How to use TFS 2010 to improve the development process?

Question

How can TFS 2010 improve my development process? For example, I use shelvesets to not lose checkin frequency but I can check in works in progress to shelvesets, thus not checking in code which breaks the build (check in gates help with this too).

Is there anything else along these lines which helps improve the quality of projects?

Thanks

Answer 1

I will try to tell how can you improve but my english isn't very well, so sometimes i can babble.

With a source control system, your software development process will be improve automatically. For example, one day a bug had reported to me. When i control the bug, i saw that an existing code block was deleted. So i, use "Annotate" tool to learn who deleted the code block and why? With annotate tool, i saw my developer collegue deleted to code. I looked the Work Item why did she delete? When i look the work item carefully, i saw my analyst collegue ordered to delete the code block. So we ask him, why he wanted something like this? He said that that was a mistake, so we undo the change.

All of these are possible because of TFS. These are only source code tracking, TFS do much more better than this.

So what can do to improve development process?

1- Activate policies; TFS users must check-in files with linking an WorkItem.

2- Use TFS Reports and email them to all your developer team to show "what is the current state?"

3- Customize WI templates if you need.

4- Try to apply CMMI or TickIT certificate to improve your proccess. (TFS allways help you for the certificate requirements :) )

5- Use branches if you need. With 2010 branch mechanisism became better.