Create a dependency with Dependency Tracker

Enable users to plan and manage dependencies across areas by providing a clear visual of all dependencies a team is consuming and producing in Azure DevOps. Use Dependency Tracker to create these dependencies.

Prerequisites

• Download the Dependency Tracker extension for Azure DevOps in the Visual Studio Marketplace.
• Ensure each team tracks their work in their designated area path. This ensures that both teams maintain their own context and focus. For example, Team A and Team B might have separate area paths where they manage their tasks.
• Identify work items that are interdependent between the teams. For example, Team A has a task (Task A) that depends on Team B’s work (Task B).

Create a dependency

Do the following steps to create a dependency.

1. Sign in to your project (https://dev.azure.com/{Your_Organization/Your_Project}).
2. Select Boards > Dependency Tracker.
3. Select + New Dependency.

• Enter the Producer and Consumer work item IDs in the search boxes, or Create New work items.
  • The Producer is the team that commits to deliver the work.
  • The Consumer is the team that needs or is dependent on the work. For example,
    • From Team A (Producer/predecessor): Add a successor link to Task A. This signifies that Task A must finish before Task B can begin.
    • From Team B (Consumer/dependent): Add a predecessor link to Task B. This indicates that Task B cannot start until Task A is completed.

4. Select Save.

   Your dependency saves.

   You can also create dependencies from the Links tab.

   

Related articles

• Overview of Dependency Tracker
• Dependency views
• Dependency Timeline
• Dependency Risk Graph