Why Programmatic Update is Necessary

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 100 views

Introduction

As a developer or DevOps engineer, you may have encountered a situation where you need to migrate your Azure DevOps repositories to GitHub. This can be a complex process, especially when you have multiple pipelines set up in Azure DevOps that rely on these repositories. In this article, we will discuss how to programmatically update lots of existing Azure DevOps pipelines to use newly migrated GitHub repositories.

Understanding the Problem

When you migrate your Azure DevOps repositories to GitHub, you need to update your pipelines to point to the new repository location. This can be a time-consuming and error-prone process, especially if you have multiple pipelines to update. The problem is that Azure DevOps pipelines are configured using YAML files, which can be difficult to update manually.

Why Programmatic Update is Necessary

Programmatic update is necessary when you have multiple pipelines to update. Manual update can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Moreover, if you have a large number of pipelines, manual update can be a daunting task. By using a programmatic approach, you can automate the update process and ensure that all pipelines are updated correctly.

Prerequisites

Before you start updating your pipelines, you need to ensure that you have the following prerequisites:

Azure DevOps account: You need to have an Azure DevOps account with the necessary permissions to update pipelines.
GitHub account: You need to have a GitHub account with the necessary permissions to access the migrated repository.
Azure DevOps API token: You need to have an Azure DevOps API token with the necessary permissions to update pipelines.
GitHub API token: You need to have a GitHub API token with the necessary permissions to access the migrated repository.

Step 1: Get the List of Pipelines

The first step is to get the list of pipelines that need to be updated. You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to get the list of pipelines. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to get the list of pipelines:

az devops pipeline list --organization <organization> --project <project> --output json

This command will return a JSON response that contains the list of pipelines.

Step 2: Get the Repository Information

The next step is to get the repository information from GitHub. You can use the GitHub REST API to get the repository information. Here is an example of how you can use the GitHub REST API to get the repository information:

curl -X GET \
  https://api.github.com/repos/<owner>/<repo> \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <github_token>'

This command will return a JSON response that contains the repository information.

Step 3: Update the Pipeline YAML

The next step is to update the pipeline YAML to point to the new repository location. You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to update the pipeline YAML. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to update the pipeline YAML:

az devops pipeline update --organization <organization> --project <project> --pipeline <pipeline> --yaml <yaml_file>

This command will update the pipeline YAML to point to the new repository location.

Step 4: Verify the Update

The final step is to verify that the update was successful. You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to verify that the update was successful. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to verify that the update was successful:

az devops pipeline show --organization <organization> --project <project> --pipeline <pipeline> --output json

This command will return a JSON response that contains the updated pipeline information.

Conclusion

In this article, we discussed how to programmatically update lots of existing Azure DevOps pipelines to use newly migrated GitHub repositories. We covered the prerequisites, step-by-step guide, and code examples to update the pipeline YAML. By following this guide, you can automate the update process and ensure that all pipelines are updated correctly.

Best Practices

Here are some best practices to keep in mind when updating your pipelines:

Use a programmatic approach: Manual update can be time-consuming and prone to errors. Use a programmatic approach to automate the update process.
Use the Azure DevOps REST API: The Azure DevOps REST API provides a powerful way to update pipelines programmatically.
Use the GitHub REST API: The GitHub REST API provides a powerful way to get repository information programmatically.
Verify the update: Verify that the update was successful by using the Azure DevOps REST API.

Common Issues

Here are some common issues that you may encounter when updating your pipelines:

Invalid YAML: Make sure that the YAML file is valid and free of errors.
Repository not found: Make sure that the repository exists and is accessible.
Pipeline not found: Make sure that the pipeline exists and is accessible.
Update failed: Make sure that the update was successful by verifying the update.

Conclusion

Q: What is the best way to update multiple Azure DevOps pipelines to use newly migrated GitHub repositories?

A: The best way to update multiple Azure DevOps pipelines to use newly migrated GitHub repositories is to use a programmatic approach. You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to update the pipeline YAML and the GitHub REST API to get the repository information.

Q: How do I get the list of pipelines that need to be updated?

A: You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to get the list of pipelines. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to get the list of pipelines:

az devops pipeline list --organization <organization> --project <project> --output json

Q: How do I get the repository information from GitHub?

A: You can use the GitHub REST API to get the repository information. Here is an example of how you can use the GitHub REST API to get the repository information:

curl -X GET \
  https://api.github.com/repos/<owner>/<repo> \
  -H 'Authorization: Bearer <github_token>'

Q: How do I update the pipeline YAML to point to the new repository location?

A: You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to update the pipeline YAML. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to update the pipeline YAML:

az devops pipeline update --organization <organization> --project <project> --pipeline <pipeline> --yaml <yaml_file>

Q: How do I verify that the update was successful?

A: You can use the Azure DevOps REST API to verify that the update was successful. Here is an example of how you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to verify that the update was successful:

az devops pipeline show --organization <organization> --project <project> --pipeline <pipeline> --output json

Q: What are some common issues that I may encounter when updating my pipelines?

A: Some common issues that you may encounter when updating your pipelines include:

Invalid YAML: Make sure that the YAML file is valid and free of errors.
Repository not found: Make sure that the repository exists and is accessible.
Pipeline not found: Make sure that the pipeline exists and is accessible.
Update failed: Make sure that the update was successful by verifying the update.

Q: How do I troubleshoot issues with my pipeline updates?

A: To troubleshoot issues with your pipeline updates, you can use the Azure DevOps REST API to get the pipeline logs and the GitHub REST API to get the repository information. You can also use the Azure DevOps UI to check the pipeline status and the GitHub UI to check the repository status.

Q: Can I use a script to automate the pipeline update process?

A: Yes, you can use a script to automate the pipeline update process. You can use a programming language such as Python or PowerShell to write a script that uses the Azure DevOps REST API and the GitHub REST API to update the pipeline YAML and verify the update.

Q: How do I secure my Azure DevOps and GitHub credentials?

A: To secure your Azure DevOps and GitHub credentials, you can use a secure storage solution such as Azure Key Vault or a secrets manager such as Hashicorp's Vault. You can also use environment variables to store your credentials.

Q: Can I use a CI/CD tool to automate the pipeline update process?

A: Yes, you can use a CI/CD tool such as Azure DevOps Pipelines or GitHub Actions to automate the pipeline update process. You can use a YAML file to define the pipeline and a script to update the pipeline YAML and verify the update.

Conclusion

In conclusion, updating multiple Azure DevOps pipelines to use newly migrated GitHub repositories can be a complex process. However, by following the step-by-step guide and code examples provided in this article, you can automate the update process and ensure that all pipelines are updated correctly. Remember to use a programmatic approach, use the Azure DevOps REST API, use the GitHub REST API, and verify the update to ensure that the update was successful.