A self-hosted alternative to GitHub
By 2011 GitHub is already the reference point for Git repository hosting, but its model is exclusively cloud-based: code resides on GitHub’s servers and there is no option to install the platform on one’s own infrastructure. For many organisations — particularly in regulated industries, public administration and companies with restrictive data residency policies — entrusting source code to an external service is not a viable option.
Dmitriy Zaporozhets, a Ukrainian developer, starts GitLab as an open source project precisely to fill this gap: a complete Git hosting platform, installable on your own servers, with a modern web interface and integrated collaborative features.
Repositories, merge requests and issue tracking
GitLab is a Ruby on Rails application that manages Git repositories through a web interface. Each project has its own repository with code browsing, diff visualisation, commit history and branch management. Merge requests — GitLab’s equivalent of pull requests — enable collaborative code review: a team member proposes changes, others comment line by line, and merging happens only after approval.
The integrated issue tracker allows managing bugs, feature requests and operational tasks in the same environment where the code resides. Issues and merge requests are linked: closing a merge request can automatically close associated issues. Milestones group issues into time-bound objectives, providing an overview of project progress.
Installation and administration
GitLab is installed on a single Linux server. The project provides packages that include all necessary dependencies: PostgreSQL for the database, Redis for caching, Nginx as a reverse proxy. The administrator has complete control over backups, updates, user management and security configuration.
The release model is Community Edition under an MIT licence: the code is fully open and freely usable even in commercial contexts.
The beginning of a DevOps platform
With repositories, merge requests and issue tracking in a single application, GitLab lays the foundation for something broader than simple code hosting. The idea that the entire software lifecycle — from planning to deployment — can be managed in one tool is already present in the initial vision. For organisations that need complete control over their development infrastructure, GitLab represents a concrete and accessible solution.
Link: about.gitlab.com