BEAR GitLab gives researchers at the University a software development platform based on the git distributed version control system. BEAR GitLab projects can also take advantage of an issue tracker, a wiki, and a continuous integration framework to sit alongside the git repository.
How do I access BEAR GitLab?
To access BEAR GitLab you should be a member of a GitLab group and this is done by being a member of a BEAR Project that has GitLab acccess. Once your account is a member of a GitLab group you can login at BEAR GitLab using your standard University username and password.
We recommend that all research repositories should be created as GitLab projects inside a GitLab group and not as personal projects. This is because personal projects will be deleted when the user leaves the University.
Please note that we only support https access to BEAR GitLab - whilst the system will let you upload an SSH key, you will not be able to access the service using SSH.
How do I give access to an external user?
External user registration is disabled, however we are able to add external users on request. Please contact us to request this. External users may be removed from GitLab six months after their most recent login.
How do I create groups on BEAR GitLab?
All GitLab groups are attached to BEAR projects. You must register a BEAR project, with GitLab access, to have a GitLab group created. Membership of the GitLab group, for University members, is controlled by membership of the BEAR project. Removing or adding someone directly to the group in GitLab will be overwritten.
Data managers of the BEAR project will automatically be synchronised as owners of the GitLab Group.
Can I use continuous integration?
Continuous integration allows automated processes to be configured and run whenever code is pushed to the GitLab repository. As part of BEAR GitLab, we provide a number of shared runners which you can enable on your project. To make use of them, you need to complete a couple of steps!
Help on using BEAR GitLab
BEAR GitLab provides extensive documentation on the many features available and, if you are unfamiliar with using either Git or BEAR GitLab, a good starting point is the GitLab basics section.
How is BEAR GitLab different from GitHub?
Some researchers will already be familiar with, and use, GitHub. If you have used GitHub then these are the differences between the two:
- Individual users are limited to 2 projects - this is becuase typically the data is really associated with a BEAR project rather than an individual and BEAR projects can remain after an individual has left the University;
- BEAR GitLab stores the data on site here at the University as part of our research infrastructure;
- BEAR GitLab only provides repository access via https. If you require automated access then you should use personal access tokens;
- BEAR GitLab provides private repositories for all;
- By default all project repositories are private meaning only group members can view or access them;
- BEAR GitLab has a limit of ten projects per group, though we're flexible with this limit!;
If you require help using BEAR GitLab
Please Contact Us via the IT Service Desk for any assistance.