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Teams App Developer

MicrosoftOfficialPublished by Microsoft

  • Skill
  • Tool integration
  • Software development
  • MIT
  • Medium risk

From the author

Builds, tests, and deploys Microsoft 365 apps and agents for Teams and Copilot. Includes sub-skills for project creation, local testing, cloud deployment, troubleshooting, and Slack-to-Teams migration. USE FOR: Teams agent, bot, tab, message extension, Declarative Agents, Custom Engine Agents, local testing, Agents Playground, Azure resource provision, remote deployment, Slack to Teams migration, cross-platform bot development, Block Kit to Adaptive Cards conversion. DO NOT USE FOR: general web development, non-bot/non-Teams projects.
— the description by Microsoft

AutoGineer summary

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

The teams-app-developer skill provides a structured framework for managing the lifecycle of Microsoft 365 agents and Teams applications. It leverages the ATK CLI to handle project scaffolding, local testing via the Agents Playground, cloud provisioning on Azure, and troubleshooting. The skill includes specialized guidance for migrating Slack bots to Teams, including converting Block Kit UI to Adaptive Cards, and provides access to an extensive library of micro-expert documentation for cross-platform development.

What it does

  • Scaffolds new Microsoft 365 agents and Teams applications from templates.
  • Facilitates local testing using the Agents Playground or Teams-specific environments.
  • Automates Azure resource provisioning and cloud deployment workflows.
  • Provides diagnostic procedures for common authentication and configuration errors.
  • Supports migration of Slack bots to the Teams platform.
  • Manages project configuration and environment variables for ATK-based projects.

When to use it

  • When starting a new Teams app, bot, or Declarative Agent project.
  • When you need to test an agent locally before deploying to the cloud.
  • When migrating existing Slack bots to the Microsoft Teams ecosystem.
  • When troubleshooting deployment or authentication issues in a Teams project.
  • When you need to provision Azure infrastructure for a Teams application.

Advantages

  • Streamlines the development lifecycle with standardized CLI commands.
  • Reduces development time by offering a local testing playground.
  • Provides expert-level guidance for complex cross-platform migrations.
  • Ensures consistent configuration management across development environments.
  • Includes robust error-handling protocols for common platform-specific pitfalls.

Usage examples

“Create a new Teams bot project using the default template.”
The agent will initialize a new project folder, configure the necessary YAML files, and guide you through the initial setup using the ATK CLI.
“How do I migrate my Slack bot to Microsoft Teams?”
The agent will initiate the slack-to-teams workflow, providing access to cross-platform bridging experts and guidance on converting UI components.
“My Teams bot is returning a 401 error, how do I fix it?”
The agent will trigger the troubleshooting workflow, checking your environment variables, tunnel status, and authentication configuration.

Install

  1. Download the skill as a ZIP:

    https://mp-staging.autogineer.com/agent-skills/microsoft/teams-app-developer/download
  2. Unzip it into the cross-client skills folder of your project:

    mkdir -p .agents/skills && unzip teams-app-developer.zip -d .agents/skills

Documentation by Microsoft

Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit Skill

Build Microsoft 365 agents and Teams apps using the ATK CLI.

AI Behavior Guidelines

  1. Testing Strategy: Recommend Agents Playground first (faster, no M365 needed). Use Teams workflow only if user explicitly requests it.

  2. Environment Variables: NEVER hardcode secrets or make up placeholder values. Always ask users for real values.

  3. Error Handling: Read error messages carefully. Check env/.env.local, .localConfigs, and atk auth list. Common pitfalls:

    • AADSTS7000229 → aadApp/create missing generateServicePrincipal: true in YAML — add it and re-provision

    • Missing TENANT_ID in .localConfigs → SDK uses wrong token authority → 401 from Bot Connector

    • 401 persists after auth fix → devtunnel URL may be blacklisted — create a fresh tunnel

    • See troubleshoot/troubleshoot.md for full diagnostic steps

  4. Long-Running Commands — WAIT for completion:

    • atk new, atk provision, atk deploy can take several minutes

    • Always wait for completion before running the next step (timeout 120000ms+)

  5. Local Service Startup — Hangs terminal (expected):

    • npm run dev, npm start, python app.py, devtunnel host, etc. will hang — the process keeps running indefinitely

    • ALWAYS run as a background process (isBackground=true) — NEVER use isBackground=false for these commands

    • Do NOT wait for it to "finish" — verify startup by checking output for "listening on port" or tunnel URL

    • If errors appear, read logs, diagnose, fix, restart

    • Use a NEW terminal to launch Agents Playground or open Teams sideloading URL

  6. Monitor App Logs: Periodically check background terminal output for runtime errors. If the app crashes, read the error, fix the root cause, and restart.

  7. Telemetry Tagging: Before running any atk CLI commands, set the session environment variable so all CLI invocations are tagged as skill-initiated:

    export ATK_CLI_SKILL=true

    Run this once at the start of the session. All subsequent atk commands in the same terminal will inherit it.

