Collaborating with Pull Requests in Azure Repos

Collaborating with Pull Requests in Azure Repos

In Azure Repos, Pull Requests (PRs) are used to facilitate code review, collaboration, and ensure code quality before merging changes into a protected branch (e.g., main, master). Below is a guide on how to create, review, and manage PRs in Azure Repos.

Steps to Collaborate with Pull Requests in Azure Repos

1. Create a Pull Request

1. Navigate to Azure Repos:

   • Go to your Azure DevOps project.

   • Select Repositories and choose the repository where you want to create a PR.

2. Start a New Pull Request:

   • Click Pull Requests on the left-hand side.

   • Click New Pull Request.

3. Select Source and Target Branches:

   • Source branch: Select the branch where you made your changes (e.g., feature/add-login-page).

   • Target branch: Select the branch you want to merge into (e.g., main).

4. Title and Description:

   • Add a meaningful title for your PR (e.g., "Add login page with feature toggle").

   • Provide a detailed description explaining the changes.

5. Create Pull Request: Click Create.

2. Add Reviewers

1. After creating the PR, click Reviewers to add people responsible for reviewing the changes.

2. You can add one or more reviewers and assign them roles (e.g., Required reviewers, Code reviewers).

3. Add Checks and Policies

1. Check Policies: Ensure that required checks like Build Validation, Code Reviews, and Status Checks are enabled before merging.

2. Status Checks: Enable checks from pipelines or static code analysis tools that must pass before merging.

4. Commit and Address Reviews

1. Commits: After changes are made, commits are linked to the PR. Reviewers will see these changes.

2. Review Changes: Reviewers can approve or request changes to the pull request.

3. Address Feedback: Make any necessary changes in your source branch and commit them.

5. Merging Pull Requests

1. Approve and Merge:

   • Once the reviewers approve the changes, you can merge the PR using the Merge button:

     • Fast-forward merge: Fast tracks merging.

     • Squash and merge: Combines all commits into a single commit.

     • Rebase and merge: Rebases changes into the target branch before merging.

2. Notify Changes: Optionally, notify users or teams about the merge and updated branch.

6. Managing Completed Pull Requests

1. View History: Review the history of the PR in the Pull Request section to track approvals and changes.

2. Delete Branch: After merging, you can delete the source branch to keep the repository clean.

Best Practices for PRs in Azure Repos

1. Consistency: Ensure commit messages are clear and descriptive.

2. Collaboration: Engage with teammates through comments to discuss and refine changes.

3. Automation: Set up automated CI/CD pipelines to reduce manual testing and increase deployment confidence.

4. Security: Restrict who can merge changes, and ensure appropriate policies are in place.