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Azure AI Projects Dotnet

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From the author

Azure AI Projects SDK for .NET. High-level client for Azure AI Foundry projects including agents, connections, datasets, deployments, evaluations, and indexes. Use for AI Foundry project management, versioned agents, and orchestration. Triggers: "AI Projects", "AIProjectClient", "Foundry project", "versioned agents", "evaluations", "datasets", "connections", "deployments .NET".
— the description by Microsoft

AutoGineer summary

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

The Azure AI Projects SDK for .NET provides a unified client interface for interacting with Azure AI Foundry resources. It enables developers to programmatically manage the lifecycle of AI agents, handle project connections, upload datasets, configure deployments, and execute evaluations. The SDK supports both low-level persistent agent operations and higher-level versioned agent workflows, making it a comprehensive tool for building, testing, and deploying AI-powered applications within the Azure ecosystem.

What it does

  • Provides a central AIProjectClient for managing project-wide resources.
  • Supports creation and management of persistent agents and versioned agent definitions.
  • Facilitates the upload and management of datasets for AI training and evaluation.
  • Enables programmatic configuration and execution of model evaluations.
  • Allows listing and retrieving details for model deployments and service connections.
  • Integrates with Azure AI Search and other tools for enhanced agent capabilities.

When to use it

  • When building .NET applications that require integration with Azure AI Foundry.
  • When you need to automate the deployment and evaluation of AI models.
  • When managing versioned AI agents and their associated tools programmatically.
  • When orchestrating complex AI workflows involving datasets, indexes, and connections.

Advantages

  • Unified API surface for diverse Azure AI Foundry operations.
  • Strongly typed .NET client simplifies interaction with complex AI resources.
  • Supports both low-level control and high-level abstractions for agent management.
  • Seamless integration with Azure Identity for secure authentication.

Usage examples

“How do I initialize the Azure AI project client in my .NET application?”
You instantiate the AIProjectClient using your project endpoint URI and a DefaultAzureCredential to handle authentication automatically.
“How can I run an evaluation on a dataset using this SDK?”
You define an EvaluatorConfiguration, create an Evaluation object with your dataset and evaluators, and then call the projectClient.Evaluations.Create method.
“What is the process for creating a persistent agent?”
You retrieve a PersistentAgentsClient from the project client, then use its Administration.CreateAgentAsync method to define the model, name, and instructions.
“How do I list all available model deployments in my project?”
You iterate through the collection returned by projectClient.Deployments.GetDeployments() to access deployment names and model details.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/azure-ai-projects-dotnet/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip azure-ai-projects-dotnet.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Microsoft

Azure.AI.Projects (.NET)

High-level SDK for Azure AI Foundry project operations including agents, connections, datasets, deployments, evaluations, and indexes.

Installation

dotnet add package Azure.AI.Projects
dotnet add package Azure.Identity

# Optional: For versioned agents with OpenAI extensions
dotnet add package Azure.AI.Projects.OpenAI --prerelease

# Optional: For low-level agent operations
dotnet add package Azure.AI.Agents.Persistent --prerelease

Current Versions: GA v1.1.0, Preview v1.2.0-beta.5

Environment Variables

PROJECT_ENDPOINT=https://<resource>.services.ai.azure.com/api/projects/<project>  # Required: Azure AI project endpoint
MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME=gpt-4o-mini  # Required: model deployment name
CONNECTION_NAME=<your-connection-name>  # Optional: project connection name
AI_SEARCH_CONNECTION_NAME=<ai-search-connection>  # Optional: Azure AI Search connection name
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod  # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production

Authentication

using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.AI.Projects;

var endpoint = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PROJECT_ENDPOINT");
// Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
var credential = new DefaultAzureCredential(
    DefaultAzureCredential.DefaultEnvironmentVariableName
);
// Or use a specific credential directly in production:
// See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-dotnet#credential-classes
// var credential = new ManagedIdentityCredential();
AIProjectClient projectClient = new AIProjectClient(
    new Uri(endpoint), 
    credential);

Client Hierarchy

AIProjectClient
├── Agents          → AIProjectAgentsOperations (versioned agents)
├── Connections     → ConnectionsClient
├── Datasets        → DatasetsClient
├── Deployments     → DeploymentsClient
├── Evaluations     → EvaluationsClient
├── Evaluators      → EvaluatorsClient
├── Indexes         → IndexesClient
├── Telemetry       → AIProjectTelemetry
├── OpenAI          → ProjectOpenAIClient (preview)
└── GetPersistentAgentsClient() → PersistentAgentsClient

