GitLab is one of the popular git-based software development and deployment platforms. Although all basic git operations have been available through GitLab for a long time, GitLab integration is still one of the most popular requests from the JetBrains community . To that end, the JetBrains team teamed up with GitLab this year to offer this type of integration.
JetBrains officials believe that such integrations include a variety of features that may impact multiple aspects of a developer's work - from basic operations and navigation, to reviewing code, configuring CI pipelines, and building and deploying applications. Of course given the considerable potential scope, priorities must be set. So considering that the most important tasks are reading, navigating and writing code, JetBrains officially decided to start with proper review support in the IDE.
The first results of the collaboration have been released in v2023.2 , allowing you to review them without leaving the JetBrains IDE.
JetBrains IDE v2023.2 official version download (Q technical communication: 786598704)
Now users can:
- Configure a GitLab account for git operations and other GitLab interactions.
- Browse, filter, and search the list of merge requests in your project.
- Review merge requests in detail.
- Comment on code directly from the IDE.
- Request or merge changes without using a browser.
- Easily navigate and copy links to corresponding web pages.
Configure GitLab account
When the IDE detects that there is a git remote pointing to the GitLab server, it will display the exclusive tool window on the left and the corresponding operations in the related menu. Using any git or GitLab specific operations will require you to log in through your GitLab account using a token. If the server cannot be automatically detected, you will need to manually configure your GitLab account in Settings | Version control | GitLab.
Merge request list
By default, the tool window displays a list of all merge requests for the corresponding GitLab repository, and you can use filters or plain text search to find the merge request you need. Predefined filter sets are provided and the last configured filter set will be remembered.
Merge request details
Once you find the merge request you want, open it to see the details: name, branch information, changes, check results. The timeline will then open automatically, adding more content to the requested overview.
Click the branch label to quickly migrate out of the corresponding branch.
Annotated changes and differences
The main part of the merge request is the actual changes, and a list of all changes in the merge request is displayed directly in the tool window. Double-click a file to open the diff view and select to navigate between files. Annotated files will have corresponding markers in the tree.
To check individual submissions, click on the submission number and select the desired submission in the pop-up window.
If you have questions about a change or the surrounding code, you can add a comment by clicking the plus icon in the stapling area.
Default action as main control
Depending on the user role and merge request status, one action is usually more likely to be performed next – such as requesting a review, committing a comment, or merging. The integration makes the decision and displays a dedicated execution button, and other actions are under the More menu.
Merge merge request
Once the review has been performed and other required checks have been completed, the request can be merged. With merge as the main action of the request in this state, the results of the check will be displayed to inform the user whether the merge request can now be merged.
Other useful information
In addition to review flow support, JetBrains has added other useful navigation operations. Now you can copy links to specific files and lines of code on GitLab to easily share and discuss them with colleagues. You can also navigate directly to the web if needed.
Future plan
As mentioned at the beginning, GitLab is more than just a review tool. In addition to further enhancing review support activities, it is also planned to develop features to support CI pipeline configuration and troubleshooting in future versions. Stay tuned for more exciting updates.
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