How to Run a Scheduled Pipeline in GitLab CI/CD

A pipeline schedule runs a ref on a cron timetable, and jobs can detect it via the schedule pipeline source.

Create the schedule under CI/CD to Pipeline schedules (cron plus a target branch). Gate nightly-only jobs with rules:if: $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule".

Steps

• Create a schedule in CI/CD to Pipeline schedules with a cron expression.
• Gate scheduled-only jobs with $CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule".
• Pass schedule-specific values via the schedule's variables.

Pipeline

nightly-audit:
  script: npm audit --audit-level=high
  rules:
    - if: '$CI_PIPELINE_SOURCE == "schedule"'
    - when: never

Gotchas

• Schedules run as the user who owns them; ensure that user can access protected variables.
• The cron timezone is set on the schedule, so confirm it matches your intended window.

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