A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Create a Subgroup in GitLab

by Devop · 31/12/2023

In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to create a subgroup in GitLab. We will start by understanding what a subgroup is and why it is useful in GitLab. Then, we will walk you through the process of creating a subgroup and configuring its settings. Finally, we will discuss how to manage subgroups, including adding and removing projects, managing members, and setting permissions. Along the way, we will share best practices for organizing subgroups, naming conventions, collaboration, and regular maintenance. By the end of this guide, you will have a clear understanding of how to create and manage subgroups in GitLab.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Subgroups in GitLab allow for better organization and management of projects.
Creating a subgroup involves accessing GitLab, navigating to the group, and configuring subgroup settings.
Subgroups can be used to add and remove projects, manage members, and set permissions.
Best practices for subgroups include organizing them effectively, using consistent naming conventions, promoting collaboration, and regularly maintaining them.
By following this step-by-step guide, you will be able to create and manage subgroups in GitLab with ease.

Understanding Subgroups in GitLab

What is a Subgroup?

A subgroup in GitLab is a way to organize and manage projects within a larger group. It allows you to group related projects together, making it easier to navigate and collaborate on them. Subgroups provide a hierarchical structure, where you can have multiple levels of subgroups within a group. This helps in organizing projects based on teams, departments, or any other logical grouping. Subgroups can be created and configured with specific settings to control access and permissions for the projects within them.

Why Use Subgroups in GitLab?

Subgroups in GitLab provide a way to further organize and manage your projects within a larger group. They offer several benefits, including:

Benefits of Using Subgroups

Using subgroups in GitLab offers several advantages for organizing and managing your projects. It allows you to create a hierarchical structure that reflects your team’s workflow and project dependencies. With subgroups, you can easily group related projects together, making it easier to navigate and find specific repositories. Additionally, subgroups provide a way to manage permissions and access control at a more granular level, allowing you to define different levels of access for different teams or individuals. Overall, using subgroups in GitLab enhances collaboration, simplifies project management, and improves overall organization.

Creating a Subgroup in GitLab

Step 1: Accessing GitLab

To begin creating a subgroup in GitLab, you first need to access your GitLab account. Open your preferred web browser and navigate to the GitLab website. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up for free. Once you’re on the GitLab homepage, click on the ‘Sign in’ button at the top right corner of the page. Enter your username and password, then click ‘Sign in’ to access your GitLab account.

Step 2: Navigating to the Group

After accessing GitLab, the next step is to navigate to the group where you want to create the subgroup. To do this, follow these instructions:

From the GitLab dashboard, click on the ‘Groups’ tab located in the left sidebar.
In the ‘Your Groups’ section, locate and click on the name of the group that you want to create the subgroup under.
You will be redirected to the group’s page where you can manage its settings and projects.

Remember to choose the appropriate group that aligns with your project’s objectives and team structure.

Step 3: Creating a Subgroup

After accessing GitLab and navigating to the group, you can create a subgroup in GitLab. To create a subgroup, follow these steps:

Click on the ‘New Subgroup’ button.
Enter a name for the subgroup.
Optionally, provide a description for the subgroup.
Choose the visibility level for the subgroup.
Click on the ‘Create Subgroup’ button.

Creating subgroups in GitLab allows you to organize your projects and manage them more efficiently. With GitLab Premium, you can take advantage of advanced features and enhanced collaboration capabilities within your subgroups.

Step 4: Configuring Subgroup Settings

After creating a subgroup in GitLab, the next step is to configure its settings. This allows you to customize the behavior and permissions of the subgroup to suit your needs. To configure the subgroup settings, follow these steps:

Navigate to the subgroup’s page by clicking on its name in the group’s sidebar.
Click on the ‘Settings’ tab.
Here, you can modify various settings such as the subgroup’s name, description, visibility level, and access permissions.
Make sure to review and adjust the settings according to your requirements.

Remember, the configuration of subgroup settings is crucial for ensuring smooth collaboration and efficient project management within the subgroup.

