GitHub Flow is a lightweight workflow for managing code changes using branches. It connects with Azure Pipelines to automate building, testing, and deploying code. The process starts with a stable main branch. Developers create separate feature branches for each new task. To protect the main branch, teams set up branch protection rules in GitHub, which can require that changes be approved via a pull request before merging.
When a developer pushes code to a feature branch, it automatically triggers a CI pipeline in Azure DevOps. This pipeline builds the code and runs tests to ensure the changes work and don't break existing functionality. Additional checks, like security or policy compliance scans, can be added to the pipeline. This provides fast feedback to developers about the health of their code.
After code passes CI tests, it moves into the continuous delivery stage. CD pipelines in Azure DevOps automate deployments to environments like staging for further testing. Teams can set up release pipelines to promote code through these stages. Deployment gates, such as an Azure Policy compliance check, can be added to ensure a deployment only proceeds if it meets all organizational requirements, adding safety before production.
It is important to track why changes were made. Teams can link GitHub commits and pull requests to work items (like bugs or user stories) in Azure DevOps. This creates a clear history showing who made a change, when, and which project requirement it fulfills. This traceability is crucial for auditing, understanding impact, and rolling back if necessary.
The pull request is the central tool for collaboration. It provides a space for team discussion, code review, and approval before merging. Teams can also configure notifications in Azure DevOps to alert them about build and deployment statuses. This keeps everyone informed and enables quick action if a pipeline fails, ensuring the entire development and release process runs smoothly.
Clear communication during software delivery requires a structured flow of feedback. By customizing notifications and automating alerts, teams can identify and address problems without manual tracking. The goal is to connect development actions directly to the communication tools and project boards developers use daily.
To keep stakeholders informed without overwhelming them, configure Azure DevOps notification subscriptions. These route targeted alerts about pull requests, build outcomes, and deployments to the responsible team members. Clear routing rules reduce resolution times because the right person is notified immediately when an event occurs. This targeted flow ensures critical pipeline failures are never missed.
Service hooks drive automated actions by binding Azure DevOps events to external systems. When an event triggers—like a failed build—the service hook sends an automated payload to tools like Azure Boards or Slack. This integration removes manual steps from the triage process and ensures system states are synchronized across all development environments.
GitHub issue templates standardize how users report bugs and request features by requiring specific details. When a user opens a new issue, the template prompts them for pre-defined information like steps to reproduce and expected results. This consistent data collection allows triage teams to quickly categorize, prioritize, and assign work without wasting time asking for missing information.
Teams can automate the creation of issues directly from build and deployment failures. When an automated testing pipeline detects an error, it triggers a workflow that automatically opens a new GitHub issue or Azure Boards work item. This ensures bugs are captured in a failed state before they reach production. Replacing manual error logging with automated tracking lets developers focus on writing code and fixing defects.
To link GitHub and Azure Boards, you first establish a service connection authenticated using OAuth or a personal access token (PAT). This token acts as the credential that allows the two platforms to trust each other and exchange data. The connection is configured in Azure, typically in a linked services section, and then tested to ensure it works.
Once connected, GitHub activities—like issues, pull requests, and commits—are mapped to corresponding Azure Boards work items. This links code work in GitHub directly to project management tasks in Azure Boards. For example, a commit message can reference a work item ID, and the system automatically creates a link between them. The relationship flows from GitHub events into Azure Boards, so repository changes are reflected in the work tracking system automatically.
After mapping, automated updates synchronize status changes, tags, and links between the two platforms. When a pull request is merged in GitHub, the linked Azure Boards work item can automatically update to a Resolved state. Similarly, when a work item is reassigned, the associated GitHub issue may reflect the change. This bidirectional flow depends on the connector service, which monitors events on both sides and propagates updates. It is important to verify that a commit or PR triggers the expected status change.
Credentials used for the integration, such as PATs, should be stored securely. Azure Key Vault is the recommended place to store connection strings, passwords, and tokens instead of placing them in Git repositories. This keeps secrets out of code and allows the integration to retrieve them at runtime. For enhanced security, you can use Microsoft Entra ID integration for login, which reduces the need to manage long-lived tokens. The overall flow is: the service connection uses a token stored in Azure Key Vault, and the integration service retrieves it when syncing data.
Code and test traceability means tracking every piece of code and its tests from creation to deployment. This creates a clear path showing who made changes, why, what bugs they fix, and whether tests pass. When traceability works, teams can answer questions like "which code change caused this bug?" without guessing. Azure provides three main tools that work together: Azure Repos, Azure Boards, and Azure Pipelines.
Azure Repos is where code is stored and managed. To ensure traceability, teams set up branch policies that enforce rules before code can be merged. One key policy requires each commit to be linked to a work item like a task or bug report. This creates a direct connection between the code change and the reason for the change. Pull requests must also be reviewed and validated before merging, adding another layer of quality control.
Azure Boards is the work tracking system for managing bugs, tasks, and features. It connects directly with Azure Repos, so when code is committed or a pull request is created, the related work item automatically updates. This gives teams a unified view where they can see all code changes, pull requests, and work items in one place. For example, when a developer fixes a bug in code, the linked bug item in Azure Boards can automatically move to a "done" status.
Azure Pipelines handles building, testing, and deploying code through CI/CD. When code passes through the pipeline, test results and code coverage data are published and linked back to the specific commits and work items that triggered the build. Teams can see exactly which tests passed or failed for each code change and how much of the code is being tested. The pipeline combines this information into quality reports that show whether the code meets required standards before it reaches production.
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Branch protection rules protect the main branch by requiring that changes be approved via a pull request before merging. They ensure that only validated code is integrated into the stable main branch.
It creates a clear history showing who made a change, when, and which project requirement it fulfills. This traceability is crucial for auditing, understanding impact, and rolling back if necessary.
When a pull request is merged in GitHub, the linked Azure Boards work item can automatically update to a Resolved state. This bidirectional flow uses a connector service that monitors events on both sides and propagates updates.
Service hooks drive automated actions by binding Azure DevOps events to external systems. When an event triggers, like a failed build, the service hook sends an automated payload to tools like Azure Boards or Slack, removing manual triage steps from the process.
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