Developer Connect securely links Google Cloud services with external source code management systems. Instead of maintaining credentials in individual services, connections are managed centrally and surfaced through a shared interface.
What is Developer Connect?
According to the Google documentation, Developer Connect is the central service for establishing and managing connections to source code management systems (SCMSs). The documentation states that it lets you manage integrations with your SCMSs and get unified insights across these integrations from one interface.
Three connection types are distinguished: Git repository connections, which connect a service account to a system such as GitHub; HTTP connections, which give a service account access to HTTP endpoints; and account connectors, which link individual Google accounts with accounts at non-Google SCM providers and are marked as Preview in the documentation.
Supported systems are GitHub (Cloud, Enterprise, and Enterprise Cloud), GitLab (Cloud and Enterprise), Bitbucket (Cloud and Data Center), and Secure Source Manager. On the Google Cloud side, Git repository connections integrate with Cloud Build, Cloud Run, Dataform, Firebase App Hosting, Gemini Code Assist, and Application Design Center.
Developer Connect additionally provides deployment insights down to commit SHA level, which according to Google help with troubleshooting incidents. The documentation names application developers, platform administrators, and security managers as its target users.
Charges only apply when the Git proxy feature is used; they are based on outbound network traffic over the Premium Network Service Tier, billed at inter-region data transfer rates with a free tier of 10 GB per month. For regional availability and SLA values, refer to the official Google Cloud pages.
Core Features
- Git repository connections: Connect a service account to systems such as GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Secure Source Manager.
- HTTP connections: Give a service account access to HTTP endpoints.
- Account connectors (Preview): Link individual Google accounts with accounts at non-Google SCM providers.
- Deployment insights: Fine-grained information such as commit SHAs for incident analysis.
- Service integration: Use connections in Cloud Build, Cloud Run, Dataform, Firebase App Hosting, Gemini Code Assist, and Application Design Center.
- Git proxy: Optional proxy for Git access, which forms the basis of billing.
Typical Use Cases
Central management of all SCM access
A platform team creates the connections to GitHub and GitLab once and makes them available to multiple projects and services instead of maintaining credentials per pipeline.
Connecting build and deploy pipelines
Cloud Build and Cloud Run access the repository through an existing connection so that source code changes can trigger builds and deployments.
Firebase App Hosting with an external repository
A web application runs on Firebase App Hosting while its source code remains in the existing GitHub repository.
Incident analysis with deployment insights
After an incident, the insights make it possible to trace which commit was rolled out to an environment.
Use with Secure Source Manager
Repositories in Secure Source Manager are connected through Developer Connect and made available to the supported Google Cloud services.
Benefits
- One place for connections: SCM access is managed centrally instead of configured per service.
- Broad SCM support: GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Secure Source Manager in several variants each.
- Traceability: Deployment insights down to commit level simplify troubleshooting.
- Cost only when needed: Without Git proxy usage, the pricing page states no charges apply.
- Wide service integration: Usable from Cloud Build through Cloud Run to Firebase App Hosting.
Integration with innFactory
As a certified Google Cloud Partner, innFactory supports you with Developer Connect: setting up and securing connections to your source code systems, integrating them into existing build and deploy pipelines, and designing permission and traceability concepts.
Contact us for a consultation on Developer Connect and Google Cloud.
Typical Use Cases
Technical Specifications
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Developer Connect?
Developer Connect is a Google Cloud service for securely connecting to source code management systems. According to the documentation, it lets you manage integrations with your SCMSs and get unified insights across these integrations from one interface.
Which source code systems are supported?
The documentation lists GitHub (Cloud, Enterprise, and Enterprise Cloud), GitLab (Cloud and Enterprise), Bitbucket (Cloud and Data Center), and Secure Source Manager.
Which Google Cloud services work with Developer Connect?
According to the documentation, Git repository connections integrate with Cloud Build, Cloud Run, Dataform, Firebase App Hosting, Gemini Code Assist, and Application Design Center.
What does Developer Connect cost?
Pricing is based on outbound network traffic while using the Git proxy feature. If you do not use the Git proxy, the pricing page states there is no pricing associated with using Developer Connect. Traffic uses the Premium Network Service Tier and is charged at inter-region data transfer rates with a free tier of 10 GB per month.
What are account connectors?
Account connectors link individual Google accounts with accounts at non-Google SCM providers. The documentation marks this capability as Preview, so pre-GA terms apply.
What insights does Developer Connect provide?
Google describes fine-grained deployment insights, such as commit SHAs, to help you troubleshoot incidents.
Note: All product information on this page has been compiled with care, but is provided without guarantee and may be outdated or incomplete. Cloud services evolve rapidly — features, pricing, SLAs, and availability change frequently. Authoritative and up-to-date information can only be found on the official product page of Google Cloud (official documentation). This page does not represent an offer by Google Cloud.