Managing Subgroups in GitLab

Adding Projects to a Subgroup

To add projects to a subgroup in GitLab, follow these steps:

Navigate to the subgroup where you want to add the project.
Click on the ‘Projects’ tab.
Click on the ‘New project’ button.
Fill in the project details, such as name, description, and visibility.
Click on the ‘Create project’ button.

Once the project is created, it will be added to the subgroup and can be accessed and managed from there.

Remember to ensure that the project you want to add is already created in GitLab before following these steps.

Removing Projects from a Subgroup

To remove a project from a subgroup in GitLab, follow these steps:

Navigate to the subgroup where the project is located.
Click on the ‘Settings’ tab.
Scroll down to the ‘Projects’ section.
Find the project you want to remove and click on the ‘Remove’ button next to it.
Confirm the removal when prompted.

It’s important to note that removing a project from a subgroup does not delete the project itself. It simply removes it from the subgroup and returns it to the main group. This can be useful if you want to reorganize your projects or if a project no longer belongs to a specific subgroup.

Tip: Before removing a project from a subgroup, make sure to communicate with the relevant team members to avoid any confusion or disruption in collaboration.

Managing Subgroup Members

To manage the members of a subgroup in GitLab, follow these steps:

On the left sidebar, select Search or go to and find your group.
Select Manage > Members.
Give a different member the Owner role.
Refresh the page.

You can now easily manage the members of your subgroup and assign different roles to them as needed.

Setting Subgroup Permissions

After creating a subgroup in GitLab, you can configure the permissions for the subgroup to control who can access and modify its content. To set subgroup permissions, follow these steps:

Navigate to the subgroup’s settings page.
Click on the ‘Permissions’ tab.
In the ‘Permissions’ tab, you can specify the access level for each role within the subgroup, such as ‘Owner’, ‘Maintainer’, ‘Developer’, or ‘Reporter’.
You can also set permissions for specific members or groups by adding them to the ‘Members’ section and assigning the appropriate access level.

It’s important to carefully consider the permissions you grant to ensure the security and integrity of your subgroup. Remember to regularly review and update the permissions as needed to maintain a secure and efficient workflow.

Best Practices for Subgroups in GitLab

Organizing Subgroups

When it comes to organizing subgroups in GitLab, there are a few best practices to keep in mind. First, consider implementing a table for presenting structured, quantitative data. This can be useful for organizing subgroups based on specific criteria or metrics. Make sure the table is succinct and formatted correctly in Markdown.

Additionally, using a bulleted or numbered list can be effective for less structured content. For example, you can create a list of steps for organizing subgroups or a series of related items. This helps to provide clarity and make the information more digestible.

Lastly, it’s important to regularly maintain your subgroups. This includes reviewing and updating subgroup memberships, permissions, and project assignments. By keeping your subgroups organized and up-to-date, you can ensure smooth collaboration and efficient project management within GitLab.

Remember, the goal of organizing subgroups is to streamline workflows and improve collaboration. So, take the time to plan and structure your subgroups in a way that best suits your team’s needs and objectives.

Naming Conventions for Subgroups

When creating subgroups in GitLab, it is important to follow a consistent naming convention. This helps maintain organization and clarity within your projects. Here are some best practices for naming subgroups:

Keep the names concise and descriptive.
Use lowercase letters and separate words with hyphens.
Avoid using special characters or spaces.
Consider including the parent group name as a prefix to provide context.

Following these naming conventions will make it easier for team members to navigate and understand the purpose of each subgroup.

