Inspiration
Web developers constantly face the productivity tax of uncertainty when adopting modern web features. We've all been there - hesitating to use a new feature, wondering "Is it safe to use yet?" and spending valuable time jumping between MDN, caniuse.com, and various blog posts just to decide if it can go into production. This uncertainty slows down innovation and prevents developers from leveraging the full power of the modern web platform. With Google's Baseline initiative providing clear, authoritative answers about web feature support, we saw an opportunity to integrate this data directly into developer workflows and eliminate this friction forever.
What it does
Web Check CI automatically integrates Baseline data into GitLab CI/CD pipelines to give developers instant answers about web feature compatibility. Instead of manual research, developers get automatic scanning of JavaScript, CSS, and HTML files with real-time feedback about which features are universally supported according to Baseline standards. The tool integrates seamlessly with GitLab merge requests, showing compatibility issues inline with code changes, so your CI pipeline automatically knows what's universally supported. Developers can configure baseline years, set severity levels, and create allow/deny lists, making it easier for web developers to adopt modern web features with confidence.
How we built it
I built Web Check CI using the official web-features npm package as our source of Baseline data, creating a bridge between Google's comprehensive web platform feature database and everyday developer workflows. The core scanner uses Node.js with glob patterns and regular expressions to detect feature usage in code. I packaged it as both a standalone CLI tool and a GitLab CI/CD component, making Baseline integration accessible to thousands of developers through npm and the GitLab CI/CD Catalog. The system produces Code Quality reports that appear directly in merge requests, turning compatibility review into an automated part of the development process.
Challenges we ran into
The biggest challenge was accurately detecting feature usage without false positives while working with the web-features package data. I also had to solve the complex problem of integrating Baseline data with existing developer tools - specifically GitLab's CI/CD ecosystem - which required careful attention to packaging, versioning, and template configuration. Making the tool both powerful and easy to use meant balancing comprehensive feature detection with clear, actionable feedback.
Accomplishments that we're proud of
I successfully created a production-ready tool that integrates Baseline with existing developer infrastructure and has already gained real users solving actual compatibility problems. Our project achieved 99 percent test coverage, integrates cleanly with GitLab's Code Quality system, and handles complex edge cases like custom configuration and feature filtering. I published to both npm and the GitLab CI/CD Catalog under a permissive open-source license, making Baseline data accessible to developers everywhere. Most importantly, Web Check CI is helping shape the future by making it easier for web developers to adopt modern web features through automated tooling that eliminates the productivity tax of uncertainty.
What we learned
I gained deep expertise in integrating Baseline data with real-world developer workflows and learned how this initiative is reshaping how developers think about web feature adoption. The project taught me advanced techniques for processing the web-features package data, designing intuitive CLI interfaces, and building robust CI/CD integrations. I discovered the critical importance of accurate pattern matching when detecting web features in code, and learned valuable lessons about developer tool UX design. Working with Baseline data showed us the immense potential for automated tooling to accelerate modern web feature adoption across the developer community.
What's next for Web Check CI - Automated Browser Compatibility for GitLab
I plan to expand Baseline integration beyond GitLab to other CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, bringing instant compatibility answers to even more developers. Web Check's CLI tool makes it easy to integrate with other platforms. I am also excited to get user feedback and improve the tool's automated tests.
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