Since GitLab 9.0, when you click the `New branch` in an empty repository project, GitLab automatically creates the master branch, commits a blank `README.md` file to it and creates and redirects you to a new branch based on the issue title.
If your [project is already configured with a deployment service][project-services-doc] (e.g. Kubernetes), GitLab takes one step further and prompts you to set up [auto deploy][auto-deploy-doc] by helping you create a `.gitlab-ci.yml` file.
After the branch is created, you can edit files in the repository to fix
After the branch is created, you can edit files in the repository to fix
the issue. When a merge request is created based on the newly created branch,
the issue. When a merge request is created based on the newly created branch,
the description field will automatically display the [issue closing pattern]
the description field will automatically display the [issue closing pattern]
`Closes #ID`, where `ID` the ID of the issue. This will close the issue once the
`Closes #ID`, where `ID` the ID of the issue. This will close the issue once the