What is Gitlab?

What is Gitlab?

Software development is a task that often requires entire teams of specialists to solve. To simplify interaction and code storage, special applications are used, one of which is GitLab. What are its main features? What are the advantages and differences from analogues?

General concept

GitLab is a network platform that provides easy interaction with a project, conditions for safe storage of program code, and quick access to it. The platform is based on the Git system, known to many, for example, from GitHub. Before studying the functions and capabilities of the application in detail, you should consider the main concepts associated with it:

• Commit. A package that contains data on deleted or modified files that form the code. A commit allows you to quickly roll back to the previous version, eliminate the consequences of errors, and restore functionality in just a couple of seconds.
• Repository. An area for storing code and auxiliary files that ensure its operability, correct functioning, and display of the interface elements of the application being created. In essence, it is an analogue of a regular folder on a PC hard drive, but it saves the editing history, which helps to quickly roll back changes if they were unsuccessful.
• Branches. Program creation lines that exist in isolation from each other. This approach allows developers to work efficiently, without interference and repetition of errors. If necessary, you can merge or combine branches. Of course, this should be done only after a thorough check, confirmation of operability.

Platform functions

GitLab simplifies the interaction between software developers, helps them clearly delineate and divide responsibilities, plan the process, conduct comprehensive code testing, build the project, publish the test version. Each of the functions should be considered in more detail.

Preparing a plan

GitLab allows you to prepare a list of tasks, group them by projects, designate persons responsible for their implementation, set deadlines. The senior specialist monitors the timeliness of achieving goals, if necessary - redistribute responsibilities, assign additional employees.

Code creation

Thanks to branches and repositories, specialists work in parallel, without interfering with each other, without fear of probable errors leading to incompatibility of software components and modules. As new parts of the code are ready, they can be combined or modified to ensure the required stability.

Code testing

GitLab automatically sends the changed code for testing. The verification algorithm looks like this:

• Automatic search for compilation errors.
• Running tests prepared by developers. For example, modular tests check individual code segments, integration tests check the compatibility of parts. The purpose of the test is to establish the correctness of the changes so that they do not provoke instability of the program or limit its functionality.
• Preparing a report. The reporting data will allow the developer to eliminate errors, adjust the code to improve stability and expand functionality.

Build

The project is built on the basis of containers, which contain all the files that ensure the correct operation of the application. Containers can be launched in any system, which ensures versatility and convenience. GitLab functionality allows for automated container updates when adjusting the code.

Release

GitLab has integrated CI and CD tools, which ensure automation of the entire development, from preparing the initial version of the code to loading the software into the working environment, be it an operating system, a remote server, or a mobile device.

GitLab allows for several deployment scenarios:

• Blue-green. The code is checked in the "blue" environment, and if the check is successful, it is transferred to the "green" one.
• Canary. Initially, the new version of the program is opened only for some users, which allows for testing, detection and elimination of problems. If there are no failures, the software becomes publicly available.
• Smooth. The program version is updated without interrupting operation. This is possible when using several servers simultaneously, and allows for the implementation of a scenario of alternating code updates.

All of the above scenarios help to significantly reduce risks when updating the program, installing its new versions, and eliminate incompatibility issues. If necessary, a rollback to a working version is performed.

Monitoring

GitLab records and saves the main indicators of testing and correctness of the program, indicates the types and number of errors detected. If necessary, however, you can use third-party monitoring tools.

Comparison with analogues

GitLab is not the only development of this class. GitHub and Git are popular. Git is a complex system that allows you to keep file changes under strict control, interact with other developers. Git saves all the necessary information. The size of the files is minimal, which saves server and disk space without harming the integrity and correctness of reading data.

GitLab and GitHub are services that allow you to save repositories, interact with them remotely, and effectively perform other tasks related to development. Despite the same specification, there are some differences:

• GitLab has a free continuous integration feature, GitHub has an Actions tool that allows you to integrate developments into public repositories for free, while private ones are available on a paid basis.
• GitHub does not have an integrated deployment platform, GitLab allows you to use Kubernetes.
• GitLab has free repositories for open-source programs. GitHub does not have them.

