Level Up Your Python Game with Generative AI Free Livestream Series This October!
If you've been itching to go beyond basic Python scripts and dive into the world of AI-powered applications, this is your moment. Join Pamela Fox and Gwyneth Peña-Siguenza Gwthrilled to announce a brand-new free livestream series running throughout October, focused on Python + Generative AI and this time, we’re going even deeper with Agents and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). Whether you're just starting out with LLMs or you're refining your multi-agent workflows, this series is designed to meet you where you are and push your skills to the next level. 🧠 What You’ll Learn Each session is packed with live coding, hands-on demos, and real-world examples you can run in GitHub Codespaces. Here's a taste of what we’ll cover: 🎥 Why Join? Live coding: No slides-only sessions — we build together, step by step. All code shared: Clone and run in GitHub Codespaces or your local setup. Community support: Join weekly office hours and our AI Discord for Q&A and deeper dives. Modular learning: Each session stands alone, so you can jump in anytime. 🔗 Register for the full series 🌍 ¿Hablas español? We’ve got you covered! Gwyneth Peña-Siguenza will be leading a parallel series in Spanish, covering the same topics with localized examples and demos. 🔗 Regístrese para la serie en español Whether you're building your first AI app or architecting multi-agent systems, this series is your launchpad. Come for the code, stay for the community — and leave with a toolkit that scales. Let’s build something brilliant together. 💡 Join the discussions and share your exprience at the Azure AI Discord CommunityOne MCP Server, Two Transports: STDIO and HTTP
Let's think about a situation for using MCP servers. Most MCP servers run on a local machine – either directly or in a container. But with other integration scenarios like using Copilot Studio, enterprise-wide MCP servers or need more secure environments, those MCP server should run remotely through HTTP. As long as the core logic lives in a shared layer, wrapping it in a console (STDIO) or web (HTTP) host is straightforward. However, maintaining two hosts can duplicate code. What if a single MCP server supports both STDIO and HTTP, controlled by a simple switch? It will be reducing significant amount of management overhead. This post shows how to build a single MCP server that supports both transports, selected at runtime with a --http switch, using the .NET builder pattern. .NET Builder Pattern A .NET console app starts the builder pattern using Host.CreateApplicationBuilder(args) . var builder = Host.CreateApplicationBuilder(args); The builder instance is the type of HostApplicationBuilder implementing the IHostApplicationBuilder interface. On the other hand, an ASP.NET web app starts the builder pattern using WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args) . var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args); This builder instance is the type of WebApplicationBuilder also implementing the IHostApplicationBuilder interface. Now, both builder instances have IHostApplicationBuilder in common, and this is the key of this post today. If we decide the hosting mode before creating the builder instance, the server can run as either STDIO or HTTP. The --http Switch as an Argument As you can see, both Host.CreateApplicationBuilder(args) and WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args) take the list of arguments that are passed from the command-line. Therefore, before initializing the builder instance, we can identify the server type. Let's use a --http switch as the selector. Then pass --http when running the server. dotnet run --project MyMcpServer -- --http Then, before creating the builder instance, check whether the switch is present. It looks for the environment variables first, then checks the arguments passed. public static bool UseStreamableHttp(IDictionary env, string[] args) { var useHttp = env.Contains("UseHttp") && bool.TryParse(env["UseHttp"]?.ToString()?.ToLowerInvariant(), out var result) && result; if (args.Length == 0) { return useHttp; } useHttp = args.Contains("--http", StringComparer.InvariantCultureIgnoreCase); return useHttp; } Here's the usage: var useStreamableHttp = UseStreamableHttp(Environment.GetEnvironmentVariables(), args); We've identified whether to use HTTP or not. Therefore, the builder instance is built in this way: IHostApplicationBuilder builder = useStreamableHttp ? WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args) : Host.CreateApplicationBuilder(args); With this builder instance, we can add more dependencies specific to web app or console app depending on the scenario. The Transport Type Let's add the MCP server to the builder instance. var mcpServerBuilder = builder.Services.AddMcpServer() .WithPromptsFromAssembly() .WithResourcesFromAssembly() .WithToolsFromAssembly(); We haven’t told mcpServerBuilder which transport to use yet. Use useStreamableHttp to select the transport. if (useStreamableHttp) { mcpServerBuilder.WithHttpTransport(o => o.Stateless = true); } else { mcpServerBuilder.WithStdioServerTransport(); } Type Casting to Run Server While configuring an ASP.NET web app, middlewares are added. The HTTP host also needs middleware, and the builder must be cast. After the builder instance is built, the webApp instance adds middleware including the endpoint mapping. IHost app; if (useStreamableHttp) { var webApp = (builder as WebApplicationBuilder)!.Build(); webApp.UseHttpsRedirection(); webApp.MapMcp("/mcp"); app = webApp; } else { var consoleApp = (builder as HostApplicationBuilder)!.Build(); app = consoleApp; } Note that WebApplication implements IHost, so you can assign it to an IHost variable. The console host built from HostApplicationBuilder is already an IHost. Use this app instance to run the MCP server. await app.RunAsync(); That's it! Now you can run the MCP server with the STDIO transport or the HTTP transport by providing a single switch, --http . Sample apps Sample apps are available for you to check out. Visit the MCP Samples in .NET repository, and you'll find MCP server apps. All server apps in the repo support both STDIO and HTTP via the switch. More resources If you'd like to learn more about MCP in .NET, here are some additional resources worth exploring: Let's Learn MCP MCP Workshop in .NET MCP Samples in .NET MCP Samples MCP for BeginnersHow do I catch bad data before it derails my agent?
