3.14 Migrating from GitHub or GitLab to Bitbucket

Bye Bye, GitHub or GitLab? Hello, Bitbucket! Your Guide to a Smooth Migration

So, you’re thinking about moving your code from GitHub or GitLab over to Bitbucket? Maybe you’re attracted to Bitbucket’s tighter integration with Jira, or perhaps its free private repositories for smaller teams are calling your name. Whatever your reason, migrating your codebases can seem daunting. But fear not! This guide will walk you through the process, making it as painless as possible.

Why Consider Moving to Bitbucket?

Before we dive in, let’s briefly touch on why you might be considering this move:

• Jira Integration: Bitbucket is owned by Atlassian, making it seamlessly integrated with Jira, their popular issue tracking software. This can streamline your development workflow.
• Free Private Repositories: Bitbucket offers unlimited free private repositories for teams of up to 5 users. This is a great deal for smaller projects and startups.
• Atlassian Ecosystem: If you’re already heavily invested in other Atlassian products like Confluence, Bitbucket might be a natural fit.

The Big Picture: What’s Involved in Migration

Moving your repositories involves a few key steps:

1. Creating a Bitbucket Account: If you don’t already have one, you’ll need to sign up for a Bitbucket account.
2. Setting up Authentication: You’ll need to authorize Bitbucket to access your repositories on GitHub or GitLab.
3. Importing Your Repositories: Bitbucket provides tools to easily import repositories from other platforms.
4. Updating Your Local Setup: You’ll need to update your local Git configuration to point to the new Bitbucket repositories.
5. Adjusting Integrations: If you have any existing integrations (e.g., CI/CD pipelines) you’ll need to update them to point to Bitbucket.

Step-by-Step: Migrating to Bitbucket

Let’s break down each step in more detail:

1. Create a Bitbucket Account:

This one’s simple! Head over to Bitbucket.org and sign up for an account. Choose the plan that best suits your needs.

2. Setting up Authentication:

Bitbucket needs permission to access your repositories on GitHub or GitLab. Here’s how you grant that permission:

• Log into Bitbucket: Log in to your Bitbucket account.
• Go to Import Repository: In the left-hand navigation, look for the “+” icon (Create) and click it. Then select “Repository” from the dropdown. On the Create a new repository page, click the “Import repository” link next to “Create repository”.
• Choose Your Source: You’ll see options for importing from GitHub, GitLab, Google Code, and more. Select the platform you’re migrating from (GitHub or GitLab).
• Authorize Bitbucket: You’ll be prompted to authorize Bitbucket to access your account on the chosen platform. Follow the on-screen instructions. This usually involves logging in to your GitHub or GitLab account and granting Bitbucket the necessary permissions.

3. Importing Your Repositories:

Once Bitbucket is authorized, you’ll see a list of your repositories on GitHub or GitLab.

• Select the Repositories: Choose the repositories you want to import.
• Rename (Optional): You can rename the repositories during the import process if you wish.
• Keep it Private or Public: Select whether the repository should be public or private.
• Start the Import: Click the “Import repository” button to start the import process. Bitbucket will automatically copy your code, commit history, branches, and tags.

4. Updating Your Local Setup:

After the import, your local Git setup still points to the old repository. Here’s how to update it:

• Navigate to Your Local Repository: Open your terminal or command prompt and navigate to the local directory where your repository is stored.
• Update the Remote URL: Use the git remote set-url command to update the remote URL to the new Bitbucket repository.

  git remote set-url origin <your_bitbucket_repository_url>
  

  Replace <your_bitbucket_repository_url> with the actual URL of your repository on Bitbucket. You can find this URL on the Bitbucket repository page. It will look something like https://bitbucket.org/<your_username>/<your_repository_name>.git

• Verify the Change: Run git remote -v to verify that the remote URL has been updated correctly.

Now, when you git push or git pull, you’ll be interacting with your new Bitbucket repository.

5. Adjusting Integrations:

If you have any existing integrations, such as CI/CD pipelines in Jenkins, Travis CI, or GitLab CI, you’ll need to update them to point to the new Bitbucket repository. This will typically involve updating the repository URL and any necessary authentication credentials in your CI/CD configuration. Refer to the documentation for your specific CI/CD tool for instructions on how to do this.

Important Considerations:

• Large Repositories: Importing very large repositories can take a while. Be patient!
• Branches and Tags: Bitbucket imports your branches and tags. Double-check that everything has been migrated correctly.
• Permissions: After the migration, review the permissions on your Bitbucket repositories to ensure they are configured correctly.

Conclusion:

Migrating from GitHub or GitLab to Bitbucket is a relatively straightforward process, especially with Bitbucket’s built-in import tools. By following these steps, you can move your codebases with minimal hassle and start taking advantage of Bitbucket’s features. Good luck with your migration!