Read the first part of the series here.
Team Foundation Build Server
How quick and easy it to get started?
Team Foundation Build Server has standard windows setup for build server. The installation needs administrative access and Team Foundation Server as a primary source control system. Configuration is done by build configuration wizard in Visual Studio. Configuration is starlight forward. Overall it the installation is quick and easy but tightly coupled with Microsoft Team Foundation Server and Visual studio.
Which source control system can be integrated out of the box?
| Source Control Name | Team Foundation Build Server |
| AccuRev | No |
| Alienbrain | No |
| BitKeeper | No |
| CA Software Change Manager | No |
| ClearCase | No |
| CMVC | No |
| CVS | No |
| Darcs | No |
| Dimensions | No |
| Git | Yes |
| GNU arch | No |
| GNU Bazaar | No |
| Integrity | No |
| Mercurial | No |
| Perforce | No |
| Plastic | No |
| PVCS | No |
| Sourceanywhere | No |
| StarTeam | No |
| Subversion | No |
| Surround | No |
| Synergy | No |
| Team Concert | No |
| Team Foundation Server | Yes |
| Vault | No |
| Visual SourceSafe | No |
| Others |
What about Test coverage?
Team Foundation Build Server has feature for configuring with Automatic Tests. Configurations are dependent on MS Build and command line. Hence we have to be proficient with command line tools and MS Build XML configuration.
What is the medium of build result notification?
The standard notification is email in Team Foundation Build Server. We can also add distribution list as an email for each pass and failed results. It also provides SOAP notifications.
How easy can we find help to troubleshoot?
Team Foundation Build Server is a proprietary system of Microsoft. It has product specification documentation. The entire feature present in it is well documented.
Summary on few other categories:
| Category | Team Foundation Build Server |
| Platform | Windows, VSTM |
| License | Proprietary |
| Windows Builder | MSBuild |
| Other builders | Custom script, Command line |
| Notification | E-Mail, SOAP |
| IDE Integration | Visual Studio, Eclipse |
| Other Integration | Unknown |
Read about Team City here.
Vikram Shetty 
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