HOW TO CREATE A CI CD PIPELINE IN AZURE DEVOPS

How to Create a CI CD Pipeline in Azure DevOps

How to Create a CI CD Pipeline in Azure DevOps

Blog Article

In the world of modern software development, speed and quality are both important. Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment, also known as CI CD, help teams release code faster and with fewer bugs. With Azure DevOps, you can create a powerful CI CD pipeline to automate your build, test, and deployment processes.


In this blog, we will explain what a CI CD pipeline is and walk you through the steps to create one using Azure DevOps.







What is a CI CD Pipeline


A CI CD pipeline is a series of steps that automatically build, test, and deploy your code every time a change is made. It reduces manual work, improves code quality, and speeds up software delivery.





  • Continuous Integration (CI) means automatically building and testing your code when developers push changes.




  • Continuous Deployment (CD) means automatically delivering the tested code to a staging or production environment.




Azure DevOps makes it easy to set up both parts of the process.







Why Use Azure DevOps for CI CD


Azure DevOps offers built-in support for:





  • Git repositories




  • Build and release pipelines




  • Automated testing




  • Integration with tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud services




  • Support for any platform or language




It is cloud-based, scalable, and suitable for both small and large teams.







Steps to Create a CI CD Pipeline in Azure DevOps


Step 1: Create a Project in Azure DevOps




  1. Sign in to dev.azure.com




  2. Click on New Project




  3. Enter the project name, description, and visibility




  4. Click Create




Step 2: Set Up a Code Repository




  1. Go to Repos and either create a new repository or import an existing one




  2. Clone the repo to your local machine




  3. Add your code and push it to Azure Repos




Step 3: Create a Build Pipeline (CI)




  1. Go to Pipelines > Create Pipeline




  2. Choose Azure Repos Git as your source




  3. Select your repository




  4. Choose Starter pipeline or use YAML file




  5. Define your build steps such as installing dependencies, compiling code, and running tests




Example YAML snippet:




yaml






trigger: - main pool: vmImage: ubuntu-latest steps: - task: UseNode@2 inputs: version: '16.x' - script: npm install displayName: Install dependencies - script: npm run build displayName: Build application - script: npm test displayName: Run tests




  1. Save and run the pipeline




Azure will now automatically build and test your code every time you push to the main branch.



Step 4: Create a Release Pipeline (CD)




  1. Go to Pipelines > Releases > New Pipeline




  2. Add an Artifact, which is your build output




  3. Add a Stage, such as Staging or Production




  4. Add deployment tasks like copying files to a server or deploying to Azure Web App




  5. Define pre-deployment conditions such as approvals or manual gates




  6. Save and create the release




Step 5: Automate the Release


You can configure triggers to automatically deploy the build when it is successful. This enables true continuous deployment.







Best Practices




  • Use environment variables for secrets and settings




  • Separate build and deployment logic




  • Add approval steps for production deployments




  • Use testing stages to catch bugs early




  • Monitor deployments with Azure Monitor and logs








Learn CI CD as a Data Engineer


If you want to master CI CD in real-world cloud projects, especially for data pipelines, check out the azure data engineer training in hyderabad. This course includes practical labs on Azure DevOps, pipelines, and deployment strategies.







Final Thoughts


Creating a CI CD pipeline in Azure DevOps helps your team release software faster, with better quality and less stress. It automates repetitive tasks and ensures your application is always in a working state.


Whether you are a developer or a DevOps engineer, getting started with Azure DevOps pipelines is a great step toward modern, efficient software delivery. Try building your first pipeline today and experience the benefits of automation in action.

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