GitLab CI/CD Pipeline Scripting

I’m looking to streamline my Next.js project with a clean, reliable GitLab CI/CD pipeline. The repository is already hosted on GitLab; what’s missing is a production-ready .gitlab-ci.yml that can:

• install dependencies, run unit / integration tests, and surface clear test reports
• build the Next.js app for both preview and production targets
• package and publish a Docker image (or an alternative artifact) ready for deployment
• leverage GitLab caching and artifacts to keep the pipeline fast and reproducible
• pass environment variables and secrets securely through each stage

You’re free to suggest best-practice improvements—parallel jobs, dynamic environments, or any optimisations that speed up feedback loops—so long as the final script remains easy for my team to maintain.

Deliverables
1. A fully commented .gitlab-ci.yml committed via merge request
2. Any auxiliary scripts or templates referenced by the pipeline
3. A brief README section that explains how the stages work and where to adjust variables

Acceptance criteria: the pipeline must run successfully from a fresh clone, green-lighting all stages on GitLab without manual intervention. If this sounds straightforward for you, let’s connect and get the automation rolling.