Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0

Great news! Earlier today, we announced Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0, a process template built from the ground up specifically for Scrum teams. From MSDN:

Your team can practice Scrum more easily by using the artifacts in Visual Studio Scrum 1.0. Each artifact serves a specific function and provides opportunities to refine your processes over time. These artifacts include work items, reports, and team queries, and your team can use them to track information, analyze progress, and make decisions.

This process template was first announced at Microsoft TechEd 2010 in New Orleans earlier this summer and was recently updated to incorporate a number of new capabilities. You can read Brian Harry’s blog post to read more about its motivation. For the v1.0 release, Aaron Bjork provides a good summary of what to expect in this release on his blog. Of the questions listed, I found this one particularly interesting:

Q: Did Microsoft work with Agile thought leaders when building this template?
Absolutely. We worked closely with a group of Scrum experts and trainers teaching the new Professional Scrum Developer Program including Ken Schwaber from https://www.scrum.org/. It was very important to us that this template be recognized by the community (you) as a great option for Scrum teams. The Professional Scrum Developer Program is taught with Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0.

A Quick Installation Walkthrough

First, download and install Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 from the Visual Studio Gallery. It’s a (small) 483KB MSI package that will provide you with the files required for both the Process Template Manager (to install the Scrum process template) and your project portal (for the Scrum reports). As an alternative, you can download Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 via the Extension Manager of Visual Studio 2010 (listed under Online Gallery → Tools → Process Templates):

Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 in the Extension Manager of Visual Studio 2010

Next, launch the Process Template Explorer in Visual Studio 2010 (Team → Team Project Collection Settings → Process Template Manager... ):

Process Template Manager

Click the Upload button and select the folder where the Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 process template is installed (i.e. C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0\Process Template). Once installed, the Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 should be listed in the Process Template Manager as follows:

Process Template Manager with Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 Installed

For projects based on this template, you should see the following structure listed in Team Explorer in Visual Studio 2010:

Team Explorer Structure with Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 Process Template Installed

As you can see in the image of the Team Explorer window (listed above), artifacts (like work items) are defined in accordance to the Scrum literature. You can create bugs, an impediment, sprints, and many other artifacts, all from within the Team Explorer window. It’s pretty awesome; almost as awesome as a hot dog vending machine.

By the way, if you’re looking for move the data of an existing project into a new project built from Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0, you should check out the TFS Integration Platform project on CodePlex.

New Reports with Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0

Here are a few screenshots of some of the new reports available in Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0:

Velocity Report in Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0

If your team has completed multiple sprints, you can forecast release and product completion dates and plan future projects more accurately by reviewing the velocity report.

Sprint Burndown Report in Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0

By reviewing a sprint burndown report, you can track how much work remains in a sprint backlog, understand how quickly your team has completed tasks, and predict when your team will achieve the goal or goals of the sprint.

Release Burndown Report in Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0

By reviewing a release burndown report, you can understand how quickly your team has delivered backlog items and track how much work the team must still perform to complete a product release.

In addition to these three reports (above), we’ve also included four new reports to the template that focus on engineering metrics:

• Build Summary
• Builds Success Over Time
• Test Case Readiness
• Test Plan Progress

These reports are included in the MSI package and take about five minutes to install. There’s a Scrum SharePoint solution package that’s included (Microsoft.TeamFoundation.SharePoint.Scrum.wsp) and requires deployment to your SharePoint server.

Looking for more information? Check out a detailed overview of Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 on MSDN. Also, if you're looking to learn more about Scrum, I'd recommend checking out the https://scrum.org/. From the site: Scrum.org's purpose is to improve the profession of software development so that developers love their work and our customers love working with developers.

