diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 4f08bee923..11dcf1c0a2 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 generate ci jobs:
+  variables:
+    git_strategy: clone
   script:
     - "./bin/generate-gitlab-ci-yml.sh"
   tags:
     - "spack-k8s"
-  image: "spack/ubuntu:18.04"
+  image: "scottwittenburg/spack_ci_generator_alpine"
   artifacts:
     paths:
       - ci-generation
diff --git a/bin/generate-gitlab-ci-yml.sh b/bin/generate-gitlab-ci-yml.sh
index 1a021785d3..b414d6c404 100755
--- a/bin/generate-gitlab-ci-yml.sh
+++ b/bin/generate-gitlab-ci-yml.sh
@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@ if [ -z "${SPACK_RELEASE_ENVIRONMENT_PATH}" ] ; then
 fi
 
 if [ -z "${CDASH_AUTH_TOKEN}" ] ; then
-    echo "ERROR: missing variable: CDASH_AUTH_TOKEN" >&2
-    exit 1
+    echo "WARNING: missing variable: CDASH_AUTH_TOKEN" >&2
+else
+    token_file="${temp_dir}/cdash_auth_token"
+    echo ${CDASH_AUTH_TOKEN} > ${token_file}
 fi
 
 if [ -z "${SPACK_RELEASE_ENVIRONMENT_REPO}" ] ; then
@@ -51,11 +53,14 @@ fi
 
 cd $env_dir
 
-token_file="${temp_dir}/cdash_auth_token"
-echo ${CDASH_AUTH_TOKEN} > ${token_file}
+# The next commands generates the .gitlab-ci.yml (and optionally creates a
+# buildgroup in cdash)
+RELEASE_JOBS_ARGS=("--output-file" "${gen_ci_file}")
+if [ ! -z "${token_file}" ]; then
+    RELEASE_JOBS_ARGS+=("--cdash-credentials" "${token_file}")
+fi
 
-# This commands generates the .gitlab-ci.yml and creates buildgroup in cdash
-spack release-jobs --force --output-file ${gen_ci_file} --cdash-credentials ${token_file}
+spack release-jobs "${RELEASE_JOBS_ARGS[@]}"
 
 if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
     echo "spack release-jobs command failed"
@@ -64,6 +69,7 @@ fi
 
 cp ${gen_ci_file} "${original_directory}/.gitlab-ci.yml"
 
+# Remove global from here, it's clobbering people git identity config
 git config --global user.email "robot@spack.io"
 git config --global user.name "Build Robot"
 
diff --git a/bin/rebuild-package.sh b/bin/rebuild-package.sh
index 3813a92a1f..657e431052 100755
--- a/bin/rebuild-package.sh
+++ b/bin/rebuild-package.sh
@@ -12,29 +12,44 @@
 ### not (i.e. the source code has changed in a way that caused a change in the
 ### full_hash of the spec), this script will build the package, create a
 ### binary cache for it, and then push all related files to the remote binary
-### mirror.  This script also communicates with a remote CDash instance to
-### share status on the package build process.
+### mirror.  This script also optionally communicates with a remote CDash
+### instance to share status on the package build process.
 ###
-### The following environment variables are expected to be set in order for
-### the various elements in this script to function properly.  Listed first
-### are two defaults we rely on from gitlab, then three we set up in the
-### variables section of gitlab ourselves, and finally four variables
-### written into the .gitlab-ci.yml file.
+### The following environment variables are (possibly) used within this script
+### in order for the various elements function properly.
+###
+### First are two defaults we rely on from gitlab:
 ###
 ### CI_PROJECT_DIR
 ### CI_JOB_NAME
 ###
+### The following must be set up in the variables section of gitlab:
+###
 ### AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID
 ### AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY
 ### SPACK_SIGNING_KEY
 ###
-### CDASH_BASE_URL
-### CDASH_PROJECT
-### CDASH_PROJECT_ENC
-### CDASH_BUILD_NAME
-### ROOT_SPEC
-### DEPENDENCIES
-### MIRROR_URL
+### SPACK_S3_UPLOAD_MIRROR_URL         // only required in the short term for the cloud case
+###
+### The following variabes are defined by the ci generation process and are
+### required:
+###
+### SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH
+### SPACK_ROOT_SPEC
+### SPACK_MIRROR_URL
+### SPACK_JOB_SPEC_PKG_NAME
+### SPACK_COMPILER_ACTION
+###
+### Finally, these variables are optionally defined by the ci generation
+### process, and may or may not be present:
+###
+### SPACK_CDASH_BASE_URL
+### SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT
+### SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT_ENC
+### SPACK_CDASH_BUILD_NAME
+### SPACK_CDASH_SITE
+### SPACK_RELATED_BUILDS
+### SPACK_JOB_SPEC_BUILDGROUP
 ###
 
 shopt -s expand_aliases
@@ -48,14 +63,19 @@ SPEC_DIR="${TEMP_DIR}/specs"
 LOCAL_MIRROR="${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/local_mirror"
 BUILD_CACHE_DIR="${LOCAL_MIRROR}/build_cache"
 SPACK_BIN_DIR="${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/bin"
-CDASH_UPLOAD_URL="${CDASH_BASE_URL}/submit.php?project=${CDASH_PROJECT_ENC}"
-DEP_JOB_RELATEBUILDS_URL="${CDASH_BASE_URL}/api/v1/relateBuilds.php"
-declare -a JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES
+
+if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+    CDASH_UPLOAD_URL="${SPACK_CDASH_BASE_URL}/submit.php?project=${SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT_ENC}"
+    DEP_JOB_RELATEBUILDS_URL="${SPACK_CDASH_BASE_URL}/api/v1/relateBuilds.php"
+    declare -a JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES
+fi
 
 export SPACK_ROOT=${CI_PROJECT_DIR}
-export PATH="${SPACK_BIN_DIR}:${PATH}"
+# export PATH="${SPACK_BIN_DIR}:${PATH}"
 export GNUPGHOME="${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/opt/spack/gpg"
 
+. "${CI_PROJECT_DIR}/share/spack/setup-env.sh"
+
 mkdir -p ${JOB_LOG_DIR}
 mkdir -p ${SPEC_DIR}
 
@@ -160,53 +180,43 @@ EOF
 }
 
 gen_full_specs_for_job_and_deps() {
+    SPEC_YAML_PATH="${SPEC_DIR}/${SPACK_JOB_SPEC_PKG_NAME}.yaml"
+    local spec_names_to_save="${SPACK_JOB_SPEC_PKG_NAME}"
 
-    read -ra PARTSARRAY <<< "${CI_JOB_NAME}"
-    local pkgName="${PARTSARRAY[0]}"
-    local pkgVersion="${PARTSARRAY[1]}"
-    local compiler="${PARTSARRAY[2]}"
-    local osarch="${PARTSARRAY[3]}"
-    local buildGroup="${PARTSARRAY[@]:4}" # get everything after osarch
+    if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+        IFS=';' read -ra DEPS <<< "${SPACK_RELATED_BUILDS}"
+        for i in "${DEPS[@]}"; do
+            depPkgName="${i}"
+            spec_names_to_save="${spec_names_to_save} ${depPkgName}"
+            JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES+=("${depPkgName}")
+        done
+    fi
 
