TFS 2013 Web Access - Comments on Changesets

You can add comments on changesets/shelvesets in web access, with TFS 2013 preview. This again a very effective way to communicate more information on the changes made in the changeset in addition to the default comment.

It is very simple to add a comment and it is possible for you to modify/delete the comments added on changeset/shelveset. May be this can even be used to do code reviews on changesets.

Let see how to add comments

1. Go to web access Code--> Changesets and open a chageset. you can see comparison view of the code files modified. Highlight a portion of code and click on the small icon appear on left side of code.

2. Type in comments and hit Return key to save.

Any other team member can reply to these comments. Unlike the team room chat this is not recorded as history. If you delete comment it is completely deleted.

Only problem I see with this feature is that you cannot view this outside of Web Access. Simply you cannot see these comments in VS when you view the changeset.

Still it is a cool feature comes with TFS 2013... and await for more...

TFS 2013 - Team Rooms

Another exciting feature that would come with TFS 2013, is Team Rooms for Team collaboration. It is already available in Team Foundation Service even though it is not 100% working (of course as expected in a preview).

This will be one of new features added to Team Web Access for team collaboration. Team members can create separate rooms - say Developer Room, QA Room, Common Room etc for their team project. team members can chat on the rooms, include hyperlinks to work items (with #WorkitemId like #7050). Events can be configured to appear in the rooms, based on different events that may happen as the project activities go on. For example when a code review requested or  even when work item changed you can configure to create an event in the room.

Here are few screen shots taken from Team Foundation Service for you to have a glimpse on what is going to come as Team Rooms with TFS 2013.

1. Entry point to team rooms as of now.

2. Have a chat

 

3.Create a new room

4. Add members to the room

5. Manage events in the room

For further details refer http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/vstudio/dn169471(v=vs.120).aspx

Await for more new features with TFS 2013... :)

TFS 2013 - Web Access - MSF Agile - Backlog & Board

Lets have a quick look at few cool stuff that will be available with TFS 2013 in MSF Agile Template. With this release Microsoft added Feature work item representing a Feature that is implemented with many user stories. They have made the Backlog and the Board appearance consistent across Web Access Work tab.

Vertical color bars to denote different types of work items, giving a great look to the Board and the Backlog.

1. Feature Backlog

2. Feature Backlog - with User Stories

 

 3. Feature Backlog - with User Stories & Tasks

4. Ease of Access

5. Feature Board

6. Stories

7. Stories to Features

 

8. Stories to Tasks

9. Stories Board

10. Iteration Backlog

11. Iteration Board - Grouped by Stories

12. Iteration Board - Grouped byPeople

13. Queries

 Cool stuff...greater consistency...and await for more... as I explore in the coming weeks...