Vue.js 3 Migration Working Group

Attributes

Property	Value
Date Created	2023-02-10
Target End Date	2023-10-31
Slack	#wg_vue3_migration (only accessible from within the company)
Google Doc	Agenda (only accessible from within the company)
Epic	Link
Overview & Status	See Exit Criteria Progress

Context

Vue.js 3 is the latest version of the frontend framework used by GitLab.

With 2023-12-31 Vue.js 2 (which is currently the version used by GitLab) reaches official end-of-life, including security updates and browser compatibility which might affect entire GitLab users.

Additionally, current GitLab codebase relies on subset of libraries which were not updated to be compatible with Vue 3 which might pose additional risks during migration.

We want to ensure that we are not creating additional security risks for our users by using an unmaintained version of a framework. At the same time increasing developer productivity by using new features of the latest version of the framework. Also an upgrade to Vue.js 3 hopefully will result in performance gains through out the application of 20-30% and most probably even more for heavy frontend applications like Code Review for example.

Exit Criteria

This Working Group has the following goals:

Ensure all GitLab projects (including, but not limited to GitLab.com, customers portal, status page, etc.) are using latest Vue.js version
Develop & Socialize upgrade strategy for Vue.js 3.
1. Identify dependencies which are blocking upgrade and ensure that decisions regarding these dependencies will be taken in timely fashion.
2. Ensure visibility of upgrade process on per-application level
3. Promote new patterns and update handbook with guidelines appropriate for new framework version
Develop a Rollout Strategy and Plan for gradual migration
1. Create tooling and proper infrastructure to be able to use both framework versions in production during migration process.
2. Ensure our test suite could be run using both versions of Vue.js to embrace values of iteration of results and allow gradual migration of codebase to Vue.js 3
3. Implement compatibility layer for unifying differences between framework versions
4. Create automated tooling (where applicable) to migrate existing Vue.js 2 code to be compatible with latest framework version
5. Create deprecation strategy for patterns and solutions which are not compatible with Vue.js 3 to rest of the teams
Develop and implement a communication plan for the outcomes of the working group.

Exit Criteria Progress

Criteria	Progress	DRI
Use Vue.js 3 for running test suites	0%	`@you?`
Vue.js 3 upgrade tasks and testing for all groups available	0%	`@you?`
Vue.js 3 upgrade tasks and testing by all groups completed.	0%	`@you?`
Use @vue/compat for Vue-related projects	0%	`@you?`
Drop Vue.js 2 support	0%	`@you?`

Roles and Responsibilities

Working Group Role	Person	Title
Executive Sponsor	Tim Zallmann	Senior Director of Engineering
Co-Facilitator	Martin Wortschack	Engineering Manager, Manage:Import
Functional Lead	Illya Klymov	Senior Frontend Engineer, Manage:Import
Functional Lead	Natalia Tepluhina	Principal Engineer, Plan
Functional Lead	Stanislav Lashmanov	Senior Frontend Engineer, Create: Code Review
Functional Lead	Andrew Fontaine	Senior Frontend Engineer, Release
Member	Mark Florian	Staff Frontend Engineer, Manage:Foundations
Member	Laura Meckley	Frontend Engineer, Fulfillment::Billing & Subscription Mgmt
Member	Andrei Zubov	Frontend Engineer, Release
Member	Artur Fedorov	Senior Frontend Engineer, Secure
Member	Frédéric Caplette	Senior Frontend Engineer, Verify:Pipeline Authoring
Member	Eduardo Sanz Garcia	Senior Frontend Engineer, Manage:Authentication and Authorization
Member	Ross Byrne	Fullstack Engineer, Growth:Acquisition
Member	Samantha Ming	Senior Frontend Engineer, Govern:Threat Insights