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Azure App Onboard

MicrosoftOfficialCreated by Microsoft

  • Skill
  • Workflow
  • Cloud and DevOps
  • MIT
  • Low risk
  • Has scripts

From the author

End-to-end orchestrator: from a business idea, app idea, or existing app to running Azure deployment with cost estimates and pre-deploy approval. Analyzes your app, auto-detects the right Azure services, scaffolds infrastructure code, and deploys — tailored to your app, not a template. Handles moving existing apps to Azure without rewriting or with minimal changes. WHEN: bring your app to Azure, plan my app, cost to run, is my code ready to deploy, deploy my app to the cloud, deploy all my services, what Azure services do I need, plan my Azure deployment, deploy my new app to Azure, one-click deploy, I have an app and want it on Azure, migrate my app to Azure, help me get started, build an app, no code yet, starter project. DO NOT USE FOR: use azd for deployment(use azure-deploy), optimizing existing costs (use cost-optimization), code readiness checks only (use azure-app-onboard-prereq).
— the description by Microsoft

AutoGineer summary

Written by AutoGineer from the skill’s own files, not by the author

Azure App Onboard is a comprehensive workflow agent designed to take a business idea or an existing codebase and transition it to a running Azure deployment. It automates the entire lifecycle from initial discovery and architecture planning to infrastructure scaffolding and final deployment. The skill is built to be intelligent and tailored, analyzing the specific requirements of your application rather than relying on generic templates. It includes built-in approval gates for both the architecture plan and the final deployment, ensuring you maintain control over costs and resource configuration throughout the process.

What it does

  • Analyzes your application code or business idea to determine the optimal Azure service stack.
  • Generates custom infrastructure-as-code (IaC) files tailored to your specific application needs.
  • Provides detailed cost estimates for the proposed Azure infrastructure before deployment.
  • Executes the deployment of resources directly to your Azure subscription.
  • Handles the migration of existing applications to Azure with minimal code changes.
  • Provides a structured, step-by-step onboarding experience for developers of all experience levels.

When to use it

  • When you have an application and want to deploy it to Azure but are unsure which services to use.
  • When you need to migrate an existing application to the cloud without a complete rewrite.
  • When you require a cost estimate for your infrastructure before committing to a deployment.
  • When you need guided, end-to-end assistance for setting up a new Azure project.
  • When you want to verify if your current codebase is ready for a cloud deployment.

Advantages

  • Eliminates guesswork by auto-detecting the right Azure services for your specific stack.
  • Reduces manual effort by automating the scaffolding of infrastructure-as-code.
  • Ensures transparency with mandatory approval gates for architecture and deployment.
  • Provides cost visibility early in the planning phase.
  • Supports a wide range of scenarios from greenfield projects to existing app migrations.

Usage examples

“I have a Python web app and want to deploy it to Azure. Can you help me get started?”
The agent will initiate the discovery phase, scan your codebase, propose an architecture, and guide you through the deployment process.
“I need to move my existing application to Azure, but I'm not sure what services I need. Can you plan this for me?”
The agent will analyze your app's requirements, suggest the appropriate Azure services, and provide a cost estimate for your approval.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/azure-app-onboard/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip azure-app-onboard.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Microsoft

Azure App Onboard

⛔ Every repo goes through the full pipeline (Steps 1–10). No exceptions. Do not skip steps, refuse, or short-circuit based on what you recognize. Follow the Workflow table below sequentially — read each step's references before acting.

Quick Reference

PropertyValue
Best forDevelopers who know what to build but not which Azure services to use
InputsBusiness idea or existing codebase, budget/scale preferences (optional)
OutputsArchitecture plan, cost estimate, IaC files, deployed Azure resources
PhasesDiscover → Architect → Scaffold → Deploy (self-contained, no external skill calls)

When to Use This Skill

  • Deploy existing code without knowing which Azure services to use

  • Check if your existing code is ready to deploy to Azure

  • Move an existing app to Azure without rewriting or with minimal changes

  • Get cost estimates before committing to infrastructure

  • Understand architecture decisions and rejected alternatives

  • Get answers to Azure architecture or service selection questions (e.g., "What database should I use?")

