The Azure DevOps Command Line Interface (CLI) is a tool that provides a command-line interface for interacting with Azure DevOps services. It allows you to work with Azure DevOps from the command line, providing greater flexibility and enabling automation for various tasks. Here’s an overview of the Azure DevOps CLI:

Key Features

1. Work Item Management: Create, list, update, and delete work items.
2. Pipeline Management: Queue builds, list build results, and manage releases.
3. Repository Management: Manage repositories, pull requests, and policy configurations.
4. Team Management: Manage teams, team members, and team iterations.
5. Extension Management: Install, update, and manage Azure DevOps extensions.

Installation

• Azure CLI: The Azure DevOps CLI is an extension to the Azure CLI, so you first need to install Azure CLI.
• Install Azure DevOps Extension:
  bashCopy code

  az extension add --name azure-devops

Authentication

Before using the Azure DevOps CLI, authenticate with Azure CLI using:

Then, set your Azure DevOps organization as the default:

Common Commands

1. Work Items:

   • Create a work item: az boards work-item create --title "Work item title" --type "User Story"
   • List work items: az boards work-item list

2. Repositories:

   • List repositories: az repos list
   • Create a pull request: az repos pr create --source-branch "branch-name"

3. Pipelines:

   • Queue a build: az pipelines build queue --definition-name "Build Definition Name"
   • List builds: az pipelines build list

4. Teams:

   • List teams: az devops team list
   • Add a team member: az devops team member add --user-email "user@example.com"

5. Extensions:

   • Install an extension: az devops extension install --extension-id "extensionName"
   • List installed extensions: az devops extension list

Scripting and Automation

• The Azure DevOps CLI can be used in scripts to automate complex workflows, making it easier to integrate Azure DevOps into your CI/CD pipeline or other automated processes.

Best Practices

1. Use in Secure Environments: Always use the CLI in secure, trusted environments, as it requires access to your Azure DevOps credentials.

2. Combine with Other Tools: The CLI can be used in conjunction with other tools like Azure CLI and PowerShell to create comprehensive automation scripts.

3. Stay Updated: Keep the Azure DevOps CLI updated to ensure you have the latest features and security updates.

Documentation and Help

• For detailed command reference and examples, you can use the --help flag with any command (e.g., az devops --help) or refer to the official Azure DevOps CLI documentation.

The Azure DevOps CLI is a powerful tool that enhances the Azure DevOps experience for developers and administrators by allowing them to script and automate a wide range of tasks.