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Asked: 2026-05-10T22:52:58+00:00

Assume your .NET-based development team is already using the following set of tools in

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Assume your .NET-based development team is already using the following set of tools in its processes:

  • Subversion / TortoiseSVN / VisualSVN (source control)
  • NUnit (unit testing)
  • An open source Wiki
  • A proprietary bug-tracking system that is paid for

You are happy with Subversion and NUnit, but dislike the Wiki and bug-tracking system. You also would like to add some lightweight project-management software (like Fogbugz/Trac) – it does not have to be free, but obviously cheaper is better.

Can you make a compelling argument for adopting VSTS, either to add missing features and replace disliked software or to handle everything (including the source control)? Is the integration of all these features greater than the sum of the parts, or would it simply be better to acquire and replace the parts that you either do not like or do not have?

I remember looking into VSTS a few years ago and thought it was terribly expensive and not really better than many of the free options, but I assume Microsoft has continued to work on it?

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  1. VSTS is great, if you do everything in it. Unfortunately the price has not become better over the years. 🙁 The CAL’s are still ludicrously expensive. The only improvement is that if a person uses only the work item system, and works only with his/her own work items (no peeking at other person’s work items!) then there is no need for a CAL. This makes it a bit easier to use it as an external bugreport system. Still it leaves a lot to be desired in this area.

    There is one way to alleviate the cost – become Microsoft Certified Partner. If you are a simple partner, you get 5 VS/TFS licenses for free; if you are a Gold Certifiend Partner, you get 25 (if memory fails me not). That should be enough for most companies. But getting the Gold status might be tricky, depending on what you do.

    If you only dislike those two parts, then perhaps it’s better just to find a replacement for them instead for everything? There are many wiki systems out there, some should be to your liking. The same goes for bugtracking too.

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