  • Get guided Azure onboarding without prior experience

When NOT to Use

ScenarioUse Instead
Run azd up or execute an existing deploymentazure-deploy
Optimize existing Azure spendcost-optimization from the optional azure-cost plugin
Generate Bicep/Terraform for a known architectureazure-prepare
Validate infrastructure or run preflight checksazure-validate
Troubleshoot a running Azure deploymentazure-diagnostics
Deploy to or manage AKS/Kubernetes directlyazure-kubernetes
Look up or list existing Azure resourcesazure-resource-lookup

If cost-optimization is unavailable, explain that it is provided by the optional azure-cost plugin and direct the user to their client's supported plugin installation flow; do not imply the handoff completed.

Pipeline Rules

⛔ You MUST read references/pipeline-rules.md at the start of every AppOnboard session. It contains approval gates, phase lifecycle, session artifacts, deploy-as-is, and security baseline rules.

Workflow

⛔ Deploy recovery: After deploy gate approval OR before any az deployment/az webapp deploy/az acr build — if you haven't read deploy/PHASE.md, read .copilot-azure/sessions/{id}/deploy-checklist.md first, then deploy/PHASE.md. ⛔ NEVER invoke {"skill": "azure-deploy"} — that is a DIFFERENT skill for a DIFFERENT workflow.

⛔ Post-scaffold transition (MANDATORY): Immediately after scaffold-manifest.json is written, YOUR NEXT ACTION MUST be Step 8 (Deploy Approval Gate) — NOT a summary report, NOT a "here are the generated files" message, NOT a completion signal. Confirm context.json has completedPhases: [...,"scaffold"] + currentPhase: "deploy" (update it yourself if the scaffold subagent didn't). Re-read approval-gates.md § Deploy Gate if evicted from context (scaffold reference loading is heavy), then present the exact prompt: "🚀 Ready to deploy? (Yes / Run manually / Edit plan / Cancel)". This gate is the LAST content in your response — wait for the user's reply.

#StepActionReference
1Session check + Azure loginCreate/resume session, verify Azure CLI auth, resolve subscription + user identity⛔ You MUST read session-protocol.md
2Scope triageCheck azd markers, triage question. Empty workspace or code-only (no infra) → Step 3 directly.⛔ Read intent-gathering.md § Scope Triage
3Prereq scan⛔ Skip if completedPhases includes "prereq". Otherwise: invoke {"skill": "azure-app-onboard-prereq"}. Write prereq-output.json, update context.json. Halt if: overallHealth: "blocked" OR routeToSkill set.
4Gather intentPresent prereq results, confirm stack + Azure services, ask remaining questions.⛔ Read intent-gathering.md § After Prereq Returns
5Plan architectureWrite prepare-plan.json.⛔ You MUST read prepare/PHASE.md
6Scaffold approval gateDisplay plan for user approval BEFORE generating any files.⛔ Read approval-gates.md § Scaffold Gate
7ScaffoldGenerate IaC, self-review. Write scaffold-manifest.json. Update context.json.⛔ You MUST read scaffold/PHASE.md
8Deploy approval gateDisplay validation summary. ⛔ After approval: FIRST read deploy-checklist.md → deploy/PHASE.md. NEVER {"skill": "azure-deploy"}.⛔ Read approval-gates.md § Deploy Gate
9DeployExecute IaC, health-check. Write deploy-result.json.⛔ You MUST read deploy/PHASE.md
10HandoffSurface deployment identity, cleanup commands, next steps.⛔ You MUST read handoff-protocol.md

Error Handling

ErrorRemediation
Phase failsHalt, report phase + error. User decides: retry, skip, abort.
MCP server unavailableSkip affected checks, add disclaimer to costEstimate.assumptions[] and every approval gate.
Missing RBACReport required role + az role assignment command.

