Feature Toggles, Package Management and Versioning with Azure DevOps from Pluralsight

Learn how to use feature toggles to separate a deployment from a release and enable multiple releases a day! Apply practices to split up your solutions into NuGet packages and apply a versioning strategy that enables fast release cycles.

Delivering software to production in a repeatable and reliable way requires us to be smarter about the way we deploy and release our software. In this course, Feature Toggles, Package Management and Versioning with Azure DevOps, you'll see how to use feature toggles, package management, and a proven way of versioning in order to deploy your software multiple times without affecting any users. First, you'll discover how to separate deployment from a release by using Feature Toggles as a means to introduce new or changed functionality without the need for branching in source control. Next, you'll explore details on how to split up your solution in multiple packages, and how you can ask crucial questions to determine the correct granularity, coupling, and cohesion between packages. Finally, you'll learn an industry proven way of versioning that helps you avoid endless dependencies. We integrate this into our automated builds in Azure DevOps. By the end of this course, you'll know how to efficiently use feature toggles, package management, and versioning with Azure DevOps.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Feature Toggles

Package Management

Versioning

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Emphasizes feature toggles, package management, and versioning in software deployment, delivery, and release cycles

Teaches practices for managing large software solutions by splitting them into multiple packages

Emphasizes the use of Azure DevOps to automate builds and version control

Instructed by Marcel de Vries, an experienced professional in software deployment and release management

Reviews summary

Azure devops: toggles, packages & versioning

According to students, this course offers a highly practical and effective deep dive into managing software releases with Azure DevOps. Learners particularly praise the clear explanations and hands-on demonstrations for implementing feature toggles, managing NuGet packages, and applying versioning strategies. While some find the pace rapid, suggesting a need for prior DevOps familiarity, the course is consistently lauded for its immediate applicability in professional settings, making it an invaluable resource for enhancing CI/CD pipelines and streamlining deployment processes.

Gain crucial insights into effective versioning and package use.

"Learning about the different versioning strategies and how to automate them in Azure DevOps pipelines was invaluable."

"The explanation of semantic versioning and its automation was superb."

"The package management section felt a bit rushed, and I wish there were more advanced scenarios covered... Still, a solid foundation."

Strong coverage of separating deployment from release.

"The concepts of feature toggles and package management were explained with such clarity..."

"I appreciated the deep dive into feature toggles and how they separate deployment from release."

"The instructor's clear explanations and step-by-step guidance on implementing feature toggles made a complex topic accessible."

Benefit from an instructor who knows the subject deeply.

"Absolutely brilliant! The instructor's clear explanations and step-by-step guidance on implementing feature toggles made a complex topic accessible."

"Excellent and highly practical course. The instructor clearly knows his stuff."

"The instructor's delivery is engaging and the material is well-structured."

Learn with direct, actionable examples in Azure DevOps.

"The hands-on demos in Azure DevOps were incredibly practical. I've been able to apply these strategies directly to my team's workflow..."

"The practical examples using Azure DevOps were exactly what I needed. I feel much more confident in handling deployments and releases now."

"The balance between theory and practical implementation was perfect. This will definitely streamline our team's continuous delivery efforts."

Some minor UI discrepancies due to platform updates.

"My only minor gripe is that some of the Azure DevOps UI has changed slightly since the course was recorded, which caused a few moments of confusion..."

Best for those with existing Azure DevOps or release cycle experience.

"The course content is relevant, but it moves very quickly. If you're not already familiar with Azure DevOps or have some prior experience... you might struggle."

"Content is okay, but I found the pace too fast. It assumes a lot of prior knowledge, which isn't explicitly stated. Not for beginners in DevOps."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Feature Toggles, Package Management and Versioning with Azure DevOps with these activities:

Create a NuGet Package using Visual Studio

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Follow a structured tutorial to learn how to use Visual Studio to create and manage NuGet packages.

Browse courses on Nuget

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Create a new project
Add code to the project
Build and publish the package

Create a NuGet Package

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Gain hands-on experience in packaging and distributing code as a NuGet package.

