Create child work items in Azure DevOps—
automatically.
Set up rules once in Project Settings. Then, from any User Story, Bug, or Epic in Azure Boards, create linked child tasks in one click—with titles and assignments copied from the parent.
The problem
Manual work item creation slows every sprint.
Every new User Story or Bug means recreating the same tasks: Dev, QA, review. You create them by hand, name them inconsistently, and sometimes forget a few.
Automatic Children is an Azure DevOps extension that creates those child work items for you from rules you set once—same structure every time.
Without
With Automatic Children
How it works
Three steps to automated child work items.
01
Configure your rules
In Azure DevOps, go to Project Settings → Automatic Children. Add rule based on work item type, and which child types to create.
{{System.Title}} · {{System.AssignedTo}}02
Open any matching work item
Open any work item in Azure Boards and choose ⋯ → Automatic Child Items. A side panel shows which rules match and warns if similar children already exist.
03
Create in one click
Review the list, uncheck any you don't want, and click Create items. New child work items are created, linked to the parent, with fields filled from your rules.
Features
Built for real teams,
at real scale.
From simple task templates to multi-level work item cascades, the extension is built for real Azure DevOps teams and process complexity.
Rules Engine
Trigger on work item type, state, or any field. Use conditions (equals, contains, is empty) and AND/OR groups so only the right items get child tasks.
Conditions + operatorsCascades
Run one rule on the parent, then more rules on the new children. E.g. Epic → Features → Stories → Tasks in a single flow.
Multi-level hierarchyField Placeholders
Copy parent values into children with placeholders like {{System.Title}} and {{System.AssignedTo}} so new tasks inherit the right title and assignee.
Dynamic field mappingPreview & Duplicate Detection
Before creating, the side panel shows exactly which child work items will be created. It also warns when similar items already exist so you avoid duplicates.
Side panel previewExport / Import
Backup and share configurations as JSON with conflict validation on import.
JSON-based portabilityNative to Azure DevOps
No external servers or APIs. Everything runs and is stored inside Azure DevOps (project-scoped), so security and compliance stay in your tenant.
Zero extra infraPricing
Free trial, then
simple per-project pricing.
Free trial never expires and no credit card required. Every plan includes unlimited rule runs—pay only for how many projects you license.
| Plan | Price | Licensed Projects | Rules per Project | Rule Execution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trial | Free | All projects (limited) | 3 general + 3 cascading | Unlimited |
| Starter | $99 / mo | 1 project | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Team | $149 / mo | Up to 3 projects | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Business | $249 / mo | Up to 10 projects | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Enterprise | $499 / mo | Unlimited projects | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Azure DevOps integration
Built into Azure DevOps
where your team already works.
No new app to open. Rules live in Project Settings and Organization Settings; you create children from the work item ⋯ menu and side panel—all inside Azure DevOps.
Project Settings
Configure rules, cascades, export/import, and field metadata in a dedicated tab.
Organization Settings
Manage subscription plans, assign licensed projects, and access billing tools.
Work Item Context Menu
Trigger child creation from the ... menu on any work item with side panel preview.
Work item context menu
Preview
Review the child items that will be created
Stop creating the
same child tasks by hand.
Add Automatic Children from the Azure DevOps Marketplace (Visual Studio Marketplace). Free trial, no credit card—see how many hours you save.