Build and Release Management using TFS 2015

Team Foundation Server 2015 and Visual Studio Team Services offer a completely redeveloped build system and Microsoft is in the process of rolling out a new system for Release Management.

This 2-day course focuses on building and releasing .NET applications using these new systems. It focuses on the new scriptable, cross-platform build system introduced in TFS 2015 and how to use it. The course briefly looks at the current version of Release Management for Visual Studio 2015 but then deep dives into Release Management vNext. Release Management vNext is currently in preview in Visual Studio Team Services and in TFS 2015 Update 2.

If you are eager to learn how to implement DevOps practises designed to streamline your build and release processes using TFS or VSTS, this is the course for you.

This course includes hands-on labs to reinforce practical skills and ensure you’re ready to use the tools on your return to your workplace.

The following product and technologies will be covered in this course

• Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2015 or Visual Studio Team Services
• Visual Studio 2015
• Team Build 2015
• Windows Azure
• Release Management for Visual Studio 2015
• Release Management vNext

This course is taught in a modular format;

• Module 1 – A lap around the Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 family
• Module 2 – Configuring your Build environment
• Module 3 – Authoring our first build definition
• Module 4 – A closer look at builds
• Module 5 – Customizing your build process
• Module 6 – Other build enhancements and features
• Module 7 - Overview of Release Management
• Module 8 - Release Management for Visual Studio 2015
• Module 9 - Release Management vNext
• Module 10 – Configuring environments
• Module 11 – Defining a release workflow for on-premises servers
• Module 12 - Defining a release workflow for Azure 

At the completion of this course, attendees will be able to;

• Describe the current features in TFS or VSTS focused on build and release management
• Plan and configure a scalable build environment including pools and queues
• Configure appropriate security on pools and queues
• Author build definitions
• Configure Continuous Integration (CI) builds as well as scheduled builds
• Use existing build templates as well as create new build templates
• Create custom build workflow using build steps
• Automate the execution of tests as part of our build
• Understand the features of the current version of Release Management for Visual Studio
• Use Release Management vNext to create and manage releases
• Use Release Management vNext to create environments
• Manage configuration information in each environment
• Deploy software to both on-premises servers as well as to Azure
• Configure Continuous Release by triggering releases from builds
• Create approval workflows and track releases across environments

This course is designed for .NET developers, TFS Administrators and Build masters. It is a hands-on look at various technologies rather than a high-level management overview.

Attendees should be familiar with Visual Studio and the basic use of Team Foundation Server or Visual Studio Team Services.