We use TFS for volume control, source checking, and source control.
Senior Soft Engineer at SECP
Keeps code secure while working in a team
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of TFS is that it keeps the code secure while working collaboratively in a team of four or five individuals."
- "I would like to see TFS improve its web interface as there are some limitations with IDs and the integration behind it and with open-source tools like VS Code."
What is our primary use case?
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of TFS is that it keeps the code secure while working collaboratively in a team of four or five individuals.
We have different teams working on different solutions using different technology sets. At the backend, it has good source control. We work with Microsoft technology stack, open source stack, as well as IBM stack. We have different teams working on the backend with TFS as our source control.
What needs improvement?
I would like to see TFS improve its web interface as there are some limitations with IDs and the integration behind it and with open-source tools like VS Code.
As a version control, we have found some inconsistencies related to updates from previous versions. If you set up the Git repository, and you want to change it back to TFS, it is a bit confusing now in the latest update. We were hung up when two repositories were intermingled together. We were confused about why the Git project was not converting to TFS. I believe Microsoft is supporting the Git repositories.
The TFS TFVC is not user-friendly because, for Git repositories that you have already created to use the TFS repositories, you need to go back into the ID to Video Studio when the TFS repository comes up by default.
Using the web interface, by default you get the Git repository. For a team that is not familiar with this and is not using the ID as a video studio or VS, code management gets difficult. Even with VS Code as an open source ID, TFS at the backend as a repository is difficult and integration is complex.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using TFS on a daily basis for five years.
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What do I think about the stability of the solution?
So far, I have found TFS to be stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable, however, we do not need to scale because we do not have many people on each team. The administration part requires three or four people, and for development teams, we have about 15 team members who actively use VS Code.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup of TFS is really just a click. It is basic and not complex.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed the solution in-house.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Our organization has an enterprise license with TFS.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We explored other sources before. We also used some open-source tools.
What other advice do I have?
We are considering trying another solution as we don't find TFS assistance or community help when compared to Git.
TFS is a good solution once you get comfortable using it. If you are coming from TFS 2013 or TFS 2015, you are going to find the 2019 version different. I understand that TFS is moving towards the cloud, so all the features are designed with this in mind. In the 2019 version, you will see more DevOps-related tools and automated app tools.
The solution is easy and complex at the same time. If you are familiar with pipelines, you will find it interesting. You need a technical team to provide help and assistance to get the whole value from 2000 DevOps TFVC. If you are not actually fully exploring the feature set or using them, it is just another source control like any other open-source control.
If you gain experience with the iron value sets with TFVC DevOps, the whole project management will be smooth and stable. Releases will come out but all the hiccups between the teams, such as the development teams, QA teams, and deployment teams will smooth out.
I would rate this solution an eight out of ten overall.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
General Manager at Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co. Ltd.
Is easy to use, traceable, and stable
Pros and Cons
- "Team Foundation Server (TFS) is easy to use, and we have a complete trail and traceability. We also like the access control part."
- "The price could be cheaper."
What is our primary use case?
We use it for code archiving, complete CI/CD functionality, code propagation, code repository, etc.
What is most valuable?
Team Foundation Server (TFS) is easy to use, and we have a complete trail and traceability. We also like the access control part.
What needs improvement?
The price could be cheaper.
We're going for a cloud solution that will give us similar functionality and integration with our other products that we are customizing, like SFD. At present, those codes aren't many.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using it for more than eight years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable. We have around 45 users.
What about the implementation team?
We deployed it using an in-house team. You will need two to three people who are in the DevOps teams, who do all the testing, and programmers, who use it and check the code.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
You will need to obtain server and account licenses.
What other advice do I have?
TFS is a good product, and I would rate it at eight on a scale from one to ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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Lead Automation Architect at Contour
Reusable test plans, reliable, and beneficial test automation
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable features of TFS are the test plans. We can reproduce reusable test plans in test automation. We have a lot of queries and this feature is very useful."
- "TFS is scalable with different Microsoft tools for test management but it is not scalable with other third-party tools."
What is our primary use case?
We use TFS for manual testing in our labs and as an automation tool., basically use TFS and we have the shared for that.