Core Workflows

1. Get Persistent Agents Client
// Get low-level agents client from project client
PersistentAgentsClient agentsClient = projectClient.GetPersistentAgentsClient();

// Create agent
PersistentAgent agent = await agentsClient.Administration.CreateAgentAsync(
    model: "gpt-4o-mini",
    name: "Math Tutor",
    instructions: "You are a personal math tutor.");

// Create thread and run
PersistentAgentThread thread = await agentsClient.Threads.CreateThreadAsync();
await agentsClient.Messages.CreateMessageAsync(thread.Id, MessageRole.User, "Solve 3x + 11 = 14");
ThreadRun run = await agentsClient.Runs.CreateRunAsync(thread.Id, agent.Id);

// Poll for completion
do
{
    await Task.Delay(500);
    run = await agentsClient.Runs.GetRunAsync(thread.Id, run.Id);
}
while (run.Status == RunStatus.Queued || run.Status == RunStatus.InProgress);

// Get messages
await foreach (var msg in agentsClient.Messages.GetMessagesAsync(thread.Id))
{
    foreach (var content in msg.ContentItems)
    {
        if (content is MessageTextContent textContent)
            Console.WriteLine(textContent.Text);
    }
}

// Cleanup
await agentsClient.Threads.DeleteThreadAsync(thread.Id);
await agentsClient.Administration.DeleteAgentAsync(agent.Id);
2. Versioned Agents with Tools (Preview)
using Azure.AI.Projects.OpenAI;

// Create agent with web search tool
PromptAgentDefinition agentDefinition = new(model: "gpt-4o-mini")
{
    Instructions = "You are a helpful assistant that can search the web",
    Tools = {
        ResponseTool.CreateWebSearchTool(
            userLocation: WebSearchToolLocation.CreateApproximateLocation(
                country: "US",
                city: "Seattle",
                region: "Washington"
            )
        ),
    }
};

AgentVersion agentVersion = await projectClient.Agents.CreateAgentVersionAsync(
    agentName: "myAgent",
    options: new(agentDefinition));

// Get response client
ProjectResponsesClient responseClient = projectClient.OpenAI.GetProjectResponsesClientForAgent(agentVersion.Name);

// Create response
ResponseResult response = responseClient.CreateResponse("What's the weather in Seattle?");
Console.WriteLine(response.GetOutputText());

// Cleanup
projectClient.Agents.DeleteAgentVersion(agentName: agentVersion.Name, agentVersion: agentVersion.Version);
3. Connections
// List all connections
foreach (AIProjectConnection connection in projectClient.Connections.GetConnections())
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{connection.Name}: {connection.ConnectionType}");
}

// Get specific connection
AIProjectConnection conn = projectClient.Connections.GetConnection(
    connectionName, 
    includeCredentials: true);

// Get default connection
AIProjectConnection defaultConn = projectClient.Connections.GetDefaultConnection(
    includeCredentials: false);
4. Deployments
// List all deployments
foreach (AIProjectDeployment deployment in projectClient.Deployments.GetDeployments())
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{deployment.Name}: {deployment.ModelName}");
}

// Filter by publisher
foreach (var deployment in projectClient.Deployments.GetDeployments(modelPublisher: "Microsoft"))
{
    Console.WriteLine(deployment.Name);
}

// Get specific deployment
ModelDeployment details = (ModelDeployment)projectClient.Deployments.GetDeployment("gpt-4o-mini");
5. Datasets
// Upload single file
FileDataset fileDataset = projectClient.Datasets.UploadFile(
    name: "my-dataset",
    version: "1.0",
    filePath: "data/training.txt",
    connectionName: connectionName);

// Upload folder
FolderDataset folderDataset = projectClient.Datasets.UploadFolder(
    name: "my-dataset",
    version: "2.0",
    folderPath: "data/training",
    connectionName: connectionName,
    filePattern: new Regex(".*\\.txt"));

// Get dataset
AIProjectDataset dataset = projectClient.Datasets.GetDataset("my-dataset", "1.0");

// Delete dataset
projectClient.Datasets.Delete("my-dataset", "1.0");
6. Indexes
// Create Azure AI Search index
AzureAISearchIndex searchIndex = new(aiSearchConnectionName, aiSearchIndexName)
{
    Description = "Sample Index"
};

searchIndex = (AzureAISearchIndex)projectClient.Indexes.CreateOrUpdate(
    name: "my-index",
    version: "1.0",
    index: searchIndex);

