Teams App Developer

teams-python

purpose

Microsoft Teams SDK for Python patterns — translating TypeScript Teams AI concepts to Python equivalents using microsoft_teams.

rules

1. Install the Teams Python SDK packages: pip install microsoft-teams-apps microsoft-teams-ai microsoft-teams-openai. The SDK is modular — microsoft_teams.apps for the App framework, microsoft_teams.ai for AI/prompts, microsoft_teams.openai for OpenAI model integration. github.com/nicekid1/Microsoft-Teams.ts

2. Initialize the App with App(client_id=..., client_secret=...) or let it read from CLIENT_ID and CLIENT_SECRET environment variables. The App class is in microsoft_teams.apps. This replaces the TS Application class setup. [teams.py source: app.py]

3. Register activity handlers using Python decorators: @app.on_message, @app.on_message_pattern(r"regex"), @app.on_conversation_update, @app.on_adaptive_card_action, @app.on_typing, @app.on_message_reaction. This replaces the TS app.message(), app.activity() method-call patterns. [teams.py source: activity_handlers.py]

4. All handlers are async def and receive an ActivityContext[T] parameter, where T is the specific activity type (e.g., MessageActivity, ConversationUpdateActivity). This replaces the TS TurnContext pattern. [teams.py source: activity_context.py]

5. Use await ctx.send(message) to send a message and await ctx.reply(message) to reply in a thread. The send method accepts strings, ActivityParams, or AdaptiveCard objects. This replaces the TS context.sendActivity() pattern. [teams.py source: activity_context.py]

6. The App uses FastAPI internally (via HttpPlugin) with uvicorn as the ASGI server. Start with asyncio.run(app.start(port=3978)). Default endpoint is POST /api/messages. This replaces the TS Express-based setup. [teams.py source: http_plugin.py]

7. For AI integration, create a ChatPrompt with an AI model and call await prompt.send(input, instructions=...). The model is typically OpenAICompletionsAIModel or OpenAIResponsesAIModel from microsoft_teams.openai. This replaces the TS ChatPrompt / OpenAIModel classes. [teams.py source: chat_prompt.py]

8. Define AI functions using Function[ParamsType] with Pydantic models for parameter schemas. The handler can be sync or async and returns a string. This replaces the TS function-calling pattern with its TypeScript interfaces. [teams.py source: function.py]

9. Access Microsoft Graph via ctx.user_graph (user-delegated) or ctx.app_graph (app-only). Check ctx.is_signed_in before using user Graph. Initiate sign-in with await ctx.sign_in(SignInOptions(...)). This replaces the TS context.graph patterns. [teams.py source: activity_context.py]

10. Use ListMemory from microsoft_teams.ai for conversation history in AI prompts. Pass it to ChatPrompt(model=model, memory=memory). Supports push, get_all, and set_all operations. This replaces the TS MemoryStorage pattern. [teams.py source: memory.py]

11. Add custom HTTP routes using @app.http.get("/path") or @app.http.post("/path") — these are FastAPI route decorators exposed through the HttpPlugin. This replaces TS custom Express routes. [teams.py source: http_plugin.py]

12. Use Pydantic BaseModel subclasses for typed data throughout (function parameters, API models, card data). This replaces TypeScript interfaces and type definitions. [teams.py patterns]

13. The SDK requires Python 3.12+ and uses modern Python features (type hints, dataclasses, protocols, async/await). [teams.py pyproject.toml]

patterns

Basic echo bot

import asyncio
from microsoft_teams.apps import App, ActivityContext
from microsoft_teams.api import MessageActivity

app = App()

@app.on_message
async def handle_message(ctx: ActivityContext[MessageActivity]):
    await ctx.reply(f"Echo: {ctx.activity.text}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(app.start(port=3978))

AI bot with function calling

import asyncio
from microsoft_teams.apps import App, ActivityContext
from microsoft_teams.api import MessageActivity
from microsoft_teams.ai import ChatPrompt, Function, ListMemory
from microsoft_teams.openai import OpenAICompletionsAIModel
from pydantic import BaseModel

app = App()
model = OpenAICompletionsAIModel(model="gpt-4")
memory = ListMemory()

class SearchParams(BaseModel):
    query: str
    """The search query"""

async def search_handler(params: SearchParams) -> str:
    return f"Results for: {params.query}"