ATK CLI Setup

atk --version  # Must be > 1.1.5-beta

If ATK is not found or version is too old:

npm i -g @microsoft/m365agentstoolkit-cli@beta

CLI Global Options

OptionMeaningRecommendation
-iInteractive modeAlways use -i false in automation to avoid hanging
-fProject folderDefault to be current directory, used when specifying a custom folder. When scaffolding a new project, this is the parent folder where the project folder will be created under.
-hCommand helpUse atk <command> -h for quick syntax checks

Sub-Skills

Sub-SkillWhen to UseReference
create-projectScaffold new project from template, choose template, atk newcreate-project/create-project.md
test-playgroundTest locally with Agents Playground, agentsplayground, quick testingtest-playground/test-playground.md
test-teamsRun on Teams, devtunnel, sideload, Teams testing, test in Copilottest-teams/test-teams.md
provision-deployProvision Azure resources, deploy to cloud, atk provision, atk deployprovision-deploy/provision-deploy.md
troubleshootFix errors, 401, port conflicts, YAML errors, stale botstroubleshoot/troubleshoot.md
slack-to-teamsMigrate Slack bot to Teams, cross-platform bridging, Block Kit to Adaptive Cardsslack-to-teams/SKILL.md

MANDATORY: Before executing any workflow, read the corresponding sub-skill document.

Shared References

  • manifest-and-yaml.md — Project files, YAML config, env vars, .localConfigs flow

  • commands.md — ATK CLI commands: package, validate, share, collaborate

  • templates.md — Complete template catalog with language support

  • experts/ — 100+ micro-expert files: Teams SDK, Slack SDK, cross-platform bridging, deploy, AI models, security, language conversion

  • docs/ — Platform comparison guides: UI, messaging, identity, infrastructure, feature gaps

Workflow Chains

Match user intent to the smallest valid workflow.

User IntentWorkflow (read in order)
Build new app from scratchcreate-project → test-playground
Test existing project locallytest-playground (recommended) or test-teams
Deploy to Azureprovision-deploy
Fix broken bottroubleshoot → re-test
Migrate Slack bot to Teamsslack-to-teams

MANDATORY: Before executing any slack-to-teams workflow, read slack-to-teams/SKILL.md first. The sub-skill contains a routed expert system with 100+ micro-expert files for cross-platform bot development.

ATK Project Context Resolution

Resolve config values only when missing. If a value is already known in the session, reuse it.

Step 1: Detect ATK Project

If m365agentstoolkit*.yml exists in the current folder, treat it as an ATK project and parse configuration.

Step 2: Resolve Common Configuration

Resolve variables referenced in m365agentstoolkit*.yml. Common variables: AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT AZURE_OPENAI_DEPLOYMENT_NAME

Step 3: Collect Missing Values

If required values are missing, ask the user for only the missing ones.

Refer to manifest-and-yaml.md for full config-file details.

Files

experts/slack/cli.app-management.md

cli.app-management

purpose

App lifecycle management (slack app), collaborator administration (slack collaborator), and workspace installation controls via the Slack CLI.

rules

  1. slack app install installs the production app to a workspace. After slack deploy, use this to install the app in additional workspaces. The app must be deployed before it can be installed.

  2. slack app uninstall removes the app from a workspace. Revokes all tokens and permissions. Users lose access to the app's triggers, functions, and datastores in that workspace.

  3. slack app delete permanently removes the app. Deletes the app registration from Slack's platform. This is irreversible — all triggers, datastores, and installations are lost. Requires confirmation.

  4. slack app link associates an existing app with a project. If you have an app created outside the CLI (e.g., via api.slack.com), link it to your local project for CLI management. Updates .slack/project.json.

  5. slack app unlink disconnects an app from the project. Removes the app-to-project mapping in .slack/project.json. The app still exists on Slack's platform — it's just no longer managed by this project directory.

  6. slack app list shows apps linked to this project. Displays app IDs, workspace names, and deployment status (dev vs deployed). Useful for multi-workspace setups.

  7. slack app settings opens the app config in a browser. Navigates to api.slack.com/apps/<id> for the app's web-based settings page. Useful for configuring features not exposed via CLI.

  8. slack collaborator add grants another developer access. They can run CLI commands against the app (deploy, run, trigger management). Requires the collaborator's Slack email or user ID.

  9. slack collaborator remove revokes a collaborator's access. They can no longer deploy, run, or manage the app via the CLI.

  10. slack collaborator list shows all collaborators. Displays user IDs, emails, and permission levels for the app.

  11. slack collaborator update changes a collaborator's role. Modify permissions (e.g., read-only vs full access) for an existing collaborator.

