You are right, GitLab doesn't have a polished UX. Improving that is one of our main objectives for the next two months: https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/ux/strategy/

If you are curious about what we're doing, take a look at the issues under UI Polish: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues?scope=all&utf...

Or feel free to point out any particular concerns here or through the issue tracker: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues

Personally, not a fan of how a readme-less repository just has an entirely useless main page. I much prefer having the file view a'la github on that page. That's the main UX complaint for me. Still use gitlab bunches.

Main complaint overall is the incredibly sluggish git push speed.

You can change that on your personal prefs to show the file list by default, with Readme on bottom: http://c.ekin.io/3z1V2v3P041b

git push speed is fine on our own ce installation but gitlab.com is beyond shitty.

We're considering changing the default so people don't have to find the setting https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/26834

I'd +1 this as default behavior. I want to see the source code!

That is kind of a bizarre thing to be tucked away in settings =| Noted, though

Where else would you put it?

I think it should be the default setting. Even make it not configurable. Why would anyone want to see just Readme or just Files view when it's possible to have them both?

This is something that has been on our minds for a while, and we must do it better. We created an issue for a smart project dashboard that aims to provide a better solution, it would be great to have your input there: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/27112

Speed is one of our main priorities for GitLab this year. We've started Gitaly, a project dedicated to that: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitaly

We expect it to become a standard component of GitLab in Q1 2017 and to reach full scope in Q3 2017.

Can't wait : )

Personally not a fan of the sidebar navigation. I keep getting it confused with the individual repository navigation bar on top.

Navigation is another thing we are focusing on for the next several months (https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/ux/strategy/). In the next release, we are simplifying it (https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/26200). We plan to continue to improve upon our navigation and information architecture. If you are curious, you can follow along some conversations that are happening here: https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/27557.

I've only spent a few minutes there, having signed up just a moment ago. What jumps out at me about the UX is that source code does not seem to be front and center like it is in Github and Bitbucket. The README is all you see on the first page of a project and I had to hunt a few seconds before I noticed the "files" link.

Thanks, I added your comment to https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-ce/issues/26834 where we're considering changing the default.

For me the main issue is that reading READMEs or any other markdown files is tiring and annoying because of the ~1200px width.

Gitlab only have mobile site. I want desktop version.