Updated April 17, 2023
Introduction to GitLab Flow
Basically, Gitlab allows us to implement a wide variety of different strategies and workflows. Nowadays, in many organizations, there is no proper workflow or we can say that they flow some complicated workflow. Complicated workflow means that there is no proper workflow, there is no issues tracking system. Because of this problem the new concept in the picture has all the required perquisites that are Gitlab flow. The Gitlab flow is used to combine all feature-driven development and different units with issue tracking options. Basically, Gitlab flow provides a transparent and effective way to implement the system.
What is GitLab Flow?
GitLab Flow is a more straightforward option in contrast to GitFlow and joins highlight driven turn of events and element branches with the issue following. With GitLab Flow, all provisions and fixes go to the principal branch while empowering creation and stable branches. GitLab Flow incorporates a bunch of best practices and rules to guarantee programming advancement groups follow a smooth cycle to dispatch includes cooperatively. Git improves on expanding and blending, driving programming advancement groups to move away from other source control devices, like SVN, and embrace a work process to improve on advancement. Associations moving to Git from other rendition control frameworks might experience issues distinguishing a successful work process.
Git flow and its problems
Now let’s see the git-flow and what problems occur in git-flow as follows.
Git flow was one of the main propositions to utilize Git branches, and it has gotten a great deal of consideration. It recommends the main branch and a different development branch, just as supporting branches for elements, discharges, and hotfixes. The development occurs on the developed branch, moves to a delivery branch, and is, at last, converged into the fundamental branch.
Git flow shows clear-cut norms; however, its intricacy presents two issues. The primary issue is that engineers should utilize the development branch and not fundamental. Basically main is held for code that is delivered to creation. It is a show to call your default branch principle and to for the most part branch from and converge to this. Since most instruments naturally utilize the primary branch as the default, it is irritating to need to change to another branch.
The second issue of Git flow is the intricacy presented by the hotfix and delivery branches. These branches can be a smart thought for certain associations yet are over the top excess for by far most of them. These days, most associations practice constant conveyance, which implies that your default branch can be sent. Persistent conveyance eliminates the requirement for hotfix and discharge branches, including all the services they present. An illustration of this function is the converging back of delivery branches. However particular devices do exist to tackle this, they require documentation and add intricacy. Much of the time, engineers commit errors, for example, blending changes just into fundamentals and not into the development branch. The justification behind these blunders is that Git flow is excessively confused for most use cases. For instance, many activities do deliver yet don’t have to do hotfixes.
GitHub flow alternative
The below diagram shows the actual flow of GitHub as follows.
This flow is spotless and clear, and numerous associations have embraced it with incredible achievement. Atlassian suggests a comparative procedure, in spite of the fact that rebases include branches. Consolidating everything into the main branch and as often as possible conveying implies you limit the measure of unreleased code. This methodology is in accordance with lean and consistent conveyance best practices. Be that as it may, this stream actually leaves a lot of inquiries unanswered in regards to arrangements, conditions, deliveries, and combinations with issues. With GitLab stream, we offer extra direction for these inquiries.
Issue tracking with GitLab flow
Now let’s see how we can track the issue by using Gitlab flow as follows.
Basically, Gitlab flow is used to define the relationship between the developer and issue or we can say that code and issue tracker. During the development process if any error may occur, so at that time we need to describe what is the issue. As developers, if you have a specific reason for that issue then you need to inform all team members and make the scope of the feature unit less. But in Gitlab every change starts with the issue, in many companies raise an issue and it is considered as a development team part due to the fact that they are working on sprint planning. So at that time, we need to describe what the actual issue is and what the state of that issue is. The issue tracking is shown in the below screenshot, this screenshot we import from the official website of Gitlab is as follows.
In the above screenshot show the issues menu by using any one of the options we can track the issue.
In the above screenshot, we show the issue board. And below screenshot shows the merge requirements of an issue as follows.
Working with feature branches
Now let’s see the working feature branches as follows.
The feature branch is one of the separate branches in Gitlab flow and it is used to implement the single feature of specified projects as per the requirement. When we add the new feature into a project that means we created a new branch for that feature, instead of all these changes you can just change it into the master branch as per the requirement.
Feature branches let you focus on a solitary explicit assignment at one time. They let you use Git to monitor little changes while shielding partners from your progressions until the feature is “finished.” What’s more, on the off chance that you need to hop off of a specific component to chip away at something different, for example, a pressing bug fix, you need not stress over bludgeoning your progressions or ruining your repository. In short, we need to follow the different steps as follows.
1. First, we need to start the master.
2. Then we can create a new feature branch.
3. After that, we need to deploy the changes on the newly created branch.
4. Now push the feature branch into the remote repository as per requirement.
Conclusion
We hope from this article you learn more about the GitLab flow. From the above article, we have taken in the essential idea of the GitLab flow and we also see the representation of the GitLab flow. From this article, we learned how and when we use the GitLab flow.
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