How to Use the Command 'glab mr merge' (with Examples)

The glab mr merge command is a powerful tool used to streamline the process of merging merge requests in GitLab, offering a suite of options to customize the merge process according to specific needs. By executing this command, developers can seamlessly manage merge requests, ensuring code integration is efficient and conflict-free. The command provides a variety of features, such as interactive merging, branch cleanup post-merge, and commit squashing, making it versatile for different project requirements. It is particularly beneficial in automating workflows and maintaining clean and structured codebases.

Use case 1: Merge the merge request associated with the current branch interactively

Code:

glab mr merge

Motivation: This use case is essential for developers who are working on a feature branch and want to merge their changes into the main branch once their work is reviewed and approved. By using this command, developers can ensure that the merge request is completed interactively, meaning they can confirm or adjust settings during the merge process.

Explanation:

• glab: This is a command-line tool tailored for GitLab, designed to improve GitLab’s functionalities by offering various subcommands.
• mr: Stands for “merge request,” signifying that the operation pertains to GitLab’s merge request feature.
• merge: Indicates the action to be performed, which is to merge the specified merge request.

Example Output: Running this command may prompt the user to confirm details of the merge request, such as confirming changes, resolving conflicts, or adding additional merge conditions, before proceeding with the merge.

Use case 2: Merge the specified merge request, interactively

Code:

glab mr merge mr_number

Motivation: This scenario is beneficial when there are multiple merge requests, and the developer wants to merge a specific one. By specifying the merge request number, the command provides clarity and efficiency, ensuring the right changes are incorporated into the codebase.

Explanation:

• mr_number: This argument specifies the unique identifier of the merge request that the developer intends to merge, helping avoid confusion between multiple requests.

Example Output: The user will be prompted with interactive elements asking them to review the particular merge request details corresponding to the specified mr_number, ensuring accuracy before the merge.

Use case 3: Merge the merge request, removing the branch on both the local and the remote

Code:

glab mr merge --remove-source-branch

Motivation: After a successful merge, cleaning up branches is a best practice to keep the repository tidy and prevent clutter. This command automatically deletes the source branch once the merge request is completed both locally and on the remote, which helps prevent confusion and manage branch proliferation.

Explanation:

• --remove-source-branch: This flag commands the tool to delete the source branch from both the local environment and the remote repository, ensuring the branch is cleaned up immediately after the merge is completed.

Example Output: Once the merge is completed, the output will confirm the merge success and indicate that the source branch has been removed from both local and remote contexts.

Use case 4: Squash the current merge request into one commit with the message body and merge

Code:

glab mr merge --squash --message="commit_message_body"

Motivation: Squashing commits is a common practice when you want to create a single, coherent commit from what might have been a series of minor changes, thus simplifying the project history. This use case is essential for maintaining a clean commit history while preserving necessary commit details.

Explanation:

• --squash: This option combines all commits in the merge request into a single commit, which can help maintain a clean and readable project history.
• --message="commit_message_body": Allows the user to provide a customized message for the squashed commit, preserving essential information or summarizing the changes effectively.

Example Output: After the merging process, the output indicates that all changes have been squashed into a single commit, using the specified commit message, and successfully merged into the target branch.

Use case 5: Display help

Code:

glab mr merge --help

Motivation: Understanding how to use a command effectively is crucial. The help feature provides detailed descriptions of available options and usage, making it an invaluable resource for developers who are either new to the command or need a refresher on its capabilities.

Explanation:

• --help: This option triggers the display of usage information for the command, including possible flags, arguments, and typical use cases, functioning as a quick-reference guide.

Example Output: The output includes a comprehensive list of all options, flags, and their descriptions, aiding in deepening the user’s understanding of the glab mr merge command.

Conclusion:

The glab mr merge command offers diverse functionalities to accommodate varying merge request scenarios. Whether operating interactively, managing multiple merge requests, tidying branches post-merge, or squashing commits for a streamlined history, these examples illustrate its adaptability to different developer workflows. Additionally, the command’s help feature ensures users can fully leverage its capabilities. By utilizing these options, developers enhance their productive engagement with GitLab, resulting in more efficient and organized project management.