- A
Configure shallow clone (depth=1) for all operations and disable CI triggers on feature branches.
Why wrong: Shallow clone saves history but still downloads all files; disabling CI on feature branches may cause integration issues.
- B
Break the monorepo into multiple smaller repositories and use Git submodules to manage dependencies.
Why wrong: Splitting the repo is against the requirement; submodules add overhead and complexity.
- C
Implement Git Virtual File System (GVFS) for the repository and use CI triggers only on the main branch.
Why wrong: GVFS is not supported in Azure Repos; also, restricting CI to main branch reduces feedback.
- D
Use Git sparse checkout to clone only the folders needed for each microservice, and configure path-based CI triggers to run only when files in specific directories change.
Sparse checkout reduces download size, and path-based triggers reduce unnecessary CI runs.
AZ-400 Design and implement source control Practice Question
This AZ-400 practice question tests your understanding of design and implement source control. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Your team manages a large monorepo in Azure Repos containing multiple microservices. The repository has grown to over 10,000 files and 500 MB. Developers report that cloning and fetching operations are slow, often taking more than 10 minutes. Additionally, the CI pipeline triggers on every push to any branch, causing long queue times. You need to improve the developer experience and CI efficiency without splitting the repository. What should you do?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
Use Git sparse checkout to clone only the folders needed for each microservice, and configure path-based CI triggers to run only when files in specific directories change.
Option D is correct because Git sparse checkout allows developers to clone only the specific directories they need for their microservice, reducing the amount of data transferred and stored locally, which directly addresses the slow clone/fetch issue. Additionally, path-based CI triggers in Azure Pipelines ensure that the CI pipeline only runs when files in the relevant directories change, reducing unnecessary builds and queue times. This approach improves both developer experience and CI efficiency without splitting the monorepo.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
Configure shallow clone (depth=1) for all operations and disable CI triggers on feature branches.
Why it's wrong here
Shallow clone saves history but still downloads all files; disabling CI on feature branches may cause integration issues.
- ✗
Break the monorepo into multiple smaller repositories and use Git submodules to manage dependencies.
Why it's wrong here
Splitting the repo is against the requirement; submodules add overhead and complexity.
- ✗
Implement Git Virtual File System (GVFS) for the repository and use CI triggers only on the main branch.
Why it's wrong here
GVFS is not supported in Azure Repos; also, restricting CI to main branch reduces feedback.
- ✓
Use Git sparse checkout to clone only the folders needed for each microservice, and configure path-based CI triggers to run only when files in specific directories change.
Why this is correct
Sparse checkout reduces download size, and path-based triggers reduce unnecessary CI runs.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
The trap here is that candidates may confuse sparse checkout with shallow clone or GVFS, or incorrectly assume that disabling CI triggers on feature branches is acceptable, when the real goal is to optimize both cloning and CI triggering without breaking the monorepo structure.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
Git sparse checkout works by setting `core.sparseCheckout` to true and defining patterns in `.git/info/sparse-checkout` to limit which files are checked out from the working tree, while still fetching all object data from the remote. However, to truly reduce clone time, it should be combined with `--depth=1` or `--filter=blob:none` (partial clone) to avoid downloading all historical blobs. Path-based CI triggers in Azure Pipelines use the `paths` property in YAML to specify include/exclude patterns, which are evaluated against the changed files in each push, ensuring only relevant pipelines are queued.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
TExam Day Tips
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A cloud solutions architect for a retail company is evaluating services for a new workload. The correct answer here reflects best practice for the specific scenario described — not a general cloud recommendation. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Cloud exam questions reward reading the constraint carefully: the same technology can be right or wrong depending on the use case.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this AZ-400 question test?
Design and implement source control — This question tests Design and implement source control — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Use Git sparse checkout to clone only the folders needed for each microservice, and configure path-based CI triggers to run only when files in specific directories change. — Option D is correct because Git sparse checkout allows developers to clone only the specific directories they need for their microservice, reducing the amount of data transferred and stored locally, which directly addresses the slow clone/fetch issue. Additionally, path-based CI triggers in Azure Pipelines ensure that the CI pipeline only runs when files in the relevant directories change, reducing unnecessary builds and queue times. This approach improves both developer experience and CI efficiency without splitting the monorepo.
What should I do if I get this AZ-400 question wrong?
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 11, 2026
This AZ-400 practice question is part of Courseiva's free Microsoft certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the AZ-400 exam.
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