Software Development: Getting Started with Microsoft Azure Devops Services

Azure Devops allows organizations to improve products at a faster pace than they can with traditional software development approaches.

• By Mensah Alkebu-Lan
• 21 February 2023

Table of Contents

• Overview
• Choosing between Azure Devops Services and Azure Devops Server
• Azure Devops Boards
• The other Azure Devops Services
• References

Overview

Devops influences the application lifecycle through its plan, develop, deliver, and operate phases. For example, the develop phase includes writing, testing, reviewing, and the integration of code by team members.

Devops Engineers should be able to define and implement continuous integration, define and implement a continuous delivery and release management strategy, as well as develop a security and compliance plan. Azure Devops is a suite of services that support these responsibilities and many others. Azure Devops allows organizations to improve products at a faster pace than they can with traditional software development approaches.

Choosing between Azure Devops Services and Azure Devops Server

When implementing Azure Devops, you have two choices. You can go with either Azure Devops Services or Azure Devops Server. Azure Devops Services is cloud-based while Azure Devops Server is deployed on-premises.

There are some differences between the two that should be investigated before deciding on either one. Azure Devops services gives access to cloud build and deployment servers. Azure Devops Server would be the better option when you need your data to stay within your network.

Azure Devops Boards

With Azure Boards, plan and track work with Agile tools like Kanban boards, interactive backlogs, and planning tools. This work can be categorized using the default work item types—such as user stories, bugs, features, and epics.

When you first enter Azure Boards from your project, the default screen is the Work items hub. You’ll have to click on Board to get to the Boards hub. There you’re able to perform status updates on the work items in the columns through drag and drop. For example, you can drag a work item in the “to Do” column to the “Doing” column.

Similarly, you can navigate to the “Backlogs” hub and “Sprints” hub. For example, in the “Sprints” hub, you can access a team’s filtered view of work items based on a specific iteration path or sprint.

Similarly, you can navigate to the “Queries” hub or “Delivery plans” hub.

What is Azure Load Testing?

In this episode of the #DevOps Lab, we get a demo on how to integrate Azure Load Testing (now generally available!) into our #AzureDevOps pipelines; from setting up JMeter scripts and YML files, to reviewing test results.
🎥 https://t.co/7zli3kiuaM pic.twitter.com/RVfBbHS5Oo

— DevOps on Azure (@AzureDevOps) March 3, 2023

The other Azure Devops Services

Azure Devops is a suite of services. With Azure Artifacts, share Maven, NPM, NuGet, and Python packages from public and private sources with your entire team. It also allows you to integrate package sharing into your CI/CD pipelines.

Azure Repos provides Git repositories or Team Foundation Version Control for source control. Azure Pipelines provides release services to support continuous integration and continuous delivery of applications.

To summarize, below is a list of the Azure Devops services:

• Azure Boards
• Azure Pipelines
• Azure Repos
• Azure Test Plans
• Azure Artifacts

References

1. “Azure DevOps Services.” Microsoft Azure. Accessed 21 February 2023.
2. “What is Azure DevOps? - Azure DevOps.” Microsoft Learn, 10 October 2022. Accessed 21 February 2023.
3. “What is DevOps? DevOps Explained.” Microsoft Azure. Accessed 21 February 2023.
4. “Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert - Certifications.” Microsoft Learn. Accessed 21 February 2023.
5. “Azure Boards.” Microsoft Azure. Accessed 21 February 2023.
6. “What is Azure Boards? Tools to manage software development projects. - Azure Boards.” Microsoft Learn, 4 October 2022. Accessed 21 February 2023
7. “Implement Scrum. work practices in Azure Boards - Azure Boards.” Microsoft Learn, 24 January 2023. Accessed 21 February 2023.