-    JOB_GROUP="${buildGroup}"
-    JOB_PKG_NAME="${pkgName}"
-    SPEC_YAML_PATH="${SPEC_DIR}/${pkgName}.yaml"
-    local root_spec_name="${ROOT_SPEC}"
-    local spec_names_to_save="${pkgName}"
-
-    IFS=';' read -ra DEPS <<< "${DEPENDENCIES}"
-    for i in "${DEPS[@]}"; do
-        read -ra PARTSARRAY <<< "${i}"
-        pkgName="${PARTSARRAY[0]}"
-        spec_names_to_save="${spec_names_to_save} ${pkgName}"
-        JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES+=("${pkgName}")
-    done
-
-    spack -d buildcache save-yaml --specs "${spec_names_to_save}" --root-spec "${root_spec_name}" --yaml-dir "${SPEC_DIR}"
+    if [ "${SPACK_COMPILER_ACTION}" == "FIND_ANY" ]; then
+        # This corresponds to a bootstrapping phase where we need to
+        # rely on any available compiler to build the package (i.e. the
+        # compiler needed to be stripped from the spec), and thus we need
+        # to concretize the root spec again.
+        spack -d buildcache save-yaml --specs "${spec_names_to_save}" --root-spec "${SPACK_ROOT_SPEC}" --yaml-dir "${SPEC_DIR}"
+    else
+        # in this case, either we're relying on Spack to install missing compiler
+        # bootstrapped in a previous phase, or else we only had one phase (like a
+        # site which already knows what compilers are available on it's runners),
+        # so we don't want to concretize that root spec again.  The reason we need
+        # this in the first case (bootstrapped compiler), is that we can't concretize
+        # a spec at this point if we're going to ask spack to "install_missing_compilers".
+        tmp_dir=$(mktemp -d)
+        TMP_YAML_PATH="${tmp_dir}/root.yaml"
+        ROOT_SPEC_YAML=$(spack python -c "import base64 ; import zlib ; print(str(zlib.decompress(base64.b64decode('${SPACK_ROOT_SPEC}')).decode('utf-8')))")
+        echo "${ROOT_SPEC_YAML}" > "${TMP_YAML_PATH}"
+        spack -d buildcache save-yaml --specs "${spec_names_to_save}" --root-spec-yaml "${TMP_YAML_PATH}" --yaml-dir "${SPEC_DIR}"
+        rm -rf ${tmp_dir}
+    fi
 }
 
 begin_logging
 
-gen_full_specs_for_job_and_deps
-
-echo "Building package ${CDASH_BUILD_NAME}, ${HASH}, ${MIRROR_URL}"
-
-# Finally, list the compilers spack knows about
-echo "Compiler Configurations:"
-spack config get compilers
-
-# Make the build_cache directory if it doesn't exist
-mkdir -p "${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}"
-
-# Get buildcache name so we can write a CDash build id file in the right place.
-# If we're unable to get the buildcache name, we may have encountered a problem
-# concretizing the spec, or some other issue that will eventually cause the job
-# to fail.
-JOB_BUILD_CACHE_ENTRY_NAME=`spack -d buildcache get-buildcache-name --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}"`
-if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
-    echo "ERROR, unable to get buildcache entry name for job ${CI_JOB_NAME} (spec: ${CDASH_BUILD_NAME})"
-    exit 1
-fi
+echo "Running job for spec: ${CI_JOB_NAME}"
 
 # This should create the directory we referred to as GNUPGHOME earlier
 spack gpg list
@@ -221,24 +231,82 @@ set -x
 spack gpg list --trusted
 spack gpg list --signing
 
-# Whether we have to build the spec or download it pre-built, we expect to find
-# the cdash build id file sitting in this location afterwards.
-JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE="${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/${JOB_BUILD_CACHE_ENTRY_NAME}.cdashid"
+# To have spack install missing compilers, we need to add a custom
+# configuration scope, then we pass that to the package installation
+# command
+CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_DIR="${TEMP_DIR}/config_scope"
+mkdir -p "${CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_DIR}"
+CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_ARG=""
+
+if [ "${SPACK_COMPILER_ACTION}" == "INSTALL_MISSING" ]; then
+    echo "Make sure bootstrapped compiler will be installed"
+    custom_config_file_path="${CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_DIR}/config.yaml"
+      cat <<CONFIG_STUFF > "${custom_config_file_path}"
+config:
+  install_missing_compilers: true
+CONFIG_STUFF
+    CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_ARG="-C ${CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_DIR}"
+    # Configure the binary mirror where, if needed, this jobs compiler
+    # was installed in binary pacakge form, then tell spack to
+    # install_missing_compilers.
+elif [ "${SPACK_COMPILER_ACTION}" == "FIND_ANY" ]; then
+    echo "Just find any available compiler"
+    spack compiler find
+else
+    echo "No compiler action to be taken"
+fi
+
+# Finally, list the compilers spack knows about
+echo "Compiler Configurations:"
+spack config get compilers
+
+# Write full-deps yamls for this job spec and its dependencies
+gen_full_specs_for_job_and_deps
+
+# Make the build_cache directory if it doesn't exist
+mkdir -p "${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}"
+
+# Get buildcache name so we can write a CDash build id file in the right place.
+# If we're unable to get the buildcache name, we may have encountered a problem
+# concretizing the spec, or some other issue that will eventually cause the job
+# to fail.
+JOB_BUILD_CACHE_ENTRY_NAME=`spack -d buildcache get-buildcache-name --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}"`
+if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
+    echo "ERROR, unable to get buildcache entry name for job ${CI_JOB_NAME}"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+    # Whether we have to build the spec or download it pre-built, we expect to find
+    # the cdash build id file sitting in this location afterwards.
+    JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE="${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/${JOB_BUILD_CACHE_ENTRY_NAME}.cdashid"
+fi
 
 # Finally, we can check the spec we have been tasked with build against
 # the built binary on the remote mirror to see if it needs to be rebuilt
-spack -d buildcache check --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" --mirror-url "${MIRROR_URL}" --rebuild-on-error
+spack -d buildcache check --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" --mirror-url "${SPACK_MIRROR_URL}" --rebuild-on-error
 
 if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
     # Configure mirror
     spack mirror add local_artifact_mirror "file://${LOCAL_MIRROR}"
 
-    JOB_CDASH_ID="NONE"
+    if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+        JOB_CDASH_ID="NONE"
 
