Microsoft has now launched the public preview of the Azure DevOps Model Context Provider (MCP) Server in a brave attempt to change developer productivity.
With this newly introduced capability, GitHub Copilot in Agent Mode can directly access a developer's Azure DevOps project data and allow the developer to interact with its data and functions via the natural language commands provided by the Copilot, within the developer's coding environment, such as Visual Studio Code or Visual Studio.
With this capability, Microsoft is providing another important opportunity to embed AI-powered automation into a software development lifecycle.
Natural Language For DevOps
The Azure DevOps MCP Server acts as a local intermediary between GitHub Copilot and the developer's Azure DevOps Services instance.
It provides the AI assistant with access to structured project data such as:
- Work items
- Pull requests
- Builds
- Test plans
- Wiki entries
- Repositories
- Teams and iterations
This allows developers to ask Copilot to perform tasks like "generate a user story for failed login handling" or "return pull requests assigned to me," letting Copilot perform those tasks via its interfaces to Azure DevOps REST APIs, without leaving the IDE.
As Microsoft product manager Dan Hellem shared, "This is allowing the assistant to better provide accurate, relevant answers, specific to your Azure DevOps project."
MCP Server Features
- Conversational Commands: Query, create, or update DevOps data using natural language
- Local Installation: Installed as a Node.js service on the developer's machine
- By Design it's Secure: Data does not leave the network, and no data is transferred externally.
- Seamless Integration: Work with GitHub Copilot Business/Enterprise with an mcp.json configuration and Azure CLI.
- Rich DevOps Scope: Access key Azure DevOps entities: builds, releases, teams, backlogs, etc.
A New AI-Powered Workflow
With MCP Server, Microsoft is not just enhancing Copilot; they are disrupting the DevOps experience. Here's how:
- Developers can now generate test cases, create work items, and manage pull requests with simple conversational functionality.
- Copilot can generate ticket content, link entities, or automate redundant project updates.
- It saves time on manual entry, allowing engineers to spend more time "solving problems" and developing innovations.
It saves time on manual entry, allowing engineers to spend more time "solving problems" and developing innovations.
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