Getting Started with Azure Repos and Pipelines

Azure Repos is a fantastic tool for managing your code, and getting started with it is easier than you think. You can create a new repository in just a few clicks, and start collaborating with your team right away.

To get started, you'll need to create an Azure DevOps project, which will give you access to Azure Repos, Pipelines, and other DevOps tools. This is a free service, and you can sign up for it right on the Azure website.

Azure Repos provides three types of repositories: Git, Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC), and Azure Repos. Git is the most popular choice, and it's great for large teams and open-source projects.

With Azure Repos, you can manage your code, track changes, and collaborate with your team in real-time. You can also use Azure Pipelines to automate your build, test, and deployment processes.

Repository Configuration is a crucial step in setting up Azure Repos. To configure your Azure repository settings, you'll need to provide the repo name, which should not contain any spaces. For example, you can use "retool-apps" as your repo name.

You'll also need to specify the Azure Organization, which is your Azure DevOps organization. In our example, we used "acme-co" as the Azure Organization.

To track changes, you'll need to specify the Azure Branch, which is the branch that Retool automatically tracks. In our example, we used "main" as the Azure Branch.

Here's a summary of the required settings:

By configuring these settings correctly, you'll be able to integrate your Azure Repos with Retool and track changes to your codebase.

To configure your repository settings, start by creating a new repository in Azure Repos. Create or use an existing project under Azure Repos, ensuring its name does not contain any spaces.

Next, create a new Git repository under Azure Repos for your Retool apps. Ensure that it has a README.md file at the root level directory. This will serve as the foundation for your repository settings.

Now, let's dive into the specific settings you'll need to configure. Here are the key settings to consider:

These settings will help you connect your repository to Azure Repos and enable Retool to track changes to your branch. Make sure to update these settings according to your specific needs.

To test your configuration, visit Settings > Source Control on your Retool instance. If you're an admin, this is where you can verify that everything is set up correctly.

If your Azure Repos environment is correctly configured, you should see your Azure Repos commits in the Deployment Dashboard section.

Clicking the Test connection button sends a request to test the connection, giving you immediate feedback on whether everything is working as it should.

If you don't see the Deployment Dashboard and your Azure Repos commits, it's likely that your environment variables aren't correctly configured, so be sure to check those first.

Git is the most commonly used version control system today and is quickly becoming the standard for version control.

You can use Git in Azure Repos, which is standard Git, so you can use the clients and tools of your choice.

One of the benefits of Git is that it's a distributed version control system, meaning your local copy of code is a complete version control repository.

This makes it easy to work offline or remotely, and you can commit your work locally and then sync your copy of the repository with the copy on the server.

Some of the key features of Git in Azure Repos include connecting your favorite development environment, reviewing code with pull requests, and protecting branches with policies.

Here are some of the specific features you can use with Git in Azure Repos:

With Git in Azure Repos, you can work efficiently and effectively, making it a great choice for any development team.

Repository Management is an essential aspect of Azure Repos. You can create a new repository in Azure Repos by creating or using an existing project under Azure Repos, ensuring its name does not contain any spaces.

To create a new repository, follow these steps:

Azure Repos integrates seamlessly with other services like Azure boards, Azure pipelines, Azure Artifacts, and Azure Test plans. This integration makes development and maintenance easier by allowing you to configure several policies, settings, and configurations.

A pipeline provides a degree of build automation, making building and checking easier.

With Azure Pipelines, you can automate manual processes that can be error-prone and time-consuming, such as incorporating files from disparate systems or previous outputs.

A pipeline can include files from various systems, which can be a challenge to manage manually.

Microsoft developed Azure Pipelines to tightly integrate with Azure Repos, making it easy to use code stored in Azure Repos.

To build a container image, you can use Azure Repos alongside a pipeline, demonstrating the power of this integration.

Azure Repos serves as your project's repository, integrating seamlessly with other Azure DevOps services like Azure Boards, Azure Pipelines, Azure Artifacts, and Azure Test plans.

To get started, you'll need an organization in Azure DevOps, which is free to sign up for. You can also create private Git repositories for free.

You'll also need the Create repository permission, which is granted by default to project administrators. For more information, see Set Git repository permissions.

To work with Azure Repos, you'll need Git command-line tools, which are required for many development tasks.

Here are the prerequisites for using Azure Repos:

Azure Repos serves as your project's repository as part of the suite of tools offered by Azure DevOps. It integrates seamlessly with other services like Azure Boards, Azure Pipelines, Azure Artifacts, and Azure Test plans.

Your project's repository is a central hub for all your code and assets, making it easier to manage and collaborate with your team.

Azure Repos integrates with Azure Boards for collaboration, planning, and ticketing, streamlining your workflow and reducing manual tasks.

Having a repository like Azure Repos makes development and maintenance easier by allowing you to configure policies, settings, and configurations that suit your project's needs.

To create a repository in Azure DevOps, you'll need to meet a few prerequisites.

You'll need an organization in Azure DevOps. If you don't have one, you can sign up for free, which also gives you free, unlimited private Git repositories.

To manage your repository, you'll need the Create repository permission, which is granted by default to project administrators.

To work with your repository using Git command-line tools, you'll need to have them installed on your machine.