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Use Azure DevOps Demo Generator to create a new Project in Azure DevOps 📑

This is the 5th post in the category Azure DevOps Fundamentals of the blog post series on working with Azure DevOps In this post the I will introduce you to the Azure DevOps Demo Generator tool by using it to create a new Project in Azure DevOps.

Since it much more fun to do research and play with technology in collaboration with others, Wesley Camargo will be covering some of the topics on he’s blog , while other topics are covered by my here. Naturally the all related posts will be referenced between the two blogs.

What is an Azure DevOps Demo Generator

This is a tool or as Microsoft documentation references it, a service which is aimed at provisioning pre-populated content that includes source code, work items, iterations, service connections, and build and release pipelines based on based on a subset of out of the box available templates.
In addition this service enables the users to make their own templates by converting existing projects into templates and use these to create new fully decked out projects.

Use Azure DevOps Demo Generator to create a new Project in Azure DevOps

Prerequisite
Prior to continuing with the next steps make sure that a suitable Azure DevOps Project is available and that you have sufficient permission to the project in question. To avoid any issues during the process Project Administrator permissions are recommended.

Lets get our hands dirty! First

Create a custom Azure DevOps Demo Generator template

  1. Open Azure DevOps Demo Generator using the following url https://azuredevopsdemogenerator.azurewebsites.net/?enableextractor=true
    Note the query parameter enableextractor=true. This parameter enables the custom template functionality
  2. On the main screen click the Sig In button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_2.png
    Sign in using - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  3. Review the required authorizations carefully, click the Accept button to be able tto proceed
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_3.png
    Manage authorization - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  4. Click the Build your template link located in the top right corner
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_4.png
    Build your template - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  5. Select the Organization, then select the project that is desired to be used as a template and finally click the Analyze button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_5.png
    Analyze - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  6. The project in question is now validated for a supported process and if all part of the project are accessible within with the account in question.
    Get a cup of coffee as with really large template Projects this could take a couple of minutes.
  7. Assuming the analysis is successful you should see a report with the Generate Artifacts button at the bottom, click it to continue.
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_6.png
    Artifact Analysis - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  8. If everything went well the artifact summary should show all green check boxes. In addition a Click to download your file link should be available to download the Artifact. Make sure to save the artifact in a proper place as after the download it will be deleted from the Azure DevOps Demo Generator
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_7.png
    Download Artifact - Azure DevOps Demo Generator

As a result you should have a .zip file downloaded.

/posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_8.png
Zip file - Azure DevOps Demo Generator

Create a new Project using the custom Azure DevOps Demo Generator template

  1. If not already open, open the Azure DevOps Demo Generator tool once again using the following url https://azuredevopsdemogenerator.azurewebsites.net/?enableextractor=true
  2. Click the Choose template button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_9.png
    Choose template - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  3. In the new window click the Private link
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_10.png
    Private - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  4. The windows is actually quite interesting as it is possible to supply a Github or even an URL reference in addition to the Local Drive option. For the Azure DevOps Fundamentals category the Local Drive option will suffice.
    Ensure that Local Drive option is selected. Then click the Choose File button and select the in the previous chapter generated .zip file. When done click the Submit button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_11.png
    Submit file - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  5. Note that you are returned to the main page with the Selected Template field pre-populated with the name of the uploaded template project. The template has been validated and is ready to be used to create new Azure DevOps Projects.
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_12.png
    Submit file - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  6. Type a suitable name for the new Azure DevOps Project, then select the desired Azure DevOps organization. When done click the Create Project button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_13.png
    Create Project - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  7. Wait till creation has been completed
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_14.png
    Track creation progress - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
  8. When the process has been completed, navigate to the newly created project by clicking the Navigate to project button
    /posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_15.png
    Creation completed - Azure DevOps Demo Generator

Since the project is created lets have a quick look at the content of this Azure DevOps project.

/posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_16.png
Boards - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
/posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_17.png
Repos - Azure DevOps Demo Generator
/posts/2023/use-azure-devops-demo-generator-to-create-a-new-project-in-azure-devops/img_18.png
Pipelines - Azure DevOps Demo Generator

Limitations

For the moment I have discovered the following limitations.

  • Only Agile, Scrum and Basic process based projects are supported.
  • Project wiki’s are not being picked up by the template so you will end up without a wiki in case you are using project wiki.

Wrapping up

And there you have it, Use Azure DevOps Demo Generator to create a new Project in Azure DevOps. If you are interested in the reference material used to make this post, please visit the following links.

As always, a big thanks for reading this post. If you liked it, don’t be shy and have a look at my other posts .