AZ-400 Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions Exam

Implement Branch Merging Restrictions by Using Branch Policies and Branch Protections

Configure and Enforce Azure Repos Branch Policies

Branch policies in Azure Repos are crucial for controlling merging operations, ensuring compliance requirements are met, and maintaining code quality. These policies help ensure that any changes to the code meet specific criteria before being merged into the main branch.

Implement Branch Policies

Branch policies can be set up for several key areas. One of the most important is the minimum reviewers policy, which specifies the number of code reviewers needed before a pull request can be completed. This step is critical as it ensures multiple experts look at the code, reducing errors and improving code quality. Another important policy is successful build validation. This policy requires that the code successfully goes through defined build pipelines before it can be merged.

Key Policies Include:

• Minimum Reviewers: Specify how many reviewers a pull request must have.
• Build Validation: Ensure all code passes through successful builds.
• Merge Strategies: Define how branches can be merged to maintain a clear history of changes.

Enforce Branch Protections

Branch protection settings are also a vital part of branch policies. They include blocking force pushes and unauthorized direct commits to protected branches. These settings help keep the branch history clear and unaltered. They protect the integrity of the code by ensuring a systematic flow of changes and offering a structured approach to managing code versions.

Protection Techniques:

• Block Force Pushes: Prevent overwriting commit history.
• Block Direct Commits: Ensure all changes go through the review process.

Conclusion

By configuring and enforcing branch policies and protections in Azure Repos, you can achieve controlled merge operations, adhere to compliance requirements, and ensure the integrity of your source code. These strategies are fundamental to a robust source control approach, providing a guided and systematic process for managing code quality in development workflows.