Pull requests are crucial components of the Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD) pipeline commonly used in DevOps. Pull requests are useful for maintaining and improving code quality. By incorporating branch policies and protections into your pull request workflow, you enable a thorough review process that enhances code stability and reduces the introduction of bugs into your codebase.
Let’s start by discussing Microsoft Azure pull request workflow.
Microsoft Azure Pull Request Workflow
Azure pull requests are an adept merge workflow that facilitates code review and collaboration. Azure PRs are an integral part of the Git feature branch workflow and the Gitforking workflow, signifying a pivotal role in maintaining a solid codebase.
Here’s an example of a simple workflow for handling PRs in Azure:
- Create a new branch for the specific task from the main branch.
- Commit changes and push your branch to Azure Repos.
- Create a pull request targeting the main branch.
- Stakeholders review the changes, add comments, or approve.
- If there are no conflicts, you can merge the pull request into the main branch.
- Delete the completed task branch.
Implementing Branch Policies
In Azure DevOps, you can enforce branch policies that require specific changes before the branch can be merged into the main root branch. These policies can be customized to suit your project requirements but generally include:
- Requiring a minimum number of reviewers
- Checking for linked work items
- Requiring all comments to be resolved
- Checking for build success
To add a branch policy in Azure:
- Go to the Azure DevOps portal.
- Select Repos, then Branches.
- Choose … (Actions) and then click on Branch policies.
- Add policy options by ticking the checkboxes according to your preferences, and save your changes.
Below is a tabular representation of example branch policy options for clarity:
| Policy | Description |
|---|---|
| Minimum number of reviewers | Requires specific number of approvers |
| Require linked work items | Ensures traceability between the code and the work being done |
| Check for comment resolution | Prevents merging until all comments are addressed |
| Build validation | Enforces a successful build before allowing merging |
Implementing Branch Protections
In addition to branch policies, you can also add branch protections in GitHub, an integral part of Azure, which adds an additional layer of security.
Branch protections help to:
- Prevent force pushes
- Ensure checks pass before merging
- Enforce code reviews
To implement these protections in GitHub:
- Navigate to your repository on GitHub.
- Go to the Settings tab, click on Branches.
- On the left side, under Branch protections, click “Add Rule”.
- Add the rule pattern and configure according to your preferences.
- Click on “Create” or “Update” to save changes.
Final Thoughts:
Incorporating branch policies and protections into your pull request workflow is a substantial methodology to ensure code quality, collaboration, and consistency in your DevOps practice. Through Microsoft Azure and GitHub, you can easily configure these settings to match your project requirements. Remember that this is just one aspect of the AZ-400 Designing and Implementing Microsoft DevOps Solutions exam, covering the broader discipline of DevOps, where collaboration, communication, and integration are key elements.
Practice Test
True or False: Pull request workflows can be designed and implemented using branch policies and branch protections.
Answer: True
Explanation: Pull request workflows can indeed be designed and implemented using branch policies and branch protections which help in ensuring code quality and preventing direct pushes to crucial branches.
In Azure DevOps, what do branch policies help with?
- a) Code Quality
- b) Unified Interface
- c) Storage Management
- d) Workflow Automation
Answer: a) Code Quality
Explanation: Branch policies in Azure DevOps are designed to help protect critical branches by ensuring code quality and consistency and preventing direct pushes.
True or False: A required pull request review is a branch protection rule.
Answer: True
Explanation: A required pull request review is indeed a branch protection rule used to ensure code changes are reviewed before they’re merged into protected branches.
What is a key feature of branch protections in GitHub?
- a) Providing developer autonomy
- b) Generating Code
- c) Preventing Force Pushes
- d) Code Encryption
Answer: c) Preventing Force Pushes
Explanation: One of the key features of branch protections in GitHub is that it can prevent force pushes to ensure integrity of code history.
Which feature allows specific users to bypass branch policies in Azure DevOps?
