To get started with GitLab, you need to create a repository and push code to it. After creating your account in GitLab, go to the Projects page and click New project to create a new repository. To populate the repository, you can add files online or upload local project files using the command line. First, install and set up Git on your PC, then navigate to the desired folder and use the `git init` command to initialize the repository. Connect the remote GitLab project with your local directory by adding the project URL, then add all files in the current directory to the Git process using `git add .`. Make a commit to track changes, including comments on what was added or changed, then push the files and code to GitLab using `git push -u origin master`. After authentication, the upload process will begin, and you'll see a message indicating that the data has been uploaded properly. Zapier can automate GitLab processes by connecting it to thousands of apps, allowing you to create notifications or tasks based on new merge requests or other events.