Week01

Week1. Principles and Practices, Project Management¶

During the first week of Fab Academy, we were introduced to the course structure, workflow, and digital documentation process. The main focus of this stage was setting up the working environment and preparing the necessary tools for future assignments.

During this week, I installed and configured the required software: - Creating and exploring a GitLab account - nstalling Git Bash for managing the local repository - Installing Visual Studio Code for editing the website and documentation

We learned how the Git version control system works, including creating repositories, making commits, and pushing changes to GitLab. This week established the foundation for future documentation and project development, as an organized workflow is essential for successful progress during Fab Academy.

Git Setup Process¶

During this week, I prepared my working environment using Git Bash and GitLab to organize my documentation workflow.

First, I downloaded and installed Git Bash on my computer and opened it after installation. I created (or opened) a folder called “Fabacademy2026”, which serves as my main working directory.

In GitLab, I copied the SSH link to my personal repository. Using Git Bash, I navigated to the “Fabacademy2026” folder and cloned my GitLab repository into this directory. These steps created a connection between my local computer and GitLab, allowing me to make changes locally and push them to my online documentation website.

SSH Key Setup and Repository Connection¶

To enable secure authentication with GitLab, I generated and configured an SSH key.

First, I opened Git Bash and navigated to my working directory:

cd Documents/
cd Fabacademy2026/

Then I generated a new SSH key:

ssh-keygen -t ed25519 -C "malkhasyangevorg566@gmail.com"

This created two files:

id_ed25519 (private key)

id_ed25519.pub (public key)

I displayed and copied the public key:

cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub

After copying the key, I logged into GitLab, opened User Settings → SSH Keys, pasted the key, and added it to my account.

Activating SSH Agent and Cloning Repository¶

To enable secure authentication, I started the SSH agent:

eval "$(ssh-agent -s)"

Then I added my SSH key:

ssh-add ~/.ssh/id_ed25519

Next, I copied the SSH clone link from GitLab and cloned my Fab Academy repository:

git clone git@gitlab.fabcloud.org:academany/fabacademy/2026/labs/dilijan/students/gevorg-malkhasyan.git

After confirming the host connection, the repository was successfully cloned to my local machine.

Visual Studio Code Setup¶

After cloning the repository, I opened Visual Studio Code as my main development environment.

I selected Open Folder and opened the Fabacademy2026 directory, which contains my Fab Academy repository files such as:

index.html
about.html
style.css
assignments folder
images folder

Visual Studio Code provides:¶

A clean interface for HTML and CSS editing
Integrated terminal
Built-in Git integration

Git Configuration and First Commit¶

Inside VS Code, I opened the integrated terminal and checked the repository status:

git status

When attempting my first commit, Git requested my identity configuration. I configured it using:

git config --global user.email "malkhasyangevorg566@gmail.com"
git config --global user.name "Gevorg Malkhasyan"

Then I added and committed my changes:

git add .
git commit -m "adding year in index"

The commit was successful, preparing the project for pushing updates to GitLab.

Conclusion¶

By the end of this process, I successfully:

Generated and configured SSH authentication

Connected my computer to GitLab securely

Cloned my Fab Academy repository

Set up Visual Studio Code as my development environment

Made and committed my first changes

This setup establishes a stable and professional workflow for managing and documenting my Fab Academy projects throughout the year.