devops-boards

DevOps Boards

When to Use

• User asks to create, update, or query work items (user stories, tasks, bugs, features, epics)
• User wants to manage sprints or iterations
• User asks about board status, backlog, or sprint progress
• User needs to assign, move, or link work items
• User mentions WIQL queries or work item searches

Instructions

Work Item Hierarchy

Epic
  └── Feature
        └── User Story
              └── Task
Bug (can be at any level)

Creating Work Items

1. Determine the work item type from context (default to "User Story" if ambiguous)
2. Set the project name
3. Compose the title — concise, action-oriented
4. Use the fields parameter for additional fields:
   • Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority — 1 (Critical), 2 (High), 3 (Medium), 4 (Low)
   • Microsoft.VSTS.Scheduling.StoryPoints — numeric estimate
   • System.Tags — semicolon-separated tags
   • System.AreaPath — area path
   • System.IterationPath — iteration/sprint

Querying with WIQL

-- Active user stories in current sprint
SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.State]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.WorkItemType] = 'User Story'
  AND [System.State] = 'Active'
  AND [System.IterationPath] = @CurrentIteration

-- Bugs assigned to a person
SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.AssignedTo]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.WorkItemType] = 'Bug'
  AND [System.AssignedTo] = 'User Name'
  AND [System.State] <> 'Closed'

-- Items modified in the last 7 days
SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.ChangedDate]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.ChangedDate] >= @Today - 7
ORDER BY [System.ChangedDate] DESC

Linking Work Items

Common link types:

• System.LinkTypes.Hierarchy-Forward — parent/child
• System.LinkTypes.Related — related items
• System.LinkTypes.Dependency-Forward — predecessor/successor

Tools

• devops_create_work_item — Create a new work item
• devops_update_work_item — Update fields on an existing work item
• devops_get_work_item — Get full details of a work item by ID
• devops_query_work_items — Query work items using WIQL
• devops_add_comment — Add a discussion comment (markdown auto-converted to HTML)
• devops_list_boards — List boards in a project
• devops_move_work_item — Change a work item's state
• devops_link_work_items — Create links between work items
• devops_get_iterations — List iterations/sprints
• devops_assign_work_item — Assign to a team member
• devops_list_team_members — List team members
• devops_get_work_item_history — Get revision history

See Also

• devops-repos — repository and PR management
• devops-pipelines — CI/CD pipeline operations
• devops-wiki — project documentation in wikis