-    # Install package, using the buildcache from the local mirror to
-    # satisfy dependencies.
-    BUILD_ID_LINE=`spack -d -k -v install --use-cache --keep-stage --cdash-upload-url "${CDASH_UPLOAD_URL}" --cdash-build "${CDASH_BUILD_NAME}" --cdash-site "Spack AWS Gitlab Instance" --cdash-track "${JOB_GROUP}" -f "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" | grep "buildSummary\\.php"`
-    check_error $? "spack install"
+        # Install package, using the buildcache from the local mirror to
+        # satisfy dependencies.
+        BUILD_ID_LINE=`spack -d -k -v "${CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_ARG}" install --keep-stage --cdash-upload-url "${CDASH_UPLOAD_URL}" --cdash-build "${SPACK_CDASH_BUILD_NAME}" --cdash-site "${SPACK_CDASH_SITE}" --cdash-track "${SPACK_JOB_SPEC_BUILDGROUP}" -f "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" | grep "buildSummary\\.php"`
+        check_error $? "spack install"
+
+        # By parsing the output of the "spack install" command, we can get the
+        # buildid generated for us by CDash
+        JOB_CDASH_ID=$(extract_build_id "${BUILD_ID_LINE}")
+
+        # Write the .cdashid file to the buildcache as well
+        echo "${JOB_CDASH_ID}" >> ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}
+    else
+        spack -d -k -v "${CUSTOM_CONFIG_SCOPE_ARG}" install --keep-stage -f "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}"
+    fi
 
     # Copy some log files into an artifact location, once we have a way
     # to provide a spec.yaml file to more spack commands (e.g. "location")
@@ -248,73 +316,76 @@ if [[ $? -ne 0 ]]; then
     # cp "${build_log_file}" "${JOB_LOG_DIR}/"
     # cp "${config_log_file}" "${JOB_LOG_DIR}/"
 
-    # By parsing the output of the "spack install" command, we can get the
-    # buildid generated for us by CDash
-    JOB_CDASH_ID=$(extract_build_id "${BUILD_ID_LINE}")
-
     # Create buildcache entry for this package, reading the spec from the yaml
     # file.
     spack -d buildcache create --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" -a -f -d "${LOCAL_MIRROR}" --no-rebuild-index
     check_error $? "spack buildcache create"
 
-    # Write the .cdashid file to the buildcache as well
-    echo "${JOB_CDASH_ID}" >> ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}
-
     # TODO: The upload-s3 command should eventually be replaced with something
     # like: "spack buildcache put <mirror> <spec>", when that subcommand is
     # properly implemented.
-    spack -d upload-s3 spec --base-dir "${LOCAL_MIRROR}" --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}"
-    check_error $? "spack upload-s3 spec"
+    if [ ! -z "${SPACK_S3_UPLOAD_MIRROR_URL}" ] ; then
+        spack -d upload-s3 spec --base-dir "${LOCAL_MIRROR}" --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" --endpoint-url "${SPACK_S3_UPLOAD_MIRROR_URL}"
+        check_error $? "spack upload-s3 spec"
+    else
+        spack -d buildcache copy --base-dir "${LOCAL_MIRROR}" --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" --destination-url "${SPACK_MIRROR_URL}"
+    fi
 else
-    echo "spec ${CDASH_BUILD_NAME} is already up to date on remote mirror, downloading it"
+    echo "spec ${CI_JOB_NAME} is already up to date on remote mirror, downloading it"
 
     # Configure remote mirror so we can download buildcache entry
-    spack mirror add remote_binary_mirror ${MIRROR_URL}
+    spack mirror add remote_binary_mirror ${SPACK_MIRROR_URL}
 
     # Now download it
-    spack -d buildcache download --spec-yaml "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" --path "${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/" --require-cdashid
+    BUILDCACHE_DL_ARGS=("--spec-yaml" "${SPEC_YAML_PATH}" "--path" "${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/" )
+    if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+        BUILDCACHE_DL_ARGS+=( "--require-cdashid" )
+    fi
+    spack -d buildcache download "${BUILDCACHE_DL_ARGS[@]}"
     check_error $? "spack buildcache download"
 fi
 
 # The next step is to relate this job to the jobs it depends on
-if [ -f "${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}" ]; then
-    JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID=$(<${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE})
+if [ "${SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH}" == "True" ] ; then
+    if [ -f "${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}" ]; then
+        JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID=$(<${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE})
 
-    if [ "${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}" == "NONE" ]; then
-        echo "ERROR: unable to read this jobs id from ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}"
-        exit 1
-    fi
-
-    # Now get CDash ids for dependencies and "relate" each dependency build
-    # with this jobs build
-    for DEP_PKG_NAME in "${JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES[@]}"; do
-        echo "Getting cdash id for dependency --> ${DEP_PKG_NAME} <--"
-        DEP_SPEC_YAML_PATH="${SPEC_DIR}/${DEP_PKG_NAME}.yaml"
-        DEP_JOB_BUILDCACHE_NAME=`spack -d buildcache get-buildcache-name --spec-yaml "${DEP_SPEC_YAML_PATH}"`
-
-        if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
-            DEP_JOB_ID_FILE="${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/${DEP_JOB_BUILDCACHE_NAME}.cdashid"
-            echo "DEP_JOB_ID_FILE path = ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}"
-
-            if [ -f "${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}" ]; then
-                DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID=$(<${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE})
-                echo "File ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE} contained value ${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}"
-                echo "Relating builds -> ${CDASH_BUILD_NAME} (buildid=${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}) depends on ${DEP_PKG_NAME} (buildid=${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID})"
-                relateBuildsPostBody="$(get_relate_builds_post_data "${CDASH_PROJECT}" ${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID} ${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID})"
-                relateBuildsResult=`curl "${DEP_JOB_RELATEBUILDS_URL}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "Accept: application/json" -d "${relateBuildsPostBody}"`
-                echo "Result of curl request: ${relateBuildsResult}"
-            else
-                echo "ERROR: Did not find expected .cdashid file for dependency: ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}"
-                exit 1
-            fi
-        else
-            echo "ERROR: Unable to get buildcache entry name for ${DEP_SPEC_NAME}"
+        if [ "${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}" == "NONE" ]; then
+            echo "ERROR: unable to read this jobs id from ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}"
             exit 1
         fi
-    done
-else
-    echo "ERROR: Did not find expected .cdashid file ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}"
-    exit 1
+
+        # Now get CDash ids for dependencies and "relate" each dependency build
+        # with this jobs build
+        for DEP_PKG_NAME in "${JOB_DEPS_PKG_NAMES[@]}"; do
+            echo "Getting cdash id for dependency --> ${DEP_PKG_NAME} <--"
+            DEP_SPEC_YAML_PATH="${SPEC_DIR}/${DEP_PKG_NAME}.yaml"
+            DEP_JOB_BUILDCACHE_NAME=`spack -d buildcache get-buildcache-name --spec-yaml "${DEP_SPEC_YAML_PATH}"`
+
+            if [[ $? -eq 0 ]]; then
+                DEP_JOB_ID_FILE="${BUILD_CACHE_DIR}/${DEP_JOB_BUILDCACHE_NAME}.cdashid"
+                echo "DEP_JOB_ID_FILE path = ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}"
+
+                if [ -f "${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}" ]; then
+                    DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID=$(<${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE})
+                    echo "File ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE} contained value ${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}"
+                    echo "Relating builds -> ${SPACK_CDASH_BUILD_NAME} (buildid=${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID}) depends on ${DEP_PKG_NAME} (buildid=${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID})"
+                    relateBuildsPostBody="$(get_relate_builds_post_data "${SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT}" ${JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID} ${DEP_JOB_CDASH_BUILD_ID})"
+                    relateBuildsResult=`curl "${DEP_JOB_RELATEBUILDS_URL}" -H "Content-Type: application/json" -H "Accept: application/json" -d "${relateBuildsPostBody}"`
+                    echo "Result of curl request: ${relateBuildsResult}"
+                else
+                    echo "ERROR: Did not find expected .cdashid file for dependency: ${DEP_JOB_ID_FILE}"
+                    exit 1
+                fi
+            else
+                echo "ERROR: Unable to get buildcache entry name for ${DEP_SPEC_NAME}"
+                exit 1
+            fi
+        done
+    else
+        echo "ERROR: Did not find expected .cdashid file ${JOB_CDASH_ID_FILE}"
+        exit 1
+    fi
 fi
 