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Set up package structure
Build the package
Publish the package

Build a Feature Toggle with Azure DevOps

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Enhance your understanding by following a guided tutorial on implementing feature toggles using Azure DevOps.

Browse courses on Azure DevOps

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Set up Azure DevOps project
Create a feature toggle
Deploy the feature toggle

Four other activities

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Implement Semantic Versioning

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Develop proficiency in using semantic versioning to effectively manage software versions.

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Understand the semantic versioning rules
Practice applying version numbers
Set up automated versioning

Deploy and Release Management Simulation

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Apply your knowledge to a simulated project to gain practical experience in managing deployments and releases.

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Design a deployment and release plan
Build and test the software
Deploy and release the software

Azure DevOps Versioning Best Practices

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Explore best practices for versioning in Azure DevOps to improve your software release process.

Browse courses on Versioning

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Review Azure DevOps versioning documentation
Set up automated versioning
Implement semantic versioning

Contribute to an Open Source Package Management Project

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Enhance your understanding and contribute to a real-world open-source project related to package management.

Browse courses on Package Management

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Identify a project to contribute to
Fork and clone the project
Make and submit a contribution

Career center

Learners who complete Feature Toggles, Package Management and Versioning with Azure DevOps will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Software Developer

Software Developers can often reduce the time it takes to fix bugs, implement new features, or enhance products and meet the requirements of users by having a deep understanding of the deployment, building, and maintenance of software. That is because they also have a deep understanding of the versioning and packaging tools, as well as environments used to manage software products. The topics covered in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps are very critical for Software Developers to become more effective and efficient in their role.

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Site Reliability Engineer

A background in software deployment and management is very important for a Site Reliability Engineer (SRE). The implementation of new features, deployment of upgrades and patches, debugging of software, and rollback when required all indicate a need for a deep understanding of software packaging, versioning, and management. Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps will be very relevant to your role as an SRE.

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DevOps Engineer

DevOps Engineers, sometimes called MLOps Engineers when they work in machine learning, are responsible for the deployment of software solutions, in addition to their work in software development. They are expected to have an intimate understanding of software deployment processes, including the tools and techniques used. The topics of feature toggles, package management, and versioning form a core part of the DevOps skillset, making Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps a highly useful course for you.

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Cloud Engineer

A deep understanding of software deployment, versioning, and management is a critical component of a Cloud Engineer's toolset. This course on Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps teaches all about the tools and practices used in the industry to deliver software in a repeatable, reliable, and frictionless way. This makes this course very relevant to your career path.

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Software Architect

The knowledge of software deployment and release models, as well as the tools and techniques used, is a critical part of being a successful Software Architect. This course covers practices used to split up solutions into NuGet packages, and you'll also learn proven ways of versioning that helps you avoid endless dependencies, which are all very important skillsets for a Software Architect to have. Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps will be very beneficial for your career.

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Release Manager

Release Managers are responsible for planning, scheduling, and executing software releases, which means they need to have a thorough understanding of software deployment models and tools. Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps will give you an in-depth understanding of these concepts, and adopting the practices taught in this course can help you to excel as a Release Manager.

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Product Manager

While it is not a critical skill set, Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps may be useful to Product Managers who want to have a better understanding of how software is built, packaged, and released. Given that Product Managers are responsible for working with developers to prioritize and deliver features, having this deeper understanding of the implementation details can be an advantage.

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Quality Assurance Analyst

Quality Assurance Analysts may find Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps useful as they are sometimes responsible for monitoring the quality of software features as they are released, in addition to the more traditional role of testing the software for bugs and defects. This course provides insights into the methods used to deploy software at scale, which can help you to become a more effective Quality Assurance Analyst.

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Business Analyst

While it is not a common skill set for Business Analysts, Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps may be useful if you want to work in the technology sector, or on technology-based products. Understanding the intricacies of software deployment and continuous delivery will make you more competitive in the job market.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

Cybersecurity Analysts will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.

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Recruiter

Recruiters will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.

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Sales Representative

Sales Representatives will most likely not have a use for the skills taught in Feature Toggles, Package Management, and Versioning with Azure DevOps.