GitLab in software development – part 1: Workflow

GitLab is a repository manager based on Git architecture, as well as a powerful tool for software development. Offering a user-friendly interface, GitLab enables efficient work – both using the command line and the UI itself.

GitLab is very helpful for developers but also other team members, providing all employees with a single, unique work platform.

GitLab’s workflow is intuitive and easy to work with. Thanks to that, teams find it easy to use the platform that also offers a straightforward implementation.

GitLab’s workflow is nothing else than a sequence of activities that are part of the software development process handled inside the GitLab platform.

GitLab’s workflow is based on GitLab Flow and thus supports version management following Git’s principles. Its main goal is integrating teamwork and improving performance at all stages – from implementation to production. This is what we call the “fast transition from idea to production in 10 steps”.

The traditional software development process usually takes place in 10 main steps. GitLab has created a solution for each of them:

Effective passage through all the stages requires good workflow support mechanisms. In the following sections, we provide an overview of GitLab tools for facilitating the work of development teams.

GitLab offers an application tracking function, allowing you, your team, and colleagues to freely share and exchange ideas, both before and during implementation.

Reports (issues) is the first of the essential GitLab workflow functions. Starting a discussion from the application is the best way to follow the evolution of the new idea.

Issue Tracker allows, among others:

Each project hosted by GitLab has its Issue Tracker. To create a new application in the right project, select Issues> New issue, give it a title corresponding to the topic and describe it with the help of Markdown. You can use these tips to create good descriptions.

GitLab Issue Tracker provides additional features to facilitate the organization and prioritization described below.

If you want a discussion on the application to be available only to your team, you can mark it as confidential. Even if the project is public, the specific application will be protected. The browser will show a 404 error if someone without the permission (at least at the Reporter level) attempts to open the request URL.

You can assign a deadline to each application. Some teams have a tight schedule, so it is necessary to set a deadline for deployment and troubleshooting. Deadlines introduce this possibility.

For multitasking projects, such as a new release, product launch, or quarterly task tracking, the tool offers milestones.

When someone starts working on a report, you can assign it directly to that person. Assignments can be changed without restrictions. The idea is that the assigned person is responsible for reporting until they are assigned to someone else. Of course, it is possible to filter the application by assignments.

The GitLab naming system is another essential part of the GitLab workflow. We can use them to categorize applications, arrange them in the workflow, and prioritize them.

The markings allow working with the GitLab application table, enabling the planning and organization of workflows.

A novelty here is the ability to create group markings that allow assigning the same designations to groups of projects.

Each application can be assigned the appropriate weight to precisely determine the difficulty of implementing it. Easier applications can get weight between 01-03, ones that are a bit harder between 04-06, and the most difficult ones usually weigh between 07-09. In agreement with the team, you can, of course, develop your own weight standards.

A small note: the feature described above is only available in the GitLab Enterprise Edition and GitLab.com versions.

GitLab Issue Board is an excellent tool for planning and organizing applications with the aim of adapting them to the processes in your project.

The board displays appropriately marked lists that allow dividing entries by category. Each of the lists contains relevant applications presented in the form of cards.

Cards can be pinned to lists in any way. This action adds a list marker to a given card. As a result, it makes it easier to work with after switching from the board view to the view of the declaration (Issues).

A new feature that has been introduced recently is the option to use multiple Multiple Issue Boards in one project. Multiple Issue Boards is the best way to organize entries from several workflows simultaneously.

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