Support default templates for issues/MRs via .gitlab/ folders

For new issues or merge requests, if a template name of "Default"
(case-insensitive) exists in the template dropdown, it will be
selected.

This allows default templates for issues and merge requests to
be provided via the .gitlab/issue_templates/ and
.gitlab/merge_request_templates/ folders.

Changelog: added

app/helpers/issuables_description_templates_helper.rb

@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ module IssuablesDescriptionTemplatesHelper
     # Only local templates will be listed if licenses for inherited templates are not present
     all_templates = all_templates.values.flatten.map { |tpl| tpl[:name] }.compact.uniq
 
-    all_templates.find { |tmpl_name| tmpl_name == params[:issuable_template] }
+    template = all_templates.find { |tmpl_name| tmpl_name == params[:issuable_template] }
+    template || all_templates.find { |tmpl_name| tmpl_name.casecmp?('default') }
   end
 
   def available_service_desk_templates_for(project)

doc/user/project/description_templates.md

@@ -116,6 +116,8 @@ You might also be interested in templates for various
 
 ### Set a default template for merge requests and issues **(PREMIUM)**
 
+> The `default.md` template becoming the default [introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/76326) in GitLab 14.7.
+
 In a project, you can choose a default description template for new issues and merge requests.
 As a result, every time a new merge request or issue is created, it's pre-filled with the text you
 entered in the template.
@@ -125,17 +127,29 @@ Prerequisites:
 - On your project's left sidebar, select **Settings > General** and expand **Visibility, project features, permissions**.
   Ensure issues or merge requests are set to either **Everyone with access** or **Only Project Members**.
 
-To set a default description template for merge requests:
+To set a default description template for merge requests, either:
 
-1. Go to your project's **Settings**.
-1. Select **Expand** under the **Merge requests** header.
-1. Fill in the **Default description template for merge requests** text area.
-1. Select **Save changes**.
+- [Create a merge request template](#create-a-merge-request-template) named `default.md` and save it in `.gitlab/merge_request_templates/`.
+  **If a `default.md` file exists, it's used as the default template even if you select another one in the project settings.**
+- Select the default template in project settings:
+
+  1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
+  1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings**.
+  1. Expand **Merge requests**.
+  1. Fill in the **Default description template for merge requests** text area.
+  1. Select **Save changes**.
+
+To set a default description template for issues, either:
 
-To set a default description template for issues:
+- [Create an issue template](#create-an-issue-template) named `default.md` and save it in `.gitlab/issue_templates/`.
+  **If a `default.md` file exists, it's used as the default template even if you select another one in the project settings.**
+- Select the default template in project settings:
 
-1. Select **Expand** under **Default issue template**.
-1. Fill in the **Default description template for issues** text area.
+  1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Projects** and find your project.
+  1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings**.
+  1. Expand **Default issue template**.
+  1. Fill in the **Default description template for issues** text area.
+  1. Select **Save changes**.
 
 Because GitLab merge request and issues support [Markdown](../markdown.md), you can use it to format
 headings, lists, and so on.

ee/app/views/projects/_merge_request_settings.html.haml

@@ -29,6 +29,9 @@
       - create_a_merge_request_templates_help_link_start = '<a href="%{url}" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">'.html_safe % { url: create_a_merge_request_template_help_link_url }
       = s_('ProjectSettings|%{link_start}What are description templates?%{link_end}').html_safe % { link_start: create_a_merge_request_templates_help_link_start, link_end: '</a>'.html_safe }
 
+    %p.text-secondary
+      = s_('ProjectSettings|If a %{code_start}default.md%{code_end} file exists in %{code_start}.gitlab/merge_request_templates%{code_end} in the repository, it overrides this setting.').html_safe % { code_start: '<code>'.html_safe, code_end: '</code>'.html_safe }
+
     = form.text_area :merge_requests_template, class: "form-control", rows: 3, data: { qa_selector: 'default_merge_request_template_field' }
 
     .text-secondary

ee/app/views/projects/settings/_default_issue_template.html.haml

@@ -8,6 +8,8 @@
       %p#issue-settings-default-template-label= _('Set a default description template to be used for new issues. %{link_start}What are description templates?%{link_end}').html_safe % { link_start: link_start, link_end: '</a>'.html_safe }
 
     .settings-content
+      %p.text-secondary
+        = s_('ProjectSettings|If a %{code_start}default.md%{code_end} file exists in %{code_start}.gitlab/issue_templates%{code_end} in the repository, it overrides this setting.').html_safe % { code_start: '<code>'.html_safe, code_end: '</code>'.html_safe }
       = form_for @project, html: { multipart: true, class: "issue-settings-form" }, authenticity_token: true do |f|
         %input{ type: 'hidden', name: 'update_section', value: 'js-issue-settings' }
         .row

locale/gitlab.pot

@@ -27967,6 +27967,12 @@ msgstr ""
 msgid "ProjectSettings|Highlight the usage of hidden unicode characters. These have innocent uses for right-to-left languages, but can also be used in potential exploits."
 msgstr ""
 
+msgid "ProjectSettings|If a %{code_start}default.md%{code_end} file exists in %{code_start}.gitlab/issue_templates%{code_end} in the repository, it overrides this setting."
+msgstr ""
+
+msgid "ProjectSettings|If a %{code_start}default.md%{code_end} file exists in %{code_start}.gitlab/merge_request_templates%{code_end} in the repository, it overrides this setting."
+msgstr ""
+
 msgid "ProjectSettings|If merge trains are enabled, merging is only possible if the branch can be rebased without conflicts."
 msgstr ""
 

spec/helpers/issuables_description_templates_helper_spec.rb

@@ -72,6 +72,37 @@ RSpec.describe IssuablesDescriptionTemplatesHelper, :clean_gitlab_redis_cache do
           ].to_json
         expect(helper.available_service_desk_templates_for(@project)).to eq(value)
       end
+
+      context 'when no issuable_template parameter or default template is present' do
+        it 'does not select a template' do
+          expect(helper.selected_template(project)).to be(nil)
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when an issuable_template parameter has been provided' do
+        before do
+          allow(helper).to receive(:params).and_return({ issuable_template: 'another_issue_template' })
+        end
+
+        it 'selects the issuable template' do
+          expect(helper.selected_template(project)).to eq('another_issue_template')
+        end
+      end
+
+      context 'when there is a default template' do
+        let(:templates) do
+          {
+            "" => [
+              { name: "another_issue_template", id: "another_issue_template", project_id: project.id },
+              { name: "default", id: "default", project_id: project.id }
+            ]
+          }
+        end
+
+        it 'selects the default template' do
+          expect(helper.selected_template(project)).to eq('default')
+        end
+      end
     end
 
     context 'when there are not templates in the project' do