declarative-agents
Lets your agent create agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot. It offers complete workflows and tool integration.
What it does
This development kit helps you create and manage 'agents' for Microsoft 365 Copilot. It provides guidance for building simple or complex agents, testing them, and ensuring they function correctly.
When to use it
- ✓When creating your first Copilot agent.
- ✓When you need a more advanced agent for enterprise tasks.
- ✓When checking if an existing agent is working well.
Example of what to ask your AI
“I want to create a basic agent that searches the internet and accesses OneDrive files.”
Want more? Open the sections below.
How to use
The easiest way: copy the message below and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or any AI. It reads the skill and follows the instructions.
Skill link
Ready-to-paste message
How it works
You choose one of three paths (basic, advanced, or validation) and follow the instructions. The kit helps define what the agent will do, what tools it can use, and how it should behave, generating the necessary files.
Installation
Easiest way: copy the skill link and paste it into Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor asking it to follow the instructions.
In the terminal (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor), in your project folder:
npx skills add github/awesome-copilot --skill declarative-agentsOr download just the file:
curl -L https://raw.githubusercontent.com/github/awesome-copilot/main/skills/declarative-agents/SKILL.md -o SKILL.mdTechnical content (original SKILL.md)
Original text by the author, straight from GitHub.
Microsoft 365 Declarative Agents Development Kit
I'll help you create and develop Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents using the latest v1.5 schema with comprehensive TypeSpec and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit integration. Choose from three specialized workflows:
Workflow 1: Basic Agent Creation
Perfect for: New developers, simple agents, quick prototypes
I'll guide you through:
- Agent Planning: Define purpose, target users, and core capabilities
- Capability Selection: Choose from 11 available capabilities (WebSearch, OneDriveAndSharePoint, GraphConnectors, etc.)
- Basic Schema Creation: Generate compliant JSON manifest with proper constraints
- TypeSpec Alternative: Create modern type-safe definitions that compile to JSON
- Testing Setup: Configure Agents Playground for local testing
- Toolkit Integration: Leverage Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit for enhanced development
Workflow 2: Advanced Enterprise Agent Design
Perfect for: Complex enterprise scenarios, production deployment, advanced features
I'll help you architect:
- Enterprise Requirements Analysis: Multi-tenant considerations, compliance, security
- Advanced Capability Configuration: Complex capability combinations and interactions
- Behavior Override Implementation: Custom response patterns and specialized behaviors
- Localization Strategy: Multi-language support with proper resource management
- Conversation Starters: Strategic conversation entry points for user engagement
- Production Deployment: Environment management, versioning, and lifecycle planning
- Monitoring & Analytics: Implementation of tracking and performance optimization
Workflow 3: Validation & Optimization
Perfect for: Existing agents, troubleshooting, performance optimization
I'll perform:
- Schema Compliance Validation: Full v1.5 specification adherence checking
- Character Limit Optimization: Name (100), description (1000), instructions (8000)
- Capability Audit: Verify proper capability configuration and usage
- TypeSpec Migration: Convert existing JSON to modern TypeSpec definitions
- Testing Protocol: Comprehensive validation using Agents Playground
- Performance Analysis: Identify bottlenecks and optimization opportunities
- Best Practices Review: Alignment with Microsoft guidelines and recommendations
Core Features Across All Workflows
Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit Integration
- VS Code Extension: Full integration with
teamsdevapp.ms-teams-vscode-extension - TypeSpec Development: Modern type-safe agent definitions
- Local Debugging: Agents Playground integration for testing
- Environment Management: Development, staging, production configurations
- Lifecycle Management: Creation, testing, deployment, monitoring
TypeSpec Examples
// Modern declarative agent definition
model MyAgent {
name: string;
description: string;
instructions: string;
capabilities: AgentCapability[];
conversation_starters?: ConversationStarter[];
}
JSON Schema v1.5 Validation
- Full compliance with latest Microsoft specification
- Character limit enforcement (name: 100, description: 1000, instructions: 8000)
- Array constraint validation (conversation_starters: max 4, capabilities: max 5)
- Required field validation and type checking
Available Capabilities (Choose up to 5)
- WebSearch: Internet search functionality
- OneDriveAndSharePoint: File and content access
- GraphConnectors: Enterprise data integration
- MicrosoftGraph: Microsoft 365 service integration
- TeamsAndOutlook: Communication platform access
- PowerPlatform: Power Apps and Power Automate integration
- BusinessDataProcessing: Enterprise data analysis
- WordAndExcel: Document and spreadsheet manipulation
- CopilotForMicrosoft365: Advanced Copilot features
- EnterpriseApplications: Third-party system integration
- CustomConnectors: Custom API and service integration
Environment Variables Support
{
"name": "${AGENT_NAME}",
"description": "${AGENT_DESCRIPTION}",
"instructions": "${AGENT_INSTRUCTIONS}"
}
Which workflow would you like to start with? Share your requirements and I'll provide specialized guidance for your Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agent development with full TypeSpec and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit support.
FAQ
What are 'declarative agents'?
They are like small programs or assistants within Microsoft 365 Copilot that can perform specific tasks based on instructions you define.
What is TypeSpec?
It's a modern and safer way to write agent definitions, which are then transformed into the files needed for Copilot.
What tools can the agent use?
It can use various tools, such as internet search, access to files in OneDrive and SharePoint, integration with other Microsoft systems, and even third-party applications.
Details
Original description by the author
Complete development kit for Microsoft 365 Copilot declarative agents with three comprehensive workflows (basic, advanced, validation), TypeSpec support, and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit integration
repo: github/awesome-copilot
Popularity
- GitHub stars
- 40k
- Ranking position
- #5112
- License
- MIT
- Updated
- 10/15/2026
Comments
- …
More skills from this repository
acquire-codebase-knowledge
Helps your agent understand and document an existing code project. It's useful for onboarding new people or getting an overview of the architecture.
github/awesome-copilot
acreadiness-assess
Enables your agent to assess a project's readiness for AI and generate a report. It's useful for understanding how well a project is prepared to use AI tools.
github/awesome-copilot
acreadiness-generate-instructions
Helps your agent create instructions for AI tools based on an assessment. It's useful for improving how AI interacts with code and closing identified gaps.
github/awesome-copilot
acreadiness-policy
Enables your agent to help define or apply policies for AI project assessment. It's useful for standardizing how projects are evaluated and ensuring compliance.
github/awesome-copilot
Similar skills
api-connector-builder
Has your agent build new API connections following the existing pattern. Use when you need to add one more integration without creating a new way of doing things.
affaan-m/ECC
api-design
Helps your agent design REST APIs following best practices. It's useful for defining how APIs communicate, how errors are shown, and how to organize data.
affaan-m/ECC
backend-patterns
Helps your agent with server-side architecture patterns and database optimization. It's useful for building or reviewing code that runs on the server.
affaan-m/ECC