Shared references: MCP tools (cross-phase tool parameters) | IaC resources (Azure resource docs for troubleshooting)

Files

scaffold/references/subagent-validate.md

Subagent Template — Validation & Manifest (Steps 10–12)

Validate IaC syntax, write scaffold-manifest.json, and generate deploy checklist. Follow the workflow below.

Critical Rules

  • ⛔ Do NOT invoke ANY skills — no {"skill": "azure-validate"}, {"skill": "azure-deploy"}, {"skill": "azure-prepare"}, or any other skill call. Use the procedures in THIS file only.

  • ⛔ Do NOT create or modify Azure resources — validation is syntax-only (bicep build / terraform validate), never az deployment sub create.

  • ⛔ Do NOT run what-if or terraform plan — deploy runs the mandatory what-if with real secret params. Scaffold validates syntax only.

Input (provided by caller)

FieldRequired
IaC file paths (all generated .bicep or .tf files)YES
Self-review findings from Steps 6–9YES
prepare-plan.json — services, naming, region, subscriptionIdYES
prereq-output.json.warnings[] — prereq warnings with fixPhaseYES
prereq-output.json.healthEndpoint — detected health path (or null)YES
Conformance result JSON (from main-thread Step 10a-conf)YES

Output

ArtifactLocation
scaffold-manifest.jsonSession folder
deploy-result.json skeletonSession folder
Validation result statusReturn to caller: Validated or Failed
Deploy checklist.copilot-azure/sessions/{id}/deploy-checklist.md

Workflow

Step 1 — Read validation + manifest rules

Read validation-and-manifest.md and scaffold-schemas.ts.

Do: Understand the ScaffoldManifest interface (field names, types, required fields) and the validation sequence.

Step 2 — Format and validate IaC

Do:

  1. Run az bicep build --file infra/main.bicep --stdout > $null (Bicep) or terraform validate (TF). Process output for BCP errors and warnings. Record pass/fail.

Step 3 — Check RBAC completeness

Do: Verify every managed identity ↔ resource pair in the IaC has a corresponding Microsoft.Authorization/roleAssignments resource with the correct role GUID. Cross-reference with the review findings from Steps 6–9 input.

Step 3b — Azure runtime constraint check (Container Apps)

Skip if no Container Apps in the plan.

For each Container App resource in the generated Bicep:

  1. cpu/memory combo — verify cpu (must be type string) + memory is one of: 0.25/0.5Gi, 0.5/1Gi, 0.75/1.5Gi, 1/2Gi, 1.25/2.5Gi, 1.5/3Gi, 1.75/3.5Gi, 2/4Gi. FIXABLE: adjust to nearest valid combo (use smallest valid combo for sidecars/companions).

  2. secretRef coverage — every secretRef in container env vars must have a matching entry in configuration.secrets[]. Every KV secret URL in secrets[] must reference a Microsoft.KeyVault/vaults/secrets resource that exists in the generated modules. Missing secret resource → FIXABLE: add it to the KV module.

  3. probe path — if prereq-output.json.healthEndpoint is non-null, verify probePath matches it. If null AND any plainEnvVars entry is named BASE or PATH_PREFIX, verify probePath starts with that value (not bare /). If null AND no BASE var: verify the app has a route handler for the probe path (check source entry point for app.get('/') or framework root handler) — bare / on a REST API with only sub-path routes (e.g., /users, /messages) returns 404 and blocks revision activation. FIXABLE: update probePath to a known GET endpoint from the app.

FIXABLE errors: fix the Bicep → re-run az bicep build → proceed to Step 3c.

Step 3b2 — App Service security constraint check

Skip if no App Service or Functions in the plan.

For each App Service / Functions resource in the generated Bicep:

  1. basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies — verify both child resources exist: basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies/scm (with allow: true) and basicPublishingCredentialsPolicies/ftp (with allow: false). Missing → FIXABLE: add the child resources per bicep-patterns-security.md § Publishing Credential Lockdown.

