Skip to main content

VSTS Build–Private Build slots; you only get one for free!

By default when you are using VSTS(aka Visual Studio Online), you get the following extra services as part of your subscription:

Build and Deployment: Use this task-based service to create, queue, and monitor cross-platform builds. Use Hosted Agents that Microsoft runs, or Private Agents that you run so that you can install custom software.

  • Build(XAML)/ Build and Deployment: Create build definitions  and run them in Visual Studio Team Services. Configure builds to run on demand at specific intervals, or for continuous integration (CI). Builds are charged per minute for the actual amount of computing time used to build your project.

  • Cloud-based Load Testing: Create load tests using Visual Studio Ultimate 2013, Visual Studio Enterprise 2015, or later. Run those tests in Visual Studio Team Services. Load tests are measured and billed in virtual user minutes: the number of virtual users multiplied by the number of minutes that you set up for the load test run.

Your Visual Studio Team Services account includes free amounts of these additional services:

  • Build (XAML) / Build and Deployment: combined 240 minutes (4 hours) per month

  • Cloud-based Load Testing: 20,000 virtual user minutes per month

With the new Build and Deployment you get 2 things:

  • One hosted build agent that runs on a build server provided by Microsoft
  • One private build agent that you can install on your own hardware(virtual or physical)

I wasn’t aware of the second thing, so I got into troubles when I tried to add a second private build agent and ended up with some weird errors. Luckily it is easy to buy extra private agents through the Azure Portal. Here are the steps you need to follow: https://www.visualstudio.com/docs/setup-admin/team-services/get-more-build-or-load-testing-vs#AzurePortal

Click Paid. Select total number of agents. Save your changes

Remark: The hosted XAML build service will be retired by September 2016.

Popular posts from this blog

Azure DevOps/ GitHub emoji

I’m really bad at remembering emoji’s. So here is cheat sheet with all emoji’s that can be used in tools that support the github emoji markdown markup: All credits go to rcaviers who created this list.

Kubernetes–Limit your environmental impact

Reducing the carbon footprint and CO2 emission of our (cloud) workloads, is a responsibility of all of us. If you are running a Kubernetes cluster, have a look at Kube-Green . kube-green is a simple Kubernetes operator that automatically shuts down (some of) your pods when you don't need them. A single pod produces about 11 Kg CO2eq per year( here the calculation). Reason enough to give it a try! Installing kube-green in your cluster The easiest way to install the operator in your cluster is through kubectl. We first need to install a cert-manager: kubectl apply -f https://github.com/cert-manager/cert-manager/releases/download/v1.14.5/cert-manager.yaml Remark: Wait a minute before you continue as it can take some time before the cert-manager is up & running inside your cluster. Now we can install the kube-green operator: kubectl apply -f https://github.com/kube-green/kube-green/releases/latest/download/kube-green.yaml Now in the namespace where we want t

DevToys–A swiss army knife for developers

As a developer there are a lot of small tasks you need to do as part of your coding, debugging and testing activities.  DevToys is an offline windows app that tries to help you with these tasks. Instead of using different websites you get a fully offline experience offering help for a large list of tasks. Many tools are available. Here is the current list: Converters JSON <> YAML Timestamp Number Base Cron Parser Encoders / Decoders HTML URL Base64 Text & Image GZip JWT Decoder Formatters JSON SQL XML Generators Hash (MD5, SHA1, SHA256, SHA512) UUID 1 and 4 Lorem Ipsum Checksum Text Escape / Unescape Inspector & Case Converter Regex Tester Text Comparer XML Validator Markdown Preview Graphic Color B