Azure DevOps sync setup guide
Azure DevOps is a Microsoft-owned suite of development tools and services you can use to create a Git-based source code repository.
You can use the Tokens Studio plugin native integration with Azure DevOps (ADO) to sync your Design Tokens to a repository of your choice.
We support two-way sync, meaning you can use the plugin to:
Push JSON files of Design Tokens to ADO
Pull the Tokens stored in ADO into any Figma file
This means the Design Tokens living in code are the source of truth for our design decisions, which can be shared between design and development teams.
This doc outlines how to set up an ADO repository and add it as a Sync provider in the plugin.
→Once set up, you can use the plugin's Push and Pull features to keep your Tokens in sync #add-doc-link/sync-push-pull
How it works
Set up a project, repository and personal access token in Azure DevOps
Configure Azure DevOps as a sync provider within the Tokens Studio plugin.
Use the plugin to sync your Design Tokens between Azure DevOps and Figma design files.

Azure DevOps setup instructions
If you haven't already, sign up for an Azure DevOps account at Azure DevOps.
1. Record your ADO Organization URL
Once you've logged in to your Azure DevOps (ADO) account, navigate to the new project page.
Record your ADO Organization URL
From the home page of ADO, copy the URL in your web browser window.
Record the URL of somewhere safe, as it's needed for the plugin configuration.

2. Create your project and record its name
Create a new project dedicated to storing and managing your Design Tokens.
Choose a descriptive name for your project that is specific to its purpose and is memorable.
Save the Project Name somewhere safe, as it's needed for plugin configuration.
Project description is optional
Select if you want your project to be:
Public
anyone can see itPrivate
needs permission to viewYour choice doesn't change the plugin's ability to sync with the repository
Select Create
You are now looking at your new project. Well done!

3. Configure your repo
A repo is automatically created in your new project with the same name.
Now you'll need to add a README
file to your repo as the plugin isn't able to sync to an empty repository.
From the left side navigation, select the Files option (under Repos)
Scroll to the section called Initialize main branch with a README or gitignore.
Ensure
Add a README
is enabled.Select Initialize to confirm

4. Record your repository name
Now you can navigate to your Repo using the left side navigation.
You should see a README file has been added in the repository
The repo was given a name that matches the project by default, you can change it to something else if you'd like.
Save a copy of the Repo name as you need it to configure the plugin later.

5. Generate a personal access token
Not to be confused with anything to do with Design Tokens, a personal access token is a passcode from Azure DevOps you enter into the plugin that allows the connection to happen.
Navigate to your Azure DevOps user settings.
Locate the Personal Access Tokens section and
Select new token.
Add a Name of what the token is for.
Example:
test-token repo sync to tokens studio
Select the Organization you recorded from above.
Select an Expiration time frame
Select the necessary scopes for this token to authorize:
full access
orcustom defined
is a choice made by you and your team
Scroll down to the bottom and select Create token
Save the generated access token somewhere safe as it's needed for the plugin configuration.
You're ready to configure the Tokens Studio plugin in Figma!

Plugin settings for Azure DevOps
In Figma, open the Tokens Studio plugin and navigate to the Settings page.
Under the Sync Providers section, select the Add New button to see a list of all Token storage providers
add Azure DevOps as a sync provider.

Add credentials for Azure DevOps
Some of the inputs on the form come from the Azure DevOps steps above, others aren't so obvious as to where the info comes from.

1. Organization URL
The URL of your Azure DevOps organization you saved in step 1 above.
Example https://dev.azure.com/my_organization_name
2. Project Name
The Project name you saved from the step 2 above.
Each ADO project could have many repositories, and you could have the same named repository in many ADO projects, so this credential helps the plugin point the Tokens to the correct location.
Example:
TokensTesting
3. Personal Access Token
The Personal access token you saved from the step 5 above.
4. Repository name
The name of the repository you recorded in step 4 above that matches the personal access token you entered
Example: test-tokens
5. Branch
Your engineers might tell you what to add as the default repository branch where you will be pushing your Tokens, so if you aren't sure, ask them. You can create additional branches using the plugin later as needed.
Example: main
6. Token storage location (file/folder path)
This tells the plugin:
How to organize your Token JSON files in ADO.
In a folder of multiple files, or a single file.
The location of where your Token data is stored.
The file or folder's pathway (or name) to sync with.
This setting impacts
How engineers can work with our Token files during the Token transformation stage of the design-to-development process.
May limit edit access of Tokens for other team members using the Tokens Studio plugin.

Folder
The folder option syncs Token data from the plugin into a folder that contains multiple JSON files or subfolders of JSON files.
Multi-file Sync to Remote Storage (pro)The Multi-file sync to remote storage feature requires a Pro Licence for Tokens Studio. Read the guide for more details.
In the plugin, enter the pathway of the folder where you want the Token data to be stored, which is the folder name without any extensions.
For example:
tokens
Our Gitlab repository will have a folder called tokens
synced to the Tokens Studio plugin in Figma.
Each Token Set created in the plugin is added to the folder as an individual JSON file.
Additional data files generated by the plugin are also added to the folder.
For example,
themes
configuration.
Recall that storing your Token data in a folder (multi-file sync) is a pro feature.
If other team members are working with your Tokens and do not have a Pro Licence for Tokens Studio, your Tokens will be read-only for them.
File Path
Setting our Token storage as the file option syncs our Token data from the plugin into a single JSON file in code.
Combining Token data into a single file limits engineers' ability to work with Theme information when transforming Design Tokens.
→ Learn about the Themes (pro) feature in Tokens Studio here. #add-doc-link/themes-pro
File storage might work for you if:
You are using the free version of Tokens Studio.
Engineers are not using your Design Tokens in code.
In the plugin, we enter the pathway of the JSON file where we want our Token sets to be stored, which is the file name with the .json
extension.
For example:
tokens.json
Our Gitlab repository will have a single code file called tokens.json
synced to the Tokens Studio plugin in Figma.
Each Token Set created in the plugin is combined into this single file in our repository.
Save and do the initial sync
Once you Save your credentials, the plugin will compare your Tokens with what's in your repository.
You'll see a modal asking you to push or pull to ADO to 'sync' the plugin data with your repository.
→ Read the Add New Sync Provider guide for more details.
Manage Sync ProvidersShared source of truth
As you work in the plugin, push and pull indicators remind you to stay in sync with your Azure DevOps repository.
Read the Sync Changes guide for more details
Sync Changes to Remote Storage - Push and PullOnce your Token JSON files are synced to your ADO repo, you have a shared source of truth between Designers and Engineers!
The various Token Types supported by Tokens Studio have unique transforms to be aware of.
Token TypesResources
Mentioned in this doc:
Azure Dev Ops - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/devops/
SD-Transforms - Read Me
Style Dictionary - https://styledictionary.com/
Community resources:
None yet!
💡 Something to share? Submit it here!
Known issues and bugs
Tokens Studio Plugin GitHub - Open issues for Sync ADO
🐞 If you are experiencing an issue not listed here, please reach out to us on the Troubleshooting channel of our community Slack, submit it on our feedback tool, or send us an email [email protected]
Requests, roadmap and changelog
🧑💻 Sync to external token storage enhancements - Feature Request
How might we improve the experience of working with sync providers in general?
💌 Visit https://feedback.tokens.studio/ to contribute or subscribe to updates.

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