Collaboration within Subgroups

When working within subgroups in GitLab, it’s important to foster a collaborative environment where team members can effectively communicate and work together towards common goals. Here are some best practices to promote collaboration:

Clear Communication: Ensure that all team members are on the same page by using GitLab’s built-in communication tools such as issue comments, merge request discussions, and group chats.
Shared Responsibilities: Encourage a sense of ownership and shared responsibilities within the subgroup. Assign tasks and distribute workload evenly among team members.
Regular Sync-ups: Schedule regular sync-up meetings or stand-ups to keep everyone updated on the progress of the subgroup’s projects and address any blockers or challenges.
Open and Transparent: Foster an open and transparent culture within the subgroup. Encourage team members to share ideas, provide feedback, and ask questions openly.
Collaborative Tools: Utilize GitLab’s collaborative features such as code reviews, merge requests, and project boards to facilitate collaboration and streamline the development process.

Remember, effective collaboration within subgroups can lead to increased productivity, better outcomes, and a stronger sense of teamwork.

Regular Maintenance of Subgroups

Regular maintenance is crucial for keeping your subgroups organized and efficient. Here are some best practices to follow:

Review Subgroup Structure: Periodically review the structure of your subgroups to ensure they align with your team’s needs and goals. Consider if any subgroups need to be merged, split, or renamed.
Manage Subgroup Members: Regularly review and update the members of your subgroups. Add new members as needed and remove any members who are no longer active or relevant.
Monitor Subgroup Activity: Keep an eye on the activity within your subgroups. Monitor project progress, track issues, and ensure that collaboration is happening effectively.
Regularly Update Subgroup Permissions: Review and update the permissions of your subgroups to ensure that the right level of access is granted to the members. Regularly check if any changes in roles or responsibilities require adjustments to subgroup permissions.

By following these maintenance practices, you can ensure that your subgroups remain organized, efficient, and aligned with your team’s goals.

In this article, we will discuss the best practices for managing subgroups in GitLab. Subgroups are a powerful feature in GitLab that allow you to organize your projects and repositories in a hierarchical structure. By following these best practices, you can ensure efficient collaboration, better access control, and improved project management within your organization. Whether you are a small team or a large enterprise, understanding how to effectively use subgroups in GitLab can greatly enhance your development workflow. To learn more about subgroups in GitLab and how to implement these best practices, visit our website: Home Page – DevSecOps.

Conclusion

Creating a subgroup in GitLab is a straightforward process that allows you to organize your projects and collaborate more efficiently. By following the step-by-step guide outlined in this article, you can easily create a subgroup and manage your projects with ease. Remember to customize your subgroup settings and permissions to suit your team’s needs. With GitLab’s powerful features and intuitive interface, you can streamline your workflow and enhance your development process. Start creating subgroups today and experience the benefits of improved project organization and collaboration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a subgroup in GitLab?

A subgroup in GitLab is a way to organize projects within a larger group. It allows for better management and collaboration within a specific subset of projects.

Why should I use subgroups in GitLab?

Using subgroups in GitLab provides a more organized and structured approach to managing projects. It allows for better control over access permissions and simplifies the navigation of projects.

How do I create a subgroup in GitLab?

To create a subgroup in GitLab, you need to navigate to the desired group and click on the ‘New Subgroup’ button. Then, provide the necessary details such as the name and path of the subgroup.

Can I add projects to an existing subgroup?

Yes, you can add projects to an existing subgroup by going to the subgroup’s settings and selecting the ‘Projects’ tab. From there, you can choose to add existing projects or create new ones within the subgroup.

How can I remove projects from a subgroup?

To remove projects from a subgroup, go to the subgroup’s settings and navigate to the ‘Projects’ tab. From there, you can select the projects you want to remove and click on the ‘Remove’ button.

How do I manage members within a subgroup?

To manage members within a subgroup, go to the subgroup’s settings and select the ‘Members’ tab. From there, you can add or remove members, assign different access levels, and manage their permissions.

What are the recommended naming conventions for subgroups in GitLab?

It is recommended to use descriptive and meaningful names for subgroups in GitLab. This helps in easily identifying the purpose or theme of the subgroup.

How often should I perform maintenance on subgroups in GitLab?

Regular maintenance of subgroups in GitLab is important to ensure their organization and cleanliness. It is recommended to review and update subgroups periodically, especially when projects or team members change.