How do I catch bad data before it derails my agent? When an agent relies on data that’s incomplete, inconsistent, or plain wrong, every downstream step inherits that problem. You will waste time debugging hallucinations that are actually caused by a stray “NULL” string, or re-running fine-tunes because of invisible whitespace in a numeric column. Even small quality issues can: Skew model evaluation metrics. Trigger exceptions in your application code. Undermine user trust when answers look obviously off. The bottom line is that a five-minute inspection up front can save hours later.Announcing a new IDE for PostgreSQL in VS Code from Microsoft
We are excited to announce the public preview of the brand-new PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code (VS Code), designed to simplify PostgreSQL database management and development workflows. With this extension, you can now manage database objects, draft queries with intelligent assistance from context-aware IntelliSense and our ‘@pgsql’ GitHub Copilot agent—all without ever leaving your favorite code editor. Addressing Developer Challenges Many of you face hurdles in managing time effectively, with 41% of developers struggling with task-switching, according to the 2024 StackOverflow Developer Survey. Additionally, the 2024 Stripe Developer Coefficient Report reveals that developers spend up to 50% of their time debugging and troubleshooting code and databases. These inefficiencies are further compounded by the absence of integrated tools that unify database management and application development. The PostgreSQL extension for VS Code addresses these challenges head-on by integrating Postgres database tools and the @pgsql GitHub Copilot agent, providing a unified application development and database management experience. By integrating robust features such as Entra ID authentication for centralized identity management and deep Azure Database for PostgreSQL integration, this extension empowers you to focus on building innovative applications rather than wrestling with fragmented workflows. Key Features The public preview release of the PostgreSQL extension for VS Code introduces a suite of powerful new capabilities that enhance productivity and streamline development for application developers working with Postgres. Schema Visualization Schema visualization is a breeze with our ‘right-click’ context menu options. o Right-click on the database entry in the Object Explorer and select “Visualize Schema” Single click to expand. Database aware GitHub Copilot AI assistance directly within VS Code providing PostgreSQL database context reduces the PostgreSQL learning curve and improves developer productivity. Simplified interaction with PostgreSQL databases and development tools using natural language. Commands such as "@pgsql" enable you to query databases, optimize schemas, and execute SQL operations with ease. Context menus, such as “Rewrite Query”, “Explain Query”, “Analyze Query Performance” provide AI Intelligence inside the query editor window. Real-time, expert-level guidance to help keep PostgreSQL databases performant and secure and improve code quality. PostgreSQL Copilot Context Menu Options Single click to expand. Using the PostgreSQL Copilot Context Menu, Single click to expand. GitHub Copilot Chat Agent Mode GitHub Copilot Chat agent mode provides a database context aware intelligent assistant that can perform multi-stage tasks, moving beyond the question-and-answer chat experience. Agent mode allows the Copilot to bring in additional context from your workspace and, with permission, it can write and debug code on its own. Agent mode transforms PostgreSQL development by providing real-time, AI-driven guidance that simplifies complex tasks like app prototyping, debugging, schema optimization, and performance tuning. In this example, we’ll ask the agent to create a new database on a specific server in my Saved Connections and enable the PostGIS extension. Single click to expand. The @pgsql agent begins by listing the server connections, connecting to the server ‘postgis’, drafts the script to modify the database and waits for permission to continue before making changes. Database modifications require explicit permission from the user. Add Database Connections with Ease Simplified connection management for local and cloud-hosted PostgreSQL instances. Support for multiple connection profiles and connection string parsing for easy setup. Direct browsing and filtering of Azure Database for PostgreSQL deployments. Integration with Entra ID for centralized security and identity management. Connect with ease to your existing Azure Database for PostgreSQL deployments with the “Browse Azure” option in the “Add New Connection” menu. Single click to expand. Connect to local Docker deployments with the Parameters or Connection String option. Single click to expand. Password-less authentication with Entra Id Streamlined Authentication: Eliminates the need for manual login, offering a seamless integration experience for you. Automatic Token Refresh: Ensures