# Azure Boards

> Expert knowledge for Azure Boards development including troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when managing work items, queries/charts, GitHub links, Scrum boards/sprints, or WIQL-based integrations, and other Azure Boards related development tasks. Not for Azure DevOps (use azure-devops), Azure Test Plans (use azure-test-plans), Azure Pipelines (use azure-pipelines), Azure Repos (use azure-repos).

- Skill: `atc-net/azure-boards` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds add atc-net/azure-boards`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/atc-net/azure-boards/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: DevOps & Infra
- Author: atc-net (https://skillmd.com/u/atc-net)
- Updated: 2026-08-19
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/atc-net/azure-boards

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# Azure Boards Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Boards. Covers troubleshooting, best practices, decision making, limits & quotas, security, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

## How to Use This Skill

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch`. Returns Markdown.
- **Fallback**: Use `WebFetch`. Returns Markdown.

## Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Troubleshooting | L31-L39 | Diagnosing and fixing Azure Boards issues with Office integration, backlog nesting/reordering, and common query problems (filters, clauses, results). |
| Best Practices | L40-L46 | Guidance on using Azure Boards for Agile product management, scaling Agile across teams, and applying Scrum/sprint planning, tracking, and execution best practices. |
| Decision Making | L47-L53 | Guidance on selecting Azure Boards process templates, migration/integration approaches, and tools for cross-team visibility and reporting across projects. |
| Limits & Quotas | L54-L59 | Managing Azure Boards limits for test artifacts and work item attachments, including size/quantity constraints and how to restore deleted test-related items. |
| Security | L60-L66 | Managing Azure Boards security: default permissions, configuring query/folder access, and setting access controls and policies for teams and users. |
| Configuration | L67-L79 | Configuring Azure Boards processes, fields, and boards; linking with GitHub; and defining queries, charts, and work item field usage for Agile, Scrum, CMMI, bugs, and code reviews. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L80-L89 | Connecting Azure Boards to GitHub, Copilot, Slack, and Teams, adding status badges, linking work items to code/artifacts, and querying work items with WIQL syntax. |

### Troubleshooting
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
| Troubleshoot Azure DevOps Office integration issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/office/tfs-office-integration-issues?view=azure-devops |
| Troubleshoot Azure Boards backlog nesting and reordering | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/resolve-backlog-reorder-issues?view=azure-devops |
| Resolve common Azure Boards query issues | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/query-faqs?view=azure-devops |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Apply Azure Boards Agile product management practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/best-practices-agile-project-management?view=azure-devops |
| Apply scalable Agile practices in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/plans/practices-that-scale?view=azure-devops |
| Apply Azure Boards sprint and Scrum best practices | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/sprints/best-practices-scrum?view=azure-devops |

### Decision Making
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Select migration and integration options for Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/extensions/migrate-integrate?view=azure-devops |
| Choose Azure Boards tools for cross-team visibility | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/plans/visibility-across-teams?view=azure-devops |
| Choose the right Azure Boards process template | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/choose-process?view=azure-devops |

### Limits & Quotas
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Manage and restore deleted Azure Boards test artifacts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/backlogs/delete-test-artifacts?view=azure-devops |
| Manage Azure Boards work item attachments and limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/manage-attachments?view=azure-devops |

### Security
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Understand default permissions and access in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/get-started/permissions-access-boards?view=azure-devops |
| Configure query and folder permissions in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/set-query-permissions?view=azure-devops |
| Secure Azure Boards with access controls and policies | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/secure-your-azure-boards?view=azure-devops |

### Configuration
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Configure and customize Azure Boards processes and boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/configure-customize?view=azure-devops |
| Configure on-premises Azure DevOps with GitHub Enterprise | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/connect-on-premises-to-github?view=azure-devops-server |
| Configure Azure Boards GitHub app connections | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/install-github-app?view=azure-devops |
| Configure Azure Boards query charts for dashboards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/example-query-charts?view=azure-devops |
| Use Azure Boards query fields, operators, and macros | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/query-operators-variables?view=azure-devops |
| Track bugs, issues, and risks fields in CMMI process | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/cmmi/guidance-bugs-issues-risks-field-reference-cmmi?view=azure-devops |
| Use code review and feedback fields in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/guidance-code-review-feedback-field-reference?view=azure-devops |
| Reference Agile and Scrum work item fields in Azure Boards | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/guidance/work-item-field?view=azure-devops |
| Configure and manage Azure Boards work item fields | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/work-items/work-item-fields?view=azure-devops |

### Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Add Azure Boards status badges to GitHub repos | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/configure-status-badges?view=azure-devops |
| Integrate Azure Boards projects with GitHub repositories | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/connect-to-github?view=azure-devops |
| Integrate Azure Boards work items with GitHub artifacts | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/link-to-from-github?view=azure-devops |
| Integrate GitHub Copilot with Azure Boards work items | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/github/work-item-integration-github-copilot?view=azure-devops |
| Integrate Azure Boards with Slack channels | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/integrations/boards-slack?view=azure-devops |
| Use Azure Boards with Microsoft Teams channels | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/integrations/boards-teams?view=azure-devops |
| Use WIQL syntax for Azure Boards queries | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/boards/queries/wiql-syntax?view=azure-devops |