Updated May 16, 2023
Definition of GitLab – Merge Requests
Gitlab provides different kinds of functionality to the user, in which that merge request is one of the functionalities that GitLab provides. Basically, GitLab merge request is used to verify, or we can say that it is used to check changes of source code into a branch. Normally GitLab merge requests store all detailed information about the code, as after opening of merge request, we can see all the changes of code before the merge request; it also includes the description of the merge request, inline review of codes, and all changes of code and pipelines, etc.
What is GitLab Merge Requests?
The merge request (MR) is the premise of GitLab as a code-coordinated effort and rendition control. When working in a Git-based stage, you can utilize stretching procedures to team up on code. A vault is formed by its default branch, which contains the significant rendition of the code base, from which you make minor branches, likewise called include branches, to propose changes to the code base without bringing them straightforwardly into the significant variant of the codebase. Stretching is particularly significant while working together with others, staying away from changes to be pushed straightforwardly to the default branch without earlier audits, tests, and endorsements.
At the point when you make another component branch, change the documents, and push it to GitLab, you have the choice to make a consolidation demand, which is basically a solicitation to combine one branch into another. The branch you added your progressions into is called the source branch, while the branch you solicit to blend your progressions into is called the target branch. The objective branch can be the default or some other branch, contingent upon the fanning systems you pick.
Steps for Merging Request
Now let’s see the different steps for creating a merge request as follows. There are different ways to merge the request as follows.
Create merge requests by using the merge request list.
1. First, we need to select Menu; inside the menu, find the project name that you want.
2. After selecting the project menu, we need to select the merge request command.
3. In GitLab, the window selects a new merge request in the left menu.
4. After that, we need to select the target branch and source
5. In the next step, we need to fill in the required field and create the merge request as per your requirement.
The following screenshot shows the merge request menu as follows.
After selecting the merge request, we can see the below form and fill required details, as shown in the following screenshot as follows.
Now let’s see the second way to create the merge request by using the issue as follows.
In the event that your advancement work process requires an issue for each merge branch, you can make a branch straightforwardly from the issue to speed the cycle up. The new branch, and later its consolidation demand, is set apart as identified with this issue. Once consolidated, the union solicitation shuts the issue. You can see a Create merge request dropdown underneath the issue portrayal.
The Create blend demand button doesn’t show if:
- A branch with a similar name now exists.
- A consolidation demand as of now exists for this branch.
- Your undertaking has a functioning fork relationship.
To make this button show up, one potential workaround is to eliminate your undertaking’s fork relationship. After evacuation, the fork relationship can’t be reestablished. This venture can presently don’t have the option to get or send consolidated solicitations to the source project or different forks. The below screenshot shows the create merge request as follows.
In a third way, we can use a fork to create the merge request as follows.
1. First, we need to select the project that we want.
2. After selecting the project, we need to select the forked repository.
3. From the left-side menu, select merge request and create a new merge request.
4. Select a drop-down list of source branches and select the forked repository as the source branch.
5. From the target branch drop-down list, we must select the target branch repository.
6. After that, we need to select the compare branches and continue button.
7. Finally, we need to submit the merge request.
Delete merge requests
Now let’s see how we can delete the merge request as follows.
Basically, Gitlab recommends we close the merge request instead of delete because after deletion, we cannot undo the merge request. To delete merge requests we need to follow the same steps as follows.
1. First, we need to sign in to Gitlab as a user, and your role must be a project owner. If your role is different then we cannot perform delete merge requests.
2. In the second step, we need to select the merge request option and select the edit option.
3. After that, we need to scroll the page and select the delete merge request option.
The below screenshot shows the delete merge request as follows.
Merge request workflows
Now let’s see the workflow of merge requests for better understanding as follows.
Basically, there are two workflows of merge requests in Gitlab as follows.
1. Workflow with protected branch:
In a protected branch stream, everyone works inside a similar GitLab project.
The task maintainers get the Maintainer job, and the normal designers get the Developer job.
Maintainers mark the definitive branches as ‘Secured’.
Designers push highlight branches to the project and make blend solicitations to have their element branches explored and converged into one of the ensured branches.
As a matter of course, just clients with the Maintainer job can blend changes into a protected branch.
Advantages of protected flow:
- It required fewer clusters.
- The developer required a single remote repository.
Disadvantages of protected flow:
In this workflow, we need a manual setup for each project.
2. Workflow with a fork:
In this workflow, the developer can create the fork of the specified project, and it can push the feature branch into the fork. If we require changes, then we need to create the merge request.
Advantages of fork workflow:
In this workflow, we get the required access automatically; here, we also require some manual setup.
Disadvantages of fork workflow:
We need to keep our fork up to date for the project, so we require more advanced skills in Gitlab.
Conclusion
We hope from this article; you learn more about the Gitlab merge requests. From the above article, we have taken in the essential idea of the Gitlab merge request, and we also see the representation of the Gitlab merge request. From this article, we learned how and when we use the Gitlab merge request.
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This is a guide to GitLab Merge Request. Here we discuss the definition, What is GitLab merge request?, Steps for Merging Request for better understanding. You may also have a look at the following articles to learn more –
