What is Azure Pipelines and why does it matter in DevOps?

Azure Pipelines is a cloud service that enables developers to automate the building, testing, and deployment of their applications. It is a crucial component in the DevOps lifecycle as it helps streamline the CI/CD (Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment) processes, making it easier for teams to deliver high-quality software at an accelerated pace.

By using Azure Pipelines, organizations can integrate with various version control systems and platforms, making it easier to manage code changes. The service supports multiple programming languages and platforms, allowing teams to deploy their applications to any cloud or on-premises environment.

This tool matters in DevOps because it promotes collaboration between development and operations teams and helps ensure that applications are always in a releasable state. Furthermore, it allows for early detection of potential issues and promotes rapid feedback on changes, leading to improved software quality.