How to Commit in GitLab: Best Practices and Tips

by Devop · 19/08/2024

GitLab is a powerful tool for managing code and collaborating with others. Learning how to make effective commits is essential for any developer. This guide will walk you through the best practices and tips for committing in GitLab, ensuring your workflow is smooth and efficient.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Always commit related changes together to keep your commit history clean and understandable.
Commit often but make sure each commit is complete and thoroughly tested.
Write clear and meaningful commit messages to help others understand the changes.
Use branches to manage different features or fixes separately before merging them into the main branch.
Leverage GitLab’s features like the Web IDE and CI/CD pipelines to enhance your development process.

Setting Up Your Environment for GitLab Commits

Before diving into GitLab commits, you need to set up your environment. This involves installing Git, creating and adding SSH keys, and signing in to GitLab. Let’s break it down step-by-step.

Understanding Git Basics

What is a Git Repository?

Before diving into GitLab, let’s understand what a Git repository is. A Git repository is a storage space where your project files and their history are kept. Think of it as a digital archive for your code. When you make changes to your files, Git tracks these changes and stores them as commits. This way, you can always go back and see what was changed, when, and by whom.

The Importance of Branches

Branches are a crucial part of working with Git. They allow you to work on different features or fixes without affecting the main codebase. Imagine branches as different paths in a forest; you can explore one path without disturbing the others. When your work is ready, you can merge your branch back into the main branch, integrating your changes.

How Commits Work

Commits are the building blocks of your project’s history. Each commit represents a snapshot of your project at a specific point in time. When you make a commit, you’re essentially saving your work and creating a checkpoint. This makes it easy to track changes and revert to previous versions if needed. Always remember to write meaningful commit messages to describe what each commit does.

Making Your First Commit in GitLab

Creating a Sample Project

To start, create a sample project in GitLab.

In GitLab, on the left sidebar, at the top, select Create new and then New project/repository.
For Project name, enter My sample project. The project slug is generated for you. This slug is the URL you can use to access the project after it’s created.
Ensure Initialize repository with a README is selected. How you complete the other fields is up to you.
Select Create project.

Cloning the Repository

Now you can clone the repository in your project. Cloning a repository means you’re creating a copy on your computer, or wherever you want to store and work with the files.

On your project’s overview page, in the upper-right corner, select Code, then copy the URL for Clone with SSH.
Open a terminal on your computer and go to the directory where you want to clone the files.
Enter git clone and paste the URL:
Go to the directory:
By default, you’ve cloned the default branch for the repository. Usually, this branch is main. To be sure, get the name of the default branch:
The branch you’re on is marked with an asterisk. Press Q on your keyboard to return to the main terminal window.

Creating a Branch and Making Changes

Now that you have a copy of the repository, create your own branch so you can work on your changes independently.

Create a new branch called example-tutorial-branch:
In a text editor like Visual Studio Code, Sublime, vi, or any other editor, open the README.md file and add this text:
Save the file.
Git keeps track of changed files. To confirm which files have changed, get the status:
You should get output similar to the following:

Committing and Pushing Your Changes

You’ve made changes to a file in your repository. Now it’s time to record those changes by making your first commit.

Add the README.md file to the staging area. The staging area is where you put files before you commit them.
You should get output similar to the following, and the filename should be in green text.
Now commit the staged file, and include a message that describes the change you made. Make sure you surround the message in double quotes (").
The change has been committed to your branch, but your branch and its commits are still only available on your computer. No one else has access to them yet. Push your branch to GitLab:

Your branch is now available on GitLab and visible to other users in your project.

Tip: Don’t worry if you mess things up. Everything in Git can be reverted, and if you find you can’t recover, you can always create a new branch and start again.

Merging Your Changes

Now you’re ready to merge the changes from your example-tutorial-branch branch to the default branch (main).

Check out the default branch for your repository.
Merge your branch into the default branch.
Push the changes.

Note: For this tutorial, you merge your branch directly to the default branch for your repository. In GitLab, you typically use a merge request to merge your branch.

Viewing Your Changes in GitLab

You did it! You updated the README.md file in your branch, and you merged those changes into the main branch.

Let’s look in the UI and confirm your changes. Go to your project.

Scroll down and view the contents of the README.md file. Your changes should be visible.
Above the README.md file, view the text in the Last commit column. Your commit message is displayed in this column.

