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Gerrit is a Git server that adds a controlled, review-first path between a developer’s commit and a protected branch. You push a commit for review, rather than directly changing main; reviewers and automated systems evaluate it, and an authorized user submits it when the project’s requirements are satisfied.
The defining distinction is the destination ref:
Direct Git update: local commit → refs/heads/main → branch changes
Gerrit review: local commit → refs/for/main → pending change → submit → branch changesGerrit’s documentation snapshot currently identifies itself as a v3.14.1 development build, but installations can use different versions and site-specific configuration. Commands, labels, permissions and interface details should therefore be checked against the target server. See the official documentation index.
What Gerrit adds to Git
Git records commits and branch history, but a bare Git repository does not provide a complete collaborative review system. Access may be controlled by the filesystem or hosting service, yet Git alone has no Gerrit-style discussion threads, review labels, submit gates or centralized policy.
Gerrit combines Git hosting with:
- A web interface for unified and side-by-side diffs, comments and discussion.
- Permissions scoped to projects, branches and ref namespaces.
- A pending-change layer that keeps proposed commits separate from protected branches.
- Structured labels such as
Code-ReviewandVerified(the names and ranges are configurable). - Integration points for builds, tests and other verification services.
- A durable record of revisions, comments, approvals and submission history.
Gerrit can also be used simply as a Git server when a project permits direct pushes; code review is not mandatory in every installation. It is one review model among several, alongside GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps and email-based workflows. The project’s system-design documentation explains the design goals.
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The objects you need to understand
| Object | Meaning in Gerrit |
|---|---|
| Repository | The Git project hosted by Gerrit. |
| Branch | A Git ref such as main or stable. |
| Commit | The Git object created locally and uploaded to Gerrit. |
| Change | Gerrit’s review record for a proposed modification. It is not a branch. |
| Patch set | One uploaded revision of a change. A change can contain several patch sets. |
| Review label | A structured vote or status, for example Code-Review or Verified. |
| Submit requirement | A configured condition that must be met before submission, such as approvals, checks or ownership. |
| Submit | The authorized operation that integrates an eligible change into its destination branch using the project’s configured strategy. |
A change can therefore outlive the individual commit first uploaded for it. When the site uses the common Change-Id workflow, later uploads carrying the same identifier become new patch sets on the existing change. Gerrit also exposes internal refs, including the refs/changes/ namespace. Read the upload guide for the server’s exact rules.
A complete Gerrit workflow
- Clone the repository. Use the clone URL supplied by the Gerrit installation.
- Create a working branch. Keep local work isolated while you edit.
- Run local checks. Test and format the code before uploading.
- Create a commit. The commit message may need a Gerrit
Change-Id. - Upload for review. Push to
refs/for/<target-branch>. - Review begins. Gerrit creates a change, displays the diff and notifies configured reviewers.
- Checks report. CI or other automation posts results, often as labels.
- Revise the code. Address comments, amend or otherwise recreate the commit, then upload another patch set.
- Requirements are reevaluated. Gerrit checks approvals, automation, conflicts, permissions and project policy again.
- An authorized user submits. Gerrit integrates the change according to the configured submit type.
- The destination branch advances. The resulting history may be a merge, rebase, fast-forward or another supported strategy.
git clone ssh://USER@HOST:29418/PROJECT.git
cd PROJECT
git checkout -b fix-login-timeout
# edit files
git add path/to/file
git commit -m "Fix login timeout handling"
git push origin HEAD:refs/for/mainThe host, port, project name, authentication method and target branch are installation-specific. The general SSH form is documented at user-upload.html.
Why refs/for/main matters
In git push origin HEAD:refs/for/main, HEAD is the commit you are uploading and refs/for/main tells Gerrit that the intended target is main through the review mechanism. Assuming the user has review-upload permission rather than direct-write permission, main is not changed by that command.
This is different from:
git push origin HEAD:refs/heads/mainrefs/heads/main is the actual branch ref. A user permitted to push there can update the branch directly and bypass review. Exact permissions vary, so administrators should ensure that direct-write access is granted only deliberately. The access-control documentation and project-owner guide describe the relevant controls.
How review and automation work
Human review
Reviewers inspect file and line changes, compare patch sets, write inline or file-level comments, publish drafts, reply to discussions and apply labels when their permissions allow it. A positive review is an assessment, not automatically a merge instruction.
Automated verification
Build servers and CI systems can report test or policy results to Gerrit. A project might require a successful verification label, but label names, score ranges, who may apply them and what blocks submission are configurable.
Submit eligibility and authorization
These are separate questions:
- Approval: reviewers indicate that the code is acceptable.
- Eligibility: every configured requirement is currently satisfied.
- Authorization: the acting user has submit permission.
- Integration: Gerrit applies the configured submit type to the target branch.
For illustration only, a project might require Code-Review: +2, Verified: +1, no blocking vote and a permitted submitter. Those values are not universal defaults. A change with positive reviews can still be blocked by failed tests, a missing owner approval, a conflict, a stale branch state or insufficient permission.
