Agent skill · Microsoft (Azure)
Azure Prepare (azd) skill for Claude Code, Codex and Cursor
Officialname: azure-prepare★ 1.6k (repo)pushed 2026-10-23MITSKILL.md on GitHubchecked 2026-11-07
What it does, in the publisher's words
Prepare azd-based Azure projects for deployment: generates azure.yaml, infrastructure (Bicep/Terraform), and Dockerfiles for the Azure Developer CLI (azd) workflow. USE ONLY when the user explicitly wants to use azd as the deployment tool, or the project already has an azure.yaml file.
The description field of the SKILL.md. The agent reads only this at startup and decides from it when to load the full skill.
Install Azure Prepare (azd)
The skills CLI copies the skill into the folder of each agent you pick (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf...). Add -g for all projects. Needs Node.js 22.20+. docs
npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare
This repo is a plugin marketplace. Inside Claude Code, add it and install the plugin that holds the skill (azure, azure-kusto-graph-skills, azure-local-skills, foundry-iq-skills...), or copy only this skill into ~/.claude/skills. docs
/plugin marketplace add microsoft/azure-skills /plugin install <plugin>@azure-skills # or only this skill: npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare -a claude-code
Download the skill folder, zip it, then Customize > Skills > + > Create skill > Upload a skill. Code execution must be on (Settings > Capabilities). docs
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills.git /tmp/azure-prepare-src cp -r /tmp/azure-prepare-src/.github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/azure-prepare ./azure-prepare zip -r azure-prepare.zip azure-prepare
Codex reads skills from .agents/skills in the repo or ~/.agents/skills. Type $ in Codex to use one. docs
npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare -a codex
gh skill (GitHub CLI 2.90+, preview) installs it for Copilot in VS Code, the CLI and the cloud agent. Copilot also reads .github/skills and ~/.copilot/skills. docs
gh skill install microsoft/azure-skills azure-prepare
Cursor reads .cursor/skills, .agents/skills and ~/.cursor/skills (and .claude/skills). It does not install loose skills from a GitHub URL, so copy it in. docs
npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare -a cursor
Installs from the GitHub repo; --path picks this skill out of the repo. Default scope is user (all projects). docs
gemini skills install https://github.com/microsoft/azure-skills.git --path .github/plugins/azure-skills/skills/azure-prepare
OpenCode reads .opencode/skills, ~/.config/opencode/skills and the Claude and .agents folders. docs
npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare -a opencode
Windsurf (now Devin Desktop) reads .devin/skills, .windsurf/skills and ~/.codeium/windsurf/skills. docs
npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare -a windsurf
Works with
Claude Code, Claude.ai and Claude Desktop, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and other agents that read the open Agent Skills format.
What's in the SKILL.md
- Triggers
- Rules
- ❌ PLAN-FIRST WORKFLOW — MANDATORY
- ❌ STEP 0: Specialized Technology Check — MANDATORY FIRST ACTION
- Check 1: Prompt keywords
- Phase 1: Planning (BLOCKING — Complete Before Any Execution)
- Phase 2: Execution (Only After Plan Approval)
- Outputs
- SDK Quick References
- Next
Bundled files
- references/analyze.md
- references/apim.md
- references/architecture.md
- references/aspire.md
- references/auth-best-practices.md
- references/azure-context.md
- references/functional-verification.md
- references/generate.md
- references/global-rules.md
- references/plan-template.md
- references/recipe-selection.md
- references/recipes/azcli/README.md
- references/recipes/azcli/commands.md
- references/recipes/azcli/scripts.md
- references/recipes/azd/README.md
- references/recipes/azd/aspire.md
- references/recipes/azd/azure-yaml.md
- references/recipes/azd/docker.md
- references/recipes/azd/iac-rules.md
- references/recipes/azd/terraform.md
- + 145 more
Loaded only when the instructions point to them.
Facts
- Skill name
- azure-prepare
- Publisher
- Microsoft (Azure) (official)
- Repo
- microsoft/azure-skills
- License
- MIT
- Version
- 1.3.9
- SKILL.md size
- 1,619 words, 147 lines
- Bundled files
- 165, 60 docs
- Repo stars
- 1.6k (as of 2026-10-24)
- SKILL.md checked
- 2026-11-07
Pairs with the Azure MCP server: the server gives the agent the tools, the skill teaches it how to use them.
More skills from microsoft/azure-skills
- Azure Deploy: Runs the deployment of an app already prepared for Azure and checks the result.
- Azure Diagnostics: Troubleshoots production problems on Azure using Monitor, AppLens and resource health.
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FAQ
What does the azure-prepare skill do?+
Generates azure.yaml, Bicep or Terraform and Dockerfiles so a project can deploy with azd. In its own SKILL.md, Microsoft (Azure) describes it as: "Prepare azd-based Azure projects for deployment: generates azure.yaml, infrastructure (Bicep/Terraform), and Dockerfiles for the Azure Developer CLI (azd) workflow. USE ONLY when the user explicitly wants to use azd as the deployment tool, or the project already has an azure.yaml file."
How do I install the azure-prepare skill?+
Run npx skills add microsoft/azure-skills --skill azure-prepare and pick your agents, or use the tab for your agent above. In Claude Code the skill ends up in ~/.claude/skills/azure-prepare/SKILL.md; in Codex and Cursor in .agents/skills/azure-prepare/.
Does Azure Prepare (azd) work in Codex, Cursor and Copilot, or only Claude?+
It's a standard SKILL.md, so any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use it: Claude Code, the Claude apps, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Cursor, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Windsurf and more.
Who maintains Azure Prepare (azd)?+
Microsoft (Azure), the company or project behind it, in the microsoft/azure-skills repo on GitHub, last pushed 2026-10-23. License: MIT.
Read a skill's SKILL.md and scripts before you install it: skills aren't verified by any agent vendor. Claude skills marketplace · How to install skills · MCP servers