GitLab is an all-inclusive web-based platform that caters to the entire software development lifecycle. It offers a comprehensive range of features, including version control, continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD), and project management. Similar to GitHub, GitLab allows developers to host and manage code repositories. However, GitLab sets itself apart by incorporating advanced CI/CD pipelines, automating various tasks like building, testing, and deploying applications. It also provides tools for issue tracking, Kanban boards, and code review, facilitating collaboration and project organization. In addition, GitLab can be self-hosted, granting organizations full control over their codebase and infrastructure. Overall, GitLab serves as an extensive toolkit for seamless code collaboration, streamlined software development processes, and enhanced project management.
Version control is a system that helps track and manage changes made to files and software code over time. It is commonly used in software development but can also be applied to any type of files. By using version control, developers can keep a history of all changes made to their code, allowing them to track who made each change, when it was made, and what specific modifications were made. This history can be useful for collaboration, debugging, and reverting to a previous version if needed. Version control systems also enable multiple developers to work on the same files simultaneously without overwriting each other’s changes. It provides features like merging and conflict resolution, allowing team members to integrate their modifications together. Some popular version control systems include Git, Mercurial, and Subversion. These tools provide numerous commands and functionalities to manage repositories, branches, commits, and more.