Proposal: Create `microsoft.azd.skills` extension for end-user skills distribution

[spboyer]

Summary

Propose the creation and distribution of a new Azure Developer CLI extension, microsoft.azd.skills, designed specifically to offer a curated set of "skills" for end users (developers installing and using azd). This extension will not be bundled with the VS Code extension but released and discoverable as a standalone CLI extension, supporting the new paradigm of dev-assistive "skills" that leverage AI/code assistant tooling and standardized workflows.

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Proposal Details

Background

The Anthropic "skills" model (as seen in Claude/Claude Code and the anthropics/skills repository) enables modular, context-sensitive AI workflows, codified as instructions, templates, hooks, and scripts that can be invoked by code assistants or CLI tools. Adopting a similar approach in the Azure Developer CLI ecosystem will empower developers to:

• Access context-aware guidance and automation for common azd operations
• Standardize onboarding, troubleshooting, and best practices
• Streamline creation of templates, infrastructure, and CI/CD pipelines
• Codify and share organization-specific workflows for cloud development

Extension Details

• Extension Name: microsoft.azd.skills
• Distribution: Standalone azd extension (NOT bundled with VS Code)
• Discovery/Installation: azd extension install microsoft.azd.skills
• Purpose: Provide a library of actionable AI skills for CLI users, focusing on acceleration and unblocking of common developer tasks.

Proposed End-User Skills for v1

The following skills are proposed for initial development, prioritizing maximum value for everyday users of azd:

Skill	Command Context	Description	Impact	Complexity
azd-init-guide	azd init	Guides users in selecting templates, converting existing apps, and structuring azure.yaml.	High	Low
azd-azure-yaml-expert	azure.yaml editing, azd add, azd infra	Expert guidance for all azure.yaml options, services, hooks, extensions, infra providers.	High	Medium
azd-bicep-generator	azd infra gen	Generates Bicep modules and provides patterns for service endpoints, tagging, and modularization.	Medium	High
azd-deploy-troubleshooter	azd up, azd provision, azd deploy	Step-by-step troubleshooting for deployment failures, covering infra, authentication, and app runtime errors.	High	Medium
azd-pipeline-config	azd pipeline config	Provides CI/CD setup automation (GitHub Actions, AzDO), credential guidance, and secrets integration.	Medium	Medium
azd-add-resources	azd add	Guides resource addition—databases, messaging, storage, AI/ML—and shows azure.yaml/infra patterns.	Medium	Low
azd-aspire-integration	.NET Aspire projects	Assists with detection, manifest generation, and deployment of Aspire-powered . NET apps.	Medium	Medium
azd-hooks-automation	Lifecycle automation (hooks)	Shows best practices for using and managing lifecycle hooks.	Low	Low

Benefits

• Improves onboarding for new users: Rich help during first-run and project setup (azd-init-guide).
• Reduces troubleshooting time via instantly accessible remediation guides (azd-deploy-troubleshooter).
• Accelerates infrastructure and environment setup (azd-bicep-generator, azd-add-resources).
• Raises project quality by enforcing best practices in config, pipelines, and infra.
• Makes advanced CLI features (hooks, extensions) approachable to mainstream devs.

Impact & Complexity

Skills are prioritized based on frequency and criticality of user scenarios. Each skill is mapped by estimated user impact and complexity to implement. v1 can focus on High/Medium impact skills, expanding the library over time based on analytics and feedback.

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Requested Actions

• Approve the design and initiation of the microsoft.azd.skills extension scaffolding in this repo.
• Review and iterate on proposed skills to prioritize v1 scope.
• Coordinate initial implementation, documentation, and release planning.

Reference: anthropics/skills repository for skills model and implementation inspiration.