What Is Gitlab? Complete Guide

In the present speedy software development scene, effective coordinated effort, streamlined work processes, and automated processes are fundamental for teams to deliver high-quality software products. GitLab arises as a complete arrangement that coordinates version control, issue tracking, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/Cd), and collaboration tools into a single platform, empowering teams to deal with their whole DevOps lifecycle seamlessly.

GitLab isn’t simply a Git repository manager; it’s a complete DevOps platform that enables development teams to cooperate productively, automate repetitive tasks, and deliver software quicker and with better quality, whether you’re a little startup, an enormous enterprise, or an open-source project, GitLab gives the tools and infrastructure expected to deal with the start to finish software development process really.

In this guide, we will dig into the basic ideas of GitLab, explore its key features, and provide down-to-earth experiences into how teams can use GitLab to streamline their advancement work processes. From creating projects and repositories to executing CI/CD pipelines and managing issues, this guide plans to furnish readers with the knowledge and best practices expected to tackle the maximum capacity of GitLab for their software development projects, whether you’re new to GitLab or hoping to extend your understanding, this guide will act as an important resource to explore the world of current DevOps with certainty.

Primary Terminologies

Git Repository

• A Git repository is a collection of files and folders alongside the historical backdrop of changes made to those records over the long run. GitLab has Git repositories, allowing users to store, collaborate, and team up on their codebase.

Issue Tracking

• GitLab incorporates a built-in issue global positioning system that empowers groups to create, assign, prioritize, and track issues, bugs, feature requests, and different tasks related to a task. This component works with compelling correspondence and cooperation among colleagues.

Wiki

• GitLab gives a wiki feature where teams can record project-related data, rules, strategies, and other significant documentation, wikis act as a concentrated information base for project-related documentation, open to all colleagues.

Merge Requests (MRs)

• Merge Requests allow developers to propose changes to the codebase and demand input and review from their companions prior to merging the changes into the main branch. MRs work with code review, and collaboration, and keep up with code quality guidelines inside the project.

CI/CD Pipelines

• Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines automate the method involved with building, testing, and deploying code changes, GitLab’s CI/CD pipelines are defined utilizing .gitlab-ci.yml files, and empower groups to automate repetitive tasks, further develop code quality, and speed up the product delivery process.

GitLab Runners

• GitLab Runners are agents responsible for executing CI/CD jobs characterized in pipelines. Runners can be divided between tasks or well-defined for an undertaking and can run positions on different stages and conditions, like Linux, Windows, macOS, and Docker containers.

Groups and Projects

• GitLab arranges vaults into groups and projects, allowing teams to manage access control and permissions at various levels. Groups can contain various projects, working with collaboration and resource dividing between related projects inside an organization or group.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Sign Up or Install GitLab

• You can sign up for GitLab.com, a hosted version of GitLab, or install GitLab on your own infrastructure using the installation guide.
• Now give username and first name, last name and provide email and set password. click on register

• Here enter verification code which email id given to gitlab, for that respected email receive a verification code.

• When verification is complete then appear a welcome page, In this welcome page we need to provide role and I’m signing up for gitlab because choose from dropdown box, In dropdown box they have a multiple options choose any depends on your purpose.

• In above option we selected a create a new project, so here we are providing group name and project name and click on create project

• Here we see dashboard of gitlab.

2. Create a Project

• After signing in, create a new project by navigating to the dashboard and clicking on “New Project.”
• Choose a project name, visibility level, and other settings.

• Initialize Repository: If starting from scratch, initialize the repository with a README file. Otherwise, push an existing repository to GitLab.
• Here we see our new project was created.

• Now add files to our new project. Choose new project or Upload file or New directory

• Here see i am adding script into the file and click on commit changes.

• Here we see successfully added a file

• Implement Merge Requests: When working on new features or bug fixes, create a new branch, make changes, and open a merge request. Request feedback from team members and iterate on the changes.

3. Set Up CI/CD Pipelines

Define CI/CD pipelines by creating a .gitlab-ci.yml file in your project’s repository. Specify stages, jobs, and scripts for building, testing, and deploying your application.

