After a long period of testing and customizing the Team foundation Server to our needs, We can finally say that we have a great results.
First, I would like to invite all of you: use the TFS it is a great tool and it will help you being more productive.Second, Matan1 and I thought about useful feature for the next release:
Inheritance in process templates (VSTS)Background: We have two different systems: StandardWorld, AmazingWorld. We want to customize the bug work-item, for example, so each programmer\tester will not forget writing important details. (for example: the user's profile which caused the error. Why? because in our system we would like to know the user's profile which produced the bug). But Hey, it is system-based, in StandardWorld, for example, we don't have profiles at all.
How do we gonna implement this today: Today we just create two different process templates (AmazingWorld-ProcessTemplate and StandardWorld-ProcessTemplate) which are the same, but with different additions for each system. For example: in AmazingWorld-ProcessTemplate we would add the special field to the bug work-item.
The Problem: All the known copy&paste errors, from the Software development, each minor change will reflect on two different places, and so on. Think about your code, we always try to prevent the copy&paste operation.
Our Solution: Lets define inheritance between process templates. For example: StandardWorld will use the default template (the base template), and the AmazingWorld will use the extended template (the one with added features). The logic should be like this: For each new template we could choose if we want to inherit from other class/template or not.
Updated: I opened a lady bug at microsoft: http://connect.microsoft.com/VisualStudio/feedback/ViewFeedback.aspx?FeedbackID=241462 Vote for it.
Conclusion: We think that it will help us create more generic templates! Let me know what do you think about this? Is this a good feature for the next version?
1A few words about Matan: he took this mission with his two hands (strong and big I might say) and lead the team to a better process. If you would like to ask more questions about the TFS do not hesitate.
Disclaimer The opinions expressed herein are my own personal opinions and do not represent my employer's view in any way.