 # Show the size of the buildcache and a list of what's in it, directly
diff --git a/lib/spack/docs/example_files/spack.yaml b/lib/spack/docs/example_files/spack.yaml
index 7af7aebd75..01756f8ba4 100644
--- a/lib/spack/docs/example_files/spack.yaml
+++ b/lib/spack/docs/example_files/spack.yaml
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 spack:
   definitions:
+  - compiler-pkgs:
+    - 'llvm+clang@6.0.1 os=centos7'
+    - 'gcc@6.5.0 os=centos7'
+    - 'llvm+clang@6.0.1 os=ubuntu18.04'
+    - 'gcc@6.5.0 os=ubuntu18.04'
   - pkgs:
     - readline@7.0
+    # - xsdk@0.4.0
   - compilers:
     - '%gcc@5.5.0'
+    - '%gcc@6.5.0'
     - '%gcc@7.3.0'
     - '%clang@6.0.0'
+    - '%clang@6.0.1'
   - oses:
     - os=ubuntu18.04
     - os=centos7
@@ -17,15 +25,15 @@ spack:
     - [$oses]
     exclude:
       - '%gcc@7.3.0 os=centos7'
+      - '%gcc@5.5.0 os=ubuntu18.04'
 
   mirrors:
     cloud_gitlab: https://mirror.spack.io
 
   compilers:
-    # The .gitlab-ci.yml for this project picks a Docker container which is
-    # based on ubuntu18.04 and which already has some compilers configured.
-    # Here we just add some of the ones which are defined on a different
-    # builder image.
+    # The .gitlab-ci.yml for this project picks a Docker container which does
+    # not have any compilers pre-built and ready to use, so we need to fake the
+    # existence of those here.
     - compiler:
         operating_system: centos7
         modules: []
@@ -36,6 +44,16 @@ spack:
           fc: /not/used
         spec: gcc@5.5.0
         target: x86_64
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: centos7
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: gcc@6.5.0
+        target: x86_64
     - compiler:
         operating_system: centos7
         modules: []
@@ -46,11 +64,64 @@ spack:
           fc: /not/used
         spec: clang@6.0.0
         target: x86_64
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: centos7
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: clang@6.0.1
+        target: x86_64
 
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: ubuntu18.04
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: clang@6.0.0
+        target: x86_64
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: ubuntu18.04
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: clang@6.0.1
+        target: x86_64
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: ubuntu18.04
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: gcc@6.5.0
+        target: x86_64
+    - compiler:
+        operating_system: ubuntu18.04
+        modules: []
+        paths:
+          cc: /not/used
+          cxx: /not/used
+          f77: /not/used
+          fc: /not/used
+        spec: gcc@7.3.0
+        target: x86_64
 
   gitlab-ci:
+    bootstrap:
+      - name: compiler-pkgs
+        compiler-agnostic: true
     mappings:
-      - spack-cloud-ubuntu:
+      - # spack-cloud-ubuntu
         match:
           # these are specs, if *any* match the spec under consideration, this
           # 'mapping' will be used to generate the CI job
@@ -61,8 +132,10 @@ spack:
           # a part of the CI workflow
           tags:
             - spack-k8s
-          image: scottwittenburg/spack_builder_ubuntu_18.04
-      - spack-cloud-centos:
+          image:
+            name: scottwittenburg/spack_builder_ubuntu_18.04
+            entrypoint: [""]
+      - # spack-cloud-centos
         match:
           # these are specs, if *any* match the spec under consideration, this
           # 'mapping' will be used to generate the CI job
@@ -70,28 +143,15 @@ spack:
         runner-attributes:
           tags:
             - spack-k8s
-          image: spack/centos:7
-      - summit:
-        match:
-          - os=rhel7
-          - target=power9
-          - platform=secret-sauce
-        runner-attributes:
-          tags:
-            # this is a set of tags
-            - summit
-            - '{os}-{target}'
-            - rhel7
-            - centos7
-            - x86_64
-          variables:
-            SCHEDULER_ARGS: "arg2 arg2"
+          image:
+            name: scottwittenburg/spack_builder_centos_7
+            entrypoint: [""]
 
   cdash:
     build-group: Release Testing
-    url: https://cdash.spack.io
+    url: http://cdash
     project: Spack Testing
-    site: Spack AWS Gitlab Instance
+    site: Spack Docker-Compose Workflow
 
   repos: []
   upstreams: {}
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py b/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
index bae8edd884..8dcacb6df3 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/binary_distribution.py
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ def _download_buildcache_entry(mirror_root, descriptions):
     for description in descriptions:
         url = os.path.join(mirror_root, description['url'])
         path = description['path']
-        fail_if_missing = not description['required']
+        fail_if_missing = description['required']
 
         mkdirp(path)
 
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
index 6a9f038d07..b3d73053e4 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/buildcache.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 import argparse
 import os
+import shutil
 import sys
 
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
@@ -176,8 +177,11 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
     saveyaml = subparsers.add_parser('save-yaml',
                                      help=save_spec_yamls.__doc__)
     saveyaml.add_argument(
-        '-r', '--root-spec', default=None,
+        '--root-spec', default=None,
         help='Root spec of dependent spec')
+    saveyaml.add_argument(
+        '--root-spec-yaml', default=None,
+        help='Path to yaml file containing root spec of dependent spec')
     saveyaml.add_argument(
         '-s', '--specs', default=None,
         help='List of dependent specs for which saved yaml is desired')
@@ -186,6 +190,19 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
         help='Path to directory where spec yamls should be saved')
     saveyaml.set_defaults(func=save_spec_yamls)
 
+    # Copy buildcache from some directory to another mirror url
+    copy = subparsers.add_parser('copy', help=buildcache_copy.__doc__)
+    copy.add_argument(
+        '--base-dir', default=None,
+        help='Path to mirror directory (root of existing buildcache)')
+    copy.add_argument(
+        '--spec-yaml', default=None,
+        help='Path to spec yaml file representing buildcache entry to copy')
+    copy.add_argument(
+        '--destination-url', default=None,
+        help='Destination mirror url')
+    copy.set_defaults(func=buildcache_copy)
+
 
 def find_matching_specs(pkgs, allow_multiple_matches=False, env=None):
     """Returns a list of specs matching the not necessarily
@@ -526,7 +543,7 @@ def save_spec_yamls(args):
     successful.  If any errors or exceptions are encountered, or if expected
     command-line arguments are not provided, then the exit code will be
     non-zero."""
-    if not args.root_spec:
+    if not args.root_spec and not args.root_spec_yaml:
         tty.msg('No root spec provided, exiting.')
         sys.exit(1)
 