The TFS was previously used for the build repository, but we have moved away from using it and we use other tools for builds. We are moving towards JIRA for other activities, such as cascade management, and test automation management.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable features of TFS are the test plans. We can reproduce reusable test plans in test automation. We have a lot of queries and this feature is very useful.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using TFS for approximately seven years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
TFS is highly stable. We have a lot of queries and the test plans can generate for automation purposes and runs very well. I prefer TFS over Jira in this area.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
TFS is scalable with different Microsoft tools for test management but it is not scalable with other third-party tools.
We have more than 200 users using this solution.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We use JIRA in parallel with TFS and we are facing a lot of difficulties with JIRA because we do not receive the leverage and the same features in JIRA that we do in TFS. Our preference is TFS over JIRA.
What about the implementation team?
There is some maintenance required from our team. For example, licensing and overall support.
What other advice do I have?
When the applications are developed in VideoStudio and other technologies. It's preferred to use TFS for all of the management solutions.
I rate TFS a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
Senior programming analyst at a logistics company with 10,001+ employees
Great functionality includes work items, backlogs, source code, build releases, and easy to use
Pros and Cons
- "Build definitions and releases within the product. allow us to put our latest applications in the field."
- "It has great functionality: work items, backlogs, source code, build releases, and it's easy to use."
What is our primary use case?
The use case is as our repository for UPS Enterprise and the performance is pretty good.
How has it helped my organization?
It is a big improvement because before we were using PBCS.
What is most valuable?
Build definitions and releases within the product. They allow us to put our latest applications in the field.
What needs improvement?
Right now they are up to standard. All the features that we needed are included currently in TFS, including Git repository which allows our developers to perform their code-testing without impacting by uploading the latest code in TFS. It fits all of our needs.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
100 percent stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's completely scalable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I give technical support a rating of A-plus.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The previous solution was PBCS which was obsolete for our team and that is why the company decided to invest in TFS.
When selecting a vendor what's most important, speaking from a money point of view, is that it be cost effective. It should have good support like Microsoft doing provides with TFS, and be easy to use as well.
How was the initial setup?
Initial setup was straightforward.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The other vendor was HPE but we decided to go with Microsoft.
What other advice do I have?
It has great functionality: work items, backlogs, source code, build releases, and it's easy to use.
TFS is very easy to integrate into your system. It's very easy to follow for any new developers. Also, I would say some 80 percent of developers out there use Visual Studio which is integrated with TFS.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
React Developer at Rayvarz Software Engineering Company
Stable solution and offers branch management capabilities
Pros and Cons
- "Stability is okay."
- "Merging branches is definitely one of the more challenging aspects for people new to TFS."
What is our primary use case?
I use it for managing. To manage the project in Git and manage branches in projects.
What needs improvement?
Merging branches is definitely one of the more challenging aspects for people new to TFS.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using it for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Stability is okay. I would rate the stability an eight out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
I would rate the scalability a six out of ten. Sometimes, a lot of branches get mixed together, making it difficult to use. I remember struggling with these branch management issues some time ago and even wrote about them. It is so hard to review problems in TFS.
There are around 200 end users using this solution in our organization.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I found Git to be a better overall experience. Merging branches in TFS, especially merging to the master branch, could be quite difficult. Git seemed to handle it more smoothly. However, after two years, the company decided to switch to Git.
How was the initial setup?
For experienced users, it might be manageable, but for non-technical users like nurses, branching and merging in Git proved difficult. They often had to ask for help from team members because they found it challenging.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Director, Supply Chain at Business Derivatives
Helps in bug detection and incident management but needs improvement in stability
Pros and Cons
- "TFS' most valuable feature is the triage process. It is a robust solution that is easy to use."
- "The tool needs improvement in stability."
What is our primary use case?
We use TFS for bug detection and incident management.
What is most valuable?
TFS' most valuable feature is the triage process. It is a robust solution that is easy to use.
What needs improvement?
The tool needs improvement in stability.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
I rate the tool's stability a seven out of ten.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
TFS' scalability is quite good. My company has 25 users.
How was the initial setup?
TFS' deployment is simple. You need about five to seven resources to handle the deployment and maintenance.
What was our ROI?
We have seen ROI with the tool's use.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The tool's licensing costs are yearly.
What other advice do I have?
I rate TFS an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Senior Quality Assurance Analyst at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Very good filters that help us create a monitoring dashboard, as well as test and script planning
Pros and Cons
- "User alerts are very helpful for knowing when work is required."
