gitlab4j-api - A Full-Featured Java Library for Interacting with GitLab REST API

GitLab4J™ API Overview

GitLab4J™ API, commonly referred to as gitlab4j-api, is a robust Java Client Library designed for interacting with GitLab repositories through the GitLab REST API. It is equipped to support full integration with GitLab webhooks and system hooks. This makes it an essential tool for developers who need to perform operations on GitLab repositories programmatically.

Key Features

GitLab Server Version Support

The library is designed to work with GitLab Community and Enterprise Editions starting from version 11.0. If you are using an older version of GitLab, it is recommended to either upgrade your server or use an older version of this library compatible with your GitLab version.

Java 8 Requirement

As of version 4.8.0, the library requires Java 8 or higher. This ensures the use of modern Java features and improvements in your projects.

Ease of Setup

Setting up GitLab4J-API in a Java project is straightforward. Dependencies are managed using typical build tools like Maven and Gradle, allowing seamless integration into Java applications.

For Maven: Simply include the library as a dependency in your pom.xml file.

For Gradle: Include it in your build.gradle file under dependencies.

Comprehensive Documentation

Extensive Javadocs are available, providing developers with detailed API documentation and usage examples.

Usage Examples

Getting started with GitLab4J-API is designed to be hassle-free:

Connecting to your GitLab Server: Instantiate the GitLabApi class with your server URL and personal access token.
```
GitLabApi gitLabApi = new GitLabApi("http://your.gitlab.server.com", "YOUR_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN");
```
Fetching Projects: Easily retrieve the list of projects accessible to your account.
```
List<Project> projects = gitLabApi.getProjectApi().getProjects();
```
Advanced Features: Perform actions like logging in with a username and password or executing API requests on behalf of another user (sudo mode).

Additional Configurations

Request Timeouts

You can set specific timeouts for API requests for better handling of delays in network communication.

gitLabApi.setRequestTimeout(1000, 5000);

Proxy Server Support

The library allows connections through an HTTP proxy, with or without authentication, expanding its usability in different network configurations.

API Version Support

While the library supports API V4 by default, developers needing API V3 can choose to use it (though support for V3 is being phased out in the latest GitLab versions).

Logging and Paging

GitLab4J-API comes with built-in support for logging API requests and responses, as well as an efficient paging mechanism to handle large data sets.

Sub APIs

The library is modular, with sub API classes aligning closely with the GitLab API documentation, which simplifies learning and implementation. These sub APIs include functionality for managing applications, audit events, groups, projects, users, and more.

Examples of Sub APIs

ApplicationsApi: Create OAuth applications and manage their scopes.

ApplicationScope[] scopes = {ApplicationScope.SUDO, ApplicationScope.PROFILE};
gitLabApi.getApplicationsApi().createApplication("My OAUTH Application", "https://example.com/myapp/callback", scopes);

ApplicationSettingsApi: Retrieve and manage your GitLab server settings.

ApplicationSettings appSettings = gitLabApi.getApplicationSettingsApi().getApplicationSettings();

Conclusion

GitLab4J-API offers a comprehensive suite for Java developers looking to interact with GitLab programmatically. Its ease of use, extensive documentation, and robust feature set make it a valuable asset for any developer integrating GitLab into their Java applications. Whether it’s for managing projects, automating tasks, or handling complex workflows, GitLab4J-API provides the tools needed to leverage the full power of GitLab's capabilities.