TTDV7553: Introduction to GitLab

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About this Course

Version control is a foundational skill in modern software development, helping teams collaborate effectively, track changes, and deliver better software faster. GitLab, a powerful web-based DevOps platform built around Git, offers both developers and technical teams the tools to manage code, streamline daily workflows, and automate delivery. This expert-led, two-day class is designed to teach you how to work confidently with Git and GitLab, whether you are just getting started or want to strengthen your foundational skills.

This course is ideal for developers, engineers, QA professionals, technical project leads, or anyone involved in software development who needs to understand and contribute to version-controlled projects. You will learn how to manage branches, handle merge conflicts, rebase cleanly, and configure Git to suit your environment. You will explore techniques to review and clean up commit history, simplify your workflow using aliases, stash changes, and work with remote repositories effectively. About half of the course is hands-on, giving you time to apply what you are learning to real-world scenarios with support from your instructor.

You will also gain experience using GitLab built-in tools for collaboration and automation. From using GitLab Flow to managing merge requests and working with CI/CD pipelines, you will learn practical techniques to improve quality, reduce errors, and support consistent delivery. By the end of the class, you will be ready to contribute to team projects with confidence, troubleshoot common issues, and apply GitLab to organize, automate, and enhance your development process.

Audience Profile

The introductory-level course is designed for anyone who works with software projects and wants to better understand version control and team collaboration using Git and GitLab. It is a great choice for developers, QA engineers, DevOps professionals, and technical team leads looking to strengthen their workflow and project organization. Whether you are brand new to Git or have some experience and want to build better habits, this course will help you work more smoothly with your team.

At Course Completion

This course combines engaging instructor-led presentations and useful demonstrations with valuable hands-on labs and engaging group activities. By the end of the GitLab Quick Start course, you will have built practical, job-ready skills to help you work more confidently with Git and GitLab in real development environments.

Here are a few key things you will be able to do:

Create and manage Git repositories. Set up projects and track changes to your code using Git and GitLab.
Work with branches and resolve merge conflicts. Use branching strategies to organize work and handle changes from multiple team members.
Clean up and review commit history. Understand how to review, edit, and simplify commit logs for better collaboration.
Configure Git for your daily workflow. Set up your Git environment, create shortcuts, and manage ignored files.
Collaborate using GitLab Flow. Apply a real-world GitLab workflow, including merge requests, approvals, and issue tracking.
Build and troubleshoot GitLab CI/CD pipelines. Create simple automation to test and deliver your code more reliably.

If your team requires different topics, additional skills or a custom approach, our team will collaborate with you to adjust the course to focus on your specific learning objectives and goals.

Outline

Please note that this list of topics is based on our standard course offering, evolved from typical industry uses and trends. We'll work with you to tune this course and level of coverage to target the skills you need most. Topics, agenda and labs are subject to change, and may adjust during live delivery based on audience skill level, interests and participation.

1. Git and GitLab Introduction and Basics

Understanding version control and Git essentials
Exploring GitLab as a collaboration platform
Installing and configuring Git on your system
Working with repositories and tracking changes
Making your first commit and navigating GitLab UI

2. GitLab Flow

Overview of GitFlow vs. GitLab Flow
Selecting the right workflow for your team
Managing environments: staging, production, and feature branches
Using issues and merge requests in GitLab
Implementing protected branches and approvals

3. Branching

Creating and switching branches
Naming conventions and organizational tips
Visualizing branch structures
Tagging versions and releases
Cleaning up and deleting merged branches

4. Configuring Git

Setting up global and local configuration
Understanding .gitconfig settings
Creating aliases to simplify commands
Managing ignored files with .gitignore
Using Git credentials and SSH keys securely

5. Rebasing

Introduction to rebasing vs. merging
Rebasing local branches
Handling conflicts during rebases
Interactive rebasing and squashing commits
Best practices and troubleshooting tips

6. Merging

Merging strategies and fast-forward vs. no-fast-forward
Performing merges in GitLab
Understanding merge commits
Handling merge requests and code reviews
Tools for visualizing merge conflicts

7. Resolving Merge Conflicts

Identifying the cause of merge conflicts
Using Git commands to resolve conflicts
Tools and editors to assist with conflict resolution
Best practices for preventing common conflicts
Committing and testing after resolving conflicts

8. Remote Repositories

Connecting to remote repositories
Cloning and pushing projects
Pulling and fetching updates
Setting up upstream and tracking branches
Collaborating with remotes and forks

9. Reviewing the Commit History

Exploring git log, git show, and git diff
Using shortcuts to navigate revisions
Blame and annotate features for tracking changes
Reverting and amending commits
Cleaning up history with rebase and squash

10. Improving Your Daily Workflow

Saving work-in-progress with git stash
Interactive staging and reviewing diffs
Automating common tasks with aliases
Managing build artifacts in the workflow
Creating readable and meaningful commit messages

11. Continuous Integration / Continuous Delivery (CI/CD)

Introduction to GitLab CI/CD and pipelines
Installing and configuring GitLab Runner
Understanding .gitlab-ci.yml syntax and structure
Creating and customizing your first CI/CD pipeline
Visualizing, debugging, and optimizing pipelines

Prerequisites

To get the most out of this GitLab Quick Start course, it helps to have a few basic skills. No prior Git or GitLab experience is needed, but some general tech comfort will make things easier:

Basic Command Line Use: Know how to open a terminal and run simple commands.
Familiarity with Software Projects: Understand how code is organized and versioned in a team setting.
Using Web-Based Tools: Be comfortable navigating online platforms and user interfaces.