- a) Bypass security
- b) Exempt from policy enforcement
- c) Allow force push
- d) Allow direct commit
Answer: b) Exempt from policy enforcement
Explanation: The Exempt from policy enforcement feature in Azure DevOps allows specific users to bypass branch policies.
True or False: Pull request workflows are only useful for monolithic application development.
Answer: False
Explanation: Pull request workflows are beneficial to any application model, whether it’s monolithic, microservices, or serverless.
What does the enforce a merge strategy feature allow in Azure DevOps’ branch policy?
- a) It allows any merge strategy
- b) It prevents the team from merging
- c) It enforces a specific merge strategy
- d) None of the above
Answer: c) It enforces a specific merge strategy
Explanation: The enforce a merge strategy feature allows the adoption and enforcement of a specific merge strategy for pull requests.
What does the “Include administrators” option in GitHub’s branch protection enforce?
- a) It excludes administrators from branch rules
- b) It includes administrators in branch rules
- c) It gives administrators complete control over all rules
- d) It removes all rules for administrators
Answer: b) It includes administrators in branch rules
Explanation: The “Include administrators” option enforces all configured restrictions for administrators as well, including them in any established branch rules.
True or False: You cannot require status checks before a branch is merged in GitHub.
Answer: False
Explanation: You can require status checks before merging a branch in GitHub. This enforces successful completion of selected automatic tests and checks to ensure code integrity before merging.
In Azure DevOps, what does requiring a minimum number of reviewers help with?
- a) Speeding up the approval process
- b) Slowing down the approval process
- c) Ensuring code quality
- d) Making the approval process easy
Answer: c) Ensuring code quality
Explanation: Requiring a minimum number of reviewers is a branch policy that ensures code quality by making sure multiple pairs of eyes have checked the code before it gets merged.
Interview Questions
What is a pull request workflow in DevOps?
A pull request workflow is a process used in version control systems like Git where developers can work on features or bug fixes in separate branches. Upon completion, they can submit these changes back to the main branch through a pull request.
What is the purpose of using branch policies in a Pull Request workflow?
Branch policies provide a way to maintain code quality and ensure certain criteria are met before changes are merged back to the main branch. This can include passing automated build tasks, requiring a certain number of code reviewers, and checking for linked work items.
What are branch protections in the context of a pull request workflow?
Branch protections are settings that restrict who can push or make changes to a certain branch. It helps prevent unauthorized changes, accidental deletions, or overwrites.
How does using branch policies and protections enhance the pull request workflow?
Using branch policies and protections can improve the pull request workflow by ensuring code quality and security. The workflow enforces that all changes meet specific criteria before merging, reducing the risk of introducing errors into the codebase.
Are branch policies and protections a requirement for a successful Pull Request workflow in Microsoft Azure DevOps?
While not an absolute requirement, using branch policies and protections is a recommended best practice in Microsoft Azure DevOps as it helps maintain code quality and checks for linked work items, among other benefits.
What is a strategy an admin can use to organize and structure branches when implementing a Pull Request workflow?
An admin can structure branches around specific purposes – for example, separate branches for development, staging, and production. They can also create branches for features or bugs.
Who can set branch policies in Azure DevOps?
Branch policies in Azure DevOps can be set by a repository admin or anyone with edit policies permission.
Can Azure DevOps automatically delete branches after a pull request has been merged?
Yes, Azure DevOps provides the option to automatically delete branches after a pull request has been merged. This is particularly useful for feature or bug fix branches that are only needed for the duration of the development process.
What is the benefit of linking work items to Azure DevOps pull requests?
Linking work items to pull requests provides context for the code changes and helps track the implementation of the work item. Additionally, when branch policies include a requirement for linked work items, it ensures that all changes are tied to a project task or requirement.
Can you bypass branch policies in Azure DevOps?
Yes, certain users can bypass policy requirements in certain scenarios. This includes Project administrators or users with the ‘bypass policies when pushing’ permission.
extutorials.com