How to Push an Existing Project to GitLab: A Step-by-Step Guide For Test Automation

 

Here are the detailed steps, starting from cloning a GitLab repository to creating a branch, pushing changes, and raising a Merge Request (MR), ultimately merging the changes into the master branch.

Prerequisites

• Git is installed on your machine.
• You have access to the GitLab repository.
• GitLab credentials (username/password or SSH keys) are ready.

1. Clone the GitLab Repository

Step 1: Get the Clone URL

1. Log in to your GitLab account.
2. Navigate to the repository you want to clone.
3. Click the Clone button on the repository page.
4. Copy the HTTPS or SSH URL.

Step 2: Clone the Repository

• Open your terminal (Linux/macOS) or Git Bash (Windows).
• Run the following command:

git clone <repository-URL>

Example:

git clone https://gitlab.com/username/project.git

Step 3: Navigate to the Project Directory

• Change to the cloned project directory:

cd project-name

2. Create a New Branch (Best Practice for Collaboration)

Step 4: Create and Switch to a New Branch

Create a new branch to work on your changes. This avoids making changes directly to master:

git checkout -b <branch-name>

Example:

git checkout -b feature-new-functionality

3. Make Changes to the Codebase

Step 5: Modify or Add Files

• You can now start modifying or adding files.
• To check the status of your changes:

git status

4. Stage, Commit, and Push Your Changes

Step 6: Stage the Changes

• Add the files you want to include in the commit:

git add <file-name>

To add all modified files:

git add .

Step 7: Commit Your Changes

• Once files are staged, commit them with a meaningful message

git commit -m "Descriptive commit message"

Step 8: Push Your Branch to GitLab

• Push your branch to the remote repository:

git push origin <branch-name>

Example:

git push origin feature-new-functionality

5. Raise a Merge Request (MR)

Step 9: Open GitLab and Navigate to Your Repository

1. Log in to GitLab and navigate to your repository.
2. GitLab may prompt you to create a Merge Request for the newly pushed branch. If so, click Create Merge Request.

Step 10: Manually Create a Merge Request (if not prompted)

1. Click on Merge Requests in the left sidebar of the repository.
2. Click New Merge Request.

Step 11: Select the Source and Target Branches

1. Source branch: The branch you created (e.g., feature-new-functionality).
2. Target branch: The branch you want to merge into (typically master).

Step 12: Fill in the Merge Request Details

1. Title: Add a descriptive title.
2. Description: Provide a summary of the changes.
3. Assign reviewers (optional) if working in a team.

Step 13: Submit the Merge Request

• Click Submit Merge Request to open the MR for review.

6. Review and Merge the Changes

Step 14: Review and Feedback (Optional)

• Team members can review the MR, request changes, or approve it.
• If changes are requested, make the required modifications locally, commit, and push again

git push origin <branch-name>

Step 15: Merge the Request

• Once the MR is approved, you or the reviewer can merge the branch.
• Navigate to the Merge Request page in GitLab and click Merge.

7. Clean Up and Update Local Master

Step 16: Delete the Branch (Optional)

• Once merged, you can delete the feature branch in GitLab or locally:

git branch -d <branch-name>

Example:

git branch -d feature-new-functionality

Step 17: Pull the Latest Changes to Your Local Master

• Switch to the master branch:

git checkout master

Pull the latest changes:

git pull origin master

Following these steps will guide you from cloning the repository, creating a feature branch, pushing changes, and raising a Merge Request to merge your changes into the master branch.