AZ-400 Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions Exam

Document a project by configuring wikis and process diagrams, including Markdown and Mermaid syntax

Configuring a wiki in Azure DevOps helps teams keep information in one place. You can use Markdown to write pages, adding headings, links, and images easily. With Mermaid syntax, you can embed visual diagrams directly in the wiki to illustrate workflows or architecture. This approach makes the project documentation both interactive and easy to update as the project grows.

Using Markdown involves simple text markers to format content. For example, you can create:

• Headings with # symbols
• Bold text with **bold**
• Lists with - or *

This syntax is lightweight and works well in any text editor. The result is consistent and portable documentation that team members can read without extra tools.

Mermaid is a tool that turns text-based diagrams into graphics. You can define:

• Flowcharts
• Sequence diagrams
• Gantt charts

Simply include a mermaid code block in your Markdown. Azure DevOps renders these diagrams in the wiki, making it easy to maintain up-to-date visuals alongside text explanations.

Configure release documentation, including release notes and API documentation

Creating release documentation ensures stakeholders know what changes are in each deployment. Release notes typically list new features, bug fixes, and known issues. You can automate this by integrating tools that extract commit messages or pull request titles. This automation keeps your notes accurate and reduces manual effort.

API documentation helps developers understand how to use your services. You can generate it from code annotations or definitions, using tools like Swagger or DocFX. Integrating this step into your pipeline means every build can produce up-to-date API docs. As a result, your team always has the latest interface details at hand.

By combining both release notes and API docs, teams get a complete view of each software version. You can store the output in a wiki, blob storage, or attach it to a release pipeline. This practice makes it simple for users and developers to find the information they need.

Automate creation of documentation from Git history

Automating documentation from Git history helps to keep change logs current. Scripts can parse commit messages to generate a changelog file. Using semantic versioning in commit messages, you can categorize changes as features, fixes, or breaking changes. This approach ensures your logs are structured and meaningful.

Tools like DocFX or custom PowerShell scripts can run in your pipeline. They connect to the Git repository, read commits, and output markdown or HTML files. The files can then be published to your wiki or website. This process speeds up documentation and eliminates manual updates after each release.

Automated docs also help with compliance and auditing. You have a complete record of what each version includes. Teams can trace any change back to the exact commit and author, making reviews and rollbacks more transparent.

Configure integration by using webhooks

Webhooks let you send real-time HTTP requests when events occur in your repository. In Azure DevOps, you can configure a webhook to trigger on push, pull request, or build events. The webhook sends a payload to an external service, such as a chat app or CI tool. This setup provides instant notifications and can kick off custom workflows.

To set up a webhook, you define:

• The event type (e.g., code push)
• The target URL for the payload
• Any filters or headers needed

Once configured, each event fires a POST request with JSON data. You can then parse that data in your service to perform actions, such as sending alerts or updating dashboards. This method bridges different systems seamlessly.

Using webhooks is efficient and avoids the need for polling. Instead of constantly checking for updates, your services respond only when something changes. This reduces overhead and ensures timely communication.

Configure integration between Azure Boards and GitHub repositories

Linking Azure Boards to GitHub repositories helps track work items alongside code changes. When you mention a work item ID in a commit message or pull request, Azure Boards updates the item automatically. This integration keeps traceability between planning and development.

To set it up, you install the Azure Boards app in your GitHub organization. You then grant permissions to the repo and connect it to your project. Once connected, you can:

• Link commits to work items
• Transition work item states on pull request merge
• View branch and PR details within Azure Boards

These features make it easy to see progress without switching tools. Team members can stay informed on both code status and work item updates in one place.

Configure integration between GitHub or Azure DevOps and Microsoft Teams

Integrating with Microsoft Teams brings build and deployment updates right into your chat channels. You can use built-in connectors or install apps for Azure DevOps and GitHub. Once configured, Teams receives notifications for:

• Completed builds or releases
• New work item assignments
• Pull request comments and merges

This setup promotes real-time collaboration and keeps everyone aware of changes. Team members can react quickly to issues without checking multiple dashboards.

Configuration involves adding an incoming webhook or service connector in Teams. You provide the URL in your DevOps project or GitHub settings. After setup, you can customize which events trigger messages and how they appear. This flexibility ensures that your team sees only relevant notifications.

Conclusion

In this section, we covered how to set up documentation, integrate communication, and automate updates across your DevOps tools. You learned to use Markdown and Mermaid for clear project wikis, and how to generate release notes and API docs automatically. We saw how to pull information from Git history for accurate change logs.

We also explored using webhooks to send real-time events, and linking Azure Boards with GitHub for seamless traceability. Finally, we configured Microsoft Teams integrations to keep the team informed. Mastering these practices ensures that your DevOps processes stay connected, transparent, and efficient.