Getting started with git and GitLab

Creating your Gitlab account

If you haven’t done so yet, you need to register to Gitlab before you can contribute to SIESTA:

• https://gitlab.com/users/sign_in#register-pane

Gitlab also provides a getting started page where you will find a lot of useful information: https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/intro/. We particularly attract your attention to the “Collaborate” section, starting with Fork a project and contribute to it, which is how you will contribute to SIESTA.

Git basics

Git is one of the most powerful Source-Code Managers (SCM) available. Learning how to use it properly may seem a bit overwhelming at first. However, there are a lot of books and tutorials that will help you grasp the basic usage of Git. Here are a few pointers that we think will help you:

• git - the simple guide
• The Pro Git Book, in particular the first 3 chapters.
• Learn Git Branching, a gamified tutorial to learn Git commands.
• Visualizing Git, an interactive repository simulator.

At the very beginning, you might also want to have a Git cheat sheet at hand whenever you deal with your repository, like the one provided by Gitlab:

• https://about.gitlab.com/images/press/git-cheat-sheet.pdf

Going further

Once you feel a bit more at ease with Git and Gitlab, you may want to deepen your understanding of Git. Here are a few recommended readings:

• 4 branching workflows for Git and references therein.
• Think Like (a) Git.
• Git Essentials - Second Edition.

Note: These pointers do not pretend to be exhaustive. Feel free to propose other useful resources if you think they could be of interest to SIESTA developers. The links you can find on this page have been added only on a perceived usefulness basis and we receive no commission if you click them.