Azure DevOps Boards

Azure DevOps Boards

Shared Workflow Routing

• Use the shared workflow spec for deterministic multi-plugin routing: workflows/multi-plugin-workflows.md.

Overview

Azure Boards provides Agile project management through work items, backlogs, sprint boards, and delivery plans. Work items (Epics, Features, User Stories, Tasks, Bugs) are created and managed via JSON Patch operations. WIQL (Work Item Query Language) provides SQL-like queries across work items with support for tree and one-hop queries.

The inherited process model allows organizations to customize work item types, fields, states, form layouts, and rules without forking the base process. Delivery plans enable cross-team timeline visualization with dependency tracking.

REST API — Work Items

JSON Patch Format

[
  { "op": "add", "path": "/fields/System.Title", "value": "Implement login page" },
  { "op": "add", "path": "/fields/System.AssignedTo", "value": "user@company.com" },
  { "op": "add", "path": "/fields/System.IterationPath", "value": "MyProject\\Sprint 12" },
  { "op": "add", "path": "/fields/System.AreaPath", "value": "MyProject\\Frontend" },
  { "op": "add", "path": "/relations/-", "value": {
    "rel": "System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Reverse",
    "url": "https://dev.azure.com/{org}/{project}/_apis/wit/workitems/{parentId}"
  }}
]

Content-Type: application/json-patch+json.

WIQL Quick Reference

SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.State], [System.AssignedTo]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.TeamProject] = @project
  AND [System.WorkItemType] = 'Bug'
  AND [System.State] <> 'Closed'
  AND [System.AssignedTo] = @me
ORDER BY [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority] ASC, [System.CreatedDate] DESC

Macros: @project, @me, @today, @currentIteration, @follows, @myRecentActivity.

REST API — Iterations & Areas

REST API — Process Customization

Work Item Types

Best Practices

• Use WIQL with @currentIteration macro for sprint-scoped queries.
• Always include Area/Iteration path filters in WIQL for performance.
• Use JSON Patch add for new fields, replace for updates, test for conditional writes.
• Create inherited processes for customization — never modify the base process.
• Use relation links (parent/child, related, predecessor/successor) for traceability.
• Batch-fetch work items (max 200 IDs per call) after WIQL returns IDs.
• Use delivery plans for cross-team sprint alignment.

Progressive Disclosure — Reference Files