Microsoft Code Reference

OrganizationPopular

MicrosoftDocs

microsoft-code-reference

Find working code samples, verify API signatures, and fix Microsoft SDK errors using official docs. Use whenever the user is writing, debugging, or reviewing code that touches any Microsoft SDK, .NET library, Azure client library, or Microsoft API—even if they don't ask for a "reference." Catches hallucinated methods, wrong signatures, and deprecated patterns. If the task involves producing or fixing Microsoft-related code, this is the right skill.

Overview

Publisher	MicrosoftDocs
Repository	`mcp`
Skill name	`microsoft-code-reference`
Stars	1.9K
Forks	248
Bundled files	Instructions only
License	CC-BY-4.0
Links	Skill source Repository Homepage

Markdown instructions
A SKILL.md file the model loads on demand, so it only costs tokens when a request actually matches.
Works with any LLM
AI skills are plain Markdown, not provider-specific code, so this works with GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model.
Self-contained
Everything the model needs lives in the instructions — no extra files to sync.
Open source
Published by MicrosoftDocs on GitHub. Read the source before you install it.

Installation

Install the Microsoft Code Reference AI skill in TypingMind to use it with any LLM, or drop it into another agent that reads SKILL.md.

Install in TypingMind

TypingMind installs a skill straight from its GitHub folder — it reads SKILL.md, bundles the resource files, and stores the result locally.

Open the app and go to Plugins → Skills.
Choose "Install from GitHub".
Paste the skill folder URL below and confirm.
Enable the skill in any chat where you want it available.

Plugins → Skills → Add skill → From GitHub URL, then paste the folder URL and press Continue.

Install in another agent

Any agent that reads the Agent Skills format can use this skill — copy the folder into that agent's skills directory.

Claude Code — .claude/skills

git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp.git /tmp/mcp
mkdir -p .claude/skills
cp -r /tmp/mcp/skills/microsoft-code-reference .claude/skills/microsoft-code-reference

Restart Claude Code after copying so it picks up the new skill.

Use it in TypingMind

Enable Microsoft Code Reference in any TypingMind chat and the model takes it from there. Its name and description sit in the system prompt, and the moment a request matches, the model loads the full instructions itself — you never invoke it by hand, and it costs no tokens until it is actually used.

The model loads Microsoft Code Reference on its own as soon as a request matches it.

Works with any AI model

AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so Microsoft Code Reference is not tied to the model it was written for. Install it once in TypingMind and use it with GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama, or a local model you run yourself — all on your own API keys.

Loaded only when it is needed
The system prompt carries just the name and description. The instructions are fetched on the first matching request, so an idle skill costs nothing.
Switch models mid-chat
Because the skill is instructions rather than code, changing model does not break it — the next model reads the same SKILL.md.

Skill instructions

This is the SKILL.md content the model loads. Read it before installing — a skill is instructions your model will follow.

Microsoft Code Reference

Tools

Need	Tool	Example
API method/class lookup	`microsoft_docs_search`	`"BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"`
Working code sample	`microsoft_code_sample_search`	`query: "upload blob managed identity", language: "python"`
Full API reference	`microsoft_docs_fetch`	Fetch 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 Type	Query
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:

Confirm method or package exists — microsoft_docs_search(query: "[ClassName] [MethodName] [Namespace]")
Fetch full details (for overloads/complex params) — microsoft_docs_fetch(url: "...")
Find working sample — microsoft_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 the command line instead:

sh
# 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 Tool	CLI 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.

Frequently asked questions

What does the Microsoft Code Reference AI skill do?

Why use Microsoft Code Reference on TypingMind?

Because you install it once and use it with any model. Microsoft Code Reference is plain Markdown rather than provider-specific code, so the same skill runs on GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, Grok, or a local model — and you can switch model mid-chat without it breaking. TypingMind runs on your own API keys, so you pay providers directly instead of a per-seat subscription, and your skills and chats stay in your own storage.

How do I install Microsoft Code Reference in TypingMind?

Open Plugins → Skills → Install from GitHub in TypingMind and paste https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/tree/main/skills/microsoft-code-reference. TypingMind reads its SKILL.md and installs it as a skill you can enable per chat.

Which AI models can use Microsoft Code Reference?

Any model you connect in TypingMind. AI skills are plain Markdown instructions rather than provider-specific code, so GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, and local models can all load this skill when a request matches it.

How many AI models can I use with Microsoft Code Reference?

As many as you like. As long as a model supports skills, you can use Microsoft Code Reference with it — GPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok, DeepSeek, Mistral, Llama and more — all on TypingMind with your own API keys.

Is the Microsoft Code Reference AI skill free?

Yes. It is published on GitHub by MicrosoftDocs under the CC-BY-4.0 license. You only pay your own AI provider for the tokens you use.

What are AI skills?

An AI skill is a reusable instruction bundle that teaches an AI model how to do one specific task. It follows the open Agent Skills format: a SKILL.md file with a name and description, plus any scripts, templates or reference files the model may need. The model reads the instructions only when your request matches the skill, so an installed skill costs nothing until it is used.

How are AI skills different from plugins or MCP servers?

A plugin or MCP server gives a model new tools to call — code that runs somewhere and returns a result. An AI skill gives the model knowledge and process instead: how to approach a task, which steps to follow, what good output looks like. Skills are plain Markdown, so they need no server, no API key and no runtime, and they work with any model.

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Overview

Installation

Install in TypingMind

Install in another agent

Use it in TypingMind

Works with any AI model

Skill instructions

Microsoft Code Reference

Tools

Finding Code Samples

API Lookups

Error Troubleshooting

When to Verify

Validation Workflow

CLI Alternative

Frequently asked questions

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