diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index dd88cdbc8dd0ff14a6e81a177cb4fafa380d512c..3aabb17f0c94c615622d4bd70f446137de8e25cf 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -2,37 +2,52 @@
 # This file is a template, and might need editing before it works on your project.
 image: python:latest
 
-before_script:
-  - python3 -V                                   # Print out python version for debugging
-
 stages:
   - build
   - test
   - doc_build
   - deploy
 
-
 navipy_install:
   stage: build
+  before_script:
+  - python3 -V               # Print out python version for debugging
+  artifacts:
+    paths:
+      - venv
   script:
+  - pip3 install virtualenv
+  - virtualenv venv
+  - source venv/bin/activate
   - python3 setup.py bdist_wheel
-
+      
 flake8:
   stage: test
+  before_script:
+  - ls -l
+  - source venv/bin/activate
+
   script:
-  - pip3 install --user tox flake8
+  - pip3 install tox flake8
   - python3 -m flake8 navipy/*.py
   
 navipy_unittest:
   stage: test
+  dependencies: 
+    - navipy_install
+    
+  before_script:
+  - ls -l $CI_PROJECT_DIR
   script:
-  - pip3 install --user networkx
+  - ls -l $CI_PROJECT_DIR
+  - source $CI_PROJECT_DIR/venv/bin/activate
   - python3 -m unittest discover navipy
-
+  
 coverage:
     stage: test
     script:
-        - nosetests -c .noserc -q --cover-html-dir=build --cover-html
+        - pip3 install --user nose
+        - python3 -m nose -c .noserc -q --cover-html-dir=build --cover-html
         - coverage report -m
     coverage: '/TOTAL.+ ([0-9]{1,3}%)/'
     artifacts:
@@ -45,9 +60,9 @@ doc_build:
   before_script:
   - 'true'
   script:
-  - ssh -p50022 bolirev@bioneuro77.biologie.uni-bielefeld.de "mkdir -p /fastdata/html/navipy/"
-  - pip3 install --user sphinx sphinx-rtd-theme
   - cd doc ; make html
+  dependencies:
+  - sphinx
   artifacts:
     paths:
     - build
@@ -64,6 +79,7 @@ pages:
     - ssh-add <(echo "$PRIVATE_KEY")
     
   script:
+    - ssh -p50022 bolirev@bioneuro77.biologie.uni-bielefeld.de "mkdir -p /fastdata/html/navipy/"
     - mkdir -p public/coverage
     - cp -fr docs/build/html/* public/
     - cp -fr build/* public/coverage/
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2786e46a45de20023ae4f559973c3b70996cd156..00b38bf660bec98f5f9af6205d3c8f9538503756 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,4 +24,9 @@ In the interest of fostering an open and welcoming environment, we as students a
 
 1. solve problems with CI/CD pipelines for contineous integration
 2. add tutorials
-3. comment test function -> add to doc
\ No newline at end of file
+3. comment test function -> add to doc
+
+# Useful links
+
+## for testing gitlab-ci locally
+https://substrakt.com/how-to-debug-gitlab-ci-builds-locally/