ADO Productivity Copilot for VS Code
Supercharge your Azure DevOps workflow without leaving VS Code. Use natural language to explore, manage, and act on work items, code, docs, builds, releases, tests, and recent activity directly in Copilot Chat or the sidebar.
⭐ Top Feature: Built‑In Azure DevOps MCP Agent
This extension comes pre‑wired to a remote Azure DevOps MCP (Model Context Protocol) server. That means you can just ask ADO questions or request actions in plain English ("agent mode") — no special command syntax required.
Examples (type in Copilot Chat after @ado):
What builds failed today?
List the latest 5 builds for the main branch.
Show open pull requests assigned to me.
Find work items assigned to me that are still active.
Summarize work item 12345.
Break down work item 56789 into task suggestions.
Search code for references to RetryPolicy.
Search wiki for deployment checklist.
List release definitions containing the word 'prod'.
Show my recent test failures from the last build.
How it works:
- The MCP server exposes Azure DevOps tools (work items, builds, releases, code & wiki search, test plans, repos).
- Your natural language request is mapped automatically to the right tool calls.
- You can freely mix follow‑ups: "Only show the failed ones", "Filter to today", "Open that in the browser".
- Slash commands (below) are still available when you want a very targeted prompt.
You don't need to configure the MCP server separately—it's already registered when the extension activates. Just start asking.
What You Can Do
- Ask natural questions (agent mode) — the MCP tools figure out the rest
- Run smart slash commands with
@ado (summarize, decompose, prioritize, search, etc.)
- Break down and simplify work items in seconds
- Search Azure DevOps code & wiki docs from your editor
- View and act on your recent work item activity
- Inspect and change your org / project configuration anytime
Install (VS Code Marketplace)
- Open VS Code and press
Ctrl+Shift+X (Extensions).
- Search:
ADO Productivity Copilot.
- Click Install.
- Open Copilot Chat (panel icon or
Ctrl+Shift+I depending on your setup).
First-Time Setup
After install the extension guides you automatically:
- Sign In: Run the command palette (
Ctrl+Shift+P) → ADO: Sign In and authenticate.
- Provide Org URL: e.g.
https://dev.azure.com/your-org.
- Provide Project Name: Exact project display name or its slug.
- You're ready—open Copilot Chat and start with
@ado /help.
Your org & project are stored locally so you only set them once (until you change them).
Changing Org or Project Later
At any time:
- In Copilot Chat type:
@ado /info
- The bot replies with your current configuration.
- Click the Change Configuration button in that response.
- Enter a new organization URL and/or project name.
- Confirm—settings update immediately.
You can also re-run ADO: Configure Project from the command palette if available, but /info + button is the fastest path.
Core Slash Commands (Optional Shortcuts)
Use inside a Copilot Chat session after @ado when you want a deterministic action or structured output. (Otherwise, just ask in plain language.)
| Command |
Purpose |
/help |
List all available commands |
/info |
Show current org/project + button to reconfigure |
/simplify {id} |
Rewrite & simplify a work item description |
/decompose {id} {child type} |
Generate child items (e.g. Tasks) |
/prioritize |
Organize SFI / 360 / security related work |
/summarize {id} |
Concise summary of a work item |
/docs {query} |
Search Azure DevOps documentation/wiki |
/code {query} |
Search repositories in the configured project |
/myactivity |
Show your recent activity on work items |
Tips:
- You can omit braces—just supply the values. Example:
@ado /summarize 12345
- If a command needs more info, you'll be prompted.
- Combine with natural follow‑ups (e.g., “expand that”, “create tasks”).
Agent Mode vs Slash Commands
| Use This |
When |
| Natural question (agent mode) |
You want conversational, flexible access to ADO data (builds, PRs, releases, code, wiki, tests, work items). |
| Slash command |
You want a focused transformation (e.g., summarize, decompose) or quick access to a known function. |
They can be mixed: run /simplify 12345, then follow up with: "Now decompose it" or "Create tasks for that".
Open the ADO Productivity Copilot view container in the Activity Bar to browse work items and productivity tools. Many actions (open in browser, refresh, etc.) are available via context menu.
Quick Troubleshooting
- Not signed in? Run
ADO: Sign In again.
- Wrong org/project? Use
@ado /info → Change Configuration.
- Command not responding? Ensure Copilot Chat is active and you're prefixing with
@ado.
- Empty search results? Confirm the repo/wiki exists in the selected project and your account has access.
- Still stuck? Run
/help or reconfigure via /info.
Privacy & Permissions
The extension uses your Azure DevOps credentials (via standard sign-in) and only accesses resources you already have rights to. Configuration is stored locally in your workspace/user settings context.
Feedback & Support
Open an issue or submit a suggestion in the marketplace feedback. Share the command you ran and (if relevant) the work item ID for faster help.
License
MIT – see LICENSE.md.
