This chapter will cover creating TFS server plugins. We will have a look at two types of server plugins, the examples of which will illustrate both decision points and notifications. Topics that we will be covering in this chapter include the following:
Why use a TFS plugin over a check-in policy?
The basics of a server plugin, including:
Setting up the code
Deploying server plugins
Debugging server plugins
Creating a check-in plugin to force a comment on the framework code check-ins
Creating a work item changed plugin that will make sure the ID of a work item prefixes the work item title
Server plugins can be useful when you want to do trigger-type changes; for example, when a check-in is made to a certain type of file or when details in a work item match a certain criteria.