Agents League: Two Weeks, Three Tracks, One Challenge
We're inviting all developers to join Agents League, running February 16-27. It's a two-week challenge where you'll build AI agents using production-ready tools, learn from live coding sessions, and get feedback directly from Microsoft product teams. We've put together starter kits for each track to help you get up and running quickly that also includes requirements and guidelines. Whether you want to explore what GitHub Copilot can do beyond autocomplete, build reasoning agents on Microsoft Foundry, or create enterprise integrations for Microsoft 365 Copilot, we have a track for you. Important: Register first to be eligible for prizes and your digital badge. Without registration, you won't qualify for awards or receive a badge when you submit. What Is Agents League? It's a 2-week competition that combines learning with building: 📽️ Live coding battles – Watch Product teams, MVPs and community members tackle challenges in real-time on Microsoft Reactor 💻 Async challenges – Build at your own pace, on your schedule 💬 Discord community – Connect with other participants, join AMAs, and get help when you need it 🏆 Prizes – $500 per track winner, plus GitHub Copilot Pro subscriptions for top picks The Three Tracks 🎨 Creative Apps — Build with GitHub Copilot (Chat, CLI, or SDK) 🧠 Reasoning Agents — Build with Microsoft Foundry 💼 Enterprise Agents — Build with M365 Agents Toolkit (or Copilot Studio) More details on each track below, or jump straight to the starter kits. The Schedule Agents League starts on February 16th and runs through Feburary 27th. Within 2 weeks, we host live battles on Reactor and AMA sessions on Discord. Week 1: Live Battles (Feb 17-19) We're kicking off with live coding battles streamed on Microsoft Reactor. Watch experienced developers compete in real-time, explaining their approach and architectural decisions as they go. Tue Feb 17, 9 AM PT — 🎨 Creative Apps battle Wed Feb 18, 9 AM PT — 🧠 Reasoning Agents battle Thu Feb 19, 9 AM PT — 💼 Enterprise Agents battle All sessions are recorded, so you can watch on your own schedule. Week 2: Build + AMAs (Feb 24-26) This is your time to build and ask questions on Discord. The async format means you work when it suits you, evenings, weekends, whatever fits your schedule. We're also hosting AMAs on Discord where you can ask questions directly to Microsoft experts and product teams: Tue Feb 24, 9 AM PT — 🎨 Creative Apps AMA Wed Feb 25, 9 AM PT — 🧠 Reasoning Agents AMA Thu Feb 26, 9 AM PT — 💼 Enterprise Agents AMA Bring your questions, get help when you're stuck, and share what you're building with the community. Pick Your Track We've created a starter kit for each track with setup guides, project ideas, and example scenarios to help you get started quickly. 🎨 Creative Apps Tool: GitHub Copilot (Chat, CLI, or SDK) Build innovative, imaginative applications that showcase the potential of AI-assisted development. All application types are welcome, web apps, CLI tools, games, mobile apps, desktop applications, and more. The starter kit walks you through GitHub Copilot's different modes and provides prompting tips to get the best results. View the Creative Apps starter kit. 🧠 Reasoning Agents Tool: Microsoft Foundry (UI or SDK) and/or Microsoft Agent Framework Build a multi-agent system that leverages advanced reasoning capabilities to solve complex problems. This track focuses on agents that can plan, reason through multi-step problems, and collaborate. The starter kit includes architecture patterns, reasoning strategies (planner-executor, critic/verifier, self-reflection), and integration guides for tools and MCP servers. View the Reasoning Agents starter kit. 💼 Enterprise Agents Tool: M365 Agents Toolkit or Copilot Studio Create intelligent agents that extend Microsoft 365 Copilot to address real-world enterprise scenarios. Your agent must work on Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. Bonus points for: MCP server integration, OAuth security, Adaptive Cards UI, connected agents (multi-agent architecture). View the Enterprise Agents starter kit. Prizes & Recognition To be eligible for prizes and your digital badge, you must register before submitting your project. Category Winners ($500 each): 🎨 Creative Apps winner 🧠 Reasoning Agents winner 💼 Enterprise Agents winner GitHub Copilot Pro subscriptions: Community Favorite (voted by participants on Discord) Product Team Picks (selected by Microsoft product teams) Everyone who registers and submits a project wins: A digital badge to showcase their participation. Beyond the prizes, every participant gets feedback from the teams who built these tools, a valuable opportunity to learn and improve your approach to AI agent development. How to Get Started Register first — This is required to be eligible for prizes and to receive your digital badge. Without registration, your submission won't qualify for awards or a badge. Pick a track — Choose one track. Explore the starter kits to help you decide. Watch the battles — See how experienced developers approach these challenges. Great for learning even if you're still deciding whether to compete. Build your project — You have until Feb 27. Work on your own schedule. Submit via GitHub — Open an issue using the project submission template. Join us on Discord — Get help, share your progress, and vote for your favorite projects on Discord. Links Register: https://aka.ms/agentsleague/register Starter Kits: https://github.com/microsoft/agentsleague/starter-kits Discord: https://aka.ms/agentsleague/discord Live Battles: https://aka.ms/agentsleague/battles Submit Project: Project submission templateRethinking Documentation Translation: Treating Translations as Versioned Software Assets