uninterrupted connectivity and minimizes the risk of authentication timeouts during development. Enhanced Security: Provides robust protection by leveraging Entra-ID's secure authentication protocols. Time Efficiency: Reduces overhead by automating token management, allowing you to focus on coding rather than administrative tasks. Enterprise Compatibility: Aligns with corporate security standards and simplifies access to PostgreSQL databases in enterprise environments. User Consistency: You can use your existing Entra-ID credentials, avoiding the need to manage separate accounts. Database Explorer Provides a structured view of database objects such as schemas, tables, and functions. Enables creation, modification, and deletion of database objects. Single click to expand. Query History Session query history is available below the Object Explorer. This allows you to quickly review previously run queries for reuse. Single click to expand. Query Editing with Context-aware IntelliSense Context-aware IntelliSense for auto-completion of SQL keywords, table names, and functions. Syntax highlighting and auto-formatting for improved query readability. Query history tracking for reusing previously executed queries. Single click to expand. What Sets the PostgreSQL Extension for VS Code Apart? The PostgreSQL extension for VS Code stands out in the crowded landscape of developer database management tools due to its unparalleled functionality and intuitive design. Here’s what makes it special: Enhanced Productivity: Features like context-aware IntelliSense and SQL formatting save time and minimize errors. pgsql GitHub Copilot Chat agent: Database and workspace context awareness, enabling smarter and more contextually relevant assistance for developers – combined with the ability to perform multi-step tasks. Streamlined Onboarding: The Connection Manager ensures you can get started within minutes. Improved Security: Entra ID integration provides robust access control and centralized identity management, including the ability to browse your Azure Database for PostgreSQL instances. Comprehensive Toolset: You can manage database objects, execute queries, and deploy instances all within VS Code. Seamless Cloud Integration: Deep integration with Azure Database for PostgreSQL simplifies cloud database management. Getting Started with the PostgreSQL extension for Visual Studio Code Installing the PostgreSQL extension for VS Code is simple: Open the Extensions view in VS Code. Search for "PostgreSQL" in the Extensions Marketplace. Select and install the Preview PostgreSQL extension with the blue elephant seen in the screenshot below. xtension ID: (ms-ossdata.vscode-pgsql) Also available in the online Visual Studio Code Marketplace. Enabling the PostgreSQL GitHub Copilot Chat You will need the GitHub Copilot and GitHub Copilot chat extensions installed in VS Code to be able to log into their GitHub Account and use "@pgsql" in the chat interface to interact with their PostgreSQL database. Feedback and Support We value your insights. Use the built-in feedback tool in VS Code to share your thoughts and report issues. Your feedback will help us refine the extension and ensure it meets the needs of the developer community. Regarding the standard preview license language included in this first release - Our goal is to ensure this extension is widely available and consumable by all Postgres users equally. We’re going to update the license. Stay tuned for updates. Get Started The PostgreSQL extension for VS Code offers significant enhancements to development efficiency and productivity. We encourage you to explore the public preview today and experience improved workflows with PostgreSQL databases. To learn more and get started, visit: https://aka.ms/pg-vscode-docs Special thanks to Jonathon Frost, Principal PM for all of his work on the @pgsql GitHub Copilot.MCP Bootcamp: APAC, LATAM and Brazil
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is transforming how AI systems interact with real-world applications. From intelligent assistants to real-time streaming, MCP is already being adopted by leading companies—and now is your chance to get ahead. Join us for a four-part technical series designed to give you practical, production-ready skills in MCP development, integration, and deployment. Whether you're a developer, AI engineer, or cloud architect, this series will equip you with the tools to build and scale MCP-based solutions. 