MS-4010: Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents by using Visual Studio Code

Microsoft is retiring MS-4010: Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents by using Visual Studio Code on May 29, 2026. No replacement.

Course MS-4010 Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents by using Visual Studio Code

This course provides comprehensive knowledge and practical experience in building declarative agents using Visual Studio Code and Teams Toolkit. Participants begin with an introduction to declarative agents, followed by hands-on labs that guide them through creating their first agent, understanding API plugins, and implementing APIs. Advanced topics include building adaptive cards, managing authentication for API plugins, and integrating Microsoft Graph connectors. By the end of the course, participants have a solid understanding of how to leverage declarative agents to enhance Microsoft 365 Copilot functionality.

Level: Beginner - Role: Developer - Product: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat

Microsoft Copilot - Create plugins - Copilot Connectors - Develop Microsoft 365 extensions - Integrate AI into Microsoft 365 - Copilot Developer Training

Course aimed at

The course MS-4010: Extend Microsoft 365 Copilot with Declarative Agents by Using Visual Studio Code is aimed at the following profiles:

• Developers: Professionals who create custom applications and seek to integrate declarative agents into Microsoft 365 Copilot.
• Software Engineers: Those who wish to enhance their skills in developing plugins and connectors using Visual Studio Code.
• IT Administrators: Individuals responsible for managing and securing applications within an organization.
• Technology Consultants: Experts who advise companies on how to optimize their processes by implementing AI solutions.

MS-4010 Training Objectives

• Understand extensibility options: Equip participants with a deep understanding of how to extend Microsoft Copilot in Microsoft 365 by creating and customizing connectors and plugins.
• Apply best practices in development: Teach best practices and standards for developing high-quality solutions that comply with security, privacy, and data handling regulations.
• Facilitate customization for all levels: Provide accessible training for both experienced developers and beginners, allowing them to implement and adapt Microsoft Copilot to their specific needs.

Course Content MS-4010 Extending Microsoft 365 Copilot with declarative agents using Visual Studio Code

Module 1: Introduction to Declarative Agents for Microsoft 365 Copilot

• Introduction to declarative agents
  
• Agents and declarative agents
  
• Key features of declarative agents
  
• Using declarative agents
  
• How declarative agents work
  
• Custom knowledge
  
• Custom instructions
  
• Custom grounding
  
• Custom actions
  
• Integrating custom knowledge and actions
  
• When to use declarative agents
  
• Summary

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate whether a declarative agent is suitable for extending Microsoft 365 Copilot for your scenario.
  
• Describe how the components of a declarative agent work together to create agents that run in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Lab 1: Create the First Declarative Agent with TypeSpec

Step-by-step guide to creating effective declarative agents.

Module 2: Create Declarative Agents with TypeSpec and Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit
Program:

• Introduction to TypeSpec
  
• Exercise: Create the foundation of a new declarative agent
  
• Exercise: Write instructions and conversation starters
  
• Exercise: Integrate knowledge and actions
  
• Module assessment
  
• Summary

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the purpose and advantages of TypeSpec in creating declarative agents.
  
• Create a basic declarative agent with TypeSpec and the Microsoft 365 Agents Toolkit in Visual Studio Code.
  
• Configure and customize an agent's behavior, including adding conversation starters and testing functionality in Microsoft 365 Copilot.
  
• Integrate advanced functionalities into a declarative agent, such as web content, OneDrive/SharePoint data, Teams messages, and Python-based code interpretation.
  
• Validate and deploy a fully customized agent for specific organizational needs.

Lab 2: Create the First Action of Declarative Agents with the API Plugin using Visual Studio Code

• Practical exercises to create, customize, and integrate advanced functionalities into declarative agents.
  
• Module assessment and summary of benefits and achievements.

Module 3: Introduction to Actions with API Plugins for Declarative Agents

• Overview of declarative agents
  
• Main objective of API plugins
  
• Key features of API plugins
  
• API plugins for declarative agents
  
• How API plugins work
  
• Function invocation performed by agents
  
• Decision criteria for API plugins
  
• Summary of the guide
  
• Knowledge test
  
• Summary

Learning Objectives:

• Evaluate whether extending your declarative agent with an API plugin action is suitable for your scenario.
  
• Describe how API plugins enable a declarative agent to retrieve and modify external data.

Lab 3: Create the First Action of Declarative Agents with the API Plugin using Visual Studio Code

• Create an API plugin that connects to an anonymous API.
  
• Configure the API plugin to display data from the API.
  
• Extend a declarative agent with an action using an API plugin.
  
• Upload the declarative agent to Microsoft 365 Copilot and validate the results.

Lab 4: Authenticate the API Plugin for Declarative Agents with Protected APIs

• Identify how an API is protected.
  
• Design a secure way to integrate an API plugin with a protected API (API key and OAuth2).
  
• Execute the API plugin in Microsoft 365 Copilot to validate the results.

Module 7: Introduction to Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors
Program:

• What are Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors?
  
• Understanding external connections and schemas
  
• Methods for data retrieval and transformation
  
• Access controls and data security
  
• Summary

Learning Objectives:

• Describe the role and benefits of Copilot connectors in Microsoft 365.
  
• Explain how external connections and schemas work.
  
• Explore methods for data retrieval and transformation.
  
• Describe access controls and security limitations for data protection.

Lab 5: Build the First Microsoft 365 Copilot Connector

• Scaffold a new connector project.
  
• Configure the connector to pull data from a public GitHub repository.
  
• Run the connector to ingest data into Microsoft Graph and check indexing.
  
• Extend the connector schema and re-ingest data.
  
• Test Copilot's access to indexed data.

Module 9: Monitor and Maintain Microsoft 365 Copilot Connectors

• Introduction
  
• Monitor and manage connector operations
  
• Troubleshoot connector issues and errors
  
• Manage access permissions and security
  
• Optimize connector performance
  
• Module assessment
  
• Summary

Learning Objectives:

• Monitor connector operations and manage connection statuses using the Microsoft 365 admin center.
  
• Diagnose and resolve common connector issues.
  
• Review and manage access permissions to ensure data security and protection.
  
• Optimize connector performance through crawl scheduling, quota management, and capacity planning.

Prerequisites

None

Language

• Course: English / Spanish