GitLabRemoveMeFromGroupNotifier

This project is a prank I wrote for work. I asked to get removed from a GitLab group multiple times, and after a year I wanted to emphasize my wish in a non-destructive way.

The prank has non-destructive effects on the projects in the GitLab group and sub-groups. It only creates a branch and a merge request. If your name was LaumiH and the group's name was Unwanted, the following would happen:

• Create a branch named "LaumiH_was_here" from main or master (if there is no such branch, the script does nothing in this project)
• Add a Markdown file "LaumiH_was_here.md" with the contents you specify (ideally a plea for removal from the group)
• Create a merge request with the title "LaumiH was here! Please remove me from the Unwanted group!"

Usage - for the affected

First, let me describe how you can delete the created branches and merge requests in an automated way. Please follow the steps described in Getting Started below, so install the stuff and make sure you have the host and access_token files along the downloaded de-prank.py file. You can create a GitLab access token as described here. Then simply execute python3 de-prank.py -group <group> -name <name>. Replace <group> with the name of the top-level GitLab group the user wants to be removed from. Replace <name> with the user's name that they added in the "... was here" messages. That's it.

Remember to remove the user from the group after all :)

You can of course also contact the prankster and ask for their help.

Usage

If you are in a similar situation like me, you might consider playing this simple and non-desctructive prank on the group's admins that would not listen to you.

Getting started

Execute the following steps to get started:

• Install Python3 and the modules argparse and python-gitlab
• Download prank.py, de-prank.py and I_was_here.md to a directory, say dir
• Create two files in dir:
  • host: place the GitLab url here, e.g. gitlab.company.com, without ""
  • access_token: your GitLab access token, without ""
• Take a look at I_was_here.md. <group> and <name> will be replaced by what you enter to the command line later (see below). Please leave in the hint to this repository, so that people can at least delete the outcomes of your prank. Other than that, feel free to add your own message.

Testing

To be sure that the scripts behave correctly, you might want to test the prank on your private projects. You can do this via python3 prank.py -user <user> -name <name>, where your replace <user> with your gitlab username and <name> with the name you want to see in the "... was here" message. This will prank only your own projects.

Please also try out the automated deletion of the created branches and merge requests with python3 de-prank.py -user <user> -name <name>.

Showtime

When you are absolutely sure that you don't destroy anything for good, it's time for the real prank. Simply type python3 prank.py -group <group> -name <name>, replacing <group> with the name of the GitLab group you want to be removed from, and <name> with the name you want to see in the "... was here" message. Have fun :)

Sidenote

I wrote this project not out of spite, but to raise awareness. The group I wanted to be removed from belonged to my former project, which is located at a completely different part of the company, and not under my current employer. So I basically had (modifying!) access to a project from another company.

By adding branches and merge requests, nothing is deleted or modified in a malicious way. CI (or, worse, CD) pipelines, if correctly configured, also must never pick up randomly named branches. It is possible that some embarassing situations come up, e.g., with project partner companies and the like. This is entirely among the intended effects this prank is designed to have.