{
  "markdown": "# Azure Skills Plugin\n\nAzure work is not just a code problem. It is a decision problem: which service fits this app, what needs to be validated before deployment, which tools should run, and what guardrails matter. The Azure Skills Plugin packages Azure expertise and MCP-backed execution together so compatible coding agents can do real Azure work instead of giving generic cloud advice.\n\n**[Explore the Azure Skills site](https://microsoft.github.io/azure-skills/)**\n**[Landing page maintenance guide](landing-page/README.md)**\n\n**[Install the plugin](#install-in-60-seconds)**\n\r\n## One install, three layers of capability\r\n\r\n### Azure skills: the brain\r\n\r\nThis plugin ships **curated Azure skills** that teach an agent how Azure work gets done. They provide workflows, decision trees, and guardrails for scenarios such as:\n\r\n- **Build, deploy, and evolve** with `azure-prepare`, `azure-validate`, `azure-deploy`, `azure-upgrade`, `azure-enterprise-infra-planner`, `azure-hosted-copilot-sdk`, `azure-kubernetes`, and `airunway-aks-setup`\r\n- **Troubleshoot, monitor, and govern** with `azure-diagnostics`, `appinsights-instrumentation`, `azure-compliance`, `azure-resource-lookup`, and `azure-quotas`\r\n- **Optimize architecture and cost** with `azure-cost`, `azure-compute`, `azure-resource-visualizer`, and `azure-cloud-migrate`\r\n- **Work across data, AI, identity, and platform services** with `azure-ai`, `azure-aigateway`, `azure-storage`, `azure-kusto`, `azure-messaging`, `azure-rbac`, `entra-app-registration`, and `microsoft-foundry`\r\n\r\n### Azure MCP Server: the hands\r\n\r\nThe plugin wires in the **Azure MCP Server**, which gives your agent **200+ structured tools across 40+ Azure services**. That is the execution layer for listing resources, checking prices, querying logs, diagnosing issues, and driving real Azure workflows.\r\n\r\n### Foundry MCP: the AI specialist\r\n\r\nThe plugin also includes **Foundry MCP** for Microsoft Foundry scenarios such as model discovery, model deployment, and agent workflows.\r\n\r\n## Why this plugin is different\r\n\r\nThis is not a prompt pack. It is a packaged Azure capability layer:\r\n\r\n- **Skills** teach the agent when to use Azure workflows and what to avoid.\r\n- **MCP tools** let the agent act on live Azure and Foundry resources.\r\n- **The plugin** keeps the guidance layer and execution layer aligned in one install.\r\n- **Multi-host support** lets you use the same Azure capability across environments such as GitHub Copilot in VS Code, Copilot CLI, Claude Code, and other compatible hosts.\r\n\r\n## What you get\r\n\r\n| Component | What it adds | Examples |\r\n| --- | --- | --- |\r\n| **Azure skills** | Azure expertise, workflows, and guardrails | Prepare, validate, deploy, diagnostics, cost, AI, RBAC |\r\n| **Azure MCP Server** | Live Azure tooling | Resource inventory, monitoring, pricing, storage, databases, messaging |\r\n| **Foundry MCP** | Microsoft Foundry workflows | Model catalog, deployments, agents, evaluations |\r\n\r\nThe plugin payload lives in `.github/plugins/azure-skills/`, and the included MCP configuration shows how Azure and Foundry connectivity are wired for compatible hosts.\r\n\r\n## Install in 60 seconds\r\n\r\n### Prerequisites\r\n\r\nBefore you install, make sure you have:\r\n\r\n- An Azure account or subscription\r\n- **Node.js 18+** available on your PATH (`npx` is used to start the MCP servers)\r\n- **Azure CLI** installed and authenticated with `az login`\r\n- **Azure Developer CLI** installed and authenticated with `azd auth login` if you plan to use deployment workflows\r\n\r\n### APM (one install, multiple harnesses)\r\n\r\nThe Azure Skills Plugin is multi-harness. If you use [APM](https://github.com/microsoft/apm), one command installs it across GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, OpenCode, Codex, and Gemini from a single `apm.yml`:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\napm install microsoft/azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n### GitHub Copilot CLI\r\n\r\n**Add the marketplace** (first time only):\r\n\r\n```\r\n/plugin marketplace add microsoft/azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n**Install the plugin**:\r\n\r\n```\r\n/plugin install azure@azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n**Update the plugin**:\r\n\r\n```\r\n/plugin update azure@azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n### VS Code\r\n\r\nInstall the **Azure MCP** extension from the Visual Studio Marketplace:\r\n\r\n👉 [Azure MCP Extension](https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=ms-azuretools.vscode-azure-mcp-server)\r\n\r\nThe Azure MCP extension will also install a companion extension that brings the Azure skills into VS Code. Together they configure the Azure MCP Server, Foundry MCP, and the full skills layer automatically.\r\n\r\n> **Note:** The skills extension requires **Git CLI** to be installed on your machine. If you don't have it, ask Copilot to help you install Git for your OS.\r\n\r\n### Claude Code\r\n\r\n**Install the plugin** — either run:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n/plugin install azure@claude-plugins-official\r\n```\r\n\r\nOr run `/plugin` and search for \"azure\" in the marketplace:\r\n\r\n![Claude Code plugin discovery showing the Azure plugin](assets/azure-plugin-in-claude.png)\r\n\r\n**Update the plugin**:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\n/plugin update azure@claude-plugins-official\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Gemini CLI\r\n\r\n**Install the extension**:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\ngemini extensions install https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n### Cursor\r\n\r\nYou can install the Azure plugin from the [Cursor Marketplace](https://cursor.com/marketplace/azure) or directly from Cursor settings by navigating to **Settings** > **Plugins** and searching for \"Azure\":\r\n\r\n![Cursor Plugins](assets/cursor-plugins.png)\r\n\r\n### Codex CLI\r\n\r\n**Add the marketplace** (first time only):\r\n\r\n```bash\r\ncodex plugin marketplace add microsoft/azure-skills\r\n```\r\n\r\n**Install the plugin**:\r\n\r\nBrowse plugins using `/plugins` and install `azure`:\r\n\r\n![Codex Plugins](assets/codex-plugins.png)\r\n\r\n![Codex Install Plugin](assets/codex-install-plugin.png)\r\n\r\n**Enable or disable skills**:\r\n\r\nYou can choose to enable or disable specific skills by running `/skills` in Codex and selecting the appropriate option:\r\n\r\n![Codex Enable Disable Skills](assets/codex-enable-disable-skills.png)\r\n\r\n> **Note:** A plugin installed from Codex CLI is also available in the Codex app.\r\n\r\n### IntelliJ IDEA\r\n\r\n#### Prerequisites\r\n\r\nBefore installing Azure skills in IntelliJ IDEA, ensure you have:\r\n- **Node.js 18+** installed on your system with `npx` available on your PATH\r\n- **Git** installed and accessible from the command line\r\n\r\nYou can verify these prerequisites by running:\r\n```bash\r\nnpx --version\r\ngit --version\r\n```\r\n\r\n#### Step 1: Install GitHub Copilot Plugin\r\n\r\n1. Open IntelliJ IDEA\r\n2. Go to **File** > **Settings** (on Windows/Linux) or **IntelliJ IDEA** > **Preferences** (on macOS)\r\n3. Navigate to **Plugins** in the left sidebar\r\n4. Search for \"GitHub Copilot\" in the Marketplace tab\r\n5. Install the [GitHub Copilot plugin](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/17718-github-copilot--your-ai-pair-programmer) (requires version 1.5.64-242 or higher)\r\n6. Restart IntelliJ IDEA when prompted\r\n\r\n#### Step 2: Enable Skills