Creating a GitLab Free Tier Account:

GitLab offers a free Ultimate trial for 30 days, which grants access to all premium features without any credit card requirement. You can choose between two GitLab deployment options:

• GitLab SaaS (Software as a Service) : Hosted and maintained by GitLab.
• GitLab Self-managed : Hosted on your own infrastructure.

You can create an account using either Google or GitHub. If you already have a GitHub account, simply authorize GitLab to access your GitHub details.

After signing up, you’ll need to accept GitLab's Terms of Service and provide some basic information, including your name, company name, number of employees, and country. You will also be asked to create a group name to start your trial.

Once your free trial is activated, you’ll have 30 days to explore GitLab’s Ultimate features. The trial’s expiration date will be visible on your dashboard, allowing you to track how many days are left.

Importing Vulnerable Source Code Repo from GitHub to GitLab:

1. Access GitLab Dashboard

   After logging into GitLab, navigate to your GitLab dashboard under the "<your group name>" group or create a new group.

2. Create a New Project

   Click the "New Project" button. You have four options:

   • Create Blank Project: Manually add your code.
   • Create from Template: Use predefined templates.
   • Import Project from GitHub: Import your existing GitHub project.
   • Choose "Import Project" and then select GitHub as the source.

3. Authorize GitHub Connection

   GitLab will request access to your GitHub repositories, including both public and private ones. Click "Authorize GitLab HQ" to continue. You’ll be prompted to enter your GitHub password.

4. Select Repository to Import

   Once authorized, GitLab will display your GitHub repositories. Search for the repository "DevSecOps GitLab Java Vulnerable Application" and click the "Import" button.

   REPO LINK : https://github.com/DeepakNarayananS/devsecops-gitlab-java-vulnerable-application

5. Wait for Import to Complete

   GitLab will start importing the repository. Once the import finishes, you’ll see the project details, including repository size and author information. Click on "Go to Project" to view the imported files.

Now you’ve successfully imported a vulnerable GitHub repo into GitLab.

Creating and Setting a Default Master Branch in GitLab:

1. Access the Repository

   Navigate to your GitLab repository. You should see the current branch, which by default is usually named "main."

2. Create a Master Branch

   To create a new branch, click on "Branches" in the left-hand menu. Then, click "New Branch."

   Name the new branch "master", and select "main" as the source branch to create it. Click "Create Branch."

3. Change Default Branch to Master

   Next, we need to make the master branch the default. Go to Settings > Repository. Under Default Branch, select "master" from the dropdown. Click "Save Changes."