Here is the example script to run CI/CD Pipeline

build-job:
  stage: build
  script:
    - echo "Hello, $GITLAB_USER_LOGIN!"
test-job1:
  stage: test
  script:
    - echo "This job tests something"
test-job2:
  stage: test
  script:
    - echo "This job tests something, but takes more time than test-job1."
    - echo "After the echo commands complete, it runs the sleep command for 20 seconds"
    - echo "which simulates a test that runs 20 seconds longer than test-job1"
    - sleep 20
deploy-prod:
  stage: deploy
  script:
    - echo "This job deploys something from the $CI_COMMIT_BRANCH branch."
  environment: production

When we write in .gitlab-ci.yml it’s automatically start a build, test and deploying

Run Tests and Deploy: GitLab automatically runs CI/CD pipelines upon new commits or merge requests. Monitor pipeline execution, review test results, and deploy changes to staging or production environments.

In below figure shows that pipeline run successfully.

Conclusion

In conclusion, GitLab stands as a flexible and comprehensive DevOps platform that engages teams to streamline their software development lifecycle from ideation to deployment. By incorporating version control, issue tracking, CI/CD pipelines, coordinated tools, and more into a single platform, GitLab works on the intricacies of present day software development and encourages a culture of collaboration, proficiency, and development.

All through this guide, we have explored the crucial ideas and terminologies of GitLab, dug into its vital features and functionalities, and gave reasonable experiences into how groups can use GitLab to upgrade their improvement work processes, from making projects and repositories to managing issues, executing CI/Cd pipelines, and working together really with colleagues, GitLab offers an abundance of tools and capacities to meet the different necessities of improvement groups across different businesses and organizations.

As organizations keep on embracing DevOps practices and look for ways of speeding up their software conveyance cycles while keeping up with code quality and reliability, GitLab stays a confided in partner on the excursion towards persistent improvement and development. Whether you’re a carefully prepared developer, a DevOps engineer, or a task manager, GitLab gives the tools, resources, and backing expected to drive outcome in the present serious software development landscape.

Fundamentally, GitLab addresses something beyond a version control system; it exemplifies a way of thinking of coordinated effort, automation, and continuous improvement that fills the progress of current software development teams. By embracing GitLab’s standards and outfitting its abilities, teams can open their maximum capacity, drive development, and convey excellent software products that meet the advancing necessities of clients and partners the same.

Gitlab – FAQ’s

Is GitLab open-source?

Yes, GitLab is available in both open-source (Local area Release) and business (Enterprise Release) versions. The open-source version gives center features, for example, version control, issue tracking, and CI/Cd pipelines, while the business version offers extra functionalities and support choices.

Will I self-host GitLab on my own infrastructure?

Yes, GitLab can be self-hosted on-premises or in the cloud, giving full control over the infrastructure and data. GitLab offers point by point installation guidelines and necessities for setting up self-facilitated instances, enabling organizations to redo and configure GitLab to meet their particular requirements and prerequisites.

Does GitLab offer integration with different tools and services?

Yes, GitLab integration with different outsider tools and services, including issue trackers, project the management tools, visit applications, monitoring arrangements, and cloud providers. GitLab’s broad rundown of integrations empowers teams to associate their work processes seamlessly and influence their current tools and services inside the GitLab platform.

How does GitLab vary from GitHub?

While both GitLab and GitHub are Git repository management platforms, GitLab separates itself by offering a more thorough arrangement of elements and functionalities. GitLab incorporates worked in CI/CD pipelines, issue tracking, a wiki, and other joint effort devices, while GitHub principally centers around version control and code hosting. Moreover, GitLab gives the choice to self-hosting, while GitHub basically works as a cloud-based service.

Could I migrate projects from other version control systems to GitLab?

Yes, GitLab provides import tools and advisers for migrating tasks from other version control systems like GitHub, Bitbucket, Subversion, and others. The migration cycle ordinarily includes sending out the current repository from the source system and importing it into GitLab, alongside any related issues, pull requests, and other metadata. GitLab’s migration tools work with a consistent change for groups hoping to combine their repositories or change to GitLab for their version control needs.