// List indexes
foreach (AIProjectIndex index in projectClient.Indexes.GetIndexes())
{
    Console.WriteLine(index.Name);
}

// Delete index
projectClient.Indexes.Delete(name: "my-index", version: "1.0");
7. Evaluations
// Create evaluation configuration
var evaluatorConfig = new EvaluatorConfiguration(id: EvaluatorIDs.Relevance);
evaluatorConfig.InitParams.Add("deployment_name", BinaryData.FromObjectAsJson("gpt-4o"));

// Create evaluation
Evaluation evaluation = new Evaluation(
    data: new InputDataset("<dataset_id>"),
    evaluators: new Dictionary<string, EvaluatorConfiguration> 
    { 
        { "relevance", evaluatorConfig } 
    }
)
{
    DisplayName = "Sample Evaluation"
};

// Run evaluation
Evaluation result = projectClient.Evaluations.Create(evaluation: evaluation);

// Get evaluation
Evaluation getResult = projectClient.Evaluations.Get(result.Name);

// List evaluations
foreach (var eval in projectClient.Evaluations.GetAll())
{
    Console.WriteLine($"{eval.DisplayName}: {eval.Status}");
}
8. Get Azure OpenAI Chat Client
using Azure.AI.OpenAI;
using OpenAI.Chat;

ClientConnection connection = projectClient.GetConnection(typeof(AzureOpenAIClient).FullName!);

if (!connection.TryGetLocatorAsUri(out Uri uri) || uri is null)
    throw new InvalidOperationException("Invalid URI.");

uri = new Uri($"https://{uri.Host}");

AzureOpenAIClient azureOpenAIClient = new AzureOpenAIClient(uri, new DefaultAzureCredential());
ChatClient chatClient = azureOpenAIClient.GetChatClient("gpt-4o-mini");

ChatCompletion result = chatClient.CompleteChat("List all rainbow colors");
Console.WriteLine(result.Content[0].Text);

Available Agent Tools

ToolClassPurpose
Code InterpreterCodeInterpreterToolDefinitionExecute Python code
File SearchFileSearchToolDefinitionSearch uploaded files
Function CallingFunctionToolDefinitionCall custom functions
Bing GroundingBingGroundingToolDefinitionWeb search via Bing
Azure AI SearchAzureAISearchToolDefinitionSearch Azure AI indexes
OpenAPIOpenApiToolDefinitionCall external APIs
Azure FunctionsAzureFunctionToolDefinitionInvoke Azure Functions
MCPMCPToolDefinitionModel Context Protocol tools

Key Types Reference

TypePurpose
AIProjectClientMain entry point
PersistentAgentsClientLow-level agent operations
PromptAgentDefinitionVersioned agent definition
AgentVersionVersioned agent instance
AIProjectConnectionConnection to Azure resource
AIProjectDeploymentModel deployment info
AIProjectDatasetDataset metadata
AIProjectIndexSearch index metadata
EvaluationEvaluation configuration and results

Best Practices

  1. Use DefaultAzureCredential for production authentication

  2. Use async methods (*Async) for all I/O operations

  3. Poll with appropriate delays (500ms recommended) when waiting for runs

  4. Clean up resources — delete threads, agents, and files when done

  5. Use versioned agents (via Azure.AI.Projects.OpenAI) for production scenarios

  6. Store connection IDs rather than names for tool configurations

  7. Use includeCredentials: true only when credentials are needed

  8. Handle pagination — use AsyncPageable<T> for listing operations

Error Handling

using Azure;

try
{
    var result = await projectClient.Evaluations.CreateAsync(evaluation);
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex)
{
    Console.WriteLine($"Error: {ex.Status} - {ex.ErrorCode}: {ex.Message}");
}
SDKPurposeInstall
Azure.AI.ProjectsHigh-level project client (this SDK)dotnet add package Azure.AI.Projects
Azure.AI.Agents.PersistentLow-level agent operationsdotnet add package Azure.AI.Agents.Persistent
Azure.AI.Projects.OpenAIVersioned agents with OpenAIdotnet add package Azure.AI.Projects.OpenAI

Files

LICENSE

    MIT License

    Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation.

    Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
    of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
    in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
    to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
    copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
    furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

    The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
    copies or substantial portions of the Software.

    THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
    IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
    FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
    AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
    LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
    OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
    SOFTWARE

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.

Security

No issues found by our static scan· No issues found

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Attribution and licence

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

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Download ZIP

The ZIP holds the skill’s files, its licence files and an ATTRIBUTION.md. Download azure-ai-projects-dotnet.zip