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
scaffold/references/subagent-iac-gen.md
Subagent Template — IaC Generation (Steps 5–8)
Generate deployment-ready IaC from prepare-plan.json. Follow the workflow below — each step specifies which reference to read and what to do with it.
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 generate
azure.yaml⛔ Do NOT modify app source code — only write files under
infra/(andDockerfile.azureif needed)⛔ Do NOT run app build/test/lint commands (
npm test,npm run build,pnpm build,python -m pytest,dotnet build, etc.). Only validate generated IaC viaaz bicep build.
Input (provided by caller)
| Field | Source | Required |
|---|---|---|
prepare-plan.json content | Session folder — services, naming, quotas, cost, deploymentVariables | YES (verbatim) |
context.json.overrides | iacFormat, detectedInfraProvider | YES |
buildRequirements | From prereq-output.json — runtime, deps, Dockerfiles | YES |
warnings[] | From prereq-output.json — prereq warnings requiring IaC fixes (env var overrides, config changes). Applied during Steps 3–4. | YES |
| Compute targets | App Service/Functions, Container Apps, or both + whether PostgreSQL/Redis present | YES |
apiVersions | Map of resourceType → latestGAVersion from main-thread MCP lookup. Use these versions in generated Bicep — do NOT use versions from training data. If "MCP unavailable" — see Step 1 for fallback. | YES |
Output
| Artifact | Location |
|---|---|
infra/main.bicep (or main.tf) | Workspace infra/ |
infra/main.parameters.json (or variables.tf) | Workspace infra/ |
infra/modules/{service}.bicep per service | Workspace infra/modules/ |
| File list | Return to caller for scaffold-manifest.json.files[] |
Workflow
Step 1 — Read skeleton + tag patterns
Read bicep-patterns.md (Bicep) OR terraform-patterns.md (Terraform) — NOT both.
Do: Extract the main.bicep skeleton structure (targetScope, parameters, variables, resource group, module calls). Extract the 5-tag block definition. Use prepare-plan.json.naming for all resource names — never derive names with take(), substring(), uniqueString(), or string manipulation. The 4-char session suffix in the plan names already provides uniqueness. ⛔ For each resource 'Type@Version' declaration, use the version from apiVersions input. If type missing from map, use version from reference file examples.
⛔ If
apiVersionsis"MCP unavailable"or missing a resource type: runaz provider show --namespace {ns} --query "resourceTypes[?resourceType=='{type}'].apiVersions[?!contains(@, 'preview')] | [0][0]" -o tsvfor each missing provider — this filters to GA-only and picks the latest. NEVER fall back to training data — hallucinated API versions cause multiple deploy healing cycles.
Step 2 — Read compute-target patterns
Read ONLY the compute-target reference(s) matching the plan, if the plan has multiple compute targets, read each matching file.:
If plan has App Service/Functions → read bicep-app-service.md.
If plan has Container Apps → read bicep-container-apps.md.
If plan has Static Web Apps → read bicep-swa.md.
If plan has BOTH → read both.
Do: Generate compute module(s) using the patterns from each reference file. F1/D1 App Service: do NOT generate Dockerfile, do NOT add managed identity (OOM). App Service health probe: if prereq-output.json.healthEndpoint is non-null, set siteConfig.healthCheckPath to that value; otherwise omit (do NOT default to /).
Step 3 — Read security patterns
⛔ You MUST read bicep-patterns-security.md. It contains Key Vault config, managed identity, HTTPS/TLS, and credential hygiene rules. Apply to every generated module.
Step 4 — Read generation rules
Read iac-generation-rules.md.
Do: Apply ALL rules from the reference file to every generated module. The file contains mandatory tag definitions, naming constraints, security patterns, env var completeness checks, and Dockerfile generation rules. Do NOT skip any section — every rule applies.
Step 5 — Read env var + secrets wiring
Read env-var-secrets.md.
Do: For each component in the plan, read .env.example (or .env.sample, config files like Pydantic Settings, Django settings.py) from the workspace. Map every env var to either: (1) a Bicep parameter, (2) a KV secret reference, or (3) a value derived from other resources (e.g., DB connection string from the DB module output). Wire these into the compute module's appSettings (App Service) or env (Container Apps).
Step 6 — Generate data modules (if needed)
ONLY if PostgreSQL, MySQL, or Redis is in the plan. Skip if none are present.
