Azure App Onboard
MicrosoftOfficialCreated by Microsoft
- Skill
- Workflow
- Cloud and DevOps
- MIT
- Low risk
- Has scripts
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
Download the skill as a ZIP:
https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/azure-app-onboard/downloadUnzip 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
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Best for | Developers who know what to build but not which Azure services to use |
| Inputs | Business idea or existing codebase, budget/scale preferences (optional) |
| Outputs | Architecture plan, cost estimate, IaC files, deployed Azure resources |
| Phases | Discover → 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
| Scenario | Use Instead |
|---|---|
Run azd up or execute an existing deployment | azure-deploy |
| Optimize existing Azure spend | cost-optimization from the optional azure-cost plugin |
| Generate Bicep/Terraform for a known architecture | azure-prepare |
| Validate infrastructure or run preflight checks | azure-validate |
| Troubleshoot a running Azure deployment | azure-diagnostics |
| Deploy to or manage AKS/Kubernetes directly | azure-kubernetes |
| Look up or list existing Azure resources | azure-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.mdat 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 readdeploy/PHASE.md, read.copilot-azure/sessions/{id}/deploy-checklist.mdfirst, thendeploy/PHASE.md. ⛔ NEVER invoke{"skill": "azure-deploy"}— that is a DIFFERENT skill for a DIFFERENT workflow.
⛔ Post-scaffold transition (MANDATORY): Immediately after
scaffold-manifest.jsonis 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. Confirmcontext.jsonhascompletedPhases: [...,"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.
| # | Step | Action | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Session check + Azure login | Create/resume session, verify Azure CLI auth, resolve subscription + user identity | ⛔ You MUST read session-protocol.md |
| 2 | Scope triage | Check azd markers, triage question. Empty workspace or code-only (no infra) → Step 3 directly. | ⛔ Read intent-gathering.md § Scope Triage |
| 3 | Prereq 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. | |
| 4 | Gather intent | Present prereq results, confirm stack + Azure services, ask remaining questions. | ⛔ Read intent-gathering.md § After Prereq Returns |
| 5 | Plan architecture | Write prepare-plan.json. | ⛔ You MUST read prepare/PHASE.md |
| 6 | Scaffold approval gate | Display plan for user approval BEFORE generating any files. | ⛔ Read approval-gates.md § Scaffold Gate |
| 7 | Scaffold | Generate IaC, self-review. Write scaffold-manifest.json. Update context.json. | ⛔ You MUST read scaffold/PHASE.md |
| 8 | Deploy approval gate | Display validation summary. ⛔ After approval: FIRST read deploy-checklist.md → deploy/PHASE.md. NEVER {"skill": "azure-deploy"}. | ⛔ Read approval-gates.md § Deploy Gate |
| 9 | Deploy | Execute IaC, health-check. Write deploy-result.json. | ⛔ You MUST read deploy/PHASE.md |
| 10 | Handoff | Surface deployment identity, cleanup commands, next steps. | ⛔ You MUST read handoff-protocol.md |
Error Handling
| Error | Remediation |
|---|---|
| Phase fails | Halt, report phase + error. User decides: retry, skip, abort. |
| MCP server unavailable | Skip affected checks, add disclaimer to costEstimate.assumptions[] and every approval gate. |
| Missing RBAC | Report required role + az role assignment command. |
Shared references: MCP tools (cross-phase tool parameters) | IaC resources (Azure resource docs for troubleshooting)
Files
- ATTRIBUTION.mdAdded by AutoGineer983 B
- LICENSELicence file added by AutoGineer1.1 KiB
- SKILL.md6.6 KiB
- deploy/PHASE.md7.5 KiB
- deploy/references/approval-gate-template.md2.9 KiB
- deploy/references/blocked-patterns.md5.7 KiB
