Comprehensive Azure DevOps Pipeline Guide
Introduction to Version Control
Version Control allows developers to track and manage changes to code. It enables collaboration by
maintaining a history of every modification.
- **Centralized (SVN)**: A single central repository, where each user checks out and commits
directly to the server.
- **Distributed (Git/GitHub)**: Each user has a full copy of the repository, including history, and
commits locally before pushing to a shared repository (e.g., GitHub).
SVN vs. Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps offers more flexibility than SVN by providing CI/CD pipelines, artifact management,
and environment-specific configurations.
- **SVN Workflow**: Single central repo where all commits are directed.
- **Azure DevOps Workflow**: Allows creating CI/CD pipelines, managing artifacts, and deploying
across different environments.
Understanding Git and GitHub
Git is a version control system for managing source code, while GitHub is a platform for hosting Git
repositories online, supporting collaboration.
Overview of Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps is a suite of tools for CI/CD, version control, project management, and more, aimed
at helping teams deliver high-quality software faster.
Azure DevOps Pipelines
In Azure DevOps, a pipeline automates steps from code integration to deployment.
- **Build Pipeline (CI)**: Compiles, tests, and packages the code to produce an artifact.
- **Release Pipeline (CD)**: Deploys the artifact to different environments (Dev, Test, Production).
Both pipelines can use templates, reducing redundancy and increasing flexibility.
Build Pipeline in Detail
1. **Setup**: Define the build pipeline in YAML, specifying steps like compiling, testing, and
packaging.
2. **Artifacts**: Artifacts produced are environment-agnostic, ensuring consistency across
environments.
Release Pipeline in Detail
1. **Stages**: Separate environments like Dev, Test, and Production with each having unique
configurations.
2. **Gates & Approvals**: Include manual or automated checks before deploying to sensitive
environments.
3. **Variables**: Define environment-specific variables for configurations such as connection strings.
4. **Deployment Groups**: Groups of machines in different environments where the release pipeline
deploys artifacts.
Example Azure DevOps Workflow
Example Workflow:
1. Developer pushes code to the GitHub repository.
2. **Build Pipeline**:
- Triggers automatically on code changes.
- Produces an artifact, stored for future deployments.
3. **Release Pipeline**:
- Defines stages for Dev, Test, and Production environments.
- Applies environment-specific settings and approvals.
4. Deployment Groups target specific machines, ensuring controlled deployment across
environments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Azure DevOps?
A: A platform providing CI/CD, project management, and version control tools.
Q: Difference between SVN and Azure DevOps?
A: SVN is centralized, while Azure DevOps is distributed, supports CI/CD, and multiple
environments.
Q: Role of Deployment Groups?
A: Organize target machines per environment for deploying artifacts in the release pipeline.
Q: Stages in Azure DevOps
A: Separates deployment environments with gates, approvals, and environment-specific settings.
