What is GitLab?
GitLab is a web-based Git repository management tool with built-in DevOps and CI/CD (Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery) features, offering an all-in-one platform for managing code and software development workflows.
Key Features of GitLab
- Repositories: Store code, documentation, and version history in repositories, similar to GitHub.
- Branches: Use branches to work on new features or fixes in isolation.
- Merge Requests (MRs): Equivalent to GitHub’s Pull Requests, MRs are used to propose, review, and discuss changes before merging.
- CI/CD Pipelines: Automate testing, building, and deployment with GitLab’s integrated CI/CD.
- Issues: Track bugs, tasks, and enhancements within the repository.
- Epics and Milestones: Organize projects by grouping issues into larger epics or milestones, useful for long-term planning.
- Wiki: Built-in documentation for each project.
- Time Tracking: Track time spent on issues or merge requests.
- Security Scans: Perform static application security testing (SAST), dependency scanning, and more.
Basic GitLab Workflow
- Clone: Download the repository locally using
git clone [URL]. - Create a Branch: Work on new features or bug fixes in separate branches with
git checkout -b [branch-name]. - Commit Changes: Make changes, then use
git add .andgit commit -m "description"to save snapshots. - Push Changes: Push commits to GitLab using
git push origin [branch-name]. - Create a Merge Request: Open an MR in GitLab to review and merge changes into the main branch.
- Review & Merge: Collaborators review the MR, and once approved, merge it into the main branch.