Big changes are happening in the tech world as we get closer to 2024. Atlassian, maker of Bamboo, Jira, Confluence and Jira Service Management plus others, announced some of their Server products are reaching their end of life (EOL). This includes Bamboo. If you’re currently using Bamboo Server, there are a few other options though. There’s the obvious choice of continuing to use Bamboo as a Data Center. But, if that’s not for you, or you’re interested in a bit of tool due diligence, we’ve outlined two other Bamboo alternatives below: GitLab and Bitbucket Pipelines.
Bamboo Alternatives
Why GitLab is a Good Choice
GitLab is a great choice as a Bamboo alternative. It’s a platform that’s built to make things easier when you’re moving from Bamboo to a new system. Here’s why it could be a good fit for you:
- Works for Big and Small: GitLab can handle a lot of work and is reliable, making it a good choice whether you’re a big company or a smaller team.
- Fits with Other Tools: GitLab smoothly works with other tools that help with development, like Kubernetes and Docker. This makes your work more organized and efficient.
- Keeps Things Safe: Security is really important, and GitLab takes extra steps to make sure your work stays safe, more than Bamboo Server does.
The Step-by-Step Move To GitLab
Moving from Bamboo to GitLab might seem like a big job, but you can break it down into smaller steps:
- Get GitLab Ready: Set up GitLab to handle your projects and make sure it’s ready to manage your work. This includes the proper infrastructure, configurations for your CI/CD systems, user onboarding, etc.
- Move Your Projects: Transfer your projects from Bamboo to GitLab. This involves moving all the pieces of your projects, like the code and configurations. Repo moves can be relatively easy, but moving projects can be a bit more complicated. You will want to determine the strategy for your migration. Is it lift and shift or do you want to clean up projects and only bring over what you need? These are key considerations.
- Set Up Workflows: Recreate how you do things (like testing and deploying) in GitLab. Make it work the way your team needs it to.
- Test Everything: Test your new setup to make sure it works like you expect it to. This step is crucial to catch any issues early.
If you need support completing this migration, our team of experts are just a click away.
Bamboo vs Bitbucket Pipelines
GitLab isn’t the only choice out there, and Atlassian has alternatives for Bamboo Server as well. You might want to look into other options like Atlassian’s Bitbucket Pipelines, or even Atlassian’s Bamboo Data Center. Each one has its own features, so you can pick the one that works best for you. But, if you’re interested in Bitbucket Pipelines as your Bamboo alternative, this may help you decide:
- Special Features: Bamboo Data Center is great if you use a lot of Atlassian tools and want to manage the infrastructure, while Bitbucket Pipelines connects really well with Jira and has a cloud/SaaS option.
- Types of Products: Bamboo Server can still work on your own servers – but it won’t be supported from February 2024. However, Bitbucket Pipelines can work both online/Saas and on your own servers. This gives you the flexibility to decide the best options for your business.
- Free Plans: Both Bamboo and Bitbucket Pipelines offer free plans/trials, but they come with some limits. Check those limits to see which one fits your needs.
- How Much It Costs: Bamboo’s price depends on how much you use it, and Bitbucket Pipelines’ price depends on how many people use it. Think about your team size and budget when deciding. With either situation, use SPK’s licensing team to get you a quote with a solution partner discount.
- Getting Help: Both Bamboo and Bitbucket Pipelines offer support to help you out when you run into problems.
What’s Your Next Move?
As Bamboo Server gets ready for end of life in February 2024, it’s a chance for you to level up how you do development and security. But, if you need support to navigate this transition, or choose a Bamboo alternative, we can help.