@@ -538,9 +555,13 @@ def save_spec_yamls(args):
         tty.msg('No yaml directory provided, exiting.')
         sys.exit(1)
 
-    root_spec = Spec(args.root_spec)
-    root_spec.concretize()
-    root_spec_as_yaml = root_spec.to_yaml(hash=ht.build_hash)
+    if args.root_spec_yaml:
+        with open(args.root_spec_yaml) as fd:
+            root_spec_as_yaml = fd.read()
+    else:
+        root_spec = Spec(args.root_spec)
+        root_spec.concretize()
+        root_spec_as_yaml = root_spec.to_yaml(hash=ht.build_hash)
 
     save_dependency_spec_yamls(
         root_spec_as_yaml, args.yaml_dir, args.specs.split())
@@ -548,6 +569,78 @@ def save_spec_yamls(args):
     sys.exit(0)
 
 
+def buildcache_copy(args):
+    """Copy a buildcache entry and all its files from one mirror, given as
+    '--base-dir', to some other mirror, specified as '--destination-url'.
+    The specific buildcache entry to be copied from one location to the
+    other is identified using the '--spec-yaml' argument."""
+    # TODO: This sub-command should go away once #11117 is merged
+
+    if not args.spec_yaml:
+        tty.msg('No spec yaml provided, exiting.')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if not args.base_dir:
+        tty.msg('No base directory provided, exiting.')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    if not args.destination_url:
+        tty.msg('No destination mirror url provided, exiting.')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    dest_url = args.destination_url
+
+    if dest_url[0:7] != 'file://' and dest_url[0] != '/':
+        tty.msg('Only urls beginning with "file://" or "/" are supported ' +
+                'by buildcache copy.')
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    try:
+        with open(args.spec_yaml, 'r') as fd:
+            spec = Spec.from_yaml(fd.read())
+    except Exception as e:
+        tty.debug(e)
+        tty.error('Unable to concrectize spec from yaml {0}'.format(
+            args.spec_yaml))
+        sys.exit(1)
+
+    dest_root_path = dest_url
+    if dest_url[0:7] == 'file://':
+        dest_root_path = dest_url[7:]
+
+    build_cache_dir = bindist.build_cache_relative_path()
+
+    tarball_rel_path = os.path.join(
+        build_cache_dir, bindist.tarball_path_name(spec, '.spack'))
+    tarball_src_path = os.path.join(args.base_dir, tarball_rel_path)
+    tarball_dest_path = os.path.join(dest_root_path, tarball_rel_path)
+
+    specfile_rel_path = os.path.join(
+        build_cache_dir, bindist.tarball_name(spec, '.spec.yaml'))
+    specfile_src_path = os.path.join(args.base_dir, specfile_rel_path)
+    specfile_dest_path = os.path.join(dest_root_path, specfile_rel_path)
+
+    cdashidfile_rel_path = os.path.join(
+        build_cache_dir, bindist.tarball_name(spec, '.cdashid'))
+    cdashid_src_path = os.path.join(args.base_dir, cdashidfile_rel_path)
+    cdashid_dest_path = os.path.join(dest_root_path, cdashidfile_rel_path)
+
+    # Make sure directory structure exists before attempting to copy
+    os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(tarball_dest_path))
+
+    # Now copy the specfile and tarball files to the destination mirror
+    tty.msg('Copying {0}'.format(tarball_rel_path))
+    shutil.copyfile(tarball_src_path, tarball_dest_path)
+
+    tty.msg('Copying {0}'.format(specfile_rel_path))
+    shutil.copyfile(specfile_src_path, specfile_dest_path)
+
+    # Copy the cdashid file (if exists) to the destination mirror
+    if os.path.exists(cdashid_src_path):
+        tty.msg('Copying {0}'.format(cdashidfile_rel_path))
+        shutil.copyfile(cdashid_src_path, cdashid_dest_path)
+
+
 def buildcache(parser, args):
     if args.func:
         args.func(args)
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/release_jobs.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/release_jobs.py
index 3ec85ea960..837065824a 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/release_jobs.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/release_jobs.py
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 #
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
 
+import base64
 import json
+import zlib
 
-from jsonschema import validate, ValidationError
 from six import iteritems
 from six.moves.urllib.error import HTTPError, URLError
 from six.moves.urllib.parse import urlencode
@@ -14,10 +15,11 @@
 import llnl.util.tty as tty
 
 import spack.environment as ev
+import spack.compilers as compilers
 from spack.dependency import all_deptypes
 from spack.error import SpackError
+import spack.hash_types as ht
 from spack.spec import Spec
-from spack.schema.specs_deps import schema as specs_deps_schema
 import spack.util.spack_yaml as syaml
 
 description = "generate release build set as .gitlab-ci.yml"
@@ -26,18 +28,10 @@
 
 
 def setup_parser(subparser):
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-f', '--force', action='store_true', default=False,
-        help="Force re-concretization of environment first")
-
     subparser.add_argument(
         '-o', '--output-file', default=".gitlab-ci.yml",
         help="path to output file to write")
 
-    subparser.add_argument(
-        '-k', '--signing-key', default=None,
-        help="hash of gpg key to use for package signing")
-
     subparser.add_argument(
         '-p', '--print-summary', action='store_true', default=False,
         help="Print summary of staged jobs to standard output")
@@ -54,7 +48,9 @@ def _create_buildgroup(opener, headers, url, project, group_name, group_type):
         "type": group_type
     }
 
-    request = Request(url, data=json.dumps(data), headers=headers)
+    enc_data = json.dumps(data).encode('utf-8')
+
+    request = Request(url, data=enc_data, headers=headers)
 
     response = opener.open(request)
     response_code = response.getcode()
@@ -103,7 +99,9 @@ def populate_buildgroup(job_names, group_name, project, site,
         } for name in job_names]
     }
 
-    request = Request(url, data=json.dumps(data), headers=headers)
+    enc_data = json.dumps(data).encode('utf-8')
+
+    request = Request(url, data=enc_data, headers=headers)
     request.get_method = lambda: 'PUT'
 
     response = opener.open(request)
@@ -115,9 +113,43 @@ def populate_buildgroup(job_names, group_name, project, site,
         raise SpackError(msg)
 