📅 English edition - 6PM IST (India Standard Time) ✅ Register at MCP Bootcamp APAC Session Title Date & Time (IST) Creating Your First MCP Server Learn the fundamental concepts of the protocol and test your implementation using official tools. August 28, 6:00 PM MCP Integration with LLMs Set up an intelligent MCP client that uses LLM to interpret natural commands and integrate everything with VS Code and GitHub Copilot. September 2, 6:00 PM Real-Time with SSE and HTTP Streaming Add real-time communication to your MCP server using Server-Sent Events and streamable HTTP. September 4, 6:00 PM Deploy MCP on Azure Add Real-Time Communication with Server-Sent Events to Your MCP Server and Professionally Deploy on Azure Container Apps. September 9, 6:00 PM 📅 Spanish edition - 9AM CST (Central Standard Time, Mexico City) ✅ Check the time in your location: 11am ET, 8am PT, 9am CST e 5pm CET - Register at MCP Bootcamp LATAM Session Title Date & Time (CST) Creando tu Primer Servidor MCP Construye desde cero un servidor MCP funcional en Python. Aprende los conceptos fundamentales del protocolo y prueba tu implementación usando herramientas oficiales. August 18, 09:00 AM Integración de MCP con LLMs Configura un cliente MCP inteligente que utilice LLM para interpretar comandos en lenguaje natural e intégralo con VS Code y GitHub Copilot. August 20, 09:00 AM MCP en Tiempo Real y Deploy en Azure Agrega comunicación en tiempo real con Server-Sent Events a tu servidor MCP y realiza un despliegue profesional en Azure Container Apps. August 25, 09:00 AM Comunicación en tiempo real con SSE y transmisión HTTP Agrega comunicación en tiempo real con Server-Sent Events a tu servidor MCP y realiza un despliegue profesional en Azure Container Apps. September 1, 09:00 AM 📅 Portuguese edition - 12PM BRT (Brasília Time) ✅ Register at MCP Bootcamp | Brasil Session Title Date & Time (BRT) Criando seu Primeiro MCP Server Construa do zero um servidor MCP funcional em Python. Aprenda os conceitos fundamentais do protocolo e teste sua implementação usando ferramentas oficiais. August 19, 12:00 PM Integração de MCP com LLMs Configure um cliente MCP inteligente que usa LLM para interpretar comandos naturais e integre tudo com VS Code e GitHub Copilot. August 21, 12:00 PM Deploy no Azure Adicione comunicação em tempo real com Server-Sent Events ao seu servidor MCP e faça deploy profissional na Azure Container Apps. August 26, 12:00 PM Comunicação em Tempo Real com SSE e HTTP Streaming Aprenda a adicionar comunicação em tempo real ao seu servidor MCP usando Server-Sent Events (SSE) e streaming HTTP. August 28, 12:00 PMQuest 5 - I want to add conversation memory to my app
In this quest, you’ll explore how to build GenAI apps using a modern JavaScript AI framework, LangChain.js. LangChain.js helps you orchestrate prompts, manage memory, and build multi-step AI workflows all while staying in your favorite language. Using LangChain.js you will make your GenAI chat app feel truly personal by teaching it to remember. In this quest, you’ll upgrade your AI prototype with conversation memory, allowing it to recall previous interactions making the conversation flow more naturally and human-like. 👉 Want to catch up on the full program or grab more quests? https://aka.ms/JSAIBuildathon 💬 Got questions or want to hang with other builders? Join us on Discord — head to the #js-ai-build-a-thon channel. 🔧 What You’ll Build A smarter, context-aware chat backend that: Remembers user conversations across multiple exchanges (e.g., knowing "Terry" after you introduced yourself as Terry) Maintains session-specific memory so each chat thread feels consistent and coherent Uses LangChain.js abstractions to streamline state management. 🚀 What You’ll Need ✅ A GitHub account ✅ Visual Studio Code ✅ Node.js ✅ A working chat app from previous quests (UI + Azure-based chat endpoint) 🛠️ Concepts You’ll Explore Integrating LangChain.js Learn how LangChain.js simplifies building AI-powered web applications by providing a standard interface to connect your backend with Azure’s language models. You’ll see how using this framework decouples your code and unlocks advanced features. Adding Conversation Memory Understand why memory matters in chatbots. Explore how conversation memory lets your app remember previous user messages within each session enabling more context-aware and coherent conversations. Session-based Message History Implement session-specific chat histories using LangChain’s memory modules (ChatMessageHistory and BufferMemory). Each user or session gets its own history, so previous questions and answers inform future responses without manual log management. Seamless State Management Experience how LangChain handles chat logs and memory behind the scenes, freeing you from manually stitching together chat history or juggling context with every prompt. 📖 Bonus Resources to Go Deeper Exploring Generative AI in App Development: LangChain.js and Azure: a video introduction to LangChain.js and how you can build a project with LangChain.js and Azure 🦜️🔗 Langchain: the official LangChain.js documentation. GitHub - Azure-Samples/serverless-chat-langchainjs: Build your own serverless AI Chat with Retrieval-Augmented-Generation using LangChain.js, TypeScript and Azure: A GitHub sample that helps you build your own serverless AI Chat with Retrieval-Augmented-Generation using LangChain.js, TypeScript and Azure GitHub - Azure-Samples/langchainjs-quickstart-demo: Build a generative AI application using LangChain.js, from local to Azure: A GitHub sample that helps you build a generative AI application using LangChain.js, from local to Azure. Microsoft | 🦜️🔗 Langchain Official LangChain documentation on all functionalities related to Microsoft and Microsoft Azure. Quest 4 - I want to connect my AI prototype to external data using RAG | Microsoft Community Hub a link to the previous quest instructions.Quest 4 - I want to connect my AI prototype to external data using RAG
