VSTS Build

My VSTS account url: https://myfstvsts.visualstudio.com/_admin/_AgentPool?_a=agents&poolId=1 To build your code or deploy your software you need at least one agent. As you add more code and people, you'll eventually need more. When your build or deployment runs, the system begins one or more jobs. An agent is install-able software that runs one build or deployment job at a time. In TFS, the build system consists of two main constructs: the Build controller and the Build agents. The Controller's job is to queue build requests and send them to the "most available" build agent. The Agent's job is to perform the actual build. This setup allows you to easy grow into a "Build Farm", which the controller is dispatching to any number of agents, allowing your build platform to scale without being redesigned. The phrase "build server" or "build machine" simply indicates a server on which the build controller, the build agent(S), or both run. In a smaller shop, you'd probably only have one build machine and it's likely that box would also be doing some other actions. The MSDN info is pretty good on this, as are any # of blogs. MSDN: Build Machines http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms181712.aspx MSDN Build Controllers http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee330987.aspx MSDN Build Agents http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb399135.aspx