 
-def get_job_name(spec, osarch, build_group):
-    return '{0} {1} {2} {3} {4}'.format(
-        spec.name, spec.version, spec.compiler, osarch, build_group)
+def is_main_phase(phase_name):
+    return True if phase_name == 'specs' else False
+
+
+def get_job_name(phase, strip_compiler, spec, osarch, build_group):
+    item_idx = 0
+    format_str = ''
+    format_args = []
+
+    if phase:
+        format_str += '({{{0}}})'.format(item_idx)
+        format_args.append(phase)
+        item_idx += 1
+
+    format_str += ' {{{0}}}'.format(item_idx)
+    format_args.append(spec.name)
+    item_idx += 1
+
+    format_str += ' {{{0}}}'.format(item_idx)
+    format_args.append(spec.version)
+    item_idx += 1
+
+    if is_main_phase(phase) is True or strip_compiler is False:
+        format_str += ' {{{0}}}'.format(item_idx)
+        format_args.append(spec.compiler)
+        item_idx += 1
+
+    format_str += ' {{{0}}}'.format(item_idx)
+    format_args.append(osarch)
+    item_idx += 1
+
+    if build_group:
+        format_str += ' {{{0}}}'.format(item_idx)
+        format_args.append(build_group)
+        item_idx += 1
+
+    return format_str.format(*format_args)
 
 
 def get_cdash_build_name(spec, build_group):
@@ -137,6 +169,17 @@ def get_spec_string(spec):
     return spec.format(''.join(format_elements))
 
 
+def format_root_spec(spec, main_phase, strip_compiler):
+    if main_phase is False and strip_compiler is True:
+        return '{0}@{1} arch={2}'.format(
+            spec.name, spec.version, spec.architecture)
+    else:
+        spec_yaml = spec.to_yaml(hash=ht.build_hash).encode('utf-8')
+        return str(base64.b64encode(zlib.compress(spec_yaml)).decode('utf-8'))
+        # return '{0}@{1}%{2} arch={3}'.format(
+        #     spec.name, spec.version, spec.compiler, spec.architecture)
+
+
 def spec_deps_key_label(s):
     return s.dag_hash(), "%s/%s" % (s.name, s.dag_hash(7))
 
@@ -152,14 +195,6 @@ def _add_dependency(spec_label, dep_label, deps):
 def get_spec_dependencies(specs, deps, spec_labels):
     spec_deps_obj = compute_spec_deps(specs)
 
-    try:
-        validate(spec_deps_obj, specs_deps_schema)
-    except ValidationError as val_err:
-        tty.error('Ill-formed specs dependencies JSON object')
-        tty.error(spec_deps_obj)
-        tty.debug(val_err)
-        return
-
     if spec_deps_obj:
         dependencies = spec_deps_obj['dependencies']
         specs = spec_deps_obj['specs']
@@ -247,19 +282,19 @@ def print_staging_summary(spec_labels, dependencies, stages):
     if not stages:
         return
 
-    tty.msg('Staging summary:')
+    tty.msg('  Staging summary:')
     stage_index = 0
     for stage in stages:
-        tty.msg('  stage {0} ({1} jobs):'.format(stage_index, len(stage)))
+        tty.msg('    stage {0} ({1} jobs):'.format(stage_index, len(stage)))
 
         for job in sorted(stage):
             s = spec_labels[job]['spec']
-            tty.msg('    {0} -> {1}'.format(job, get_spec_string(s)))
+            tty.msg('      {0} -> {1}'.format(job, get_spec_string(s)))
 
         stage_index += 1
 
 
-def compute_spec_deps(spec_list, stream_like=None):
+def compute_spec_deps(spec_list):
     """
     Computes all the dependencies for the spec(s) and generates a JSON
     object which provides both a list of unique spec names as well as a
@@ -311,10 +346,6 @@ def compute_spec_deps(spec_list, stream_like=None):
            ]
        }
 
-    The object can be optionally written out to some stream.  This is
-    useful, for example, when we need to concretize and generate the
-    dependencies of a spec in a specific docker container.
-
     """
     deptype = all_deptypes
     spec_labels = {}
@@ -331,7 +362,8 @@ def append_dep(s, d):
     for spec in spec_list:
         spec.concretize()
 
-        root_spec = get_spec_string(spec)
+        # root_spec = get_spec_string(spec)
+        root_spec = spec
 
         rkey, rlabel = spec_deps_key_label(spec)
 
@@ -359,9 +391,6 @@ def append_dep(s, d):
         'dependencies': dependencies,
     }
 
-    if stream_like:
-        stream_like.write(json.dumps(deps_json_obj))
-
     return deps_json_obj
 
 
@@ -379,7 +408,6 @@ def find_matching_config(spec, ci_mappings):
 
 def release_jobs(parser, args):
     env = ev.get_env(args, 'release-jobs', required=True)
-    env.concretize(force=args.force)
 
     # FIXME: What's the difference between one that opens with 'spack'
     # and one that opens with 'env'?  This will only handle the former.
@@ -390,122 +418,219 @@ def release_jobs(parser, args):
 
     ci_mappings = yaml_root['gitlab-ci']['mappings']
 
-    ci_cdash = yaml_root['cdash']
-    build_group = ci_cdash['build-group']
-    cdash_url = ci_cdash['url']
-    cdash_project = ci_cdash['project']
-    proj_enc = urlencode({'project': cdash_project})
-    eq_idx = proj_enc.find('=') + 1
-    cdash_project_enc = proj_enc[eq_idx:]
-    cdash_site = ci_cdash['site']
+    build_group = None
+    enable_cdash_reporting = False
     cdash_auth_token = None
 
-    if args.cdash_credentials:
-        with open(args.cdash_credentials) as fd:
-            cdash_auth_token = fd.read()
-            cdash_auth_token = cdash_auth_token.strip()
+    if 'cdash' in yaml_root:
+        enable_cdash_reporting = True
+        ci_cdash = yaml_root['cdash']
+        build_group = ci_cdash['build-group']
+        cdash_url = ci_cdash['url']
+        cdash_project = ci_cdash['project']
+        proj_enc = urlencode({'project': cdash_project})
+        eq_idx = proj_enc.find('=') + 1
+        cdash_project_enc = proj_enc[eq_idx:]
+        cdash_site = ci_cdash['site']
+
+        if args.cdash_credentials:
+            with open(args.cdash_credentials) as fd:
+                cdash_auth_token = fd.read()
+                cdash_auth_token = cdash_auth_token.strip()
 
     ci_mirrors = yaml_root['mirrors']
-    mirror_urls = ci_mirrors.values()
+    mirror_urls = [url for url in ci_mirrors.values()]
 
-    spec_labels, dependencies, stages = stage_spec_jobs(env.all_specs())
+    bootstrap_specs = []
+    phases = []
+    if 'bootstrap' in yaml_root['gitlab-ci']:
+        for phase in yaml_root['gitlab-ci']['bootstrap']:
+            try:
+                phase_name = phase.get('name')
+                strip_compilers = phase.get('compiler-agnostic')
+            except AttributeError:
+                phase_name = phase
+                strip_compilers = False
+            phases.append({
+                'name': phase_name,
+                'strip-compilers': strip_compilers,
+            })
 
