Azure DevOps

Overview

Azure DevOps is Microsoft's comprehensive DevOps platform that provides tools for planning, developing, testing, and deploying software. It offers seamless integration with Azure cloud services and supports both Microsoft and open-source technologies.

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Core Services

Azure Boards

Work tracking and project management tool with Agile planning capabilities.

Feature	Description	Use Case
Work Items	Tasks, bugs, features, epics	Project tracking
Backlogs	Prioritized work lists	Sprint planning
Boards	Kanban-style visualization	Workflow management
Sprints	Time-boxed iterations	Agile development
Queries	Custom work item searches	Reporting and analytics

Work Item Types

# Epic
- Large feature or initiative
- Contains multiple features
- High-level business value

# Feature
- Group of related user stories
- Business functionality
- Medium-level planning

# User Story
- End-user functionality
- Acceptance criteria
- Development tasks

# Task
- Development work items
- Time estimates
- Sprint assignments

# Bug
- Code defects
- Severity levels
- Reproduction steps

Azure Repos

Git-based version control with advanced collaboration features.

Feature	Description	Benefits
Git Repositories	Distributed version control	Branching and merging
Pull Requests	Code review workflow	Quality assurance
Branch Policies	Code quality gates	Prevent bad merges
Code Search	Advanced code searching	Developer productivity
Fork Management	Repository forking	Open source workflows

Branch Policies

# Repository Settings > Policies
# Require minimum reviewers: 2
# Check for linked work items: Required
# Check for comment resolution: Required
# Build validation: Required
# Status policy: Required

Azure Pipelines

CI/CD automation platform supporting multiple languages and platforms.

Component	Purpose	Configuration
Build Pipelines	Compile and test code	YAML or Classic UI
Release Pipelines	Deploy to environments	Multi-stage deployments
Artifacts	Package management	NuGet, npm, Maven
Test Integration	Automated testing	Unit, integration, UI tests
Environments	Deployment targets	Dev, Staging, Production

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Pipeline Configuration

YAML Pipeline Example

# azure-pipelines.yml
trigger:
  branches:
    include:
    - main
    - develop

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

variables:
  buildConfiguration: 'Release'
  dotnetSdkVersion: '6.x'

steps:
- task: UseDotNet@2
  displayName: 'Install .NET SDK'
  inputs:
    version: $(dotnetSdkVersion)

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Restore packages'
  inputs:
    command: 'restore'
    projects: '**/*.csproj'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Build project'
  inputs:
    command: 'build'
    projects: '**/*.csproj'
    arguments: '--configuration $(buildConfiguration)'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Run tests'
  inputs:
    command: 'test'
    projects: '**/*Tests.csproj'
    arguments: '--configuration $(buildConfiguration) --collect "Code coverage"'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Publish'
  inputs:
    command: 'publish'
    publishWebProjects: true
    arguments: '--configuration $(buildConfiguration) --output $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'

- task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
  displayName: 'Publish artifacts'
  inputs:
    pathtoPublish: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
    artifactName: 'drop'

Multi-Stage Pipeline

# Multi-environment deployment
stages:
- stage: Build
  jobs:
  - job: Build
    steps:
    - script: echo "Building application"

- stage: Dev
  dependsOn: Build
  jobs:
  - deployment: DeployDev
    environment: 'dev'
    strategy:
      runOnce:
        deploy:
          steps:
          - script: echo "Deploying to dev"

- stage: Staging
  dependsOn: Dev
  jobs:
  - deployment: DeployStaging
    environment: 'staging'
    strategy:
      runOnce:
        deploy:
          steps:
          - script: echo "Deploying to staging"

- stage: Production
  dependsOn: Staging
  jobs:
  - deployment: DeployProd
    environment: 'prod'
    strategy:
      runOnce:
        deploy:
          steps:
          - script: echo "Deploying to production"

Azure Pipelines Tasks

Task	Purpose	Example
UseDotNet	Install .NET SDK	version: '6.x'
DotNetCoreCLI	.NET CLI commands	command: 'build'
NodeTool	Install Node.js	versionSpec: '16.x'
Npm	npm commands	command: 'install'
Docker	Docker operations	command: 'build'
AzureWebApp	Azure deployment	appName: 'myapp'
KubernetesManifest	K8s deployment	action: 'deploy'

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Azure Test Plans

Comprehensive testing solution for manual and automated testing.

Test Planning

# Test Plan Structure
Test Plan
├── Test Suites
│   ├── Requirement-based
│   ├── Query-based
│   └── Static
├── Test Cases
│   ├── Steps
│   ├── Parameters
│   └── Attachments
└── Test Runs
    ├── Manual execution
    ├── Automated execution
    └── Exploratory testing

Test Case Template

**Test Case ID:** TC_001
**Title:** User Login Functionality
**Description:** Verify user can log in with valid credentials

**Preconditions:**
- User account exists
- Application is accessible

**Test Steps:**
1. Navigate to login page
2. Enter valid username
3. Enter valid password
4. Click login button

**Expected Results:**
- User is redirected to dashboard
- Welcome message displays
- Session is created

**Test Data:**
- Username: testuser@example.com
- Password: TestPass123

**Post-conditions:**
- User is logged in
- Session persists

Automated Testing Integration

# Pipeline with automated tests
- task: VSTest@2
  inputs:
    testSelector: 'testAssemblies'
    testAssemblyVer2: |
      **\*test*.dll
      !**\obj\**
    searchFolder: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)'

- task: PublishTestResults@2
  inputs:
    testResultsFiles: '**/*.trx'
    testRunTitle: 'Unit Tests'
    mergeTestResults: true

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Azure Artifacts

Package management and sharing across teams.