Updating a change: patch sets, amend and rebase
A typical review evolves as follows:
Change 123
├─ Patch set 1: initial upload
├─ Patch set 2: reviewer fixes
└─ Patch set 3: rebase or implementation adjustmentAfter changing the files, a common workflow is:
git add .
git commit --amend
git push origin HEAD:refs/for/mainIf the commit retains the expected Change-Id, Gerrit commonly associates it with the existing change. If the identifier is missing or changed, the upload may create a new change instead. Other causes include targeting a different branch or recreating history in a way that changes the review identity. Inspect the commit message and follow the project’s documented hook or upload procedure rather than copying identifiers blindly.
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Permissions and security boundaries
Gerrit permissions are more granular than repository-level read/write. Groups can receive permissions scoped to projects, branches and ref patterns, including:
- Read access.
- Upload (push) access for review.
- Permission to apply particular review labels.
- Submit permission.
- Creation or deletion of branches.
- Identity-forging capabilities where configured.
- Administrative access.
Examples of scoped refs include refs/heads/main, refs/heads/stable/*, refs/for/refs/heads/* and refs/meta/config. A misconfigured direct push permission can undermine a review gate even when the web interface appears to require approval. Read access and action permissions should be designed separately, with identity management, backups, updates and monitoring handled as deployment responsibilities. See Gerrit access control.
Gerrit compared with pull-request platforms
| Question | Gerrit | Typical pull-request platform |
|---|---|---|
| Review unit | A change containing one or more patch sets | A pull request or merge request |
| Upload mechanism | Git push, commonly to refs/for/<branch> |
Push a branch, then open or update a request |
| Branch update | Usually held until submit requirements pass | Protected branch plus request merge |
| Revision model | Replacement patch sets within a change | Additional commits on the request branch |
| Policy model | Ref permissions, labels and submit requirements | Branch rules, approvals, checks and roles |
| Operations | Often self-managed or organization-operated | Frequently delivered as managed SaaS |
| Characteristic fit | Commit-centric, policy-heavy workflows | Hosted repositories with integrated project and developer features |
The products overlap substantially, and Gerrit can be configured to resemble branch-based workflows. The meaningful distinction is the default review-and-submit model, not a claim that one platform is universally superior. Compare the official user guide with the needs of your organization.
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Advantages, trade-offs and operating choices
Where Gerrit fits well
- Mandatory review before protected-branch updates.
- Fine-grained rules across repositories and branches.
- Commit-centric review with sophisticated submit gates.
- External CI and verification integrations.
- Organizations able to operate a customizable review service.
Costs and friction
- Learning curve: users must understand refs, Change-Ids, patch sets, labels, submit requirements and rebasing.
- Operational work: self-managed deployments require authentication integration, upgrades, backups, storage, monitoring and CI maintenance.
- Opinionated workflow: teams used to long-lived pull-request branches may find amend-and-upload behavior unfamiliar.
- Configuration variance: labels, plugins, hooks, merge strategies and permissions can make two installations behave differently.
Gerrit itself is open-source software, but a self-managed deployment still consumes infrastructure and administrator time. Managed infrastructure can be placed on services such as Google Cloud, AWS or Azure; no current Gerrit hosting price is established here.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting common problems
“Permission denied” on upload
Check the remote, branch and refspec:
git remote -v
git branch --show-current
git push origin HEAD:refs/for/mainAuthentication can succeed while authorization fails. Confirm the clone URL, project path and review-upload permission with a project administrator.
A new change appears instead of a revision
Inspect the commit message for the expected Change-Id, verify that it did not change, confirm the target branch and follow the site’s hook instructions. Do not assume every server uses exactly the same association workflow.
An approved change cannot submit
Check failed or missing CI results, blocking labels, required owner approval, conflicts, destination-branch movement and submit permission. Approval does not equal eligibility or authorization.
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A direct push unexpectedly changed the branch
The command may have used refs/heads/main, or the user may have direct-write permission. Review project ref rules rather than relying only on the upload command to enforce policy.
CI is missing or stale
Check whether the automation ran for the newest patch set and whether its result is attached to the current revision. A successful result for an older patch set may no longer satisfy the project’s requirements.
A rebase creates conflicts
Resolve conflicts locally or use the project’s approved server-side procedure, then upload a new patch set while preserving the intended Change-Id. The correct recovery depends on the project’s history-rewriting policy.
Who should choose Gerrit?
Choose Gerrit when mandatory review, ref-level governance, commit-centric revisions and configurable submit gates justify a specialized workflow and your organization can operate or obtain the service. Prefer a managed pull-request platform when minimal administration, integrated issues and planning, or a familiar branch-based model matter more. GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Azure Repos may be appropriate alternatives, but their current plan limits and prices are not established here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every Gerrit project require code review?
No. Gerrit can serve as a Git server, and project permissions can allow direct branch pushes. Review is enforced only when the project’s ref permissions and submit requirements require it.
Is a Gerrit change the same thing as a pull request?
They are comparable review records, but not identical. Gerrit centers on uploaded commits and replacement patch sets, commonly sent to refs/for/
Does a +2 automatically merge a Gerrit change?
No. Label ranges are configurable, and submission can also require successful automation, ownership approval, no blocking vote, a conflict-free destination and submit permission.
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