- deploy/references/code-deployment-appservice.md4.6 KiB
- deploy/references/code-deployment-container-apps.md8.4 KiB
- deploy/references/code-deployment-swa.md5.7 KiB
- deploy/references/database-post-deploy.md4.5 KiB
- deploy/references/deploy-checklist-template.md10.1 KiB
- deploy/references/deploy-safety.md4.5 KiB
- deploy/references/deploy-schemas.tsScript3.5 KiB
- deploy/references/error-classification.md3.6 KiB
- deploy/references/health-check-patterns.md5.5 KiB
- deploy/references/mcp-tools.md5.5 KiB
- deploy/references/portal-links.md3.1 KiB
- deploy/references/preflight-checks.md4.4 KiB
- deploy/references/subagent-preflight.md5.1 KiB
- prepare/PHASE.md6.4 KiB
- prepare/references/deploy-strategy.md6.8 KiB
- prepare/references/mcp-tools.md5.6 KiB
- prepare/references/naming-patterns.md4.6 KiB
- prepare/references/prepare-schemas.tsScript7.0 KiB
- prepare/references/pricing-guide-services.md8.4 KiB
- prepare/references/pricing-guide.md4.0 KiB
- prepare/references/service-mapping.md8.5 KiB
- prepare/references/sku-matrix.md3.2 KiB
- prepare/references/sku-quota-validation.md9.0 KiB
- prepare/references/subagent-pricing.md2.5 KiB
- prepare/references/subagent-quota.md3.5 KiB
- prepare/references/validation-rubric.md2.3 KiB
- references/approval-gates.md8.4 KiB
- references/azd-template-routing.md4.7 KiB
- references/handoff-protocol.md7.8 KiB
- references/iac-resources.md2.6 KiB
- references/intent-gathering.md2.2 KiB
- references/mcp-tool-reference.md3.7 KiB
- references/pipeline-rules-runtime.md3.5 KiB
- references/pipeline-rules.md6.3 KiB
- references/session-protocol.md8.0 KiB
- references/session-schemas.tsScript5.2 KiB
- references/subscription-resolution.md2.1 KiB
- scaffold/PHASE.md14.2 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-app-service.md5.4 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-container-apps.md9.3 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-patterns-data.md4.0 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-patterns-security.md7.8 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-patterns.md6.8 KiB
- scaffold/references/bicep-swa.md757 B
- scaffold/references/cicd-pipelines.md325 B
- scaffold/references/dockerfile-generation.md4.1 KiB
- scaffold/references/env-var-secrets.md4.1 KiB
- scaffold/references/error-handling.md1.5 KiB
- scaffold/references/iac-generation-rules.md6.6 KiB
- scaffold/references/mcp-tools.md7.0 KiB
- scaffold/references/rbac-roles.md3.8 KiB
- scaffold/references/scaffold-healing-rules.md3.3 KiB
- scaffold/references/scaffold-schemas.tsScript3.5 KiB
- scaffold/references/self-healing.md2.3 KiB
- scaffold/references/self-review-checklist.md9.0 KiB
- scaffold/references/self-review-procedure.md2.3 KiB
- scaffold/references/subagent-iac-gen.md9.5 KiB
- scaffold/references/subagent-review.md3.5 KiB
- scaffold/references/subagent-validate.md7.2 KiB
- scaffold/references/terraform-patterns.md6.9 KiB
- scaffold/references/validation-and-manifest.md5.1 KiB
- scaffold/references/waf-checklist.md2.3 KiB
- scaffold/scripts/scaffold-conformance.ps1Script12.8 KiB
- scaffold/scripts/scaffold-conformance.shScript13.8 KiB
prepare/references/sku-quota-validation.md
SKU Quota Validation Procedure
Pre-deploy quota and offer restriction checks. Read during prepare Step 5 before deploying.
For SKU selection (budget tiers, modifier rules, defaults), see sku-matrix.md.
Quota Validation Procedure
⛔ Use
az rest, NOTaz quota list. Theaz quota listCLI extension triggers a full extension metadata scan on startup. If ANY installed extension has a permission error (common:azure-devopsWinError 5 on Windows), the entire command fails.az restis a built-in command that bypasses extension loading entirely and hits the same REST API. Quota increases are free — you only pay for resources actually used.
