Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
Key information
Upcoming sessions
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Description of the training: Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
This intensive training gives you the skills to extend Microsoft 365 Copilot by developing declarative agents using Visual Studio Code. You will learn to set up your development environment, create custom agents, integrate API plugins, use adaptive cards and implement secure connectors to fully leverage Copilot’s potential in your organisation.
You may also be interested in our Microsoft Copilot Studio Training Course, our Copilot Declarative Agents Training Course, our Business Agents with Microsoft MS-4019 Training Course, our GitHub Copilot GH-300 Training Course, our GitHub Copilot Accelerated Development Training Course, our Microsoft Copilot Administration Training Course MS-4017 and our Azure AI Agents AI-3026 Training Course.
Good to know
Our sessions are guaranteed from a single registrant, with no risk of postponement (except in cases of force majeure). A preliminary discussion takes place between the participant and/or a company representative to fully take into account the participant’s profile (level, needs, professional context, challenges, etc.).
Assessment: during the training, the trainer assesses participants’ progress through quizzes, role-play and practical exercises. Participants receive a certificate of completion at the end of the training.
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Objectives of the training: Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
- Understand the extension mechanisms of Microsoft 365 Copilot and the role of declarative agents
- Set up the development environment with Visual Studio Code and Microsoft 365 tools
- Design and develop declarative agents to automate business tasks
- Create and integrate actions via API plugins to interact with external data
- Use adaptive cards to structure and display data in Copilot
- Implement secure authentication (API key, OAuth2) for external services
- Connect Copilot to data sources via Microsoft Graph and custom connectors
- Test, deploy and optimise declarative agents in the Microsoft 365 environment
Prerequisites of the training: Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
Basic knowledge of the Microsoft 365 environment is required. A preliminary discussion with our expert tailors the training content to your profile and goals.
Target audience of the training: Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
Microsoft 365 Copilot users, developers and IT professionals who want to extend Copilot’s capabilities using declarative agents and Visual Studio Code.
Detailed programme of the training: Declarative Copilot Agents with Visual Studio Code Training Course MS-4010
Understanding declarative agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot
- Identify scenarios suited to customising Copilot via declarative agents
- Understand how custom knowledge and actions work within an agent
- Assess the extension possibilities offered by this approach
Create a first declarative agent with TypeSpec
- Understand the role of TypeSpec in defining the structure of a declarative agent
- Create and configure a first declarative agent in Visual Studio Code using the Teams Toolkit
- Define the core settings and instructions of the agent to customise its behaviour
- Test and deploy the agent in a Microsoft 365 Copilot environment
Introduction to actions with API plugins
- Identify suitable use cases for actions with API plugins in declarative agents
- Understand the role and operation of API plugins
- Prepare the integration of actions into an existing agent
Develop an action with an API plugin in VS Code
- Create a declarative agent optimised for a specific business scenario
- Develop actions with API plugins to access external data in real time
- Configure and test the actions in Visual Studio Code
Display data with adaptive cards
- Improve the user experience of agents with adaptive cards
- Create and configure adaptive card templates to display API data
- Integrate cards with API plugins and validate the rendering in Microsoft 365 Copilot
Authentication and securing API plugins
- Understand the two common methods for securing APIs: API key and OAuth2
- Implement secure authentication in an API plugin
- Protect access to external services from a declarative agent
Introduction to Copilot connectors
- Understand the architecture and operation of Copilot connectors
- Discover the possibilities for secure connection to external data sources
- Plan the integration of connectors into your Microsoft 365 environment
Create a Microsoft 365 Copilot connector with VS Code
- Create an operational Microsoft 365 Copilot connector with VS Code
- Index external data (for example GitHub issues) into Microsoft 365
- Use the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit to configure and deploy the connector
Monitor and manage Copilot connectors
- Manage the operational lifecycle of Microsoft 365 Copilot connectors
- Monitor the status and performance of connectors
- Troubleshoot common issues and manage security permissions
Why choose this training
- focuses on creating declarative Copilot agents in VS Code
- covers design, connectors and monitoring
- builds on hands-on development workshops
- prepares you to design custom Copilot agents
FAQ
What is a declarative Copilot agent?
A declarative agent is a custom Microsoft 365 Copilot agent described through a manifest file (JSON) rather than by writing code. You define its instructions, knowledge and actions. At MFE-IT it is taught hands-on and tailored to your context.
What is the difference between a declarative agent and a classic custom agent?
A declarative agent is configured mainly through a manifest and natural-language instructions, with no code: fast to produce, easy to maintain and ideal for extending Microsoft 365 Copilot. A classic custom agent requires more development.
What can you do in Visual Studio Code with the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit?
You create, test and deploy your declarative agents directly from VS Code: project scaffolding, manifest editing, adding data sources, API actions, local debugging and deployment to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
How long is the Declarative Copilot Agents training at MFE-IT?
The training lasts 1 day (6 hours), remotely or on-site. An intensive, hands-on format designed for IT teams, developers and Microsoft 365 consultants who want to extend Copilot independently.