Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing service created by Microsoft for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through Microsoft-managed data centers. It provides a range of cloud services, including those for computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Users can pick and choose from these services to develop and scale new applications, or run existing applications in the public cloud.
DevOps, on the other hand, is a set of practices that combines software development (Dev) and IT operations (Ops). It aims to shorten the systems development life cycle and provide continuous delivery with high software quality. DevOps is complementary with Agile software development; several DevOps aspects came from Agile methodology.
Definition of Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps is a Microsoft product that provides developers with a complete DevOps toolchain for developing and deploying software. It also integrates with most leading tools on the market and is a great option for orchestrating a DevOps toolchain.
Azure DevOps is a suite of five services that span the breadth of the development lifecycle. The aim is to help developers deliver high-quality software faster and with more confidence. The services are: Azure Boards, Azure Repos, Azure Pipelines, Azure Test Plans, and Azure Artifacts.
Azure Boards
Azure Boards is a service for managing the planning, tracking, and discussion of work across the entire development effort. It's designed to suit teams of all sizes, and it's flexible enough to adapt to any workflow. From scrum to Kanban, Azure Boards supports all the major application development methodologies.
With Azure Boards, you can track work with configurable boards, interactive backlogs, and powerful planning tools. It also integrates with GitHub, so you can track your GitHub issues and pull requests.
Azure Repos
Azure Repos provides Git repositories or Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC) for source control of your code. It supports all Git commands and works with any Git client, including Visual Studio and Eclipse.
With Azure Repos, you can track your code changes, references to work items, reviewers, and more in a single, unified view. It also provides semantic code search, enabling you to track code changes and identify trends.
Explanation of Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps is a platform designed to help developers deliver high-quality software faster and with more confidence. It provides a complete DevOps toolchain for developing and deploying software, and it integrates with most leading tools on the market.
The Azure DevOps platform is made up of a suite of five services that span the breadth of the development lifecycle. These services are designed to work together, or independently, depending on your needs.
How Azure DevOps works
Azure DevOps works by providing a range of services that cover the entire development lifecycle. These services are designed to work together to help developers deliver high-quality software faster and with more confidence.
From planning and tracking work with Azure Boards, to code versioning with Azure Repos, to continuous integration and delivery with Azure Pipelines, Azure DevOps provides a complete solution for your software development needs.
Benefits of Azure DevOps
One of the main benefits of Azure DevOps is that it provides a complete DevOps toolchain in a single service. This means you don't have to worry about integrating multiple tools, or dealing with compatibility issues.
Another benefit is that Azure DevOps is cloud-based, so you can access your projects and work from anywhere. Plus, it's scalable, so it can grow with your business.
History of Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps has a rich history that dates back to 2005, when Microsoft launched Team Foundation Server (TFS), a set of development tools for source control, reporting, and project tracking.
In 2013, Microsoft launched Visual Studio Online, a cloud-based version of TFS. This was the precursor to Azure DevOps, and it included additional services like cloud build and deployment.
Transition to Azure DevOps
In 2018, Microsoft rebranded Visual Studio Online as Azure DevOps and expanded the service to include more features and capabilities. The aim was to provide a more complete and integrated DevOps solution for developers.
Today, Azure DevOps is a leading DevOps tool, used by thousands of developers around the world to plan, develop, test, and deliver high-quality software.
Use Cases of Azure DevOps
Azure DevOps is used by developers and teams of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. It's used in a wide range of industries, from software development to healthcare, finance, and more.
Some common use cases for Azure DevOps include managing agile software development projects, automating software delivery pipelines, and integrating with other tools in the DevOps toolchain.
Managing Agile Projects
One of the main use cases for Azure DevOps is managing agile software development projects. With Azure Boards, teams can plan, track, and discuss work across the entire development effort.
From scrum to Kanban, Azure Boards supports all the major application development methodologies. It also integrates with GitHub, so you can track your GitHub issues and pull requests.
Automating Software Delivery Pipelines
Azure DevOps is also commonly used to automate software delivery pipelines. With Azure Pipelines, you can automate your build, test, and deployment processes, making it easier to deliver high-quality software faster.
Azure Pipelines supports continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), and it integrates with most leading tools on the market, including GitHub, Jenkins, and more.
Examples of Azure DevOps
Many companies and organizations use Azure DevOps to manage their software development projects and automate their delivery pipelines. Here are a few specific examples.
Microsoft itself uses Azure DevOps to manage many of its own software development projects. For example, the Windows and Office teams use Azure DevOps to manage their agile development processes and automate their delivery pipelines.
Case Study: Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is another company that uses Azure DevOps. They use it to manage their software development projects and automate their delivery pipelines, helping them deliver new features and updates to their customers faster.
With Azure DevOps, Alaska Airlines has been able to reduce their deployment time from weeks to just hours. This has helped them improve their customer experience and stay competitive in the fast-paced airline industry.
Case Study: Maersk
Maersk, a global leader in shipping and logistics, uses Azure DevOps to manage their software development projects and automate their delivery pipelines. This has helped them improve their operational efficiency and deliver new features and updates to their customers faster.
With Azure DevOps, Maersk has been able to reduce their deployment time from months to just weeks. This has helped them improve their customer experience and stay competitive in the fast-paced shipping and logistics industry.