How to use the command 'az devops' (with examples)

The az devops command, a part of the Azure CLI toolkit, is designed to facilitate interactions with Azure DevOps services. It allows developers and IT professionals to automate and streamline various DevOps processes directly from the command line. With this command, users can manage Azure DevOps organizations effectively, optimizing their workflows and enhancing their overall DevOps capabilities.

Use case 1: Setting the Personal Access Token (PAT) to login to a particular organization

Code:

az devops login --organization organization_url

Motivation: When working with Azure DevOps, authentication is a critical step to ensure secure and authorized access to your projects and resources. Setting a Personal Access Token (PAT) is a convenient way to authenticate, especially when interacting with multiple services or scripts that necessitate command-line operations. Instead of frequently inputting a password or credentials, using a PAT simplifies and automates the login process, allowing for seamless integration.

Explanation:

• az devops login: This part of the command initializes the login process to Azure DevOps services.
• --organization organization_url: This argument specifies the URL of the Azure DevOps organization you want to log into. It’s essential to replace organization_url with the actual URL of your organization to ensure you access the correct resources.

Example output:

Successfully logged into Azure DevOps organization: https://dev.azure.com/myorganization

Use case 2: Opening a project in the browser

Code:

az devops project show --project project_name --open

Motivation: Quickly accessing a project URL in the browser can save time and improve efficiency, particularly in fast-paced development environments. This command enables developers and team members to instantly open the project details page in their default web browser, simplifying navigation and accessibility.

Explanation:

• az devops project show: This command serves the purpose of displaying details about a particular project within your Azure DevOps organization.
• --project project_name: This argument specifies the name of the project you want to view. Replace project_name with the appropriate name.
• --open: The --open flag instructs the CLI to open the project URL directly in your default web browser.

Example output:

Opening project 'MyDevOpsProject' in the default browser...

Use case 3: Listing members of a specific team working on a particular project

Code:

az devops team list-member --project project_name --team team_name

Motivation: In collaborative environments, understanding the composition of your team is crucial for effective communication and task allocation. By listing team members, you can quickly verify who is involved in a project, manage permissions, and assign tasks more efficiently.

Explanation:

• az devops team list-member: This command lists all members assigned to a specified team.
• --project project_name: Here, project_name is a placeholder for the name of the project whose team members you wish to display.
• --team team_name: Replace team_name with the specific team whose members you are listing. This argument is essential to ensure you are querying the correct team.

Example output:

- John Doe (j.doe@company.com)
- Jane Smith (j.smith@company.com)
- Alex Brown (a.brown@company.com)

Use case 4: Checking the Azure DevOps CLI current configuration

Code:

az devops configure --list

Motivation: Knowing the current configuration of your Azure DevOps CLI settings gives you insights into the default parameters set for your operations. This is particularly useful for troubleshooting, debugging, or ensuring that you are working in the correct organizational context with the right project settings.

Explanation:

• az devops configure: This command is used to manage and alter the CLI’s configuration settings.
• --list: The --list flag outputs the current configuration settings in a readable format, providing a clear overview of how the CLI is configured.

Example output:

{
    "defaults": {
        "project": "MyDevOpsProject",
        "organization": "https://dev.azure.com/myorganization"
    }
}

Use case 5: Configuring the Azure DevOps CLI behavior by setting a default project and a default organization

Code:

az devops configure --defaults project=project_name organization=organization_url

Motivation: Setting default parameters for your commonly used project and organization can streamline command line operations, saving time and reducing potential errors. This is particularly advantageous when juggling multiple projects or organizations, as it allows you to predefine these values so you don’t have to specify them in every command.

Explanation:

• az devops configure: This sets or alters configuration settings for the Azure DevOps CLI.
• --defaults: This flag specifies that you are setting default configuration values.
• project=project_name: By setting a default project, you ensure that all commands assume this as the target unless otherwise specified.
• organization=organization_url: This sets a default organization for the CLI commands, making sure that operations are pointed to the correct server.

Example output:

Default organization set to https://dev.azure.com/myorganization
Default project set to MyDevOpsProject

Conclusion:

The az devops command is a powerful tool for efficiently managing Azure DevOps settings and actions from the comfort of your command line. Whether you need to configure access, quickly access a project, manage team memberships, or set default values for smoother operations, this CLI tool covers all the essential functionalities for enhancing your DevOps workflow.