GitLab CI pipeline status in your Mac menu bar
ShipBoard shows the latest GitLab CI pipeline for each branch you pick, stage by stage, in the macOS menu bar — and sends a native notification when one fails. It needs only a read_api token.
What you see for each branch
- The latest pipeline for each branch you add, with jobs grouped into their real stages in pipeline order.
- Each job’s status, plus the pipeline’s branch and commit title.
- Open run on GitLab to jump to the pipeline page.
- Green for success; red for failed; amber while created, pending or running; grey for canceled, skipped or manual.
Set it up
- Create a personal access token with the read_api scope.
- In ShipBoard, click +, choose GitLab, and paste the token. It’s verified with GitLab, then saved to your Keychain.
- Search your projects, then tick the branches to watch — each branch gets its own card.
What access ShipBoard needs
| Credential | A GitLab personal access token, stored in the macOS Keychain. |
|---|---|
| Scope | read_api — read access to the API. ShipBoard never needs api (full read/write). |
| API calls | GET /user, /projects, …/repository/branches, …/pipelines/latest, …/pipelines/{id}/jobs, …/repository/commits/{sha} |
ShipBoard only reads. It never retries, cancels or triggers pipelines.
Good to know
- gitlab.com only — self-managed GitLab isn’t supported yet.
- Branch pipelines only; merge-request pipelines aren’t shown.
- The picker lists up to 100 projects (most recently active first) and 100 branches per project.
- A branch with no pipeline yet shows grey until its first pipeline runs.
GitLab CI FAQ
Which token scope does ShipBoard need?
Only read_api. ShipBoard never writes, so the full api scope isn’t needed.
Does it support self-managed GitLab?
Not yet — only gitlab.com.
Can I watch several branches of one project?
Yes. Tick each branch; every one gets its own card on the board.
Will it tell me when a pipeline fails?
Yes. macOS shows a native notification when a pipeline goes from running to failed, and optionally when it succeeds. You can turn each one off in Settings.
How often does ShipBoard check GitLab?
Every 30 seconds by default; you can choose anything from 15 seconds to 5 minutes in Settings. Each check makes up to three read-only API calls per branch you watch, and if gitlab.com can’t be reached ShipBoard retries every 15 seconds until it’s back.
What happens when my token expires?
The GitLab group on the board shows “Your GitLab token is invalid or expired.” Use Set GitLab token on that row to paste a new read_api token, and the pipelines refresh straight away.