Which GitLab feature allows for automatic detection and deployment of applications?

The feature that facilitates the automatic detection and deployment of applications is Auto DevOps. This functionality streamlines the development process by automatically configuring the necessary DevOps workflow, including building, testing, and deploying applications based on best practices.

Auto DevOps leverages predefined templates and intelligent pattern recognition to simplify continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) for developers. It identifies the programming language used in your application and automatically sets up the appropriate tooling and pipeline configurations, which significantly speeds up the development lifecycle and reduces the manual effort typically associated with these processes.

In contrast, pipeline management typically involves overseeing and configuring the individual steps within a CI/CD pipeline but does not automatically detect and deploy applications out-of-the-box. CI/CD configuration refers to the process of setting up and modifying the CI/CD pipelines manually, rather than automating these tasks. Manual deployment entails a hands-on approach, requiring human intervention at every stage, which is the opposite of what Auto DevOps provides.