Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps is Microsoft’s platform for software lifecycle management. It should not be confused with DevOps, which is a methodology and culture aimed at bridging development and operations. Instead, Azure DevOps provides a suite of tools that help organizations implement DevOps practices and agile workflows.

• Boards: Agile planning and issue tracking.

• Repos: Git-based version control with pull requests.

• Pipelines: Automated CI/CD pipelines for build and release.

• Test Plans: Quality assurance and manual test cases.

• Artefacts: Package management and sharing.

• Integration: Works with Visual Studio, GitHub, and third-party systems.

Azure DevOps was introduced in 2018, replacing Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS). The rebranding emphasized Microsoft’s shift toward modular, cloud-based tools. In the same year, Microsoft acquired GitHub, further strengthening the integration between code hosting and DevOps tooling.

Azure DevOps is a comprehensive set of tools for software development, but it is not a methodology by itself. It supports the full development lifecycle and enables organizations to put DevOps and agile practices into action.