What are the best practices for configuring GitLab CI/CD?

Here are my personal recommended best practices for configuring GitLab CI/CD:

• Define clear pipeline stages: Begin by establishing well-defined pipeline stages for your CI/CD process, and outline the sequence of tasks and processes that code changes will go through, from code commit to deployment.
• Make use of shared runners: Try to employ shared runners for common and standard tasks within your pipeline. Shared runners are versatile and can handle various jobs efficiently.
• Secure sensitive data with environment variables: Remember to store sensitive information such as API keys, credentials, and tokens securely as environment variables. This practice helps safeguard critical data and prevents accidental exposure.
• Implement automated testing: Write comprehensive unit, integration, and end-to-end tests for your codebase. Integrate these tests into your CI/CD pipeline to automatically verify code quality, functionality, and compatibility.
• Continuous monitoring and optimization: Last but not least, remember to regularly monitor the performance and efficiency of your CI/CD pipeline.