Azure Pipelines has revolutionized the way we approach Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) in our development cycles. With its incredible flexibility and scalability, it’s no wonder that Azure Pipelines has become the go-to choice for many developers and organizations. But what if we want to take it to the next level? What if we want to run multiple pipelines after the completion of a single source pipeline? Sounds like a daunting task, doesn’t it? Fear not, dear reader, for today we’re going to explore the ins and outs of running multiple pipelines in Azure Pipelines, and it’s easier than you think!
Why Run Multiple Pipelines?
Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of running multiple pipelines, let’s talk about why we’d want to do this in the first place. There are several reasons why you might want to run multiple pipelines in Azure Pipelines:
- Complex Workflows**: You might have complex workflows that involve multiple pipelines, each performing a specific task. By running these pipelines in sequence, you can create a more comprehensive and robust workflow.
- Dependent Pipelines**: You might have pipelines that are dependent on the output of another pipeline. For example, you might have a pipeline that builds a package, and another pipeline that deploys that package to a production environment.
- Scalability**: Running multiple pipelines in parallel can significantly improve the throughput of your CI/CD pipeline, allowing you to scale your development cycle more efficiently.
The Magic of Azure Pipelines’ “Triggers” Feature
Azure Pipelines provides a powerful feature called “Triggers” that allows you to trigger a pipeline run based on specific events or conditions. And guess what? You can use this feature to run multiple pipelines after the completion of a single source pipeline!
Creating a Trigger in Azure Pipelines
To create a trigger in Azure Pipelines, follow these steps:
- Navigate to your Azure Pipelines dashboard and select the pipeline you want to use as the source pipeline.
- Click on the “Triggers” tab and then click on the “New trigger” button.
- Select “Pipeline completion” as the trigger type.
- Enter a name and description for your trigger.
- Select the pipeline you want to run after the completion of the source pipeline.
- Configure any additional settings as needed (e.g., environment variables, pipeline parameters).
Voilà! You’ve created a trigger that will run a pipeline after the completion of another pipeline.
Running Multiple Pipelines in Sequence
But what if you want to run multiple pipelines in sequence? That’s where things get a bit more interesting. To run multiple pipelines in sequence, you’ll need to create multiple triggers, each triggered by the completion of the previous pipeline.
Here’s an example:
Pipeline 1 (Source Pipeline) | |---> Trigger 1 (runs Pipeline 2) | |---> Trigger 2 (runs Pipeline 3) | |---> Trigger 3 (runs Pipeline 4)
In this example, the source pipeline (Pipeline 1) completes, triggering Pipeline 2. Once Pipeline 2 completes, it triggers Pipeline 3, and so on. You can create as many triggers as needed to run multiple pipelines in sequence.
Running Multiple Pipelines in Parallel
What if you want to run multiple pipelines in parallel, rather than in sequence? Azure Pipelines has got you covered! You can use the “Parallel” keyword in your YAML file to run multiple pipelines simultaneously.
trigger:
- main
pool:
vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'
steps:
- task: Azure Pipelines Task 1
- task: Azure Pipelines Task 2
- parallel:
- task: Pipeline 3
- task: Pipeline 4
- task: Pipeline 5
In this example, the pipeline will run three tasks in parallel: Pipeline 3, Pipeline 4, and Pipeline 5. This can significantly improve the throughput of your CI/CD pipeline.
Tips and Tricks
Here are some additional tips and tricks to keep in mind when running multiple pipelines in Azure Pipelines:
- Use pipeline variables**: You can use pipeline variables to pass information between pipelines, making it easier to share data and context.
- Use pipeline templates**: Pipeline templates can help you reuse pipeline configurations, making it easier to manage multiple pipelines.
- Monitor and debug**: Make sure to monitor and debug your pipelines to ensure they’re running as expected. You can use Azure Pipelines’ built-in logging and diagnostics features to help you troubleshoot issues.
Conclusion
Running multiple pipelines in Azure Pipelines is a powerful way to automate complex workflows, improve scalability, and increase efficiency. By using Azure Pipelines’ “Triggers” feature and parallel pipeline runs, you can create complex workflows that would be difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional CI/CD tools. Remember to keep your pipelines organized, use pipeline variables and templates, and monitor and debug your pipelines to ensure they’re running as expected.
Now, go forth and automate your workflows with Azure Pipelines!
| Pipeline | Trigger | Runs |
|---|---|---|
| Pipeline 1 (Source Pipeline) | Pipeline completion | Pipeline 2 |
| Pipeline 2 | Pipeline completion | Pipeline 3 |
| Pipeline 3 | Pipeline completion | Pipeline 4 |
This table illustrates an example of multiple pipelines running in sequence, triggered by the completion of the previous pipeline.
</azure-pipelines>
Don’t forget to close your Azure Pipelines tag!
Frequently Asked Question
Azure Pipelines can be a bit tricky to navigate, especially when it comes to running multiple pipelines in tandem. Here are some questions and answers to help you get started!
Q1: Can I run all my existing pipelines after the completion of one source pipeline in Azure Pipelines?
Yes, you can use Azure Pipelines’ built-in feature called “Pipeline triggers” to run multiple pipelines after the completion of one source pipeline. This feature allows you to trigger another pipeline when a specific pipeline completes.
Q2: How do I set up pipeline triggers in Azure Pipelines to run multiple pipelines?
To set up pipeline triggers, go to your source pipeline, click on “Edit”, and then click on “Triggers” on the left-hand side menu. From there, you can add a new trigger and select the pipeline you want to run after the completion of your source pipeline. You can add multiple triggers to run multiple pipelines in sequence.
Q3: Can I run multiple pipelines in parallel instead of sequence using pipeline triggers?
Yes, you can run multiple pipelines in parallel using pipeline triggers. When you set up a trigger, you can select the option to “Run simultaneously” instead of “Run after”. This will trigger all the pipelines at the same time, instead of one after the other.
Q4: Are there any limitations to the number of pipelines I can trigger using pipeline triggers?
No, there is no limitation to the number of pipelines you can trigger using pipeline triggers. However, keep in mind that each pipeline trigger will consume a separate pipeline run, so you’ll need to ensure you have enough pipeline runs available in your Azure DevOps organization.
Q5: Can I use pipeline triggers to trigger pipelines across different Azure DevOps projects?
No, pipeline triggers only work within the same Azure DevOps project. If you need to trigger pipelines across different projects, you’ll need to use a different approach, such as using webhooks or APIs to trigger the pipelines programmatically.