  2. uniqueString in naming — verify the App Service name uses uniqueString() or a unique suffix (not a hardcoded literal). Hardcoded names cause global collisions. Missing → FIXABLE: wrap name with uniqueString(resourceGroup().id).

FIXABLE errors: fix the Bicep → re-run az bicep build → proceed to Step 3c.

Step 3c — Record plan conformance result

The main thread (PHASE.md Step 10a-conf) already ran the conformance script and passed you its JSON. Record it in scaffold-manifest.json.conformance = { passed, failures, source: "script" }. ⛔ Do NOT set validationResult.status: "Validated" while any BLOCK failure is unresolved.

Fallback (only if the caller passed NO result AND infra/main.bicep exists — the gate is Bicep-only, skip for Terraform): run {scaffoldDir}/scripts/scaffold-conformance.ps1 -SessionPath "{sessionPath}" -InfraPath infra (or .sh on bash) yourself, then record with source: "script". Never hand-judge when a shell is available.

Step 4 — Write scaffold-manifest.json

Read scaffold-schemas.ts for exact field names.

Do: Write scaffold-manifest.json to the session folder with: sessionId, scaffoldCompletedUtc, iacFormat, targetScope, entryPoint, parametersFile, files[], deployCommand, twoPhaseWiring (if Container Apps), phase2Steps (if applicable), selfReview (from caller input), validationResult (from Steps 2–3). Use the exact field names from scaffold-schemas.ts § ScaffoldManifest.

Step 5 — Handle failures (if any)

Read scaffold-healing-rules.md ONLY if validation failed.

Do: Classify errors as FIXABLE or BLOCKING. FIXABLE: auto-fix IaC → re-validate (max 3 attempts before asking user). BLOCKING: surface to user and halt. PLAN_LEVEL_CHANGE: requires re-approval — do NOT auto-fix.

Step 6 — Verify deploy checklist exists

Do: Check that .copilot-azure/sessions/{id}/deploy-checklist.md exists (written by the parallel checklist subagent at scaffold Step 5b). If missing, read deploy-checklist-template.md and write it now as a fallback — fill {placeholders} from prepare-plan.json, delete non-applicable sections. This file survives conversation compaction

Step 7 — Create deploy-result.json skeleton (MANDATORY)

Read deploy-schemas.ts — specifically the DeployResult interface.

Do: Create .copilot-azure/sessions/{id}/deploy-result.json conforming to the DeployResult interface. Populate fields from all session artifacts already written (prepare-plan.json, context.json, scaffold-manifest.json, prereq-output.json). Use sensible defaults for fields the deploy phase will fill later. The deploy main agent updates this file in-place at Step 8 with real values.

Step 8 — Return results

Do: Return validation status (Validated or Failed) to the caller. Confirm deploy-checklist.md exists. Keep status report ≤500 tokens.

Requirements and compatibility

Works with: Claude Code, Claude apps, OpenAI Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, Kiro, OpenCode, Goose, Amp, Roo Code, JetBrains Junie, Factory Droid, Devin (ex-Windsurf), Mistral Vibe, OpenHands, Letta

“Works with” means the tool reads the open Agent Skills format; a skill written for one tool may use features others lack.

Needs: Needs an MCP server, Needs Node.js

Security

What our scanner noticed· Low risk

  • Instructions that use the network
  • Scripts that your agent may run

This skill includes scripts that your agent may run. Read them before you use it.

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Attribution and licence

Created by
Microsoft
Publisher
Microsoft (Official)
Source
microsoft/skills · .github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/azure-app-onboard · commit 0696600
Licence
MIT License (redistribution allowed)
  • LICENSE (added by AutoGineer from .github/plugins/azure-skills/LICENSE)
  • ATTRIBUTION.md (written by AutoGineer)
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