diff --git a/devops.py b/devops.py
index ae27e1b..7de8a74 100644
--- a/devops.py
+++ b/devops.py
@@ -6,26 +6,49 @@ DEVOPS_SCOPE = "https://app.vssps.visualstudio.com/.default"
 DEVOPS_API_VERSION = "7.1"
 
 # Define a class decorator
-def auto_properties(names=None):
-    names = names or []
+def auto_properties(mapping: dict[str,str] | None = None):
 
-    def make_property(name):
+    def make_property(name: str):
         private_var = f"_{name}"
 
         def getter(self):
-            i = getattr(self, private_var)
-            if i is not None:
-                return i
-            # Fetch repository details from the API
+            try:
+                i = getattr(self, private_var)
+                if i is not None:
+                    return i
+            except AttributeError:
+                pass
+
+            # Fetch repository details from the API if it is set to None or not existing
             self._get(getattr(self, "_id"))
             return getattr(self, private_var)
 
-        return property(getter)
+        return property(fget=getter)
+
+    def set_auto_properties(self, **kwargs):
+        allowed = set(self.__class__.__auto_properties__)
+        unknown = [k for k in kwargs if k not in allowed]
+        if unknown:
+            raise ValueError(f"Unknown properties for {self.__class__.__name__}: {', '.join(unknown)}")
+        for k, v in kwargs.items():
+            setattr(self, f"_{k}", v)
+        return self
+
+    def from_json(self, json_data: dict):
+        for name in self.__class__.__auto_properties__:
+            setattr(self, f"_{name}", json_data.get(self.__class__.__auto_properties__[name], None))
+        return self
 
     def decorator(cls):
-        cls.__auto_properties__ = names
-        for name in names:
+        cls.__auto_properties__ = mapping # Make a copy of the mapping
+
+        # Create properties dynamically
+        for name in mapping:
             setattr(cls, name, make_property(name))
+
+        setattr(cls, "set_auto_properties", set_auto_properties)
+        setattr(cls, "from_json", from_json)
+
         return cls
     return decorator