Configure the Gitpod development environment

To contribute code without the overhead of setting up a local development environment, you should use Gitpod.

Use Gitpod to contribute without a local environment setup

Set aside about 15 minutes to launch the GDK in Gitpod.

  1. Launch the GDK in Gitpod.
  2. Select Continue with GitLab to start a Gitpod environment for this fork.
  3. If this is your first time using Gitpod, create a free account and connect it to your GitLab account:
    1. Select Authorize when prompted to Authorize Gitpod.io to use your account?.
    2. On the Welcome to Gitpod screen, enter your name and select whether you would like to Connect with LinkedIn or Continue with 10 hours per month.
    3. Choose the Browser version of VS Code when prompted to Choose an editor.
    4. Continue through the settings until the New Workspace screen.
  4. On the New Workspace screen, before you select Continue:
    • Leave the default repository URL: gitlab.com/gitlab-community/gitlab/-/tree/master/.

    • Select your preferred Editor.

      The examples in this tutorial use Visual Studio Code (VS Code) as the editor, sometimes referred to as an integrated development environment (IDE).

    • Leave the default Class: Standard.

  5. Wait a few minutes for Gitpod to launch.

    You can begin exploring the codebase and making your changes after the editor you chose has launched.

  6. You will need to wait a little longer for GitLab to be available to preview your changes.

    When the GitLab GDK is ready, the Terminal panel in Gitpod will return a URL local to the Gitpod environment: 

    => GitLab available at http://127.0.0.1:3000.

    Select the http://127.0.0.1:3000 to open the GitLab development environment in a new browser tab.

  7. After the environment loads, log in as the default root user and follow the prompts to change the default password:

    • Username: root
    • Password: 5iveL!fe

After the Gitpod editor is ready, continue to Change the code with Gitpod.