GeekyMukesh

Azure Git, part of the Azure DevOps platform, is Microsoft’s implementation of Git, a distributed version control system. It enables teams to manage their code repositories and work on projects collaboratively. Unlike centralized version control systems (like TFS or SVN), Git allows every developer to have a full copy of the repository, including the entire history, on their local machine.

In addition to setting up your Azure Git repository, understanding the full power of Azure DevOps Pipelines is crucial for automating your CI/CD processes. Check out my guide on Master the Art of DevOps: Unlock Seamless Release Pipelines for Success! for more details.

Key Concepts in Azure Git:

1. Distributed Version Control: Azure Git follows Git’s distributed model, where every developer has their own local repository. This eliminates bottlenecks caused by single points of failure in centralized systems. Developers can commit changes locally, and then push them to the remote repository in Azure DevOps.
2. Branches: One of the fundamental features of Git is the ability to create branches. Branches allow developers to work on different features or bug fixes without affecting the main codebase. In Azure Git, branches are easy to create, push, and manage, allowing teams to implement workflows like Git Flow or Trunk-based development.
3. Pull Requests: Pull requests (PRs) are an integral part of Git-based workflows. They allow developers to request code reviews and facilitate discussions before merging changes into the main branch. In Azure Git, pull requests include built-in features like automatic testing, branch policies, and code reviews, ensuring quality before the code gets deployed.
4. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Azure Git integrates seamlessly with Azure Pipelines for CI/CD, automating the process of building, testing, and deploying code. Once a branch is pushed to the repository, pipelines can automatically trigger builds and deployments, ensuring that the code is always in a releasable state.

Hands-on Lab: Working with Azure Git in Azure DevOps

Now that we have a theoretical understanding of Azure Git, let’s dive into a hands-on lab to set up a Git repository in Azure DevOps and explore its core functionalities.

First, we will start by setting up the Azure Git repository. This step is critical because it lays the foundation for version control within Azure DevOps. Moreover, it ensures that code collaboration among teams becomes seamless.

Step 1: Create an Azure DevOps Project and Initialize a Git Repository

1. Go to your Azure DevOps account.
2. From the dashboard, click Create New Project. Provide a project name, description, and ensure you select Git as the version control system.
3. After the project is created, navigate to the Repos section. If this is your first time, click Initialize repository.You now have a new Git repository ready for commits!

Step 2: Cloning the Repository Locally

To work on your project locally, you’ll need to clone the repository.

1. From the Azure DevOps Repos section, click Clone.
2. Copy the repository URL and run the following command in your terminal
   • git clone <repository-url>
   • This will create a local copy of the repository on your machine.

Once the repository is set up, you can begin committing changes. Next, you will create branches to work on different features without affecting the main codebase. For example, the feature branches allow developers to work independently

Step 3: Adding Files and Committing Changes

Once the repository is cloned, add your files or make changes in the local repo. Follow these commands to commit and push the changes to Azure Git:

1. Add your files:bashCopy codegit add .
2. Commit the changes:
   • git commit -m "Initial commit"
3. Push changes to Azure Git:bashCopy codegit push origin master

Furthermore, understanding branching strategies in Git is essential for avoiding merge conflicts. In addition, following GitFlow or Trunk-Based Development can lead to more efficient release cycles.

Step 4: Creating and Managing Branches

1. To create a new branch:
   • git checkout -b feature-branch
2. After making changes, push the branch to Azure Git:
   • git push origin feature-branch

Step 5: Creating a Pull Request

Once the feature branch is ready, you’ll want to merge it back into the main branch. To do this:

1. Go to the Repos section in Azure DevOps.
2. Click New Pull Request.
3. Choose the branch you want to merge, write a description, and create the pull request. You can assign reviewers and set branch policies to ensure that your changes meet quality standards before merging.

Step 6: Integrating with Azure Pipelines

To automate the build and deployment process:

1. Go to the Pipelines section in Azure DevOps.
2. Create a new pipeline, selecting your Git repository as the source.
3. Choose a pipeline template, or write your own YAML configuration to define the build and release process.Once your pipeline is configured, any changes pushed to the repository can trigger an automatic build and deployment, ensuring that your code is continuously integrated and deployed.

Meanwhile, if you need more control over your pipelines, Azure Pipelines provide integration with Git for automated builds and deployments. Eventually, this will streamline your DevOps practices.

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Advanced Features of Azure Git in DevOps

1. Branch Policies:
   Enforce branch policies to require code reviews and automated tests before a pull request can be completed.
2. Git Tags and Versioning:
   Use Git tags to mark important points in the repository’s history, such as releases. Tags can be linked to Azure DevOps releases for continuous delivery pipelines.
3. Git Hooks:
   Configure Git hooks to run custom scripts in response to actions like committing or pushing code. These hooks can automate tasks like linting or formatting code.
4. Integration with Azure Boards: Link commits and pull requests to work items in Azure Boards for better tracking of feature development and bug fixes.

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Conclusion: Power of Azure Git in DevOps

Azure Git is more than just a version control tool. Its integration with Azure DevOps makes it a powerful system for managing code, enforcing workflows, and automating the CI/CD process. By following the hands-on steps and leveraging the advanced features of Azure Git, teams can ensure efficient collaboration, high code quality, and seamless delivery of applications.

When setting up your Git workflow in Azure Repos, it’s a good idea to follow best practices as outlined in Azure’s official Git documentation.