Integrate a repository with Azure Boards

In the world of DevOps, integration between different tools and platforms is essential for efficient collaboration and seamless workflows. One such integration is between a repository and Azure Boards. Azure Boards is a comprehensive work tracking system that allows teams to plan, track, and discuss work across the entire development process. By integrating a repository with Azure Boards, you can automate the tracking of work items, source code changes, and associated artifacts, providing your team with real-time visibility and traceability. In this article, we’ll explore how to integrate a repository with Azure Boards.

Prerequisites:

Before we get started, there are a few prerequisites to consider:

1. An active Azure DevOps subscription: To access Azure Boards and repositories, you need an Azure DevOps subscription. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for a free subscription at https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/devops/.
2. A repository: You need an existing repository hosted on a supported version control system, such as Git or GitHub.

Integration steps:

Now, let’s dive into the steps to integrate a repository with Azure Boards.

Step 1: Create a new Azure Boards project

To begin, you need to create a new Azure Boards project or use an existing one. You can create a project by following the instructions in the Microsoft documentation at https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/organizations/projects/create-project?view=azure-devops-rest-7.1.

Step 2: Navigate to the Boards section

Once you have created a project, navigate to the Boards section in Azure DevOps. This is where you can customize your project’s boards, backlogs, and work items.

Step 3: Configure the integration

In the Boards section, click on the “Boards” tab, and then select “Integrations” from the dropdown menu. Here, you’ll find a list of available integrations, including repositories.

Step 4: Select your repository

Click on the “Repositories” tab in the Integrations page. Here, you can choose the repository you want to integrate with Azure Boards. Depending on the version control system, you may need to provide additional authentication information.

Step 5: Configure work item and code linking

Once you have selected the repository, you can configure the linking between work items and code changes. Azure Boards allows you to link work items to commits, pull requests, and branches, providing visibility into the development process. You can define rules to automatically link work items based on commit messages, branch names, or pull request titles.

Step 6: Enable continuous integration builds (optional)

If you want to trigger continuous integration builds based on code changes, you can enable this feature in Azure Boards. By integrating with your build system, Azure Boards can automatically trigger builds whenever code changes are committed or pull requests are created.

Step 7: Test the integration

Once you have configured the integration settings, it’s important to test the integration to ensure everything is working as expected. Make some changes to your repository, create new work items, and observe how the integration tracks the changes and updates the work items accordingly.

And that’s it! You have successfully integrated a repository with Azure Boards. Now, your team can benefit from real-time visibility into work items, code changes, and associated artifacts in one central location.

Conclusion:

Integrating a repository with Azure Boards is a crucial step in establishing a seamless DevOps workflow. It enables teams to track work items, code changes, and associated artifacts in real-time, providing better collaboration and traceability. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can integrate your repository with Azure Boards and streamline your development process. Start leveraging the power of Azure Boards today and take your DevOps implementation to the next level.