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Microsoft Code Reference

  • 12.8k installs
  • 37.1k repo stars
  • Updated July 28, 2026
  • github/awesome-copilot

Microsoft Code Reference is a skill for looking up Microsoft APIs, finding code samples, and verifying SDK correctness.

About

A reference tool for Microsoft APIs and SDKs. Searches official documentation, finds working code samples across multiple languages, and verifies API correctness. Catches hallucinated methods, incorrect signatures, and deprecated patterns before they become bugs.

  • Search Microsoft API documentation and code samples
  • Verify SDK correctness across .NET, Python, JavaScript
  • Catch hallucinated methods and deprecated patterns

Microsoft Code Reference by the numbers

  • 12,827 all-time installs (skills.sh)
  • +93 installs in the week ending Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion tracking)
  • Ranked #62 of 4,386 Backend & APIs skills by installs in the Skillselion catalog
  • Security screen: MEDIUM risk (skills.sh audit)
  • Data as of Jul 28, 2026 (Skillselion catalog sync)
At a glance

microsoft-code-reference capabilities & compatibility

Capabilities
api reference · code sample search · documentation lookup
Works with
azure
From the docs

What microsoft-code-reference says it does

Look up Microsoft API references, find working code samples, and verify SDK code is correct.
SKILL.md
Catches hallucinated methods, wrong signatures, and deprecated patterns by querying official docs.
SKILL.md
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill microsoft-code-reference

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Listed on Skillselion
Installs12.8k
repo stars37.1k
Security audit3 / 3 scanners passed
Last updatedJuly 28, 2026
Repositorygithub/awesome-copilot

How do you verify Azure SDK method signatures while coding?

API development and SDK integration with Microsoft services.

Who is it for?

Developers building with Azure SDKs, .NET libraries, or Microsoft APIs.

Skip if: Non-Microsoft APIs.

When should I use this skill?

A developer works with Azure SDKs, .NET libraries, or Microsoft APIs and needs method lookup, parameter checks, or working examples.

What you get

Verified API method signatures, working SDK code samples, and corrected Microsoft API usage pulled from official documentation.

  • verified API signatures
  • working SDK samples
  • corrected Microsoft API calls

Files

SKILL.mdMarkdownGitHub ↗

Microsoft Code Reference

Tools

NeedToolExample
API method/class lookupmicrosoft_docs_search"BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"
Working code samplemicrosoft_code_sample_searchquery: "upload blob managed identity", language: "python"
Full API referencemicrosoft_docs_fetchFetch URL from microsoft_docs_search (for overloads, full signatures)

Finding Code Samples

Use microsoft_code_sample_search to get official, working examples:

microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "upload file to blob storage", language: "csharp")
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "authenticate with managed identity", language: "python")
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "send message service bus", language: "javascript")

When to use:

  • Before writing code—find a working pattern to follow
  • After errors—compare your code against a known-good sample
  • Unsure of initialization/setup—samples show complete context

API Lookups

# Verify method exists (include namespace for precision)
"BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"
"GraphServiceClient Users Microsoft.Graph"

# Find class/interface
"DefaultAzureCredential class Azure.Identity"

# Find correct package
"Azure Blob Storage NuGet package"
"azure-storage-blob pip package"

Fetch full page when method has multiple overloads or you need complete parameter details.

Error Troubleshooting

Use microsoft_code_sample_search to find working code samples and compare with your implementation. For specific errors, use microsoft_docs_search and microsoft_docs_fetch:

Error TypeQuery
Method not found"[ClassName] methods [Namespace]"
Type not found"[TypeName] NuGet package namespace"
Wrong signature"[ClassName] [MethodName] overloads" → fetch full page
Deprecated warning"[OldType] migration v12"
Auth failure"DefaultAzureCredential troubleshooting"
403 Forbidden"[ServiceName] RBAC permissions"

When to Verify

Always verify when:

  • Method name seems "too convenient" (UploadFile vs actual Upload)
  • Mixing SDK versions (v11 CloudBlobClient vs v12 BlobServiceClient)
  • Package name doesn't follow conventions (Azure.* for .NET, azure-* for Python)
  • Using an API for the first time

Validation Workflow

Before generating code using Microsoft SDKs, verify it's correct:

1. Confirm method or package existsmicrosoft_docs_search(query: "[ClassName] [MethodName] [Namespace]") 2. Fetch full details (for overloads/complex params) — microsoft_docs_fetch(url: "...") 3. Find working samplemicrosoft_code_sample_search(query: "[task]", language: "[lang]")

For simple lookups, step 1 alone may suffice. For complex API usage, complete all three steps.

CLI Alternative

If the Learn MCP server is not available, use the mslearn CLI from a terminal or shell (for example, Bash, PowerShell, or cmd) instead:

# Run directly (no install needed)
npx @microsoft/learn-cli search "BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"

# Or install globally, then run
npm install -g @microsoft/learn-cli
mslearn search "BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"
MCP ToolCLI Command
microsoft_docs_search(query: "...")mslearn search "..."
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "...", language: "...")mslearn code-search "..." --language ...
microsoft_docs_fetch(url: "...")mslearn fetch "..."

Pass --json to search or code-search to get raw JSON output for further processing.

Related skills

How it compares

Pick microsoft-code-reference over generic coding skills when the task requires verified Microsoft or Azure API signatures from official documentation.

FAQ

What tools does microsoft-code-reference use?

microsoft-code-reference works best with the Microsoft Learn MCP Server at learn.microsoft.com/api/mcp and falls back to the mslearn CLI. Both routes query official Microsoft documentation for API methods, parameters, and working SDK samples.

What problems does microsoft-code-reference solve?

microsoft-code-reference catches hallucinated Microsoft API methods, wrong parameter signatures, and deprecated SDK patterns by querying official docs. Developers use it when integrating Azure SDKs, .NET libraries, or Microsoft REST APIs during active coding.

Is Microsoft Code Reference safe to install?

skills.sh reports 3 of 3 security scanners passed. Review the Security Audits panel on this page before installing in production.

Backend & APIsbackendintegrations

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