Package Types

Package Type	Description	Use Case
NuGet	.NET packages	C# libraries
npm	JavaScript packages	Node.js modules
Maven	Java packages	Java libraries
Python	Python packages	Python modules
Universal	Any file type	Custom packages

Publishing Packages

# azure-pipelines.yml - Publish NuGet
- task: NuGetCommand@2
  inputs:
    command: 'pack'
    packagesToPack: '**/*.nuspec'
    versioningScheme: 'byBuildNumber'

- task: NuGetCommand@2
  inputs:
    command: 'push'
    packagesToPush: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)/**/*.nupkg'
    nuGetFeedType: 'internal'
    publishVstsFeed: 'my-project/my-feed'

Upstream Sources

# Connect to external feeds
# Azure Artifacts > Feed Settings > Upstream sources
# Add npmjs.org, nuget.org, etc.

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Integration with Azure Services

Azure Resource Manager Templates

{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2019-04-01/deploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "webAppName": {
      "type": "string",
      "metadata": {
        "description": "Name of the web app"
      }
    }
  },
  "resources": [
    {
      "type": "Microsoft.Web/sites",
      "apiVersion": "2020-06-01",
      "name": "[parameters('webAppName')]",
      "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
      "properties": {
        "serverFarmId": "[resourceId('Microsoft.Web/serverfarms', variables('appServicePlanName'))]"
      }
    }
  ]
}

Azure CLI Integration

# Pipeline step for Azure CLI
- task: AzureCLI@2
  inputs:
    azureSubscription: 'my-service-connection'
    scriptType: 'bash'
    scriptLocation: 'inlineScript'
    inlineScript: |
      az webapp deployment source config \
        --name $(webAppName) \
        --resource-group $(resourceGroup) \
        --repo-url $(Build.Repository.Uri) \
        --branch main \
        --manual-integration

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Security and Compliance

Role-Based Access Control

Role	Permissions	Scope
Reader	View resources	Organization/Project
Contributor	Create/modify	Project
Project Administrator	Full project control	Project
Organization Owner	Full organization control	Organization

Audit and Compliance

# Enable audit streaming
# Organization Settings > Auditing
# Stream audit events to Log Analytics
# Monitor security events and compliance

Security Features

Feature	Description	Benefits
Branch Policies	Code quality gates	Prevent bad code
Credential Scanning	Detect secrets	Security compliance
IP Restrictions	Access control	Network security
Multi-Factor Authentication	Account security	Identity protection
Conditional Access	Policy enforcement	Compliance

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Best Practices

Practice	Benefit	Implementation
Use YAML pipelines	Version control	Store pipeline as code
Implement branch policies	Code quality	Require reviews and tests
Use environments	Deployment control	Approval gates
Organize work items	Project clarity	Epics → Features → Stories
Automate testing	Quality assurance	CI/CD integration
Monitor pipelines	Performance tracking	Analytics and reporting
Use service connections	Secure access	Managed identities
Implement security scanning	Vulnerability detection	Integrated security tools

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Pricing and Licensing

Azure DevOps Services

Plan	Users	Features	Cost
Basic	5 free	Core features	Free
Basic + Test Plans	Per user	Manual testing	$52/user/month
Azure DevOps Server	Unlimited	On-premises	Contact sales

Azure Pipelines

Plan	Free Minutes	Paid Minutes	Cost
Public Projects	10 free parallel	Unlimited	Free
Private Projects	1 free parallel	Additional	$40/parallel job/month

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Common Scenarios

.NET Application Deployment

# Complete .NET pipeline
trigger:
  branches:
    include:
    - main

pool:
  vmImage: 'windows-latest'

variables:
  solution: '**/*.sln'
  buildPlatform: 'Any CPU'
  buildConfiguration: 'Release'

steps:
- task: NuGetToolInstaller@1

- task: NuGetCommand@2
  inputs:
    restoreSolution: '$(solution)'

- task: VSBuild@1
  inputs:
    solution: '$(solution)'
    platform: '$(buildPlatform)'
    configuration: '$(buildConfiguration)'

- task: VSTest@2
  inputs:
    platform: '$(buildPlatform)'
    configuration: '$(buildConfiguration)'

- task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
  inputs:
    pathtoPublish: '$(build.artifactstagingdirectory)'
    artifactName: 'drop'

Containerized Application

# Docker build and deploy
stages:
- stage: Build
  jobs:
  - job: Build
    steps:
    - task: Docker@2
      inputs:
        containerRegistry: 'my-registry'
        repository: 'my-app'
        command: 'buildAndPush'
        Dockerfile: '**/Dockerfile'

- stage: Deploy
  jobs:
  - job: Deploy
    steps:
    - task: KubernetesManifest@0
      inputs:
        action: 'deploy'
        kubernetesServiceConnection: 'my-k8s-connection'
        manifests: '**/deployment.yml'

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Resources

• Azure DevOps Documentation
• Azure DevOps Labs
• Azure DevOps YouTube Channel
• Azure DevOps Community
• Azure DevOps REST API