Enabling GitLab Sync

How to set up and authorize the GitLab Sync integration for GitBook.

1. Get started

In the space you want to sync with your GitLab repo, head to the space menu in the top right, and select Synchronize with Git. From the provider list, select GitLab Sync, and click Configure.

Git Sync setup screen

2. Generate and enter your API access token

You can generate an API access token in your GitLab user settings.

There are two types of access tokens in GitLab: Project and Personal. Note that in order for the integration to work you’ll need to use a Personal token, which you can generate from your GitLab user preferences menu.

Ensure that you enable the following access for your token:

• api

• read_repository

• write_repository

GitLab setup screen

Then you can paste the token into the API access token field when configuring your GitLab integration.

3. Select a repository and branch

Select the repository you want to keep in sync with your GitBook content.

Can’t see your repository? Ensure you’ve set the correct permissions when creating your API token.

Once you’ve selected the correct repository, choose which branch you want commits to be pushed to and synced from.

For many GitLab repositories, the main branch might be automatically set to protected. If this is the case, we recommend adding a specific branch to sync your content between. You can then merge this into main and keep the protection in place.

4. Perform an initial sync

When syncing for the first time, you’ll have the option to sync in one of two directions:

1. GitBook -> GitLab will sync your space’s content to the selected branch. This is great if you’re starting from an empty repository and want to get your GitBook content in quickly.

2. GitLab -> GitBook will sync your space’s content from the selected branch. This is great if you have existing markdown content in a repository and want to bring it into GitBook.

5. Write and commit!

You’re good to go. You’ll notice that if your space was in live edit mode, live edits are now locked. This allows GitBook to reliably sync content to your repository when someone in your team merges a change request in GitBook.

When you edit on GitBook, every change request merge will result in a commit to your selected GitLab branch.

When you commit to GitLab, every commit will be synced to your GitBook space as a history commit.