How To Fork A Project In GitLab?

Forking a project in GitLab allows you to create a copy of an existing project in your own namespace, where you can make changes without affecting the original project. In this article, we will guide you through the process of forking a project in GitLab, explaining the benefits and use cases for forks, and how to manage your forked projects effectively.

What is a Fork in GitLab?

A fork is a copy of a project that you own. Forking a project allows you to freely experiment with changes without impacting the original project. It also enables you to propose changes to the original project through merge requests. The forked project remains connected to the original (upstream) repository, allowing you to pull in updates or submit your changes back via merge requests.

Forking is particularly useful for:

• Open-source contributions: You can fork an open-source project to implement new features, fix bugs, or make improvements without directly affecting the original codebase.
• Independent Development: You can experiment with new ideas or develop features in isolation before deciding to merge them back into the main project.

Steps To Fork A Project In GitLab

Step 1: Log in to GitLab

Before you can fork a project, ensure that you have an active GitLab account and are logged into the platform.

1. Navigate to GitLab: Visit GitLab or your self-hosted GitLab instance.
2. Log In: Enter your credentials and log in to your GitLab account.

Step 2: Find the Project You Want to Fork

Next, locate the project you wish to fork. You can fork any project that you have access to, whether it’s public or private (if you have permission).

1. Browse Projects: You can search for the project either by using GitLab’s search bar or by navigating to the project’s page if you already know its location.
2. Check Permissions: Make sure that the project is forkable. Public projects can be forked by anyone, but for private projects, you will need explicit access.

Step 3: Fork the Project

Once you’ve found the project, follow these steps to fork it:

1. Go to the Project's Page: Open the project page you want to fork.
2. Click the Fork Button: In the upper-right corner of the project page, you will see a Fork button. Click on this button to begin the forking process.
3. Select a Namespace: GitLab will prompt you to select a namespace where your fork will be created. You can choose to fork the project into your personal namespace or into one of the groups you belong to.
4. Forking Process Begins: Once you select a namespace, GitLab will begin copying the repository to your namespace. This process usually takes a few moments depending on the size of the project.

Step 4: Access Your Forked Project

After the forking process is complete, GitLab will redirect you to the new forked project in your selected namespace.

1. New Project URL: The forked project will have a different URL based on your namespace. For example, if you fork a project called original-project into your namespace username, the URL will be:

   http://gitlab.com/users/sign_in

2. Review Forked Project: Your forked project is an exact copy of the original project, including its commit history, branches, and tags. However, it is independent of the original project and you have full control over it.

Step 5: Clone Your Fork Locally

To begin working on your forked project, you’ll want to clone it to your local machine:

1. Copy Clone URL: From your forked project’s page, click on the Clone button and copy the clone URL (either via HTTPS or SSH, depending on your preference).
2. Clone the Project Locally: Open a terminal and run the following command:

   git clone http://gitlab.com/users/sign_in

   Replace username with your GitLab username and original-project with the name of the forked repository.
3. Change Directory: Navigate into your cloned project:

   cd original-project

Step 6: Make Changes to Your Fork

Now that the project is cloned locally, you can start making changes. This could involve fixing bugs, adding new features, or making improvements.

1. Create a New Branch: It is a best practice to create a new branch for your work. Run the following command to create and switch to a new branch:

   git checkout -b feature-branch

2. Make Your Changes: Edit the code as necessary.
3. Commit and Push Your Changes: After making changes, commit them and push the branch back to your forked project on GitLab:

   git add .
   git commit -m "Added new feature"
   git push origin feature-branch

Step 7: Create a Merge Request

After pushing your changes to your forked repository, you may want to contribute them back to the original project by creating a merge request.

1. Go to Your Forked Project: Navigate to your forked project’s page on GitLab.
2. Create a New Merge Request: Click on the Merge Requests tab, and then click New Merge Request.
3. Select Source and Target Branches:
   • Source Branch: This is the branch with your changes in your forked repository.
   • Target Branch: This is usually the main or master branch of the original repository, but it can also be any other branch in the upstream repository.
4. Submit the Merge Request: Fill out the title and description of your merge request, explaining the changes you have made. When ready, click Submit. This sends a request to the maintainers of the original project to review and merge your changes.

Step 8: Sync Your Fork with the Original Project (Upstream)

As the original project continues to evolve, you may want to keep your fork in sync with the latest changes. Here’s how you can do that:

1. Add Upstream Remote: Add the original project as a remote repository so you can pull in the latest changes:

   git remote add upstream http://gitlab.com/users/sign_in

2. Fetch Changes from Upstream: Fetch the latest changes from the original project:

   git fetch upstream

3. Merge Changes into Your Fork: Merge the upstream changes into your fork:

   git merge upstream/main

4. Push Changes: After merging, push the updated branch back to your fork:

   git push origin main

Best Practices for Forking in GitLab

• Keep Your Fork Updated: Regularly pull changes from the upstream project to ensure your fork remains in sync with the latest developments.
• Use Feature Branches: Always create feature branches in your fork to keep your work organized and separate from the main branch.
• Create Clear Merge Requests: When proposing changes back to the upstream project, ensure your merge requests are well-documented with a clear explanation of what your changes do.
• Follow Project Guidelines: Adhere to the contribution guidelines of the original project when submitting merge requests.