In Quest 4 of the JS AI Build-a-thon, you’ll integrate Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) to give your AI apps access to external data like PDFs. You’ll explore embeddings, vector stores, and how to use the pdf-parse library in JavaScript to build more context-aware apps — with challenges to push you even further.Quest 6 - I want to build an AI Agent
Quest 6 of the JS AI Build-a-thon marks a major milestone — building your first intelligent AI agent using the Azure AI Foundry VS Code extension. In this quest, you’ll design, test, and integrate an agent that can use tools like Bing Search, respond to goals, and adapt in real-time. With updated instructions, real-world workflows, and powerful tooling, this is where your AI app gets truly smart.Quest 7: Create an AI Agent with Tools from an MCP Server
In Quest 7 of the JS AI Build-a-thon, developers explore how to create AI agents that use real tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). With the MCP TypeScript SDK and AI Toolkit in VS Code, you’ll connect your agent to a custom MCP server and give it real capabilities, like accessing your system's OS info. This builds on agentic development and introduces tooling practices that reflect how modern AI apps are built.GitHub Copilot Vibe Coding Workshop
Many of us do the vibe coding these days, and GitHub Copilot (GHCP) takes the key role of the vibe coding. You might simply enter prompts to GHCP like "Build a frontend app for a marketplace of camping gear" or even simpler ones like "Give me an app for camping gear marketplace". This surely works. GHCP delivers an app for you. However, the deliverable might be different from what you initially expected. This happens because GHCP fills in uncertainties with its own imagination unless we provide clear and detailed prompts. Let's recall the basics of product lifecycle management (PLM). You're a product owner or product manager about to launch a new product or develop a new business to sell values to your prospective customers. Where would you start from? Yes, it's the fist step to perform market analysis – whether your idea is feasible or not, whether the market is profitable or not, and so on. Then, based on this analysis, you would generate a product requirements document (PRD). The PRD describes what the product or service should be look like, how it should work, what it should deliver. In addition to that, the doc should also contain user stories and acceptance criteria. The user stories define what the app should expect, how it should behave, and what it should return. The acceptance criteria defines how you test the app to accept as a final deliverable. So, is a PRD is important for vibe coding? YES, IT IS! As stated earlier, GHCP tries really hard to fill some missing parts with its full of imagination. Therefore, the more context you provide to GHCP, the better GHCP works more accurately. That's how you get more accurate results from the vibe coding. But how do you actually practise this type of vibe coding? Introducing GitHub Copilot Vibe Coding Workshop I'm more than happy to introduce this GitHub Copilot Vibe Coding Workshop, a resource available for everyone to use. It's based on a typical app development scenario – building a web application that consists of a frontend UI and backend API with database transaction. This workshop has six steps: Analyse a PRD and generate an OpenAPI document from it. Build a FastAPI app in Python based on the OpenAPI doc. Build a React app in JavaScript based on the OpenAPI doc. Migrate the FastAPI app to Spring Boot app in Java. Migrate the React app to Blazor app in .NET. Containerise both the Spring app and the Blazor app, and orchestrate them. This workshop is self-paced so you can complete it in your spare time. It's also designed to run on GitHub Codespaces, since not everyone has all the required development environment set up locally. Throughout this workshop, you'll learn: How to activate GHCP Agent Mode on VS Code, How to customise your GHCP to get the better result, and How to integrate MCP servers for vibe coding. Do you prefer a language other than English? No problem! This workshop provides materials in seven different languages including English, Chinese (Simplified), French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish so you can choose your preferred language to complete the workshop. It's your time for vibe coding! Now it's your turn to try this GitHub Copilot Vibe Coding Workshop on your own, or together with your friends and colleagues. If you have any questions about this workshop, please create an issue in the repository! Want to know more about GitHub Copilot? GitHub Copilot in VS Code GitHub Copilot Agent Mode GitHub Copilot Customisation MCP Server Support in VS Code