Rethinking Documentation Translation: Treating Translations as Versioned Software Assets This article is written from the perspective of maintaining large, open-source documentation repositories in the Microsoft ecosystem. I am the maintainer of Co-op Translator, an open-source tool for automating multilingual documentation translation, used across multiple large documentation repositories, including Microsoft’s For Beginners series. In large documentation repositories, translation problems rarely fail loudly. They fail quietly, and they accumulate over time. Recently, we made a fundamental design decision in how Co-op Translator handles translations. Translations are treated as versioned software assets, not static outputs. This article explains why we reached that conclusion, and what this perspective enables for teams maintaining large, fast-moving documentation repositories. When translations quietly become a liability In most documentation projects, translations are treated as finished outputs. Once a file is translated, it is assumed to remain valid until someone explicitly notices a problem. But documentation rarely stands still. Text changes. Code examples evolve. Screenshots are replaced. Notebooks are updated to reflect new behavior. The problem is that these changes are often invisible in translated content. A translation may still read fluently, while the information it contains is already out of date. At that point, the issue is no longer about translation quality. It becomes a maintenance problem. Reframing the question Most translation workflows implicitly ask: Is this translation correct? In practice, maintainers struggle with a different question: Is this translation still synchronized with the current source? This distinction matters. A translation can be correct and still be out of sync. Once we acknowledged this, it became clear that treating translations as static content was no longer sufficient. The design decision: translations as versioned assets Starting with Co-op Translator 0.16.2, we made a deliberate design decision: Translations are treated as versioned software assets. This applies not only to Markdown files, but also to images, notebooks, and any other translated artifacts. Translated content is not just text. It is an artifact generated from a specific version of a source. To make this abstraction operational rather than theoretical, we did not invent a new mechanism. Instead, we looked to systems that already solve a similar problem: pip, poetry, and npm. These tools are designed to track artifacts as their sources evolve. We applied the same thinking to translated content. Closer to dependency management than translation jobs The closest analogy is software dependency management. When a dependency becomes outdated: it is not suddenly “wrong,” it is simply no longer aligned with the current version. Translations behave the same way. When the source document changes: the translated file does not immediately become incorrect, it becomes out of sync with its source version. This framing shifts the problem away from translation output and toward state and synchronization. Why file-level versioning matters Many translation systems operate at the string or segment level. That model works well for UI text and relatively stable resources. Documentation is different. A Markdown file is an artifact. A screenshot is an artifact. A notebook is an artifact. They are consumed as units, not as isolated strings. Managing translation state at the file level allows maintainers to reason about translations using the same mental model they already apply to other repository assets. What changed in practice From embedded markers to explicit state Previously, translation metadata lived inside translated files as embedded comments or markers. This approach had clear limitations: translation state was fragmented, difficult to inspect globally, and easy to miss as repositories grew. We moved to language-scoped JSON state files that explicitly track: the source version, the translated artifact, and its synchronization status. Translation state is no longer hidden inside content. It is a first-class, inspectable part of the repository. Extending the model to images and notebooks The same model now applies consistently to: translated images, localized notebooks, and other non-text artifacts. If an image changes in the source language, the translated image becomes out of sync. If a notebook is updated, its translated versions are evaluated against the new source version. The format does not matter. The lifecycle does. Once translations are treated as versioned assets, the system remains consistent across all content types. What