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Aravindhan S
Aravindhan S

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Day 4 🧰 Getting Started with Git and GitLab: Projects, Features & More!

#git #gitlab #programming #webdev

🔧 What is Git?

Git is a distributed version control system (VCS) — basically, a way to track changes in your code, collaborate with others, and avoid the dreaded “it worked on my machine” scenario.

It helps you:

  1. Track changes (commits)

  2. Create branches for features or fixes

  3. Merge code collaboratively

  4. Revert or rollback when things go sideways

You’ll mostly interact with Git from the terminal, but tools like VS Code or GitHub Desktop give you nice GUIs too.

Here’s a super basic Git workflow:

git init                # Start a new Git repo
git add .               # Stage your changes
git commit -m "message" # Save your changes
git push                # Send them to a remote repo
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🚀 What is GitLab?

GitLab is a web-based Git repository manager (kind of like GitHub or Bitbucket) with a twist: it’s a full DevOps platform. It’s not just for hosting code — it supports planning, testing, building, deploying, and even monitoring.

You can host GitLab yourself or use GitLab.com.

Some developers like it for its deep integration across the development lifecycle, especially its built-in CI/CD, security tools, and project management features.

📁 Adding a Project to GitLab

You’ve got two main options: start fresh, or push an existing project.
➕ Option 1: Create a New Project (from scratch)

  1. Head to GitLab.com and log in.

  2. Click New Project.

  3. Choose Blank Project or use a template.

  4. Name your project, set visibility (private/public), and hit Create Project.

⬆️ Option 2: Push an Existing Project

Already have a local project? Here’s how to push it to GitLab:

First, create a blank project in GitLab (don’t initialize with a README).

Then, from your terminal:

cd your-project-folder/
git init
git remote add origin https://gitlab.com/your-username/your-repo.git
git add .
git commit -m "Initial commit"
git push -u origin master  # or 'main', depending on your default branch
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⚙️ Cool Features of GitLab You Should Know

Here’s where GitLab really shines — it’s more than just a place to host your Git repo. Here are some features devs love:
✅ Git Repo Hosting (obviously)

Supports Git CLI, SSH/HTTPS access

Visual diffs, blame view, and file history

📦 Built-in CI/CD

Automate builds, tests, and deployments

Just drop a .gitlab-ci.yml in your root and go

🧪 Test Reports & Code Coverage

Upload test results and coverage reports right into merge requests

🧵 Final Thoughts

If you're just starting out, Git might seem intimidating at first — but once it clicks, you’ll wonder how you ever built anything without it. And when you pair it with GitLab, you’re unlocking a complete DevOps powerhouse.

Start small: push a project, set up your first CI job, and explore issues or merge requests. GitLab can grow with you as your team or project scales.

Got questions? Drop them below or hit me up — I’d love to help!

Happy coding! 💻🔥

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