating and configuring a GitLab connection.

1. Log into Connect AI, 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
5. Navigate to the Permissions tab in the Add GitLab Connection page and update the User-based permissions.

With the connection configured, you are ready to connect to GitLab data from Power BI.

Query GitLab Tables

Follow the steps below to build a query to pull GitLab data into the report:

1. Open Power BI Desktop and click Get Data -> Online Services -> CData Connect AI and click "Connect"
2. Click "Sign in" and authenticate with your CData Connect AI account
3. After signing in, click "Connect"
4. Select tables in the Navigator dialog
5. Click Load to establish the connection to your GitLab data from Power BI

Create GitLab Data Visualizations

After connecting to the data into Power BI, you can create data visualizations in the Report view by dragging fields from the Fields pane onto the canvas. Select the dimensions and measures you wish to visualize along with the chart type.

Click Refresh to synchronize your report with any changes to the data.

Live Access to GitLab Data from Data Applications

With CData Connect AI you have a direct connection to GitLab data from Power BI. You can import more data, create new visualizations, build reports, and more — all without replicating GitLab data.

To get SQL data access to hundreds of SaaS, Big Data, and NoSQL sources (including GitLab) directly from your on-premise BI, reporting, ETL and other data applications, visit the CData Connect AI page and start a free trial.