Now you can return to the command line and change back to your personal branch (git checkout example-tutorial-branch). You can continue updating files or creating new ones. Type git status to view the status of your changes and commit with abandon.

Nice work!

Best Practices for Committing in GitLab

Commit Often and Keep It Small

Committing often keeps your changes small and manageable. This makes it easier to share your code frequently with others, helping everyone integrate changes regularly and avoid merge conflicts. Small commits are easier to understand and roll back if something goes wrong.

Avoid Committing Half-Done Work

Only commit code when a logical component is completed. Split a feature’s implementation into logical chunks that can be completed quickly so you can commit often. If you need a clean working copy, consider using Git’s stash feature instead.

Test Your Code Before Committing

Always test your code thoroughly before committing. This ensures that your changes are complete and have no side effects. Testing is even more important when pushing or sharing your code with others.

Write Meaningful Commit Messages

Start your commit message with a short summary of your changes. Follow it with a detailed explanation of what was changed and why. Use the imperative, present tense (e.g., "fix bug" not "fixed bug"). This makes your commit history easier to read and understand.

Remember, committing often and keeping changes small helps everyone integrate changes regularly and avoid merge conflicts.

Advanced Tips for GitLab Commits

Using Git Stash for Temporary Changes

Sometimes, you need to switch tasks but don’t want to commit half-done work. Git Stash is your friend here. It temporarily saves your changes without committing them. Use git stash to save your work and git stash pop to retrieve it later. This way, you can keep your working directory clean and switch branches easily.

Rebasing to Keep a Clean History

Rebasing is a powerful tool to keep your commit history clean and linear. Instead of merging branches, which can create messy histories, use git rebase. This command re-applies your changes on top of another branch. It makes your project history easier to read and understand. Remember, rebase with caution and avoid rebasing shared branches.

Leveraging Merge Requests for Code Review

Merge Requests (MRs) are essential for code reviews in GitLab. They allow team members to discuss and review code before it gets merged. Always create an MR for significant changes. This practice not only improves code quality but also fosters collaboration. Use the MR templates in GitLab to ensure you cover all necessary points during the review process.

Keeping your commit history clean and using MRs effectively can significantly improve your team’s workflow and code quality.

Utilizing GitLab Features for Better Commits

Using the GitLab Web IDE

The GitLab Web IDE is a powerful tool that lets you edit, commit, and push changes directly from your browser. No need to switch between different tools. You can write code, preview markdown, and even resolve merge conflicts all in one place. This makes it easier to manage your projects and keep your workflow smooth.

Setting Up CI/CD Pipelines

Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines automate the process of testing and deploying your code. With GitLab, you can set up these pipelines to run tests every time you push a commit. This ensures that your code is always in a deployable state. Plus, it helps catch bugs early, making your commits more reliable.

Managing Merge Conflicts

Merge conflicts can be a headache, but GitLab offers tools to make resolving them easier. You can use the GitLab Web IDE to resolve conflicts directly in the browser. Additionally, GitLab provides multiple security features that rely on the committer field to be set to the user who creates the commit. This ensures that the right person is credited for the work, making it easier to track changes and maintain accountability.

Using GitLab’s features can significantly improve the quality and efficiency of your commits. From the Web IDE to CI/CD pipelines, these tools are designed to make your life easier and your code better.

Discover how GitLab’s features can help you make better commits and streamline your development process. From automated testing to powerful branching tools, GitLab has everything you need to improve your workflow. Want to learn more? Visit our website for detailed guides and resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Git on my local machine?

To install Git, visit the official Git website, download the installer for your operating system, and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

What is a Git repository?

A Git repository is a storage space where your project files and their history of changes are kept. It helps you track and manage changes to your project over time.

Why should I use branches in Git?

Branches allow you to work on different features or fixes separately without affecting the main codebase. This makes it easier to manage changes and collaborate with others.

How do I make my first commit in GitLab?

First, create a new project in GitLab. Then, clone the repository to your local machine, create a new branch, make your changes, commit them, and push the changes back to GitLab.

What are some best practices for committing in GitLab?

Commit often and keep your commits small. Avoid committing incomplete work, test your code before committing, and write clear and meaningful commit messages.

How can I resolve merge conflicts in GitLab?

To resolve merge conflicts, you can use the GitLab Web IDE or a local text editor to manually fix the conflicting code. After resolving the conflicts, commit the changes and push them to the repository.