Experiment to Demonstrating Version Control with GitLab

 Title: Demonstrating Version Control with GitLab

Objective:

The objective of this experiment is to showcase the basic functionalities of version control using GitLab. We will create a simple project, set up a GitLab repository, and perform version control operations such as creating branches, making changes, committing changes, and merging branches.

Tools and Technologies:

• GitLab Community Edition (CE)

• Git (command-line or Git GUI client)

• Web browser

Experiment Steps:

Step 1: Set Up GitLab Repository

1. Create a new project/repository on GitLab.

2. Clone the repository to your local development environment using Git.

Step 2: Initialize the Project

1. Create a new directory for the project on your local machine.

2. Initialize a Git repository in this directory using the command: git init.

Step 3: Configure Git Remote

1. Set the GitLab repository as the remote for your local repository using the command: git remote add origin <GitLab_Repository_URL>.

Step 4: Create and Switch Branches

1. Create a new branch called "feature-branch" using the command: git checkout -b feature-branch.

2. Switch back to the main branch (usually "master" or "main") using: git checkout main.

Step 5: Make Changes and Commit

1. Create a new file or modify an existing one in your project directory.

2. Add the changes to the staging area using: git add <file_name>.

3. Commit the changes with a descriptive message using: git commit -m "Your commit message".

Step 6: Push Changes to GitLab

1. Push the committed changes to the GitLab repository using: git push origin <branch_name> (e.g., git push origin main).

Step 7: Merge Branches

1. Switch to the main branch using: git checkout main.

2. Merge the "feature-branch" into the main branch using: git merge feature-branch.

3. Resolve any merge conflicts if they occur.

4. Commit the merge changes and push them to the GitLab repository.

Step 8: Review History

1. View the commit history using: git log.

2. Use GitLab's web interface to visualize the commit history, branches, and merge requests.

Step 9: Optional - Collaborate with Others

1. Invite collaborators to your GitLab repository.

2. Ask collaborators to clone the repository, make changes, and push them to GitLab.

3. Review and merge their changes using merge requests.

Conclusion:

This experiment demonstrates the fundamental version control operations using GitLab. By following these steps, you have gained an understanding of how to set up a repository, create branches, make changes, commit changes, merge branches, and collaborate with others using GitLab's version control capabilities. Version control plays a crucial role in enabling teams to collaborate efficiently and manage changes in software development projects effectively.