PostgreSQL Flexible Server module — include the AllowAllAzureServicesAndResourcesWithinAzureIps (0.0.0.0) firewall rule, extension allow-list (azure.extensions config: uuid-ossp,pgcrypto,pg_trgm), SSL enforcement, storage config (default 32 GB). Set the server version from prepare-plan.json.services[].version (capabilities-verified) — do NOT hardcode or guess. Use @secure() param administratorLoginPassword — deploy generates the value once and reuses it on redeploy; do NOT bake a value.
MySQL Flexible Server module — mirror the PostgreSQL module, with the MySQL-only deltas: require_secure_transport: ON config, the server version from prepare-plan.json.services[].version (ARM rejects major-only strings like '8.0' — needs an exact patch such as '8.0.21'), and a flexibleServers/databases child resource for the compose-declared DB name (e.g. MYSQLDB_DATABASE) so the app's schema DB exists in IaC before the container starts. See bicep-patterns-data.md § MySQL Flexible Server Module.
Redis Cache module — Basic SKU, enableNonSslPort: false, minimumTlsVersion: '1.2'. Store hostname + access key in Key Vault. ⛔ Known Bicep type issue: sku property may cause BCP035/BCP187 warnings — these are false positives. If deploy fails with InvalidRequestBody for properties.sku.name, create via az redis create --sku Basic --vm-size c0 then reference with existing keyword in Bicep.
Wire connection strings via Key Vault secretRef (Container Apps) or @Microsoft.KeyVault() (App Service). ⛔ Container Apps: KV secretRef entries MUST be gated behind isPlaceholder — Phase 1 deploys with secrets: []. See bicep-container-apps.md § Two-Phase Wiring.
Step 7 — Generate all files
⛔ Before writing ANY file, verify: (1) KV uses
enableRbacAuthorization: true, NOenablePurgeProtection, NO access policies. (2) No secrets in module outputs — secrets flow through KV only. (3) API versions fromapiVersionsinput, not memory. (4) Container Apps: norevisionSuffix, placeholder image as default,isPlaceholderconditionals on registries/secrets.
Do: Create the infra/ directory and write all files:
infra/bicepconfig.json— write{ "formatting": { "newlineKind": "LF" } }if it doesn't already exist (user's repo may have one). LF is critical because Bicep triple-quoted strings pass content literally to ARM, and\rbytes crash/bin/shin containers.infra/main.bicep— subscription scope, RG creation with tags, module calls for all services +role-assignmentsmodule (KV deployer + app-to-KV RBAC), all unconditional.infra/main.parameters.json— ARM JSON format (NOT.bicepparam). IncludeenvironmentName,location,sessionId,deployedBy,createdAt. ⛔createdAtvalue: runGet-Date -Format "o"in terminal to get the current ISO 8601 timestamp — NEVER use a hardcoded or placeholder date. Do NOT include@secure()params (passed at deploy time). IncludedeployerObjectIdparam (deploy phase passes viaaz ad signed-in-user show --query id -o tsv).infra/modules/{service}.bicep— one module per service from the plan, PLUSrole-assignments.bicep(KV Secrets Officer for deployer, KV Secrets User for app identity if MI enabled — see bicep-patterns-security.md § Key Vault Deployer RBAC).If
buildRequirements.hasBuildKitSyntax == true: ⛔ create{component}/Dockerfile.azureper dockerfile-generation.md § ACR Build Compatibility.If Container Apps and component has NO Dockerfile: read dockerfile-generation.md and generate one. Follow the layer ordering, port alignment, and security defaults from that reference — do NOT generate from memory.
⛔ Health probes for Container Apps: Probe path priority: (1)
prereq-output.json.healthEndpointif non-null, (2) first detected GET route from the app, (3)/only if the app has a root handler. Do NOT default to/for APIs that only serve sub-paths — returns 404, blocks activation. For DB apps: use/healthznot/readyz(DB not wired in Phase 1).
Step 8 — Validate syntax
Do: Run az bicep build --file infra/main.bicep --stdout > $null. If errors, fix and re-run (max 2 attempts). Do NOT use the azure-validate skill.
Step 9 — Return results
Do: Return the list of generated files and any validation notes to the caller. Keep status report ≤1500 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
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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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Download ZIP
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