Related Links

• Announcing Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 by Aaron Bjork
• Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0
• TFS Integration Platform
• Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 (MSDN)
• Process Templates and Tools (MSDN)
• Scrum.org

Comments

• Anonymous
  July 20, 2010
  The Process Template installed OK, but when I tried to install the SharePoint Solutions packages I got the following error after running STSADM with the 'addsolution' and 'filename' options as noted in step #3 of the Readme.txt file: Object reference not set to an instance of an object. Microsoft.TeamFoundation.SharePoint.Scrum.wsp: The Solution installation failed. We are running TFS 2010 in a dual server configuration. The App. Server is running MOSS 2007. Please let me know if I can provide additional details to help troubleshoot this issue. Thanks, Dave Burnison

• Anonymous
  July 20, 2010
  @Dave: Please email me (john.bristowe@microsoft.com) the SharePoint log file which contains entries around the time you tried the 'addsolution' request. Thanks!

• Anonymous
  July 20, 2010
  Is there a straightforward way to upgrade a beta install to the v1 version, without losing all my data?

• Anonymous
  July 29, 2010
  Hi John, I downloaded and in stalled the template. But, when I try to upload the template into VS 2010 Ultimate I am getting an error. Thanks, Allan Ferreira

• Anonymous
  July 29, 2010
  @Josh:  Dononvan Brown just blogged about this... www.donovanbrown.com/.../How-to-upgrade-from-beta-1-to-v1-of-Microsoft-Visual-Studio-Scrum.aspx. You can also use the TFS Integration Platform (tfsintegration.codeplex.com).  The dates on work items area reset, but it's a step in the right direction.

• Anonymous
  July 29, 2010
  @Allan - what kind of error are you getting?  Can you send me the details so our team can investigate? Thanks. Aaron Bjork aaronbjork@hotmail.com

• Anonymous
  August 02, 2010
  Hi John/Aaron, I get the foll. exception upon uploading template to TFS... 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 31 | Starting process template validation 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | The user identity information was retrieved from the Group Security Service | Completion time: 0.0156 seconds 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 31 | Process template XML loaded 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 31 | Starting process template validation 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | Running Task "UploadStructure" from Group "Classification" 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Task "UploadStructure" from Group "Classification" completed with success | Completion time: 0 seconds 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 32 | Running Task "" from Group "" 2010-08-02T15:25:17 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | Running Task "GroupCreation1" from Group "Groups" ---begin Exception entry--- Time: 2010-08-02T15:25:18 Module: Engine Event Description: TF30162: Task "GroupCreation1" from Group "Groups" failed Exception Type: Microsoft.TeamFoundation.Client.PcwException Exception Message: TF218018: The XML in the process template is malformed. A problem exists with the following permission class: PROJECT. The permission class does not support the specified permission: VIEW_TEST_RESULTS. Contact the provider of the template and obtain a corrected XML file. Use the Process Template Manager to upload the new template file to  Team Foundation Server and then try the operation again. Stack Trace:   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.GssStructureCreator.ValidateGroupsAndPermissions(ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNodeList groupXmlNodeList)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.GssStructureCreator.Validate(ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNode taskXml)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.ProjectCreationEngine.TaskValidator.PerformTask(IProjectComponentCreator componentCreator, ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNode taskXml)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.ProjectCreationEngine.RunTask(Object taskObj) --- end Exception entry --- 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "LinkTypes" from Group "WorkItemTracking" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "WITs" from Group "WorkItemTracking" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "Queries" from Group "WorkItemTracking" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "Categories" from Group "WorkItemTracking" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "WIs" from Group "WorkItemTracking" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "VersionControlTask" from Group "VersionControl" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "BuildTask" from Group "Build" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "LabTask" from Group "Lab" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "TestVariable" from Group "TestManagement" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "TestConfiguration" from Group "TestManagement" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "TestSettings" from Group "TestManagement" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "TestResolutionState" from Group "TestManagement" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "Site" from Group "Reporting" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "Populate Reports" from Group "Reporting" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "SharePointPortal" from Group "Portal" will not be run because a prior task failed. 2010-08-02T15:25:18 | Module: Engine | Thread: 25 | TF30202: Task "" from Group "" will not be run because a prior task failed. ---begin Exception entry--- Time: 2010-08-02T15:25:18 Module: Template Importer Exception Message: TF30175: Process template validation failed (type ValidationFailedException) Exception Stack Trace:    at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.EngineStarter.ValidateTemplate(DirectoryInfo templateDirectory)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.TemplateManagementService.ValidateMethodology(String folderPath, ILogHandler logHandler)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.TemplateManagementService.Import(String folderPath, ILogHandler logHandler) Inner Exception Details: Exception Message: TF30162: Task "GroupCreation1" from Group "Groups" failed (type TaskFailedException) Exception Stack Trace:    at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.ProjectCreationEngine.PerformAllTasks(ITaskPerformer taskPerformer, ProjectCreationContext creationContext, List`1 projectTasks)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.EngineStarter.RunEngine(Boolean isValidationRun, String templateFolder)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.EngineStarter.ValidateTemplate(DirectoryInfo templateDirectory) Inner Exception Details: Exception Message: TF218018: The XML in the process template is malformed. A problem exists with the following permission class: PROJECT. The permission class does not support the specified permission: VIEW_TEST_RESULTS. Contact the provider of the template and obtain a corrected XML file. Use the Process Template Manager to upload the new template file to  Team Foundation Server and then try the operation again. (type PcwException) Exception Stack Trace:    at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.GssStructureCreator.ValidateGroupsAndPermissions(ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNodeList groupXmlNodeList)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.GssStructureCreator.Validate(ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNode taskXml)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.ProjectCreationEngine.TaskValidator.PerformTask(IProjectComponentCreator componentCreator, ProjectCreationContext context, XmlNode taskXml)   at Microsoft.VisualStudio.TeamFoundation.ProjectCreationEngine.RunTask(Object taskObj) --- end Exception entry --- Vimal