this enables This design enables: Explicit drift detection See which translations are out of sync without guessing. Consistent maintenance signals Text, images, and notebooks follow the same rules. Clear responsibility boundaries The system reports state. Humans decide action. Scalability for fast-moving repositories Translation maintenance becomes observable, not reactive. In large documentation sets, this difference determines whether translation maintenance is sustainable at all. What this is not This system does not: judge translation quality, determine semantic correctness, or auto-approve content. It answers one question only: Is this translated artifact synchronized with its source version? Who this is for This approach is designed for teams that: maintain multilingual documentation, update content frequently, and need confidence in what is actually up to date. When documentation evolves faster than translations, treating translations as versioned assets becomes a necessity, not an optimization. Closing thought Once translations are modeled as software assets, long-standing ambiguities disappear. State becomes visible. Maintenance becomes manageable. And translations fit naturally into existing software workflows. At that point, the question is no longer whether translation drift exists, but: Can you see it? Reference Co-op Translator repository https://github.com/Azure/co-op-translatorLeverage AI for faster, more productive coding with GitHub Copilot
GitHub Copilot serves as an invaluable learning tool for developers, especially those who are still learning a particular programming language or framework. By providing context-aware suggestions, it helps learners understand the syntax, structure, and logic behind different code snippets. While fundamental knowledge of programming concepts and syntax services should remain a prerequisite, a developer exploring a new framework would be able to describe the functionality they want to implement, and GitHub Copilot will generate code that demonstrates how to achieve it. This accelerates the learning process and empowers developers to gain proficiency in new technologies more efficiently.AI Dev Days 2025: Your Gateway to the Future of AI Development
What’s in Store? Day 1 – 10 December: Video Link Building AI Applications with Azure, GitHub, and Foundry Explore cutting-edge topics like: Agentic DevOps Azure SRE Agent Microsoft Foundry MCP Models for AI innovation Day 2 – 11 December Agenda: Video Link Using AI to Boost Developer Productivity Get hands-on with: Agent HQ VS Code & Visual Studio 2026 GitHub Copilot Coding Agent App Modernisation Strategies Why Join? Hands-on Labs: Apply the latest product features immediately. Highlights from Microsoft Ignite & GitHub Universe 2025: Stay ahead of the curve. Global Reach: Local-language workshops for LATAM and EMEA coming soon. You’ll recognise plenty of familiar faces in the lineup – don’t miss the chance to connect and learn from the best! 👉 Register now and share widely across your networks – there’s truly something for everyone! https://aka.ms/ai-dev-daysAMA Spotlight: Build Smarter with Azure Developer CLI 'AZD'
Weekly AMA 'Ask Me Anything': Build Smarter with Azure Developer CLI Calling all AI engineers, developers, and builders of the future, this is your backstage pass to the tools shaping scalable, agentic AI deployments. Join Kristen Womack, Product Manager for the Azure Developer CLI (azd) Developer CLI (azd), and the engineering team behind azd for a live Ask Me Anything session every Thursday at 12:30pm PT in the Azure AI Foundry Discord. Whether you're: 🧠 Orchestrating multi-agent systems 📦 Deploying LLM-powered apps with Azure AI Foundry 🔐 Navigating least-privilege infrastructure setups 🛠️ Debugging and optimizing reproducible workflows …this AMA is your chance to connect directly with the team building the CLI that powers it all. 💡 Why Join? Real-time answers from the azd engineers and product team Deployment walkthroughs for Foundry templates, from chatbots to document processors Tips for CI/CD, debugging, and reproducibility in enterprise environments Community-first mindset: bring your feedback, challenges, and ideas Kristen Womack brings deep insight into developer experience and product strategy; this is a rare opportunity to learn from the source and shape the future of AI tooling. 🔧 Get Ready Before you join: Install azd 👉 Install Guide Explore Kristen’s work 👉 www.kristenwomack.io Join the Discord 👉 Azure AI Foundry Community 🗓️ Weekly Schedule 🕧 Thursdays at 12:30pm PT 📍 Azure AI Foundry Discord Bring your questions. Bring your curiosity. Build with the best. Additional resources: check out the AZD for Beginners course https://aka.ms/azd-for-beginnersEssential Microsoft Resources for MVPs & the Tech Community from the AI Tour
