Title: Diving into the Public Preview of Azure DevOps Server 2020

Hello, fellow developers and enthusiasts! Today, I’m thrilled to share some exciting news from the world of Azure DevOps. Microsoft has just unveiled the public preview for Azure DevOps Server 2020, a significant milestone in our continuous evolution towards providing you with an exceptional development experience.

In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the key features and insights from the official article, offering my own reflections on what this update means for us, the developers.

Firstly, let’s discuss the most anticipated feature—the Git Large Files Support. This feature allows us to manage large files, such as Docker images or binary artifacts, directly within Azure Repos. Previously, handling these large files could be cumbersome and time-consuming. Now, with this new support, we can streamline our workflow and focus more on coding rather than worrying about file management.

Another noteworthy addition is the YAML multibranch pipelines, which enable us to create a pipeline that spans multiple branches. This feature makes it easier to maintain consistency across branches while allowing for branch-specific configurations.

But let’s not forget about our valued testers. The public preview of Azure DevOps Server 2020 introduces improved support for Visual Studio Test plan 3.0, empowering our testers with more control over test management. Additionally, the new Web Test Recording browser extension simplifies creating and updating web tests.

Collaboration is at the heart of any successful development process, and the public preview brings enhancements in this area as well. The new “Boards for Azure DevOps Server” improves the user experience for backlog management, work item tracking, and agile planning. Furthermore, the enhanced REST APIs enable seamless integration with third-party tools, fostering collaboration within our teams and across the organization.

However, no update is without its challenges. One potential hurdle to consider is the need for a clean install of Azure DevOps Server 2019 to upgrade to this latest version. While this may seem daunting, it ensures a smoother transition and minimizes potential compatibility issues.

As we delve deeper into the public preview of Azure DevOps Server 2020, I’m reminded of how Microsoft continues to prioritize our needs as developers. With features like Git Large Files Support, YAML multibranch pipelines, improved testing tools, and enhanced collaboration capabilities, this update brings us one step closer to a more efficient, integrated, and collaborative development experience.

Stay tuned for further updates as we explore the public preview together. Let’s embrace this evolution of Azure DevOps Server 2020 and continue to build remarkable solutions that shape our world!


Source: Azure DevOps MCP Server, Public Preview – Azure DevOps Blog