• Anonymous
  August 03, 2010
  Any solution to this error. I get the exact same error that Allan has uploaded

• Anonymous
  August 09, 2010
  @VSubra - this error occurs when you try to upload the template to a 2008 server. The Scrum template has features in it that are only supported on TFS 2010 servers.

• Anonymous
  August 20, 2010
  Hi,   I put up a blog from start to finish with screenshots on how to download the template, Install the template, Upload to TFS and create the Project Teams. The Link to the blog is kishore1021.wordpress.com/.../scrum-process-for-software-development-using-microsoft-visual-studio-scrum-1-0-process-template . I Hope it helps the start ups. Thanks, Kishore Babu.

• Anonymous
  November 05, 2010
  Since this is the site that is linked to from the Visual Studio Gallery, it would be nice if there was at least a cursory level instruction to install the SharePoint portal. It would be even better if there was a full description (or a link to one) on how to install the Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum SharePoint portal.

• Anonymous
  February 04, 2011
  The comment has been removed

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2011
  Hi, I can't find Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 in the Extension Manager of Visual Studio 2010. The message reported by my search is "No matches found". I installed Microsoft Visual Scrum 1.0 as you commented, but I still can't find it.

• Anonymous
  February 09, 2011
  @Gabriela Miranda: AFAIK, permissions are NOT affected by Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0. Are you able to successfully connect to your TFS instance via Team Explorer? @Suhaily Ocando: Make sure to select "Online Gallery" to search the Visual Studio Gallery, prior to submitting your search query. It's there. I just checked. :)

• Anonymous
  February 11, 2011
  @John Bristowe: thanks for answer and responding to your question, yes im able to connect to my TFS via Team Explorer before install Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 but after the installation I can´t do it, actually I had to restore the system to a point before the Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 was installed otherwise I can´t connect in the Team Explorer even if it was unistalled. Gracias :)

• Anonymous
  February 14, 2011
  Hi John, answering to your question: before install Microsoft Visual Studio Scrum 1.0 im able to connect to the TFS via team explorer but just after install it I can´t access :( thanks, greetings

• Anonymous
  July 13, 2011
  Thanks..uploaded successfully.

• Anonymous
  November 28, 2015
  I cannot able to Upload the the New Process Template-scrum1.0. the Buttons -Uplaod,Download,Make default and Delete are showing disabled.