The document discusses automating build and release processes in Azure DevOps. It recommends treating packaging and release as repetitive, traceable processes done by anyone. Key steps include: 1) Using scripts to automate builds locally with tools like PowerShell, Cake, or MSBuild. 2) Creating release builds that produce everything needed for release, like publishing sites, packaging resources, and compiling code. 3) Defining a release process in Azure DevOps that specifies builds, environments, and manages artifacts and auditing for releases. 4) Starting with manual checklists and scripts for releases, then gradually automating more tasks to reduce errors and improve reliability.

1. REAL WORLD BUILD + RELEASE AUTOMATION IN
AZURE DEVOPS
Ricci Gian Maria
@alkampfer
alkampfer@nablasoft.com

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Consultant
Real Work

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Artisan
Worker in
Assembly Line

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Devops Cycle

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When you create you are an artisan

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If you can verify some parts automatically
You save time for creation

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When you release…..
You should be a worker in assembly line

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Package and release MUST BE
Repetitive
Repeatable
Performed by anyone
Traceable and Traced
Auditable
Much simple as possible

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Packaging in software – Continuous Integration
Make
Code
Build
Test
Package

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Tools

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Build should execute locally
Script most of the part of it with known language

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Build should execute locally
PowerShell
Cake
Msbuild
xUnit console runner
…

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When you release…..
MUST RELEASE PACKAGE COMING FROM BUILD

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Do not give yourself excuses
You can always automate packaging

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If you do not automate packaging
This is your production environment

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Differentiate build by branch (Git)
All Branches = Build + Test
Develop = Sonar Qube
Pull Requests = Build + Test + SonarQube
Hotfix / Release = Build + Test + Extended checks
Master = Release build

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Release build
Produces everything that is needed to release
the software

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Release build
Build +
Publish sites +
Pack resources +
Compile angular +
Etc etc etc
Create one or more zip (7zip)

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What about slow release build

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Allow for shortcut (ex not run unit testing)
Not running test can be seen as bad practice, but
if you have done an hotfix to angular UI you do
not need to re-run test for C# code

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Allow for conditional execution of steps
Allow for specific task not to be run upon certain
condition

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Use Multiple parallel phases in Azure DevOps

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Use Powerful Hardware
Build is a core process, spend resource on it

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Use Multiple Builds / Phases
One build for server code one for Angular UI
One build for each microserver one for the UI
Etc
DMS CRM Webapi Angular Utils

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What about automating release?
Do not use classic excuse: Too difficult

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Why manual release? Classic excuse
Production environment is too important, I do
not trust a script to made modification to it
So you trust Ed?

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What could go wrong?
Ed is tired and made mistake
Ed is smart so he does not follow a checklist
(after all he is smarter than a script)
Ed always does different action to deploy
Only Ed can deploy
AND…. If something goes south..

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Ed is good and can fix the system
Noone knows how
Noone knows why
Noone knows what
happened
…
…
…
…

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The system is fixed but
Lets disable firewall
Full access to the folder
Run as admin
Copy this over that
Write AKSDHFAKEWRH to
file ASDKFHASLHDASF

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Start with manual checklist
Checked in with code
Everyone can execute it
Follow it at every Deploy
Change when needed
Mark every step
Annotate/Expand during
each deploy

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Create a release
The release specifies the build(s) to use and a
series of environments

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Manual Intervention on Agentless Job
The release will
manage artifacts
and auditing for
you

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Specify Release flow

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Even without automation you have
Known what build was
released
Everyone can release
Approval and auditing

36. DEMO
Completely manual release

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Mix automation and manual operations
Measure Release Time
Start automating simple and
time consuming tasks

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Mix automation and manual operations
Automate what is
simple
Mix with manual
steps

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Script Script Script Script
You should be able to release from Build artifacts
and a series of script

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Use Multiple Sources
Separate release script from artifacts
Store scripts in different repo
Use repository as artifact

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Use Multiple Artifacts
Combine Versions
Parallelize builds
Supports microservices

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Build once – Release many
Remove configurations from source, etc etc

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Strive for idempotency
4.2.3 4.2.2 4.2.3
4.2.3 4.2.3

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Script configuration (DSC, Chef, Puppet)
Configuration as Code
Standard environment
Less manual intervention
No configuration drift

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Release often
Automatic health checks
Automatic check of configurations
No configuration in packages
Good configuration default
Defensive programming
Adequate telemetry and Log
Auto Execution of Version Specific Tasks
Feature flags

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Questions