⛔
what-ifdoes NOT catch App Service quota errors.az deployment sub what-ifreturnsSucceededeven when the target SKU has limit=0. The quota rejection only surfaces at actualaz deployment sub createtime. This means the prepare-phase quota check is the ONLY pre-deploy safety net — do not skip or shortcut it.
⛔ Do NOT use
az vm list-usage,az appservice list-locations, ormcp_azure_mcp_quotafor quota checks. They return misleading data — see Anti-Patterns below.
Region Selection
Build the scan list dynamically — do NOT hardcode a fixed set of regions:
User's preferred region — read
context.json.azure.regionorcontext.json.overrides[]for a region preference. If stated, scan that region first.Nearest alternates — add 3–4 regions geographically close to the user's preferred region from the global pool below.
If no user preference — default to a well-supported region (e.g.,
eastus2) and scan 4 alternates from the user's likely geography (infer from subscription tenant location or ask).
Global region pool: eastus2, eastus, westus2, centralus, westeurope, northeurope, australiaeast, japaneast, southeastasia, brazilsouth
Agent: adapt shell syntax to detected environment. PowerShell shown below; use equivalent syntax on bash/zsh (e.g.,
for region in eastus eastus2 ...; do ... done).
⛔ PowerShell
?in URLs: When buildingaz restURLs with variable interpolation, PowerShell may strip?from?api-version=. Always use the URL inline in double quotes (as shown below), NOT via a$urlvariable. If you must use a variable, wrap the?with a backtick:`?api-version=.
Per-Provider Scripts
Use az rest for all quota checks. Query BOTH limit AND usage (limit alone is insufficient).
App Service: Query quota + usages endpoints per region:
$sub = '{subscriptionId}'; $sku = '{sku}'
@('{userRegion}','{alt1}','{alt2}','{alt3}') | ForEach-Object {
$limit = az rest --method get --url "https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/$sub/providers/Microsoft.Web/locations/$_/providers/Microsoft.Quota/quotas/$sku?api-version=2023-02-01" --query "properties.limit.value" -o tsv 2>$null
$used = az rest --method get --url "https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/$sub/providers/Microsoft.Web/locations/$_/providers/Microsoft.Quota/usages/$sku?api-version=2023-02-01" --query "properties.usages.value" -o tsv 2>$null
# limit=0 with used=-1 is the API's "Free tier not offered here" sentinel — treat limit<=0 as BLOCKED and clamp negative usage so 0-(-1) does NOT become a false-positive 1.
$ln = if ($limit) { [int]$limit } else { $null }; $un = if ($used) { [int]$used } else { 0 }
$avail = if ($null -eq $ln) { 'unknown' } elseif ($ln -le 0) { 0 } else { $ln - [math]::Max(0, $un) }
Write-Host "$_ : $sku limit=$limit available=$avail"
}Container Apps: /usages gives usage+limit in one call:
az rest --method get --url "https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/$sub/providers/Microsoft.App/locations/{region}/usages?api-version=2024-03-01" --query "value[?name.value=='ManagedEnvironmentCount'].{used:currentValue, limit:limit}" -o jsonStatic Web Apps: No Microsoft.Quota provider — Free plan caps at ~10 apps/subscription (per docs; may vary, treat as guideline). Count existing Free apps:
az staticwebapp list --query "length([?sku.name=='Free'])" -o tsvAt/near cap → treat SWA Free as UNAVAILABLE (no self-service increase — raises need a support request). Fall back per After Checking.
Storage — default limit 250 accounts/region. Rarely exhausted — skip programmatic check unless the plan requires multiple storage accounts.
Key Vault — no quota API exists (returns NotFound). Default limit ~1000 vaults/subscription. Skip programmatic check.
Interpret Results
available > 0→ AVAILABLE.available = 0/limit <= 0→ BLOCKED (alimit=0,used=-1response is the API sentinel for "Free tier not offered in this region" — the script clamps it so it does not read as available). 404/empty → fallback candidate.az restfails →quotaValidation: { verified: false, method: "unverifiable" }.