- "There's not automatic access to test case management and execution."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution for test management and defect tracking.
What is most valuable?
Most of my work is in the defect area of the solution. I like the attachments which can be directly inserted and highlighted. Users get alerted so they know when there's work required which makes the solution quite efficient. TFS also has filters that help us create a dashboard for monitoring, as well as test and script planning.
What needs improvement?
I haven't been able to get access to the test case management and execution because it requires an extra license fee. It would be helpful if that was made available to all the users who have already bought TFS.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for about three years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
The solution is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
The features in TFS are similar to those found in Jira.
How was the initial setup?
The solution came with our Microsoft package so no deployment was required, it was just a matter of clicking on the web link. We currently have more than 500 users and that will increase in the future.
What other advice do I have?
I rate the solution nine out of 10.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Reliable, good performance, good reporting tools, and useful for managing all of your development tasks
Pros and Cons
- "The work item feature is most valuable. It allows us to store all product requirements. We can also link the test cases to those requirements so that we know which feature has already been tested, and which one is waiting for testing. We can also couple the code reviews, unit tests, and automated tests into these requirements. It is reliable. It has all the features and good performance. It also has reporting tools or analysis tools."
- "Currently, we are looking for a solution with which we can incorporate third-party development sites or third-party project teams into the system. Because it is on-premise, it is a bit problematic because we need to have a VPN or something else in the system. A cloud-based solution would be better for us, and that's what we are looking for. Our biggest problem is the external connection, which, of course, is limited by our own IT. It would be good to have some kind of publishing service for this external connection. It might be there, and it might be that our IT is making it impossible for us. Its template editor could be easier to use. Currently, customizing the project templates according to your needs requires some work."
What is our primary use case?
It is mainly for the work item handling, which is the documentation for the development projects. We also use it for requirement handling and then following a project's progress with tasks or issues.
How has it helped my organization?
It doesn't improve the way our organization functions, but it supports the way we work. Instead of having separate Excel or other work item lists, we can just utilize the work items provided by TFS for record-keeping and monitoring the progress.
What is most valuable?
The work item feature is most valuable. It allows us to store all product requirements. We can also link the test cases to those requirements so that we know which feature has already been tested, and which one is waiting for testing. We can also couple the code reviews, unit tests, and automated tests into these requirements.
It is reliable. It has all the features and good performance. It also has reporting tools or analysis tools.
What needs improvement?
Currently, we are looking for a solution with which we can incorporate third-party development sites or third-party project teams into the system. Because it is on-premise, it is a bit problematic because we need to have a VPN or something else in the system. A cloud-based solution would be better for us, and that's what we are looking for. Our biggest problem is the external connection, which, of course, is limited by our own IT. It would be good to have some kind of publishing service for this external connection. It might be there, and it might be that our IT is making it impossible for us.
Its template editor could be easier to use. Currently, customizing the project templates according to your needs requires some work.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for 15 years. I have been using its latest version for a couple of years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is reliable.
How are customer service and technical support?
I haven't actually used their support very much. I'm not really the one who is maintaining the system.
You can find a lot of information by searching the web. There is also a community around it, and a lot of answers are available. Microsoft has its own support if needed.
How was the initial setup?
I haven't been so much involved in building up the TFS server, but I think it is rather simple. The installation is simple. There are so-called project templates that you might need to adjust according to your needs. These require some work. If you can use the default templates, then no work is needed. We have managed to adjust everything for what we needed. There were no problems that we couldn't overcome. Its template editor could be easier to use.
What about the implementation team?
It was done in-house. It is pretty easy to come up with an installer. There is nothing difficult there.
What other advice do I have?
The Team Foundation Server is now called Azure DevOps. We are using an old product. I would advise others to consider whether they need an on-premises or a cloud solution. The on-premises solution requires external developers. They can also look at the cloud option and see which product offering is better for their needs.
It is a nice system to have. You get a managed system where you can manage your development tasks easily, and you don't need to keep your own bookkeeping for tasks and backup items. They are already there in TFS. You can just use the system monthly and produce reports out of the system. For me, it was nice to see that such a tool exists.
I would rate TFS a nine out of ten. I'm pretty happy with it.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
On-premises
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
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