Efficiency and advantages

Working with GitLab is often easier than with similar platforms. The platform is not too difficult to master, offers a lot of additional features that simplify the creation of software. The most significant functions are as follows:

• Flexibility of access control to repositories where code elements are stored. Dozens of programmers can work with the program at the same time, and their rights and responsibilities are clearly delineated and distributed. For example, some specialists are blocked from any actions aimed at changing the code, but they can still perform checks and search for errors. This function simplifies the process and ensures the security of the application.
• Efficient training. GitLab provides tools for creating training pages that contain not only text instructions, but also informative illustrations, videos, and graphs. Such pages help newly recruited specialists quickly understand the intricacies and join the team.
• Distribution of responsibilities and management. Project managers can assign tasks to all involved specialists and set deadlines for their completion.
• Efficient CI/CD management tools. CI is a tool that automatically uploads code to the repository, which simplifies the search for errors and compatibility issues. CD is a tool that increases the efficiency of CI. After the code has successfully passed the initial testing, it showed no errors, CD records the changes in the execution environment, the updated version can be downloaded by anyone.

Recommendations for use

You can realize the benefits of GitLab only if you use it correctly. First of all, you need to create an account. This is done by registering on the official website, specifying a unique username, password, and email address. The system will send an email with a link, clicking on which will complete the registration.

Preparing a repository

In the account, you need to create a repository, indicating its name, description, and access level. The repository can be either personal, accessible only to the creator, or public, open to all users.

Downloading project files

The repository menu provides functions for creating new files, loading previously created files, adding licenses. You can load files from a laptop or other device without prior modification, format adjustment, or other actions.

SSH keys

The standard algorithm for uploading files to a GitLab repository involves confirming your credentials by entering a password and username. You can simplify and speed up the process by creating SSH keys. This is done as follows:

• Opening a terminal;
• Running the “ssh-keygen” command;
• Specifying the file path.

GitLab creates a pair of files, one of which is open and the other is closed. The keys are stored in the open. The algorithm for setting up keys is as follows:

• Opening a file in a text editor;
• Copying data to the clipboard;
• Opening GitLab settings;
• Copying data to the “Key” column;
• Confirming the action;
• Opening a repository, pressing the “Clone” button;
• Opening a local repository, deleting the https address;
• Adding SSH.

Interacting with branches

Initially, in GitLab repositories, you can only work with the main branch. If necessary, you can create additional independent branches by pressing the “+” button. The transition between branches is also carried out in one click, and all changes and actions are carried out using the settings menu. A separate function, “Merge”, is provided for merging branches.

Adding users

The number of specialists working with repositories is not limited. Adding is carried out according to the following scheme:

• Opening the settings menu;
• Selecting the “participants” item;
• Specifying the users who need to be involved in the implementation of the project, designating their access rights.

Possible problems and their solutions

In general, GitLab is the most reliable and stable platform. The problems that arise are, in most cases, insignificant, the solution is as simple as possible. Most often, you have to deal with the following failures:

• Incorrect execution of pull requests. The reason is a delay in SSH verification. You need to reconfigure all repositories.
• Authorization errors. You need to check that the username and password are specified correctly.
• Startup problems. Most likely, GitLab will issue a notification about the lack of connection to the servers. You need to make sure that the correct data is entered, and that a static IP address is used instead of a dynamically changing one.

Summing up

GitLab is a web platform that allows you to optimize and debug all processes related to software development. It can be used by both beginners and professional teams. Practice has shown that GitLab is effective in all situations, regardless of the scale of the project being created, its specification, purpose. In terms of functionality, this platform is quite comparable to another popular product, GitHub.

Author of the article:

Editor-in-Chief

Danaev Almaz