1.3 Understanding GitLab Workflow: Branches, Commits, and Merge Requests

GitLab Workflow: A Beginner’s Guide to Branches, Commits, and Merge Requests

So, you’re diving into the world of GitLab? Awesome! One of the most fundamental aspects to grasp is the GitLab workflow, which revolves around branches, commits, and merge requests. Think of it as a recipe for building software collaboratively. Let’s break it down in a way that’s easy to understand, even if you’re just starting out.

Why Workflow Matters

Imagine a bunch of chefs all trying to cook the same dish in the same kitchen, all at the same time. Chaos, right? The GitLab workflow prevents this chaos by giving everyone a designated workspace and a structured way to contribute. It allows multiple people to work on different features, fix bugs, and improve the code without stepping on each other’s toes.

1. Branches: Your Personal Workspaces

Think of branches as separate timelines diverging from the main project timeline.

• What they are: A branch is a copy of your main codebase (usually the main or master branch). You work on your specific feature or bug fix in this isolated environment.
• Why they matter: They prevent you from accidentally breaking the main codebase while you’re experimenting or making changes.
• Example: Let’s say you want to add a new “Like” button to your website. You would create a new branch called feature/like-button to work on this feature.

How to create a branch (via GitLab interface):

1. Navigate to your project in GitLab.
2. On the left sidebar, click on “Code” -> “Branches”.
3. Click the “New branch” button.
4. Enter a descriptive name for your branch (e.g., feature/like-button).
5. Select the branch you want to branch from (usually main or master).
6. Click “Create branch”.

Best Practices for Branch Names:

• Be Descriptive: Use a name that clearly indicates the purpose of the branch (e.g., fix/login-bug, feature/payment-integration).
• Keep it Short: Shorter names are easier to read and remember.
• Use a Consistent Format: Using a consistent naming convention across your team helps with organization. Common prefixes include feature/, fix/, hotfix/, and docs/.

2. Commits: Saving Your Progress

Commits are like snapshots of your work at a specific point in time.

• What they are: A commit represents a set of changes you’ve made to the files in your branch. Each commit has a message explaining what you changed.
• Why they matter: They allow you to track your progress, revert to previous versions if needed, and collaborate effectively.
• Example: You’ve added the HTML for the “Like” button and styled it with CSS. You would create a commit with a message like “Added basic HTML and CSS for Like button.”

How to make a commit (using the GitLab interface, but typically you’d use Git in your local terminal):

1. Make your changes to the files in your branch.
2. Go to the modified file in the GitLab interface.
3. Commit your changes with a descriptive message.

Best Practices for Commit Messages:

• Be Clear and Concise: Explain what you changed and why.
• Use the Imperative Mood: Start with a verb, like “Add,” “Fix,” or “Update.” (e.g., “Fix login bug” instead of “Fixed login bug”).
• Keep it Short and Sweet: Aim for a subject line under 50 characters. You can add more detail in the body of the message if necessary.

3. Merge Requests (aka Pull Requests): Asking for Permission to Merge

A merge request is how you propose your changes to be included in the main codebase.

• What they are: A merge request (MR) is a request to merge the changes from your branch into another branch (usually main or master). It’s a way to ask your team to review your code and make sure it’s good to go.
• Why they matter: They ensure code quality through peer review, allow for discussion and feedback, and prevent integration errors.
• Example: After you’ve finished developing the “Like” button and committed all your changes to the feature/like-button branch, you would create a merge request to merge it into the main branch.

How to create a Merge Request:

1. Navigate to your project in GitLab.
2. Go to the “Code” -> “Merge requests” section.
3. Click “New merge request”.
4. Select your source branch (e.g., feature/like-button) and target branch (e.g., main).
5. Fill in the title and description for your merge request. Be as descriptive as possible.
6. Assign a reviewer.
7. Click “Create merge request”.

What Happens During a Merge Request:

1. Review: Other team members review your code, provide feedback, and suggest changes.
2. Discussion: You discuss the changes with the reviewers, address their concerns, and make necessary modifications.
3. CI/CD Pipelines: GitLab automatically runs automated tests (if you have them configured) to ensure your code doesn’t break anything.
4. Merge: Once the code is approved and the tests pass, the merge request can be merged into the target branch.

The Cycle Repeats:

After the merge request is merged, you can delete the branch (it’s no longer needed), and then you start the process again with a new branch for your next feature, fix, or improvement.

In Summary

The GitLab workflow is all about:

1. Creating branches for isolated development.
2. Making commits to save your progress.
3. Creating merge requests to propose your changes for review and integration.

This workflow promotes collaboration, ensures code quality, and helps you build better software together. So, go ahead, experiment, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. The GitLab workflow is designed to help you learn and grow as a developer. Good luck!