Unlock the power of Microsoft AI with redeliverable technical presentations, hands-on workshops, and open-source curriculum from the Microsoft AI Tour! Whether you’re a Microsoft MVP, Developer, or IT Professional, these expertly crafted resources empower you to teach, train, and lead AI adoption in your community. Explore top breakout sessions covering GitHub Copilot, Azure AI, Generative AI, and security best practices—designed to simplify AI integration and accelerate digital transformation. Dive into interactive workshops that provide real-world applications of AI technologies. Take it a step further with Microsoft’s Open-Source AI Curriculum, offering beginner-friendly courses on AI, Machine Learning, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and GitHub Copilot—perfect for upskilling teams and fostering innovation. Don’t just learn—lead. Access these resources, host impactful training sessions, and drive AI adoption in your organization. Start sharing today! Explore now: Microsoft AI Tour Resources.Practical ways to use AI in your Data Science and ML journey
Are you ready to take your learning from “just reading” to “actively doing”? We are launching a series of interactive events designed to help you bridge the gap between theory and practice, connect with peers, and learn directly from experts, all in a vibrant, supportive Discord community. The series will guide you on practical ways to use AI in your learning journey with Data Science and Machine Learning. Join the series on Discord at: https://aka.ms/ds4beginners/discord Why You Should Join Guided Pathways: Move seamlessly from the popular Data Science for Beginners and Machine Learning for Beginners curriculums to interact with fellow learners in the Azure AI Foundry Discord community. We’ve designed study plans, office hours sessions, and showcases so you can learn, ask questions, and get feedback in real time. Practical AI Skills: See how Artificial Intelligence can supercharge your learning. . Community & Collaboration: Find peer learners with similar goals, collaborate on projects, and get support from experienced moderators and MVPs. Machine Learning AMA 1 Theme: Learning Machine Learning with AI, responsibly. Date: Tuesday, 23 September (10AM PST | 1PM ET | 5PM GMT | 8PM EAT) What to Expect: Curriculum overview, hands-on AI demos, critique and correct a simple classifier, and peer collaboration. Link: https://aka.ms/learnwithai/ml Data Science AMA 2 Theme: Learning Data Science with AI, responsibly. Date: Tuesday, 30 September (10AM PST | 1PM ET | 5PM GMT | 8PM EAT) What to Expect: Curriculum overview, integrating AI into your learning, live Q&A, and practical tips for responsible AI use. Link: https://aka.ms/learnwithai/ds Showcase 1: GitHub Copilot for Data Science Theme: Hands-on AI Agents for Data Scientists Date: Thursday, 25 September (10AM PST | 1PM ET | 5PM GMT | 8PM EAT) What to Expect: Learn to use Copilot’s advanced features in Python and Jupyter Notebooks, customize agents, and extend your analyses. Link: https://aka.ms/learnwithai/agents How to Get Involved Join the Discord Channels: https://aka.ms/ds4beginners/discord https://aka.ms/ml4beginners/discord Prepare: Make sure you have a GitHub account, VS Code, Data Wrangler, ready for hands-on sessions. What Makes This Program Different? Discord first learning: Experience higher engagement and deeper connections. Curriculum-anchored activities: Every event is designed to build on what you’ve learned in the open-source curriculums. AI-powered study plans and resources: Get starter notebooks, prompt cards, and recap templates to accelerate your progress. Resources Hands-on workshop: https://aka.ms/ds-agents Data Science for beginner's curriculum: https://aka.ms/ds4beginners Machine Learning for beginner's curriculum: https://aka.ms/ml4beginners Ready to transform your learning journey? Join us for these exciting events and join us in the Azure AI Foundry Discord community. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to deepen your skills, there’s a place for you here!Quest 1 – I Want to Build a Local Gen AI Prototype
In this quest, you’ll build a local Gen AI app prototype using JavaScript or TypeScript. You’ll explore open-source models via GitHub, test them in a visual playground, and use them in real code — all from the comfort of VS Code with the AI Toolkit. It’s fast, hands-on, and sets you up to build real AI apps, starting with a sketch.JS AI Build-a-thon Setup in 5 Easy Steps
🔥 TL;DR — You’re 5 Steps Away from an AI Adventure Set up your project repo, follow the quests, build cool stuff, and level up. Everything’s automated, community-backed, and designed to help you actually learn AI — using the skills you already have. Let’s build the future. One quest at a time. 👉 Join the Build-a-thon | Chat on Discord🚨Introducing the JS AI Build-a-thon 🚨
We’re entering a future where AI-first and agentic developer experiences will shape how we build — and you don’t want to be left behind. This isn’t your average hackathon. It’s a hands-on, quest-driven learning experience designed for developers, packed with: Interactive quests that guide you step by step — from your first prototype to production-ready apps Community-powered support via our dedicated Discord and local, community-led study jams Showcase moments to share your journey, get inspired, and celebrate what you build Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to sharpen your skills with frameworks like LangChain.js, tools like the Azure AI Foundry and AI Toolkit Extensions, or diving deeper into agentic app design — this is your moment to start building.
