Learn the ins and outs of version control with Git and cloud-based repositories in Azure.

This article is designed to provide a comprehensive guide for those seeking to master Git and Azure Repos for their AZ 400 Microsoft Certification preparation. We’ll cover the basics, intermediate top …

Updated September 2, 2023

Introduction: Git is a version control system that allows developers to track changes made to code over time, collaborate with team members, and manage different versions of their software. Azure Repos is a cloud-based repository service that integrates with Git, providing developers with a central location to store and manage their codebase. In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of Git and Azure Repos, covering everything from basic commands to advanced techniques.

Basic Commands: Before diving into more advanced topics, it’s important to start with the basics. Here are some essential Git commands that you should be familiar with:

git init: Initializes a new Git repository in your current directory.
git add <file>: Stages a file for committing. You can also use git add . to stage all changes in the current directory and subdirectories.
git commit -m "<message>": Commits staged files with a specific message. It’s essential to write meaningful commit messages to keep track of changes made to your codebase.
git status: Displays the state of your Git repository, showing which files have been modified, added, or deleted.
git log: Shows a log of all commits made to your repository, along with the author, date, and message for each commit.
git diff <commit1> <commit2>: Displays the differences between two specified commits. This command is useful when you need to compare changes made in different versions of your codebase.

Azure Repos: Azure Repos is a cloud-based repository service that integrates with Git, providing developers with a central location to store and manage their codebase. Here are some basic commands for working with Azure Repos:

az repos create: Creates a new repository in your Azure account. You can specify the name of the repository, as well as other settings such as permissions and access controls.
az repos clone <repository>: Clones an existing repository from Azure Repos to your local machine. This command is useful when you need to work with codebase on a different machine or when collaborating with team members.
az repos push: Pushes changes made in your local repository to Azure Repos. You can specify the branch and other options using this command.
az repos pull: Retrieves changes from Azure Repos and merges them into your local repository. This command is useful when you need to update your codebase with changes made by others or when collaborating with team members.
az repos list: Lists all repositories in your Azure account. You can use this command to see a list of all the repositories you have access to, as well as their current status and other information.

Intermediate Topics: Once you’re familiar with the basic Git commands, it’s time to move on to more advanced topics. Here are some intermediate-level concepts that you should be aware of when working with Git and Azure Repos:

Branching: Git allows developers to create separate branches for different features or versions of their codebase. This is useful when collaborating with team members or when working on multiple features simultaneously. You can use commands such as git branch and git checkout <branch> to manage branches.
Merging: When you’re ready to integrate changes from one branch into another, you’ll need to merge them. Git provides several merge strategies, including fast-forward merges, recursive merges, and octopus merges. You can use commands such as git merge and git pull --no-ff to perform merges.
Conflicts: When working with multiple branches or collaborating with team members, you may encounter conflicts when merging changes. Git provides several tools for resolving conflicts, including the git status command, which shows files that have conflicts, and the git merge --abort command, which allows you to undo a merge.
Remotes: Azure Repos provides remote repositories that allow developers to collaborate on codebase across different machines or locations. You can use commands such as git remote add <name> <url> and git fetch <remote> to manage remotes.
Tags: Git allows developers to create tags for specific versions of their codebase, making it easier to track changes over time. You can use commands such as git tag and git push --tags to manage tags in Azure Repos.

Advanced Topics: For those seeking to master Git and Azure Repos, there are several advanced topics that you should be aware of:

Rebasing: Git provides a rebase command that allows developers to replay changes made in one branch onto another branch. This is useful when working with multiple branches or collaborating with team members. You can use commands such as git rebase and git pull --rebase to perform rebases.
Cherry-picking: Git provides a cherry-pick command that allows developers to apply changes made in one commit to another branch or repository. This is useful when you need to port specific changes across different codebases. You can use commands such as git cherry-pick <commit> and git push --force to perform cherry-picks.
Submodules: Git provides a submodule command that allows developers to include other Git repositories within their main repository. This is useful when working with third-party libraries or dependencies. You can use commands such as git submodule add <url> and git submodule update --init to manage submodules.
Hooks: Git provides hooks, which are scripts that run before or after specific events in your repository. This is useful when you need to automate tasks or enforce specific policies within your team. You can use commands such as git init and git config --global alias.<alias> <command> to manage hooks.

Conclusion: In this article, we’ve covered the basics, intermediate topics, and advanced concepts related to Git and Azure Repos. These powerful tools are essential for any developer seeking to master their craft and achieve success in the AZ 400 Microsoft Certification exam. Remember to practice regularly, experiment with different commands, and seek out additional resources to help you become proficient in using Git and Azure Repos.