@app.on_message
async def handle_message(ctx: ActivityContext[MessageActivity]):
    prompt = ChatPrompt(model=model, memory=memory)
    prompt.with_function(Function[SearchParams](
        name="search",
        description="Search for information",
        parameter_schema=SearchParams,
        handler=search_handler,
    ))

    result = await prompt.send(
        input=ctx.activity.text,
        instructions="You are a helpful assistant.",
    )

    if result.response.content:
        await ctx.send(result.response.content)

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(app.start(port=3978))

Adaptive Card handling

import asyncio
from microsoft_teams.apps import App, ActivityContext
from microsoft_teams.api import MessageActivity, MessageSubmitActionInvokeActivity

app = App()

@app.on_message_pattern(r"^card$")
async def send_card(ctx: ActivityContext[MessageActivity]):
    from microsoft_teams.cards import AdaptiveCard
    card = AdaptiveCard()
    card.add_text_block("Feedback Form")
    card.add_text_input("feedback", placeholder="Your feedback")
    card.add_submit_action("Submit")
    await ctx.send(card)

@app.on_message_submit_action
async def handle_card_action(ctx: ActivityContext[MessageSubmitActionInvokeActivity]):
    data = ctx.activity.value
    await ctx.reply(f"Got feedback: {data}")

if __name__ == "__main__":
    asyncio.run(app.start(port=3978))

pitfalls

• Python 3.12+ required: The Teams Python SDK uses modern Python features that require 3.12 or later. Earlier versions will fail at import time.

• All handlers are async: Unlike Slack Bolt Python which supports sync handlers, Teams Python SDK handlers must all be async def. Forgetting async or await causes runtime errors.

• Package naming: Import from microsoft_teams.apps, microsoft_teams.ai, etc. — not teams_ai or botbuilder. The namespace is microsoft_teams.

• Port 3978 vs 3000: Teams SDK defaults to port 3978 (Teams convention), not 3000 (Slack convention). When running both in one process, configure different ports.

• No sync adapter: Unlike Slack Bolt which has both sync and async paths, Teams Python SDK is async-only with FastAPI. No Flask adapter exists.

references

• https://github.com/nicekid1/Microsoft-Teams.ts (Python SDK repo)

• teams.py source: packages/apps/src/microsoft_teams/apps/

• teams.py source: packages/ai/src/microsoft_teams/ai/

• teams.py source: packages/openai/src/microsoft_teams/openai/

instructions

This expert covers the Microsoft Teams SDK for Python — the Python equivalent of @microsoft/teams-ai. Use it when building Teams bots in Python (Tier 2 or standalone), translating TypeScript Teams AI patterns to Python, or setting up the FastAPI-based Teams bot server. All TS Teams experts provide the architectural patterns — this expert provides the Python API mappings.

Pair with: Teams TS experts (conceptual architecture — translate to Python). bridge/python-cross-platform.md for unified Python server with both Slack and Teams. slack/bolt-python.md for the Slack side of a Python dual-platform bot.

research

Deep Research prompt:

"Write a micro expert mapping Microsoft Teams AI TypeScript patterns to Python equivalents using the microsoft_teams SDK. Cover App initialization (client_id, client_secret, env vars), decorator-based activity routing (@app.on_message, @app.on_message_pattern, @app.on_adaptive_card_action), ActivityContext[T] parameter (send, reply, stream, sign_in, is_signed_in, user_graph), ChatPrompt with OpenAICompletionsAIModel, Function[Params] with Pydantic BaseModel schemas, ListMemory for conversation history, FastAPI/uvicorn web framework, Adaptive Cards (AdaptiveCard class), custom HTTP routes via app.http, and key differences from TS (async-only, Pydantic vs interfaces, Python 3.12+). Source from teams.py packages source code."