GIT and Visual Studio with Azure DevOps Repos for Developers Course Syllabus
Full curriculum breakdown — modules, lessons, estimated time, and outcomes.
This course provides a practical, hands-on introduction to Git and Azure DevOps Repos for developers working in Visual Studio environments. You'll learn to configure repositories, manage branching workflows, perform code reviews, and integrate with CI pipelines using Azure DevOps. With approximately 6 hours of focused content, the course walks through real-world scenarios, from initial setup to secure collaboration and conflict resolution. Each module combines conceptual guidance with step-by-step Visual Studio demonstrations, ensuring you gain confidence in managing source control effectively within Microsoft's ecosystem.
Module 1: Introduction to Azure DevOps Repos
Estimated time: 0.5 hours
- Overview of Azure DevOps Services vs. Server
- Setting up Azure DevOps projects
- Creating and importing Git repositories
- Understanding Git repository structure
Module 2: Cloning & Initializing Repos in Visual Studio
Estimated time: 0.75 hours
- Connecting Visual Studio 2019/2022 to Azure DevOps
- Cloning repositories in Visual Studio
- Performing initial commits and configuring .gitignore
- Adjusting repository settings in Visual Studio
Module 3: Branching Strategies & Best Practices
Estimated time: 1 hours
- Creating and managing feature, release, and hotfix branches
- Implementing Gitflow and GitHub Flow workflows
- Comparing trunk-based development with other strategies
- Best practices for branch naming and lifecycle management
Module 4: Pull Requests & Code Reviews
Estimated time: 1 hours
- Raising pull requests in Azure DevOps
- Adding reviewers and discussing code changes
- Linking work items to pull requests
- Enforcing branch policies: mandatory reviews and build validation
Module 5: Merging, Rebasing & Conflict Resolution
Estimated time: 0.75 hours
- Understanding merge commits vs. rebase workflows
- Performing fast-forward merges in Visual Studio
- Resolving merge conflicts using Visual Studio’s merge tool
Module 6: CI Integration & Automation
Estimated time: 1 hours
- Triggering Azure Pipelines builds on pull requests
- Configuring CI triggers on branch pushes
- Validating code with linting, unit tests, and status checks
Module 7: Repository Security & Permissions
Estimated time: 0.75 hours
- Setting granular permissions on branches and repositories
- Managing branch security policies
- Configuring service connections and personal access tokens (PATs)
Module 8: Advanced Git Features & Maintenance
Estimated time: 0.5 hours
- Using Git hooks for workflow automation
- Managing credentials with Git Credential Manager
- Handling large files with Git LFS
- Performing repository maintenance: garbage collection and reflog
Prerequisites
- Familiarity with Visual Studio IDE (2019 or 2022)
- Basic understanding of software development and version control concepts
- Access to an Azure DevOps account (free tier acceptable)
What You'll Be Able to Do After
- Configure and manage Git repositories in Azure DevOps
- Perform end-to-end source control operations in Visual Studio
- Implement secure and efficient branching and merging workflows
- Enforce code quality through pull request policies and CI integration
- Resolve merge conflicts and maintain repository health