After Checking
Only offer regions with confirmed capacity — "try anyway" on zero/unconfirmed quota is a known deploy failure. 1b. Free tier missing in requested region but present elsewhere → present BOTH, ranked by cost: (a) free tier in nearest confirmed region ($0, recommended), (b) cheapest tier IN the requested region (show monthly cost +
assumptions[]note). User picks — never silently relocate (region may be a data-residency/latency requirement).Free SKU zero in ALL regions → step down the fallback ladder to the cheapest available option (don't jump to a named tier — let live quota decide):
Static-capable app → SWA Free, but only if its cap isn't reached (see Static Web Apps above).
No free option left → cheapest available paid tier the app supports. This breaks the "free" promise — add an
assumptions[]note stating why (e.g., "No F1 quota in {checkedRegions} and SWA Free cap reached").All tiers exhausted → HALT: specify region, switch compute type, request increase at portal, or cancel.
Write
prepare-plan.json.quotaValidation:{ verified: true, method: "cli", verifiedRegion, verifiedSku, checkedRegions[], failedResources[] }.
Offer Restriction Check (Database Services)
⛔
what-if/validatedo NOT catchLocationIsOfferRestricted. Use capabilities API.
| Provider | API Version |
|---|---|
| PostgreSQL | 2022-12-01 |
| MySQL | 2023-12-30 |
$sub = '{subscriptionId}'; $provider = 'Microsoft.DBforPostgreSQL'; $apiVer = '2022-12-01'
@('{userRegion}','{alt1}','{alt2}','{alt3}') | ForEach-Object {
$result = az rest --method get --url "https://management.azure.com/subscriptions/$sub/providers/$provider/locations/$_/capabilities?api-version=$apiVer" --query "value[0].supportedFlexibleServerEditions[0].name" -o tsv 2>$null
if ($result) { Write-Host "$_ : $provider AVAILABLE ($result)" } else { Write-Host "$_ : $provider BLOCKED (offer restricted)" }
}For MySQL: change
$provider = 'Microsoft.DBforMySQL'and$apiVer = '2023-12-30'.
⛔ JMESPath MUST start with value[0].. URL MUST include /locations/{region}/. Empty/null response = BLOCKED. Write results to quotaValidation.offerRestrictions[].
⛔ Select the engine version deterministically from the capabilities payload — match the app's detected version, upgrading only to the nearest compatible release. The payload lists supported versions at
value[0].supportedFlexibleServerEditions[0].supportedServerVersions[].name(e.g. MySQL:5.7,8.0.21,8.4,9.5). Using the detected DB version passed by the caller (fromcontext.json.detectedServices[]):
If the exact detected version (or its exact patch) is in the supported list → use it.
Else use the lowest supported version whose major ≥ the detected major (detected
5.7, supported[5.7, 8.0.21, 8.4, 9.5]→8.0.21). Picking the lowest compatible major — not the newest — avoids the 60+ minute provisioning hangs seen on brand-new majors (e.g.9.x) and keeps compatibility with the app's driver/ORM. Return it in the quota output's per-serviceversionfield; the orchestrator copies it toprepare-plan.json.services[].versionat plan-write (exact patch required — see prepare-schemas.tsversion). Record the bump inassumptions[]if the detected version was upgraded.
Anti-Patterns
⛔ az quota list (extension failures), az vm list-usage (wrong layer), az appservice list-locations (ignores quota), mcp_azure_mcp_quota (misleading), what-if/validate (false positives).
Deploy Gate Re-Validation
If quotaValidation.verified == false at deploy gate: re-run Per-Provider Scripts above. Pass → update quotaValidation. Fail → present alternatives. az rest fails → warn and proceed.
Sub-Agent Delegation
When delegating from prepare Step 5, provide: subscriptionId, SKU list from prepare-plan.json.services[].sku, preferred region + fallbacks, list of managed database services, and this file's content. See subagent-quota.md for the template.
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
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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)
- Synced
- Also distributed in
- microsoft/azure-skills
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