Review a GitLab Merge Request on Android

You can review a GitLab merge request on an Android phone with GitAlchemy, a free open source GitLab client. Open the merge request, read the diff in the Changes tab, comment on the lines that need it, hold those comments as a review and send them together. GitLab has no official mobile app, so this takes a third party client. GitAlchemy installs from F-Droid and works on Android only.

Steps

1. Open the merge request. Tap MRs in the bottom bar to see the merge requests that involve you, or open a project and choose Merge Requests. Filters narrow the list to the ones where your review is requested.
2. Read the description and the status. The top of the screen shows the title, the source and target branch, the state and the latest pipeline. The Changes, Commits and Pipelines tabs sit just below the description.
3. Open the Changes tab. Every changed file is a collapsed row with its path and its added and removed line counts. Tap a file to expand its diff. Use Expand all when the change is small.
4. Comment on a line. Tap a line, or the comment button next to it. A full-screen editor opens with Edit and Preview tabs, a formatting row above the keyboard, and suggestions when you type @, #, ! or ~.
5. Choose how to send it. Add to review keeps the comment as a draft. Comment now posts it at once.
6. Answer existing threads. Threads sit under the Events heading. Each one shows whether it is resolved, and has Reply and Resolve buttons.
7. Check the Pipelines tab. Read the result of the latest pipeline before you decide.
8. Finish the review. Tap Submit review to publish the drafts together, then approve or merge from the readiness panel. Our guide to approving and merging covers that panel.

Why hold comments as a review

When you choose Add to review, GitLab stores your comments as draft notes on the server. The author hears nothing until you publish, so you get one coherent review instead of six notifications. You can change your mind about a comment first. Because the drafts live on GitLab and not on the phone, you can start a review on the phone and publish it from a browser, or the other way around.

A tip for long diffs

Lines of code are wider than a phone. The diff scrolls sideways inside the file instead of wrapping, so a long line does not break the layout. The diff can switch between inline and side by side. Turn the phone sideways, or use a tablet, for the side by side view. On a small screen, review file by file, starting with the tests, and collapse each file when you are done with it.

Limits

• You cannot apply a suggested change from a review comment yet. It is on the roadmap in the project README. For now, ask the author to make the edit.
• You cannot resolve merge conflicts in the app. A conflict shows up as a merge blocker. Fix it on the branch itself.
• You need a token with the api scope to comment, because commenting writes to GitLab. A read_api token is not enough for reviewing. See how to sign in with a personal access token.

Related

This page is one step of the GitAlchemy for Android walkthrough. Next, see how to read pipeline job logs on your phone when a review depends on a red pipeline, and how to approve and merge once the review is done.

FAQ

Does the author get notified when I comment?

Yes. GitLab sends its usual notifications for a published comment. Drafts notify nobody until you publish them.