AZ-400 Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions Exam

Develop and Implement Pipeline Trigger Rules

Configuring and Applying Trigger Types

Configuring and applying trigger types in Azure DevOps pipelines is crucial for automating build and release workflows efficiently. These triggers help in initiating pipeline executions based on various events, such as code changes, scheduled intervals, pull requests, and the completion of external pipelines.

Continuous Integration (CI) Triggers

Continuous Integration (CI) triggers automatically initiate a pipeline whenever there is a change in the source code repository. This ensures that every code commit or merge is built and tested to verify the code's integrity and functionality.

To set up CI triggers in YAML pipelines:

• Include the trigger keyword in your pipeline YAML file.
• Specify branches where changes should trigger a pipeline run.

Scheduled Triggers

Scheduled triggers enable pipelines to run at specific intervals, regardless of changes in the codebase. This is useful for routine tasks such as nightly builds or periodic deployments.

To configure scheduled triggers:

• Use the schedule keyword in your YAML file followed by the cron syntax to define the frequency of executions.

Pull Request (PR) Triggers

Pull Request (PR) triggers help in validating code changes before they are merged into the main branch. They ensure that all changes proposed in pull requests meet the required standards and do not introduce new bugs.

Key configurations include:

• Define PR triggers in the YAML file using the pr keyword.
• Configure branch and path filters to ensure only relevant pull requests trigger the pipeline.

Pipeline Resource Triggers

Pipeline resource triggers allow one pipeline to trigger another upon completion. This is beneficial for complex workflows where dependent pipelines need to be executed sequentially.

Steps to set up these triggers:

• Use resources.pipelines keyword in your YAML file.
• Specify the pipeline to monitor and trigger upon its completion.

Applying Branch and Path Filters

Branch and path filters provide more granular control, ensuring that pipelines are invoked only when changes occur in specific branches or paths in the repository. This is useful to avoid unnecessary builds and optimize resource usage.

To apply filters:

• Include branches and paths attributes under relevant trigger definitions in your YAML file.

By leveraging these various trigger types, Azure DevOps pipelines can be fine-tuned to offer precise, conditional execution of build and release workflows, enhancing automation and efficiency within development processes.

Conclusion

Understanding how to develop and implement pipeline trigger rules is essential for effective automation in Azure DevOps. By configuring and applying different trigger types—such as CI, scheduled, PR, and pipeline resource triggers—developers can create robust and efficient workflows. Implementing branch and path filters further refines these triggers to ensure that pipelines run only when necessary, saving resources and streamlining processes. Mastering these skills will empower students to optimize their DevOps practices effectively.