GitLab Explorer
This skill enables exploring GitLab repositories, searching code, viewing merge requests, and working with git history.
Before Any GitLab Operation
ALWAYS run the authentication check first:
bash /mnt/skills/public/gitlab-explorer/scripts/check_gitlab_auth.sh
This script will:
- •Verify if GitLab token is configured
- •Validate the token by calling GitLab API
- •Show logged-in user info if valid
- •Provide setup instructions if not configured
DO NOT try to read or echo $GITLAB_TOKEN directly - the script handles validation securely without exposing the token.
If authentication is not configured, inform the user:
To use GitLab features, please set up your GitLab Personal Access Token. You can pass it via the GITLAB_TOKEN environment variable or configure it in your container settings. Then start a NEW chat to apply the token.
Quick Start
Clone a Repository
git clone https://gitlab.com/group/project.git cd project
Search for Projects
# Search projects by name glab api "projects?search=keyword" | jq '.[].path_with_namespace' # List projects in a group glab api "groups/GROUP_NAME/projects" | jq '.[].name'
Check Current User
glab api user | jq '{username, email, name}'
Exploring Code
Repository Structure
# Show directory tree tree -L 2 # Find files by pattern find . -name "*.py" -type f # Search for text in files git grep "pattern"
Git History
# View commit history git log --oneline -20 # Visual branch history git log --oneline --graph --all -20 # Who changed what git blame filename # Show specific commit git show COMMIT_HASH # Changes between branches git diff main..feature-branch
Top Contributors
git shortlog -sn --all | head -10
Working with Merge Requests
# List open MRs glab mr list # View specific MR glab mr view 123 # Show MR diff glab mr diff 123 # Checkout MR branch locally glab mr checkout 123
CI/CD Pipelines
# Current pipeline status glab ci status # List recent pipelines glab ci list # View pipeline details glab ci view PIPELINE_ID # Watch job logs in real-time glab ci trace
Issues
# List issues glab issue list # View issue details glab issue view 123 # Create new issue glab issue create --title "Bug report" --description "Description here"
Reference Materials
For detailed command reference, see:
- •
references/glab-commands.md- Complete glab CLI reference - •
references/git-commands.md- Git commands for code exploration
Common Workflows
Explore Unknown Repository
- •Clone the repo
- •Check README and documentation
- •Explore directory structure with
tree - •Find main entry points
- •Use
git logto understand recent changes - •Use
git blameto find who wrote specific code
Review Merge Request
- •
glab mr view ID- read description - •
glab mr diff ID- review changes - •
glab mr checkout ID- test locally if needed - •Check CI status with
glab ci status
Find Code by Pattern
# Search in all files git grep "function_name" # Search with context git grep -n -C 3 "pattern" # Search in specific file types git grep "pattern" -- "*.py"