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See how a work item got to where it is
For project managers who want a clear timeline of an Azure DevOps work item, just by asking their AI assistant.
On this page
Connector
Connect Azure DevOps, pick your AI tool and paste the prompt.
The problem
How a work item got here is buried in its history
Working out how a work item reached its current state means paging through its revisions and comments. Reopenings and long idle gaps are buried in the history.
Without PopdockAI
- Page through every revision
- Read the comments in between
- Note reopenings and gaps by hand
- Give up if the item was deleted
With PopdockAI
- Revisions and comments are read, with deleted items checked if needed
- A dated timeline is built
- Reopenings and idle gaps are flagged
- It claims no field changes it cannot see, and changes nothing
The prompt
Use this prompt
Copy it into any AI tool connected to PopdockAI. Swap the values in braces for your own.
**Objective:** Explain the history of work item `{work-item-id}`: who changed what and when, and why it is in its current state.
**Step 1: Load the item**
Call `azure-devops-get-work-item` with id `{work-item-id}`. Note type, title, state, assigned-to, area-path and iteration-path.
**Step 2: Load history**
Call `azure-devops-get-work-item-revision` with work-item-id `{work-item-id}` and `azure-devops-get-work-item-comment` with work-item-id `{work-item-id}`. Merge them in time order.
**Step 3: Report**
A short summary paragraph, then a dated timeline of state changes, reassignments and comments (changed-by or created-by, what changed), and flags for reopenings, long idle gaps and repeated reassignment.
**Rules & Guidelines:**
* This prompt is read-only. Call only the `azure-devops-get-*` read tools named above; never create, update, comment on, approve, queue, abort or delete anything in Azure DevOps.
* The tools only return data the connected account can see; never infer data from projects outside that access.
* Quote comment text only where it explains a decision.
* Revision rows show state and owner, not field-level diffs; do not claim more.
**Validation:**
* If the id is not found, call `azure-devops-get-work-item-deleted` with id `{work-item-id}` and say if it was deleted and by whom.
Who it's for
One answer, three teams that use it
Project managers
Understand why work stalled
Idle gaps and reopenings are flagged, so you can see where the item got stuck.
Show the history of work item 5530 and flag idle gaps.
Developers
Pick up an item with context
A dated timeline tells you what happened before it reached you.
What happened to Azure DevOps work item 6107 before it was assigned to me?
Quality leads
Review items that keep reopening
Reopenings are flagged, so repeat problems are visible in a retrospective.
How many times has work item 4972 been reopened, and when?
How it works
What PopdockAI does when you ask
You give a work item id and your AI assistant lays out its history in order. It only reads.
01
Ask
You give the work item id.
02
Read
It reads the revisions and comments, and checks deleted items if needed.
03
Order
It builds a dated timeline of what changed.
04
Report
You get the timeline with reopenings and idle gaps flagged.
What PopdockAI provides
The tools behind the answer
Ready made tools for Azure DevOps and one secure connection to your AI tool. No code, no exports.
azure-devops-get-work-item
azure-devops-get-work-item-revision
azure-devops-get-work-item-comment
azure-devops-get-work-item-deleted
This report is built from Get data tools only. PopdockAI applies the row, field and parameter rules your admin sets, and every query is written to the audit trail.
The outcome
A work item's history in one timeline
Related use cases
More ways to put this data to work
One prompt template with infinite possibilities.
Your AI assistant adapts its approach, tone, and capabilities to match each unique context while you maintain a single, manageable workflow.
Join forward-thinking companies that are transforming their operations with intelligent, secure AI automation.

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