-    if not stages:
-        tty.msg('No jobs staged, exiting.')
-        return
+            for bs in env.spec_lists[phase_name]:
+                bootstrap_specs.append({
+                    'spec': bs,
+                    'phase-name': phase_name,
+                    'strip-compilers': strip_compilers,
+                })
+
+    phases.append({
+        'name': 'specs',
+        'strip-compilers': False,
+    })
+
+    staged_phases = {}
+    for phase in phases:
+        phase_name = phase['name']
+        staged_phases[phase_name] = stage_spec_jobs(env.spec_lists[phase_name])
 
     if args.print_summary:
-        print_staging_summary(spec_labels, dependencies, stages)
+        for phase in phases:
+            phase_name = phase['name']
+            tty.msg('Stages for phase "{0}"'.format(phase_name))
+            phase_stages = staged_phases[phase_name]
+            print_staging_summary(*phase_stages)
 
     all_job_names = []
     output_object = {}
-    job_count = 0
+    job_id = 0
+    stage_id = 0
 
-    stage_names = ['stage-{0}'.format(i) for i in range(len(stages))]
-    stage = 0
+    stage_names = []
 
-    for stage_jobs in stages:
-        stage_name = stage_names[stage]
+    for phase in phases:
+        phase_name = phase['name']
+        strip_compilers = phase['strip-compilers']
 
-        for spec_label in stage_jobs:
-            release_spec = spec_labels[spec_label]['spec']
-            root_spec = spec_labels[spec_label]['rootSpec']
+        main_phase = is_main_phase(phase_name)
+        spec_labels, dependencies, stages = staged_phases[phase_name]
 
-            runner_attribs = find_matching_config(release_spec, ci_mappings)
+        for stage_jobs in stages:
+            stage_name = 'stage-{0}'.format(stage_id)
+            stage_names.append(stage_name)
+            stage_id += 1
 
-            if not runner_attribs:
-                tty.warn('No match found for {0}, skipping it'.format(
-                    release_spec))
-                continue
+            for spec_label in stage_jobs:
+                release_spec = spec_labels[spec_label]['spec']
+                root_spec = spec_labels[spec_label]['rootSpec']
 
-            tags = [tag for tag in runner_attribs['tags']]
+                runner_attribs = find_matching_config(root_spec, ci_mappings)
 
-            variables = {}
-            if 'variables' in runner_attribs:
-                variables.update(runner_attribs['variables'])
+                if not runner_attribs:
+                    tty.warn('No match found for {0}, skipping it'.format(
+                        release_spec))
+                    continue
 
-            build_image = None
-            if 'image' in runner_attribs:
-                build_image = runner_attribs['image']
+                tags = [tag for tag in runner_attribs['tags']]
 
-            osname = str(release_spec.architecture)
-            job_name = get_job_name(release_spec, osname, build_group)
-            cdash_build_name = get_cdash_build_name(release_spec, build_group)
+                variables = {}
+                if 'variables' in runner_attribs:
+                    variables.update(runner_attribs['variables'])
 
-            all_job_names.append(cdash_build_name)
+                image_name = None
+                image_entry = None
+                if 'image' in runner_attribs:
+                    build_image = runner_attribs['image']
+                    try:
+                        image_name = build_image.get('name')
+                        entrypoint = build_image.get('entrypoint')
+                        image_entry = [p for p in entrypoint]
+                    except AttributeError:
+                        image_name = build_image
 
-            job_scripts = ['./bin/rebuild-package.sh']
+                osname = str(release_spec.architecture)
+                job_name = get_job_name(phase_name, strip_compilers,
+                                        release_spec, osname, build_group)
 
-            job_dependencies = []
-            if spec_label in dependencies:
-                job_dependencies = (
-                    [get_job_name(spec_labels[d]['spec'], osname, build_group)
-                        for d in dependencies[spec_label]])
+                job_scripts = ['./bin/rebuild-package.sh']
 
-            job_variables = {
-                'MIRROR_URL': mirror_urls[0],
-                'CDASH_BASE_URL': cdash_url,
-                'CDASH_PROJECT': cdash_project,
-                'CDASH_PROJECT_ENC': cdash_project_enc,
-                'CDASH_BUILD_NAME': cdash_build_name,
-                'DEPENDENCIES': ';'.join(job_dependencies),
-                'ROOT_SPEC': str(root_spec),
-            }
+                compiler_action = 'NONE'
+                if len(phases) > 1:
+                    compiler_action = 'FIND_ANY'
+                    if is_main_phase(phase_name):
+                        compiler_action = 'INSTALL_MISSING'
 
-            if args.signing_key:
-                job_variables['SIGN_KEY_HASH'] = args.signing_key
+                job_vars = {
+                    'SPACK_MIRROR_URL': mirror_urls[0],
+                    'SPACK_ROOT_SPEC': format_root_spec(
+                        root_spec, main_phase, strip_compilers),
+                    'SPACK_JOB_SPEC_PKG_NAME': release_spec.name,
+                    'SPACK_COMPILER_ACTION': compiler_action,
+                }
 
-            variables.update(job_variables)
+                job_dependencies = []
+                if spec_label in dependencies:
+                    job_dependencies = (
+                        [get_job_name(phase_name, strip_compilers,
+                                      spec_labels[dep_label]['spec'],
+                                      osname, build_group)
+                            for dep_label in dependencies[spec_label]])
 
-            job_object = {
-                'stage': stage_name,
-                'variables': variables,
-                'script': job_scripts,
-                'artifacts': {
-                    'paths': [
-                        'local_mirror/build_cache',
-                        'jobs_scratch_dir',
-                        'cdash_report',
-                    ],
-                    'when': 'always',
-                },
-                'dependencies': job_dependencies,
-                'tags': tags,
-            }
+                # This next section helps gitlab make sure the right
+                # bootstrapped compiler exists in the artifacts buildcache by
+                # creating an artificial dependency between this spec and its
+                # compiler.  So, if we are in the main phase, and if the
+                # compiler we are supposed to use is listed in any of the
+                # bootstrap spec lists, then we will add one more dependency to
+                # "job_dependencies" (that compiler).
+                if is_main_phase(phase_name):
+                    compiler_pkg_spec = compilers.pkg_spec_for_compiler(
+                        release_spec.compiler)
+                    for bs in bootstrap_specs:
+                        bs_arch = bs['spec'].architecture
+                        if (bs['spec'].satisfies(compiler_pkg_spec) and
+                            bs_arch == release_spec.architecture):
+                            c_job_name = get_job_name(bs['phase-name'],
+                                                      bs['strip-compilers'],
+                                                      bs['spec'],
+                                                      str(bs_arch),
+                                                      build_group)
+                            job_dependencies.append(c_job_name)
 
-            if build_image:
-                job_object['image'] = build_image
+                if enable_cdash_reporting:
+                    cdash_build_name = get_cdash_build_name(
+                        release_spec, build_group)
+                    all_job_names.append(cdash_build_name)
 
-            output_object[job_name] = job_object
-            job_count += 1
+                    related_builds = []      # Used for relating CDash builds
+                    if spec_label in dependencies:
+                        related_builds = (
+                            [spec_labels[d]['spec'].name
+                                for d in dependencies[spec_label]])
 
