# Output environment variables
- bash: |
echo "===== Environment Variables (sorted) ====="
env | sort
displayName: "List environment variables"
Above will not list library (enviroment) variables marked as secret.
Getting started with Azure Devops MCP in VS Code
What is MCP? It stands for Model Context Protocol and enables your AI Agent (Such as Github Copilot in VS Code) to integrate directly against other systems. One such system is Azure Devops. This tools enables Copilot to read most of your organisation Azure Devops information.
So instead of context switching and copy pasting info from Devops (error messages or User Stories information etc) you can just ask your AI agent directly in your IDE.
Examples of useful prompts for a developer: (from ChatGPT)
Pipeline & Run Inspection
“Find my latest failed run for pipeline Backend-CI and summarize which step failed, including the log excerpt around the error.”
“Get the duration trend for the last 20 runs of ClientSPA-CI and highlight the slowest job.”
“List all pipelines that have not run in the last 60 days.”
“Compare two pipeline runs (Run 1412 and Run 1477) for MyApplication-API and explain the differences in steps, duration, and triggered changes.”
Pull Requests & Repo Info
“Show me all active PRs in the repo MyApplication that have unresolved comments.”
“Which PRs were merged this week, and which work items did they close?”
“Summarize the diff for PR 84303, but only include changes in the Angular project under ClientSPA/.”
“List files in the repo MyApplication that changed in the last 48 hours.”
“Search all repositories for references to ProductRowID.”
Work Items
“Find all work items assigned to me that are blocked by another work item, and summarize the blockers.”
“Show me work items marked as ‘Ready for test’ but not linked to any build or PR.”
“List all bugs created in the last 7 days containing the word paracetamol.”
Artifacts & Variables
“Show me all variable groups used by Backend-CI.”
“Fetch the artifacts for pipeline run 292 of ClientSPA-CI, list their sizes, and highlight anything over 100 MB.”
“Find pipelines that reference the variable AzureAd:ClientSecret.”
Setup in VS Code:
azure-devops-mcp/docs/GETTINGSTARTED.md at main · microsoft/azure-devops-mcp
General installation guide:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/mcp-server/mcp-server-overview?view=azure-devops#install-mcp-server
All About Angular 21 New Signal Forms
How to fix SQL72014: Framework Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider: ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database
Error
SQL72014: Framework Microsoft SqlClient Data Provider: ALTER DATABASE failed because a lock could not be placed on database
Solution
Clear all transactions and locks on database server:
USE master; GO ALTER DATABASE [InsightDictionary] SET SINGLE_USER WITH ROLLBACK IMMEDIATE; ALTER DATABASE [InsightDictionary] SET MULTI_USER;
Tested on Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Developer Edition.
Angular Signal Forms — Set-up and validation rules | by Alain Chautard | Nov, 2025 | Angular Training
Signal Forms are available with Angular 21 as an experiment, which means the API described in this tutorial is subject to change, but stable enough to give you a first overview of Angular Signal Forms.Rather than replacing template-driven forms or reactive forms, signal forms are a third option. In this brief tutorial, I will highlight how the new paradigm works and what the differences are compared to previous approaches.
Enable or Disable Notification Center in Windows 11 | NinjaOne
The notification center in Windows 11 is a handy panel for your calendar, quick settings, and pop-up alerts, allowing you to stay informed. Despite its benefits when enabled, it can be distracting and give out too much information.Some users and organizations disable notification center to prevent distractions, ensure important alerts aren’t accidentally dismissed, and maintain a secure interface. In this guide, we will provide approaches using Group Policy, Registry Editor, and PowerShell to modify your
Source: Enable or Disable Notification Center in Windows 11 | NinjaOne
Adding repository custom instructions for GitHub Copilot – GitHub Docs
Latest Visual Studio 2022 with Copilot should work with below config to preprompt/improve/customizee the Copilot experience.
Source: Adding repository custom instructions for GitHub Copilot – GitHub Docs
Debugging Angular with the ng namespace
Angular 9 introduced the ng namespace variable, which is available in development mode but not exposed when the application is running in production mode. We can debug an application using that global namespace without any breakpoint or dev tools extension.
Source: Debugging with the ng namespace | Angular Newsletter
Zod in Angular. Typescript Schema validation library
Using Zod in an Angular project is a great way to introduce runtime validation with static typing. Zod is a TypeScript-first schema declaration and validation library, which complements Angular’s type system and form handling. Why Use Zod in Angular? Type-safe validation Works well with Reactive Forms or standalone services Generates types from schemas automatically Useful for form validation, API response validation, and runtime checks
eraoftech.medium.com/zod-in-angular-8dcefc2a20ec
eraoftech.medium.com/zod-in-angular-8dcefc2a20ec
Nushell
Nushell
A new type of shell
Cross-platform
Nu works on Linux, macOS, BSD, and Windows. Learn it once, then use it anywhere.
Everything is data
Nu pipelines use structured data so you can safely select, filter, and sort the same way every time. Stop parsing strings and start solving problems.
Powerful plugins
It’s easy to extend Nu using a powerful plugin system.
Nu works with existing data
Nu speaks JSON, YAML, SQLite, Excel, and more out of the box. It’s easy to bring data into a Nu pipeline whether it’s in a file, a database, or a web API:
Nu has great error messages
Nu operates on typed data, so it catches bugs that other shells don’t. And when things break, Nu tells you exactly where and why:
