Work with Azure DevOps Product Backlog Items using az boards CLI
This skill inherits all available tools. When active, it can use any tool Claude has access to.
Use the Azure CLI (az boards) to interact with Azure DevOps work items.
Ensure Azure CLI is authenticated:
az login
az devops configure --defaults organization=https://dev.azure.com/{org} project={project}
az boards work-item show --id {id} --output yaml
| Azure DevOps Field | YAML Path | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Title | fields.System.Title | Plain text |
| Description | fields.System.Description | HTML-formatted, strip tags |
| Acceptance Criteria | fields.Microsoft.VSTS.Common.AcceptanceCriteria | HTML-formatted |
| State | fields.System.State | New, Active, Resolved, Closed |
| Assigned To | fields.System.AssignedTo | User object |
| Iteration Path | fields.System.IterationPath | Sprint path |
| Priority | fields.Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority | 1-4 |
<div>, <p>, <ul>, <li>, <code> tags before processing<h3> or <b> headers:
az boards work-item update --id {id} \
--fields \
"System.Description={description_html}" \
"Microsoft.VSTS.Common.AcceptanceCriteria={criteria_markdown}"
System.Description: HTML with <h3>, <p>, <ul>, <ol>, <li>, <code> tagsMicrosoft.VSTS.Common.AcceptanceCriteria: Markdown bullet list (no checkboxes)az boards work-item update --id 12345 \
--fields \
"System.Description=<h3>Context</h3><p>Switch to internal ingress.</p><h3>Files</h3><ul><li><code>container-app.bicep</code></li></ul>" \
"Microsoft.VSTS.Common.AcceptanceCriteria=- Direct URL returns 403\n- Front Door URL returns 200"
SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.State], [System.WorkItemType], [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.AssignedTo] = @Me
AND [System.WorkItemType] IN ('Product Backlog Item', 'Bug')
AND [System.State] NOT IN ('Closed', 'Removed', 'Resolved')
ORDER BY [Microsoft.VSTS.Common.Priority] ASC, [System.WorkItemType] ASC
SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.State]
FROM WorkItems
WHERE [System.AssignedTo] = @Me
AND [System.IterationPath] = '{iteration_path}'
AND [System.State] NOT IN ('Closed', 'Removed')
az boards query --wiql "SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title] FROM WorkItems WHERE [System.AssignedTo] = @Me" --output table
az boards work-item create \
--type Task \
--title "Task title" \
--description "Task description" \
--fields "System.Parent={pbi_id}"
az boards work-item type list --output table
az boards work-item show --id {id} --expand relations
az boards work-item update --id {id} --discussion "Comment text"