A Simple Analogy

Azure Pipelines is like an automated factory assembly line. Code goes in one end and is automatically tested, built, and deployed.

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Why Azure Pipelines?

• Integration: Works with Azure DevOps
• Multi-platform: Build on Windows, Linux, Mac
• Free: 1800 minutes/month free for public repos
• YAML-based: Infrastructure as code
• Extensible: Marketplace tasks

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Basic Pipeline

trigger:
  - main
  - develop

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

steps:
- task: UseDotNet@2
  inputs:
    version: '8.0.x'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Restore packages'
  inputs:
    command: 'restore'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Build'
  inputs:
    command: 'build'
    arguments: '--configuration Release'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Run tests'
  inputs:
    command: 'test'
    arguments: '--configuration Release'

- task: DotNetCoreCLI@2
  displayName: 'Publish'
  inputs:
    command: 'publish'
    arguments: '--configuration Release --output $(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'

- task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
  displayName: 'Publish artifacts'
  inputs:
    pathToPublish: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
    artifactName: 'app'

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Multi-Stage Pipeline

stages:
- stage: Build
  displayName: 'Build and Test'
  jobs:
  - job: BuildJob
    steps:
    - script: npm ci
    - script: npm run lint
    - script: npm run test

- stage: Deploy_Staging
  displayName: 'Deploy to Staging'
  dependsOn: Build
  condition: succeeded()
  jobs:
  - deployment: Deploy
    environment: 'staging'
    strategy:
      runOnce:
        deploy:
        - task: AzureAppServiceDeploy@0
          inputs:
            azureSubscription: 'MySubscription'
            appName: 'myapp-staging'

- stage: Deploy_Production
  displayName: 'Deploy to Production'
  dependsOn: Deploy_Staging
  condition: succeeded()
  jobs:
  - deployment: Deploy
    environment: 'production'
    strategy:
      runOnce:
        deploy:
        - task: AzureAppServiceDeploy@0
          inputs:
            azureSubscription: 'MySubscription'
            appName: 'myapp-prod'

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Variables

variables:
  buildConfiguration: 'Release'
  artifactName: 'dist'

jobs:
- job: Build
  steps:
  - script: echo Building $(buildConfiguration)
  - script: npm run build --configuration $(buildConfiguration)
  - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
    inputs:
      pathToPublish: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/$(artifactName)'

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Best Practices

1. Fail fast: Run quick checks first
2. Cache dependencies: Speed up builds
3. Parallel jobs: Run independent tasks together
4. Manual gates: Require approval for production
5. Notifications: Alert on failures

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Related Concepts

• GitHub Actions
• GitLab CI
• Jenkins
• CloudBuild

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Summary

Azure Pipelines automates build, test, and deployment. Use YAML to define multi-stage pipelines with different environments.