Category: Git

Structuring YAML Pipelines and nested variables in Azure DevOps

When managing pipelines for large and complex repositories with multiple ‘Platforms’, each containing multiple apps and services, then the folder structure and variable strategy can be complicated. However, if this is done right, then the payoff for template reuse is dramatic.

Here, I outline my approach on the pipeline folder and YAML structure only. The variable structure allows for a full set of naming conventions to easily default across all your projects apps and delegate standards to organisation and platform levels. This, ideally, leaves only app specific configurations for your dev teams to manage and worry about.

This strategy rests on top of my general approach to structuring a mono-repository. For more details on that see Mono-repository folder structures.

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Mono-repository folder structures

Every developer has their own way of structuring their code base. There is no right or wrong way, but some strategies have at least had some logical thought 😉

This is a sample of how I generally structure my mono-repos when they need to scale to many organisational platforms, apps, and projects.

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Add Git Bash (or other) to Windows Terminal

Add Git Bash (or other) to Windows Terminal

This is my quick, 1 minute, method to add ‘Git for Windows’ bashto Windows Terminal. But you can use the same process for any other command line.

  1. Either use the shortcut CTRL+, or the menu to open the settings.json
  1. This will open the settings.json file in you default editor.
  2. Now generate a new GUID by either
    1. go to https://www.guidgenerator.com/online-guid-generator.aspx or
    2. Enter [guid]::NewGuid() into the PowerShell terminal window
  1. Add the following json to the bottom of the “Profile”:”List” section
,
{
  "guid": "{REPLACE THE GUID HERE WITH YOUR ONE}",
  "hidden": false,
  "name": "Git bash",
  "icon": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\mingw64\\share\\git\\git-for-windows.ico",
  "commandline": "C:\\Program Files\\Git\\bin\\bash.exe",
  "colorScheme": "One Half Dark",
  "startingDirectory": "%USERPROFILE%"
}
  1. Remember to replace the GUID with the one you created earlier.
  2. Save the file and you should now see the option in the drop down.

If you want this to be your default terminal, then just add the GUID to the “defaultProfile” setting in the json file and save.

I used a simple colour scheme to distinguish this terminal from the other. I also changed the PowerShell one by adding

"colorScheme": "Campbell Powershell"

to that profile to bring back the good ol’ blue background 😉

This is just the tip of the iceberg. You can customise Windows Terminal to your hearts delight.

For more details see the full Windows Terminal docs here https://docs.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/terminal/