Contribute code with the Web IDE

The GitLab Web IDE is a built-in advanced editor with commit staging.

[!warning] This tutorial is designed to be a general introduction to contributing to the GitLab project and is not an example of a change that should be submitted for review.

The example in this section shows how to modify a line of code as part of a community contribution to GitLab code using the Web IDE.

1. Go to the GitLab community fork.

2. Search the GitLab code for the string Syntax highlighting. From the GitLab Community Fork:

   1. In the top bar, select Search or go to.
   2. Enter the search string "Syntax highlighting".

3. Select the filename from the results. In this case, app/views/profiles/preferences/show.html.haml.

4. Open the file in Web IDE. Select Edit > Open in Web IDE.

   • Keyboard shortcut: <kbd>.</kbd>

5. Update the string from Syntax highlighting to Code highlighting.

6. Save your changes.

7. On the left activity bar, select Source Control.

   Keyboard shortcut: <kbd>Control</kbd>+<kbd>Shift</kbd>+<kbd>G</kbd>.

8. Enter your commit message:

   plaintextCopy

   Update UI text
   
   Standardizing the text on this page so
   that each area uses consistent language.
   

   Follow the GitLab commit message guidelines.

9. Select Commit to new branch from the Commit to dropdown list, and enter 1st-contrib-example.

   If your code change addresses an issue, start the branch name with the issue number.

10. In the notification that appears in the lower right, select Create MR.

11. Continue to Create a merge request