for GitHub Copilot\r\n\r\n1. Open IntelliJ IDEA settings/preferences again\r\n2. Navigate to **Tools** > **GitHub Copilot** > **Chat**\r\n3. Check the **\"Enable Skills\"** checkbox\r\n4. Click **Apply** and **OK**\r\n\r\n![alt text](assets/intellij-enable-azure-skills.png)\r\n\r\n#### Step 3: Install Azure Skills\r\n\r\n**Option 1: Install Azure Toolkit For IntelliJ Plugin**\r\n\r\n1. **Install the Azure Toolkit plugin** from the JetBrains Marketplace:\r\n   👉 [Azure Toolkit for IntelliJ](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/8053-azure-toolkit-for-intellij)\r\n   \r\n2. **Restart IntelliJ IDEA** to complete the plugin installation\r\n\r\n3. **Install Azure Skills** when prompted:\r\n   - After restarting, you'll see a notification offering to install Azure Skills\r\n   - Click **Install** to add the Azure skills to your environment\r\n   - See screenshot below for reference\r\n\r\n   ![alt text](assets/intellij-install-skills-notification.png)\r\n\r\n4. **Verify installation** by opening the GitHub Copilot chat window and typing:\r\n   ```\r\n   /skill:azure\r\n   ```\r\n   This will display all available Azure skills you can now use in your projects.\r\n\r\n   ![alt text](assets/intellij-verify-azure-skills.png)\r\n\r\n\r\n**Option 2:** Install Azure Skills manually\r\n\r\n1. Open a terminal or command prompt\r\n2. Run the following command to install Azure skills globally for GitHub Copilot:\r\n\r\n   ```bash\r\n   npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills/tree/main/.github/plugins/azure-skills/skills -a github-copilot -g -y\r\n   ```\r\n\r\n   **Command explanation:**\r\n   - `npx skills add` - Uses the skills CLI to add a new skills package\r\n   - The GitHub URL points to the Azure skills directory in this repository\r\n   - `-a github-copilot` - Specifies the skills are for GitHub Copilot\r\n   - `-g` - Installs the skills globally (available across all projects)\r\n   - `-y` - Automatically accepts prompts during installation\r\n\r\n3. Wait for the installation to complete. You should see confirmation that the Azure skills have been successfully added.\r\n\r\n## Sovereign Cloud Configuration\r\n\r\nBy default, the Azure MCP server connects to the Azure Public Cloud. If you use a sovereign cloud (Azure China Cloud or Azure US Government), you need to configure the MCP server to use the appropriate cloud environment.\r\n\r\n### Copilot CLI\r\n\r\nAfter installing the plugin, Azure MCP server should be configured for copilot as well. You can list the configured MCP servers by running `/mcp show`\r\n\r\n![MCP Servers](assets/mcp_servers.png)\r\n\r\nEdit the Azure MCP server named `azure` from `plugin:azure` to add the `--cloud` argument. Execute `/mcp edit azure`. Navigate to the `Command` section to add the `--cloud` argument, use `AzureChinaCloud` to access Azure China Cloud, and use `AzureUSGovernment` to access Azure US Government Cloud.\r\n\r\n![Edit MCP Server](assets/edit_mcp_server.png)\r\n\r\nBefore starting the MCP server, ensure your local CLI tools are authenticated against the correct cloud:\r\n\r\n| Cloud | Azure CLI | Azure PowerShell | Azure Developer CLI |\r\n|-------|-----------|-----------------|---------------------|\r\n| China | `az cloud set --name AzureChinaCloud && az login` | `Connect-AzAccount -Environment AzureChinaCloud` | `azd config set cloud.name AzureChinaCloud && azd auth login` |\r\n| US Government | `az cloud set --name AzureUSGovernment && az login` | `Connect-AzAccount -Environment AzureUSGovernment` | `azd config set cloud.name AzureUSGovernment && azd auth login` |\r\n\r\nFor more details, see [Connect to sovereign clouds](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/developer/azure-mcp-server/how-to/connect-sovereign-clouds) in the Azure MCP Server documentation.