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+# CI Templates
+
+This folder contains azure pipeline yml templates for "Core" and "Platform" Continuous Integration and PR validation.
+
+## Common CI templates
+
+### basetools-build-steps.yml
+
+This template compiles the Edk2 basetools from source.  The steps in this template are
+conditional and will only run if variable `pkg_count` is greater than 0.
+
+It also has two conditional steps only used when the toolchain contains GCC. These two steps
+use `apt` to update the system packages and add those necessary for Edk2 builds.
+
+## Core CI templates
+
+### pr-gate-build-job.yml
+
+This templates contains the jobs and most importantly the matrix of which packages and
+targets to run for Core CI.
+
+### pr-gate-steps.yml
+
+This template is the main Core CI template.  It controls all the steps run and is responsible for most functionality of the Core CI process.  This template sets
+the `pkg_count` variable using the `stuart_pr_eval` tool when the
+build type is "pull request"
+
+### spell-check-prereq-steps.yml
+
+This template installs the node based tools used by the spell checker plugin. The steps
+in this template are conditional and will only run if variable `pkg_count` is greater than 0.
+
+## Platform CI templates
+
+### platform-build-run-steps.yml
+
+This template makes heavy use of pytools to build and run a platform in the Edk2 repo
+
+Also uses basetools-build-steps.yml to compile basetools
+
+#### Special Notes
+
+* For a build type of pull request it will conditionally build if the patches change files that impact the platform.
+  * uses `stuart_pr_eval` to determine impact
+* For manual builds or CI builds it will always build the platform
+* It compiles basetools from source
+* Will use `stuart_build --FlashOnly` to attempt to run the built image if the `Run` parameter is set.
+* See the parameters block for expected configuration options
+* Parameter `extra_install_step` allows the caller to insert extra steps.  This is useful if additional dependencies, tools, or other things need to be installed.  Here is an example of installing qemu on Windows.
+
+    ``` yaml
+    steps:
+    - template: ../../.azurepipelines/templates/build-run-steps.yml
+      parameters:
+        extra_install_step:
+        - powershell: choco install qemu; Write-Host "##vso[task.prependpath]c:\Program Files\qemu"
+          displayName: Install QEMU and Set QEMU on path # friendly name displayed in the UI
+          condition: and(gt(variables.pkg_count, 0), succeeded())
+    ```