-        stage += 1
+                    job_vars['SPACK_CDASH_BASE_URL'] = cdash_url
+                    job_vars['SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT'] = cdash_project
+                    job_vars['SPACK_CDASH_PROJECT_ENC'] = cdash_project_enc
+                    job_vars['SPACK_CDASH_BUILD_NAME'] = cdash_build_name
+                    job_vars['SPACK_CDASH_SITE'] = cdash_site
+                    job_vars['SPACK_RELATED_BUILDS'] = ';'.join(related_builds)
+                    job_vars['SPACK_JOB_SPEC_BUILDGROUP'] = build_group
+
+                job_vars['SPACK_ENABLE_CDASH'] = str(enable_cdash_reporting)
+
+                variables.update(job_vars)
+
+                job_object = {
+                    'stage': stage_name,
+                    'variables': variables,
+                    'script': job_scripts,
+                    'tags': tags,
+                    'artifacts': {
+                        'paths': [
+                            'jobs_scratch_dir',
+                            'cdash_report',
+                            'local_mirror/build_cache',
+                        ],
+                        'when': 'always',
+                    },
+                    'dependencies': job_dependencies,
+                }
+
+                if image_name:
+                    job_object['image'] = image_name
+                    if image_entry is not None:
+                        job_object['image'] = {
+                            'name': image_name,
+                            'entrypoint': image_entry,
+                        }
+
+                output_object[job_name] = job_object
+                job_id += 1
 
     tty.msg('{0} build jobs generated in {1} stages'.format(
-        job_count, len(stages)))
+        job_id, stage_id))
 
     # Use "all_job_names" to populate the build group for this set
-    if cdash_auth_token:
+    if enable_cdash_reporting and cdash_auth_token:
         try:
             populate_buildgroup(all_job_names, build_group, cdash_project,
                                 cdash_site, cdash_auth_token, cdash_url)
@@ -521,7 +646,7 @@ def release_jobs(parser, args):
         'variables': {
             'MIRROR_URL': mirror_urls[0],
         },
-        'image': 'scottwittenburg/spack_ci_generator_alpine',  # just needs some basic python image
+        'image': 'scottwittenburg/spack_ci_generator_alpine',
         'script': './bin/rebuild-index.sh',
         'tags': ['spack-k8s']    # may want a runner to handle this
     }
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/schema/gitlab_ci.py b/lib/spack/spack/schema/gitlab_ci.py
index 0765d311f4..dc7b16fb21 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/schema/gitlab_ci.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/schema/gitlab_ci.py
@@ -17,42 +17,77 @@
         'additionalProperties': False,
         'required': ['mappings'],
         'patternProperties': {
-            r'mappings': {
+            'bootstrap': {
                 'type': 'array',
-                'default': {},
-                'additionalProperties': False,
-                'patternProperties': {
-                    r'[\w\d\-_\.]+': {
-                        'type': 'object',
-                        'additionalProperties': False,
-                        'required': ['match', 'runner-attributes'],
-                        'properties': {
-                            'match': {
-                                'type': 'array',
-                                'default': [],
-                                'items': {
+                'items': {
+                    'anyOf': [
+                        {
+                            'type': 'string',
+                        }, {
+                            'type': 'object',
+                            'additionalProperties': False,
+                            'required': ['name'],
+                            'properties': {
+                                'name': {
                                     'type': 'string',
                                 },
+                                'compiler-agnostic': {
+                                    'type': 'boolean',
+                                    'default': False,
+                                },
                             },
-                            'runner-attributes': {
-                                'type': 'object',
-                                'additionalProperties': True,
-                                'required': ['tags'],
-                                'properties': {
-                                    'image': {'type': 'string'},
-                                    'tags': {
-                                        'type': 'array',
-                                        'default': [],
-                                        'items': {'type': 'string'}
-                                    },
-                                    'variables': {
-                                        'type': 'object',
-                                        'default': {},
-                                        'patternProperties': {
-                                            r'[\w\d\-_\.]+': {
-                                                'type': 'string',
+                        },
+                    ],
+                },
+            },
+            'mappings': {
+                'type': 'array',
+                'items': {
+                    'type': 'object',
+                    'additionalProperties': False,
+                    'required': ['match', 'runner-attributes'],
+                    'properties': {
+                        'match': {
+                            'type': 'array',
+                            'items': {
+                                'type': 'string',
+                            },
+                        },
+                        'runner-attributes': {
+                            'type': 'object',
+                            'additionalProperties': True,
+                            'required': ['tags'],
+                            'properties': {
+                                'image': {
+                                    'oneOf': [
+                                        {
+                                            'type': 'string'
+                                        }, {
+                                            'type': 'object',
+                                            'properties': {
+                                                'name': {'type': 'string'},
+                                                'entrypoint': {
+                                                    'type': 'array',
+                                                    'items': {
+                                                        'type': 'string',
+                                                    },
+                                                },
                                             },
                                         },
+                                    ],
+                                },
+                                'tags': {
+                                    'type': 'array',
+                                    'default': [],
+                                    'items': {'type': 'string'}
+                                },
+                                'variables': {
+                                    'type': 'object',
+                                    'default': {},
+                                    'patternProperties': {
+                                        r'[\w\d\-_\.]+': {
+                                            'type': 'string',
+                                        },
                                     },
                                 },
                             },
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/schema/specs_deps.py b/lib/spack/spack/schema/specs_deps.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 0ac029c25a..0000000000
--- a/lib/spack/spack/schema/specs_deps.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,48 +0,0 @@
-# Copyright 2013-2019 Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC and other
-# Spack Project Developers. See the top-level COPYRIGHT file for details.
-#
-# SPDX-License-Identifier: (Apache-2.0 OR MIT)
-
-"""Schema for expressing dependencies of a set of specs in a JSON file
-
-.. literalinclude:: _spack_root/lib/spack/spack/schema/specs_deps.py
-   :lines: 32-
-"""
-
-
-schema = {
-    '$schema': 'http://json-schema.org/schema#',
-    'title': 'Spack schema for the dependencies of a set of specs',
-    'type': 'object',
-    'additionalProperties': False,
-    'required': ['specs'],
-    'properties': {
-        r'dependencies': {
-            'type': 'array',
-            'default': [],
-            'items': {
-                'type': 'object',
-                'additionalProperties': False,
-                'required': ['depends', 'spec'],
-                'properties': {
-                    r'depends': {'type': 'string'},
-                    r'spec': {'type': 'string'},
-                },
-            },
-        },
-        r'specs': {
-            'type': 'array',
-            'default': [],
-            'items': {
-                'type': 'object',
-                'additionalProperties': False,
-                'required': ['root_spec', 'spec', 'label'],
-                'properties': {
-                    r'root_spec': {'type': 'string'},
-                    r'spec': {'type': 'string'},
-                    r'label': {'type': 'string'},
-                }
-            },
-        },
-    },
-}
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/release_jobs.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/release_jobs.py
index 5197bfef22..c4f44308d9 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/release_jobs.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/cmd/release_jobs.py
@@ -102,8 +102,7 @@ def test_release_jobs_with_env(tmpdir, mutable_mock_env_path, env_deactivate,
     some-mirror: https://my.fake.mirror
   gitlab-ci:
     mappings:
-      - some-runner-mapping:
-        match:
+      - match:
           - archive-files
         runner-attributes:
           tags: