In CI/CD workflows, artifacts are the files produced by builds, such as binaries, executables, or deployment packages. In this article, we’ll explore how Azure Pipelines manages artifacts, from storing builds to accessing and sharing them across stages and teams. Proper artifact management enables consistent deployments and efficient collaboration among team members.

What Are Artifacts in Azure Pipelines?

Artifacts are the outputs created during the build process, essential for deploying applications, running tests, or distributing files. Common artifact types include:

• Binaries: Compiled application files for deployment.
• Build Packages: Zipped files, .jar, .war, or .dll files, ready for deployment.
• Test Results: Reports or files created during testing phases.
• Container Images: Docker images ready for containerized deployments.

Step 1: Configuring Artifact Storage in Your Pipeline

To start managing artifacts, add artifact storage steps to your YAML configuration:

trigger:
  branches:
    include:
      - main

pool:
  vmImage: 'ubuntu-latest'

steps:
  - script: dotnet build --configuration Release
    displayName: 'Build Project'

  - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
    inputs:
      PathtoPublish: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
      ArtifactName: 'drop'
      publishLocation: 'Container'

This example builds a .NET project and publishes the output to an artifact named drop for storage in Azure Pipelines.

Understanding Artifact Storage Locations

Azure Pipelines offers several options for storing artifacts:

• Container (Default): Stores artifacts in Azure Pipelines, easily accessible within the pipeline.
• File Share: For on-premises storage, you can save artifacts to a network file share.
• Azure Artifacts: Use Azure Artifacts for storing packages and dependencies, ideal for versioned artifact management.

Step 2: Downloading Artifacts in Subsequent Jobs or Stages

Artifacts can be downloaded in later stages or jobs, enabling multi-stage workflows:

- job: Build
  steps:
    - script: dotnet build --configuration Release
      displayName: 'Build Project'
    - task: PublishBuildArtifacts@1
      inputs:
        PathtoPublish: '$(Build.ArtifactStagingDirectory)'
        ArtifactName: 'drop'

- job: Deploy
  dependsOn: Build
  steps:
    - task: DownloadBuildArtifacts@0
      inputs:
        buildType: 'current'
        downloadType: 'single'
        artifactName: 'drop'
        downloadPath: '$(System.ArtifactsDirectory)'

In this example, the Deploy job downloads the artifact created by the Build job, facilitating multi-stage pipelines where artifacts pass from one stage to the next.

Setting Retention Policies for Artifacts

Retention policies control how long artifacts are stored, preventing storage costs from growing unnecessarily:

1. Go to Project Settings: In Azure DevOps, navigate to your project’s settings.
2. Select Retention Policies: Define policies for artifacts, keeping critical builds longer or deleting unneeded artifacts after a set period.
3. Set Conditions: Set specific conditions for artifact retention, like keeping only successful builds.

Using Azure Artifacts for Dependency Management

For complex projects, Azure Artifacts provides additional support for managing dependencies and package versions:

• Create an Azure Artifacts Feed: Create a feed to store packages like NuGet, npm, or Maven for your project.
• Publish Packages to Feed: Use Azure Pipelines to build and publish packages to the feed.
• Reference Packages in Projects: Configure projects to reference the Azure Artifacts feed, ensuring consistent dependencies across builds.

Securely Managing Artifacts

Security is critical in artifact management, especially when handling sensitive builds:

• Access Controls: Set access controls on Azure Artifacts feeds or storage containers to restrict access.
• Encryption: Enable encryption for stored artifacts to protect sensitive data.
• Audit Logs: Review audit logs in Azure DevOps to track access to artifacts, ensuring accountability.

Best Practices for Artifact Management

To optimize artifact management in your CI/CD workflows, follow these best practices:

• Organize Artifacts: Use clear, consistent naming conventions for artifacts.
• Delete Unused Artifacts: Regularly clean up unneeded artifacts to save storage space and reduce costs.
• Automate Retention Policies: Set up retention policies to automatically manage artifact lifecycles.

Conclusion

Artifact management in Azure Pipelines is essential for efficient CI/CD workflows. By organizing, storing, and securing build outputs, you ensure that every version of your application is accessible and reproducible. With proper artifact management practices in place, you’ll be well-prepared to deliver high-quality software at scale, enabling consistent and reliable deployments.