Azure Repos

Azure Repos is a set of unversioned code hosting services that you can use to manage your code. It provides a highly scalable and reliable source control solution that is integrated into Azure DevOps.

Key Features

• Git & TFVC Support

  Azure Repos offers first-class support for both Git (distributed version control) and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC, centralized version control). Choose the system that best fits your team's workflow.

• Branching and Merging

  Powerful branching strategies allow teams to work on features in isolation and merge them back seamlessly. Supports advanced merge policies and conflict resolution.

• Pull Requests

  Facilitate code reviews with pull requests. Define policies to ensure code quality, automate checks, and track approvals before merging changes.

• Code Search

  Quickly find code across all your repositories with a robust and fast code search engine.

• Integrations

  Seamless integration with Azure Pipelines for CI/CD, Azure Boards for work item tracking, and other services within the Azure DevOps ecosystem.

Getting Started with Git

To start using Git with Azure Repos:

1. Create a new project in Azure DevOps.
2. Navigate to the Repos section.
3. Clone an existing repository or create a new one.

Cloning a Repository

To clone a repository to your local machine, you can use the Git command-line interface:

git clone <repository_url>

Replace <repository_url> with the URL provided in the Azure Repos interface.

Working with Pull Requests

Pull requests are central to collaborative development in Azure Repos. They allow team members to review code before it's merged into a main branch.

Creating a Pull Request

1. Make your changes and commit them to a feature branch.
2. Navigate to the Repos section in Azure DevOps.
3. Click on "Pull Requests" and then "New pull request".
4. Select your source branch and the target branch (e.g., main or master).
5. Add reviewers, a description, and any associated work items.
6. Click "Create".

Branch Policies

Branch policies help maintain code quality and stability. Common policies include:

• Require a minimum number of reviewers: Ensure code is reviewed by multiple team members.
• Check for linked work items: Ensure commits are associated with tasks or bugs.
• Build validation: Automatically trigger a build pipeline upon PR creation to verify code integrity.
• Comment resolution required: Ensure all feedback from reviewers is addressed.

Further Reading

• Azure Repos Git Quick Start
• Azure Repos TFVC Quick Start
• Managing Pull Requests