Best practices for build definitions or modifying the workflow template

Question

Looking for some guidance on best way to compile/publish certain projects.

We have couple of console applications, web services etc - some of them are straightforward to compile, some have to be published(to generate .asmx and \bin folder) etc.

Some solutions have both, a console project(needs to be compiled) and a webservices project(needs to be published). In Visual Studio, you have an option to either 'Compile' or 'Publish' based on the project.

To accompilsh the same and yet have flexibility, do I create individual build definitions(to either Compile or Publish a certain project) or can I create one that encompasses all?

Answer 1

If it one solution and the team develop in all projects, I will create one definition, let me tell you what my build definition that I have.

I have the following:

• Check-in Build definition for CI (Continues Integration)
• Nightly Build definition
• QA sprint delivery build definition

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Answer 2

Hello.

I think you misunderstood.

I need the ability and flexbility to create a build definition that will build a single solution and which requires me to either compile project A and pubish project B.

Project A and Project B resides within the same single solution.

Right now, I can either compile all projects or publish all projects within a single solution.

Answer 3

I just didn't feel your situation so I just try to help you by telling you mine.

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Answer 4

Hello ,

You can create one build definition which will perform all activities . In my project i had similar kind of requirement where i had to publish  couple of web Application & services at same time.

The best way to achieve this is to write your own custom activities . For writing custom activities visit http://www.ewaldhofman.nl/post/2010/04/29/Customize-Team-Build-2010-e28093-Part-4-Create-your-own-activity.aspx

Don`t forget to mark this as answer if this reply answers your question .

Answer 5

Hi Tampaite,

Thank you for your post.

Seems your solution contain multiply projects, some console projects need compile, some web projects need publish. If I have misunderstood anything, please free feel to let me know.

If console projects and web projects do not have relation with each other, group them to different build definition may reduce the work.

If console projects and web projects do need contained in one solution, and use one build definition for the solution, you need to customize build activity.

Beyond the information DMEHRO provide, you can refer to following articles:
1. Team Foundation Build Activities
2. How to: Create an Activity
3. http://weblogs.asp.net/jdanforth/archive/2010/04/24/package-and-publish-web-sites-with-tfs-2010-build-server.aspx

Best regards,

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Lily Wu [MSFT]
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