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declarative-agents

github/awesome-copilot

Complete development kit for Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents with TypeSpec and Agents Toolkit integration

What is declarative-agents?

A comprehensive skill for building Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents using the v1.5 schema. Provides three specialized workflows (basic, advanced, validation) with TypeSpec support, schema compliance validation, and integration with the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit for development, testing, and deployment.

  • Guide agent planning, capability selection, and schema creation for new or existing agents
  • Support TypeSpec-based type-safe agent definitions that compile to JSON manifests
  • Validate schema compliance with v1.5 specification and character/array constraints
  • Configure and test agents using Agents Playground and VS Code integration
  • Implement advanced features including behavior overrides, localization, and conversation starters
  • Perform capability audits, performance analysis, and best practices reviews for optimization

How to install declarative-agents

npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill declarative-agents
Prerequisites
  • Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit installed
  • VS Code with teamsdevapp.ms-teams-vscode-extension
  • Access to Microsoft 365 environment for testing
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How to use declarative-agents

  1. 1.Select one of three workflows: Basic Agent Creation, Advanced Enterprise Design, or Validation & Optimization
  2. 2.Define your agent requirements (purpose, target users, core capabilities)
  3. 3.Choose up to 5 capabilities from the 11 available options (WebSearch, OneDriveAndSharePoint, GraphConnectors, etc.)
  4. 4.Generate agent manifest using JSON schema v1.5 or create TypeSpec definitions
  5. 5.Configure environment variables for agent name, description, and instructions
  6. 6.Set up and run tests using Agents Playground for local validation
  7. 7.Deploy to your target environment with proper versioning and monitoring

Use cases

Good for
  • Create a new basic Microsoft 365 Copilot agent for document search and collaboration
  • Design a complex enterprise agent with multi-tenant support, compliance requirements, and custom connectors
  • Migrate existing JSON agent definitions to modern TypeSpec for type safety and maintainability
  • Validate and optimize an existing agent for schema compliance and performance bottlenecks
  • Configure conversation starters and behavior overrides for improved user engagement
Who it's for
  • Developers building Microsoft 365 Copilot agents for the first time
  • Enterprise architects designing production-grade agents with advanced requirements
  • Teams migrating legacy agent definitions to v1.5 schema and TypeSpec
  • DevOps engineers managing agent lifecycle across development, staging, and production environments

declarative-agents FAQ

What is the difference between the three workflows?

Basic workflow is for new developers and simple agents; Advanced workflow handles complex enterprise scenarios with multi-tenant support and custom behaviors; Validation workflow optimizes and troubleshoots existing agents for compliance and performance.

Can I use TypeSpec instead of JSON for agent definitions?

Yes, TypeSpec provides modern type-safe definitions that compile to JSON manifests. The skill supports both approaches and can migrate existing JSON to TypeSpec.

How many capabilities can an agent have?

Agents can have a maximum of 5 capabilities selected from the 11 available options including WebSearch, OneDriveAndSharePoint, GraphConnectors, MicrosoftGraph, and others.

What are the character limits for agent definitions?

Name is limited to 100 characters, description to 1000 characters, and instructions to 8000 characters. Conversation starters are limited to a maximum of 4 entries.

How do I test my agent locally?

Use the Agents Playground integrated with VS Code and the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit to test your agent locally before deployment to staging or production environments.

Full instructions (SKILL.md)

Source of truth, from github/awesome-copilot.


name: declarative-agents description: 'Complete development kit for Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents with three comprehensive workflows (basic, advanced, validation), TypeSpec support, and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit integration'

Microsoft 365 Declarative Agents Development Kit

I'll help you create and develop Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents using the latest v1.5 schema with comprehensive TypeSpec and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit integration. Choose from three specialized workflows:

Workflow 1: Basic Agent Creation

Perfect for: New developers, simple agents, quick prototypes

I'll guide you through:

  1. Agent Planning: Define purpose, target users, and core capabilities
  2. Capability Selection: Choose from 11 available capabilities (WebSearch, OneDriveAndSharePoint, GraphConnectors, etc.)
  3. Basic Schema Creation: Generate compliant JSON manifest with proper constraints
  4. TypeSpec Alternative: Create modern type-safe definitions that compile to JSON
  5. Testing Setup: Configure Agents Playground for local testing
  6. Toolkit Integration: Leverage Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit for enhanced development

Workflow 2: Advanced Enterprise Agent Design

Perfect for: Complex enterprise scenarios, production deployment, advanced features

I'll help you architect:

  1. Enterprise Requirements Analysis: Multi-tenant considerations, compliance, security
  2. Advanced Capability Configuration: Complex capability combinations and interactions
  3. Behavior Override Implementation: Custom response patterns and specialized behaviors
  4. Localization Strategy: Multi-language support with proper resource management
  5. Conversation Starters: Strategic conversation entry points for user engagement
  6. Production Deployment: Environment management, versioning, and lifecycle planning
  7. Monitoring & Analytics: Implementation of tracking and performance optimization

Workflow 3: Validation & Optimization

Perfect for: Existing agents, troubleshooting, performance optimization

I'll perform:

  1. Schema Compliance Validation: Full v1.5 specification adherence checking
  2. Character Limit Optimization: Name (100), description (1000), instructions (8000)
  3. Capability Audit: Verify proper capability configuration and usage
  4. TypeSpec Migration: Convert existing JSON to modern TypeSpec definitions
  5. Testing Protocol: Comprehensive validation using Agents Playground
  6. Performance Analysis: Identify bottlenecks and optimization opportunities
  7. Best Practices Review: Alignment with Microsoft guidelines and recommendations

Core Features Across All Workflows

Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit Integration

  • VS Code Extension: Full integration with teamsdevapp.ms-teams-vscode-extension
  • TypeSpec Development: Modern type-safe agent definitions
  • Local Debugging: Agents Playground integration for testing
  • Environment Management: Development, staging, production configurations
  • Lifecycle Management: Creation, testing, deployment, monitoring

TypeSpec Examples

// Modern declarative agent definition
model MyAgent {
  name: string;
  description: string;
  instructions: string;
  capabilities: AgentCapability[];
  conversation_starters?: ConversationStarter[];
}

JSON Schema v1.5 Validation

  • Full compliance with latest Microsoft specification
  • Character limit enforcement (name: 100, description: 1000, instructions: 8000)
  • Array constraint validation (conversation_starters: max 4, capabilities: max 5)
  • Required field validation and type checking

Available Capabilities (Choose up to 5)

  1. WebSearch: Internet search functionality
  2. OneDriveAndSharePoint: File and content access
  3. GraphConnectors: Enterprise data integration
  4. MicrosoftGraph: Microsoft 365 service integration
  5. TeamsAndOutlook: Communication platform access
  6. PowerPlatform: Power Apps and Power Automate integration
  7. BusinessDataProcessing: Enterprise data analysis
  8. WordAndExcel: Document and spreadsheet manipulation
  9. CopilotForMicrosoft365: Advanced Copilot features
  10. EnterpriseApplications: Third-party system integration
  11. CustomConnectors: Custom API and service integration

Environment Variables Support

{
  "name": "${AGENT_NAME}",
  "description": "${AGENT_DESCRIPTION}",
  "instructions": "${AGENT_INSTRUCTIONS}"
}

Which workflow would you like to start with? Share your requirements and I'll provide specialized guidance for your Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agent development with full TypeSpec and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit support.