  12. Multi-workspace management is first-class. One project can have multiple app installations across workspaces. Each workspace gets its own app ID in .slack/project.json. Use --team to target specific workspaces.

patterns

Pattern 1: App lifecycle workflow
# Deploy the app first (creates/updates the production app)
slack deploy

# Install to additional workspaces
slack app install --team T0SECOND_WS

# List all linked apps and their workspaces
slack app list
# Output:
#   App ID         Team                  Status
#   A01234 (dev)   MyWorkspace (T001)    Development
#   A05678         MyWorkspace (T001)    Deployed
#   A09012         OtherWorkspace (T002) Deployed

# View app settings in browser
slack app settings --app A05678

# Uninstall from a workspace (keeps app, removes from workspace)
slack app uninstall --team T0SECOND_WS

# Permanently delete the app (irreversible!)
slack app delete --app A05678
# CLI prompts: "Are you sure? This cannot be undone." → confirm
Pattern 2: Collaborator management
# Add a collaborator by email
slack collaborator add --email [email protected]

# Add by Slack user ID
slack collaborator add --user U0ALICE

# List all collaborators
slack collaborator list
# Output:
#   User ID    Email                Role
#   U0OWNER    [email protected]    Owner
#   U0ALICE    [email protected]    Collaborator
#   U0BOB      [email protected]      Collaborator

# Update collaborator role
slack collaborator update --user U0ALICE --role viewer

# Remove a collaborator
slack collaborator remove --user U0ALICE
Pattern 3: Multi-workspace project setup
# Authenticate with multiple workspaces
slack auth login                    # Primary workspace
slack auth login                    # Secondary workspace (repeat login)
slack auth list                     # Shows both workspaces

# Deploy to primary workspace
slack deploy --team T0PRIMARY

# Deploy to secondary workspace (creates a separate app registration)
slack deploy --team T0SECONDARY

# Create triggers per workspace (triggers are workspace-scoped)
slack trigger create --trigger-def triggers/greeting.ts --team T0PRIMARY
slack trigger create --trigger-def triggers/greeting.ts --team T0SECONDARY

# Monitor activity per workspace
slack activity --team T0PRIMARY
slack activity --team T0SECONDARY

# Project config tracks both
cat .slack/project.json
# Shows app IDs for both workspaces
Pattern 4: Linking and unlinking existing apps
# Link an app created via api.slack.com to this project
slack app link --app A0EXISTING --team T0WORKSPACE
# Updates .slack/project.json with the app mapping

# Unlink without deleting the app
slack app unlink --app A0EXISTING
# Removes from .slack/project.json, app still exists on Slack

# Initialize a project and link in one step
cd existing-code/
slack project init
slack app link --app A0EXISTING --team T0WORKSPACE
slack deploy  # Now deploys to the linked app

pitfalls

  • slack app delete is irreversible — All data, triggers, and installations are permanently destroyed. Double-check the app ID before confirming. There is no undo.

  • Confusing uninstall with delete — uninstall removes from a workspace (reversible via re-install). delete destroys the app entirely.

  • Deploying to wrong workspace — Without --team, deploys to the default workspace. Always verify with slack auth list which workspace is active.

  • Collaborators vs workspace members — Collaborators are developers who can manage the app via CLI. Workspace members are end users who interact with the app. These are different permission systems.

  • Unlinked app still exists — slack app unlink only removes the local project mapping. The app continues running on Slack's platform. To fully remove, use slack app delete.

  • Triggers are workspace-scoped — When deploying to multiple workspaces, you must create triggers separately in each workspace. They don't automatically propagate.

  • Stale .slack/project.json after manual changes — If you delete an app via the web UI, the local project.json still references it. Run slack app list and slack app unlink to clean up.

  • Collaborator email must be a Slack account — The person must have a Slack account in the workspace. External emails without Slack accounts can't be added.

references

instructions

Do a web search for:

  • "Slack CLI app install uninstall delete link management 2025"

  • "Slack CLI collaborator add remove permissions"

  • "Slack CLI multi-workspace deployment project.json"

Pair with:

  • cli.local-dev-deploy.md — deploy before install, dev vs production apps

  • cli.getting-started.md — auth and project setup before app management

  • cli.manifest-triggers.md — triggers must be created per workspace after install

  • bolt-oauth-distribution-ts.md — OAuth distribution for multi-workspace Bolt apps

research

Deep Research prompt:

"Write a micro expert on Slack CLI app management and collaboration. Cover app lifecycle (install, uninstall, delete, link, unlink, list, settings), collaborator management (add, remove, list, update), multi-workspace deployment (--team flag, separate app IDs per workspace, workspace-scoped triggers), project.json workspace mapping, app link/unlink for existing apps, and the difference between dev and deployed app installations. Include canonical patterns for: app lifecycle workflow, collaborator management, multi-workspace setup, linking existing apps."

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 API key, Needs Python, Needs Node.js

Security

What our scanner noticed· Medium risk

  • Possible data-exfiltration endpoints
  • Instructions that use the network
  • Downloads piped into a shell

A static scan is not a guarantee. Skills are third-party content: review a skill before you let an agent use it.

Attribution and licence

Published by
Microsoft
Publisher
Microsoft (Official)
Source
microsoft/skills · .github/plugins/microsoft-365-agents-toolkit/skills/teams-app-developer · 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 teams-app-developer.zip