\r\n\r\n## Verify the installation\r\n\r\nAfter install, try three quick checks.\r\n\r\n### 1. Verify the skills layer\r\n\r\nAsk:\r\n\r\n> What Azure services would I need to deploy this project?\r\n\r\nYou should get structured Azure guidance, not just a generic cloud answer.\r\n\r\n### 2. Verify Azure MCP\r\n\r\nAsk:\r\n\r\n> List my Azure resource groups.\r\n\r\nYou should see a real tool-backed response from your Azure account.\r\n\r\n### 3. Verify Foundry MCP\r\n\r\nAsk:\r\n\r\n> What AI models are available in Microsoft Foundry?\r\n\r\nYou should get a Foundry-backed response rather than a generic summary.\r\n\r\n## Authentication\r\n\r\nThe recommended authentication path is Azure CLI:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\naz login\r\n```\r\n\r\nIf you plan to deploy with `azd`, also run:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\nazd auth login\r\n```\r\n\r\nYou can also authenticate with service principal credentials:\r\n\r\n**Bash/Zsh**\r\n\r\n```bash\r\nexport AZURE_TENANT_ID=\"your-tenant-id\"\r\nexport AZURE_CLIENT_ID=\"your-client-id\"\r\nexport AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET=\"your-client-secret\"\r\n```\r\n\r\n**PowerShell**\r\n\r\n```powershell\r\n$env:AZURE_TENANT_ID = \"your-tenant-id\"\r\n$env:AZURE_CLIENT_ID = \"your-client-id\"\r\n$env:AZURE_CLIENT_SECRET = \"your-client-secret\"\r\n```\r\n\r\nWhen the agent runs inside Azure, the Azure MCP Server can also use managed identity.\r\n\r\n## Prompts to try\r\n\r\nOnce the plugin is installed, try prompts like these:\r\n\r\n- `Prepare this app for Azure.`\r\n- `Validate my Azure deployment files before I run azd up.`\r\n- `Deploy this project to Azure Container Apps.`\r\n- `List my Azure storage accounts.`\r\n- `Find cost savings across my Azure subscription.`\r\n- `Troubleshoot why my container app is failing health probes.`\r\n- `What role should I assign to let this managed identity read blobs?`\r\n- `What AI models are available in Microsoft Foundry?`\r\n\r\n## Repository layout\r\n\r\nIf you are exploring or customizing the plugin source, the key pieces are:\r\n\r\n- `.github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/` - the Azure skill definitions\n- `.github/plugins/azure-skills/.mcp.json` - included MCP configuration for Azure and Foundry\n- `landing-page/` - Astro GitHub Pages site source and maintenance guide\n- `README.md` - high-level overview and install guide for the plugin\n\r\n## Troubleshooting\r\n\r\n### The agent is not using Azure skills\r\n\r\n- Make sure the plugin installed successfully in your host\r\n- Confirm the Azure skills directory is present\r\n- Reload or restart your host so it re-indexes plugins and MCP configuration\r\n\r\n### MCP tools are not showing up\r\n\r\n- Verify Node.js is installed and `npx` works\r\n- Check that the Azure and Foundry MCP entries were added for your host\r\n- Restart MCP servers or reload the host after configuration changes\r\n\r\n### Azure commands fail with auth errors\r\n\r\n- Re-run `az login`\r\n- Re-run `azd auth login` for deployment scenarios\r\n- Make sure the correct Azure subscription is selected\r\n\r\n## Learn more\r\n\r\n- [Azure MCP Server documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/developer/azure-mcp-server/)\r\n- [Azure documentation](https://learn.microsoft.com/azure)\r\n- [Azure CLI reference](https://learn.microsoft.com/cli/azure/)\r\n\r\n## Telemetry\r\n\r\nTo disable Azure MCP telemetry collection, set:\r\n\r\n```bash\r\nexport AZURE_MCP_COLLECT_TELEMETRY=false\r\n```\r\n\r\n## Contribution\r\n\r\nThis repository is automatically sync'ed from https://github.com/microsoft/GitHub-Copilot-for-Azure. If you would like to contribute to Azure skills, please open PR's there. Thank you!\r\n\r\n",
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