Modern .NET applications are evolving from simple AI features to fully agentic systems. This hands on workshop walks you through that journey - starting with foundational AI patterns, moving into extensibility with MCP and Agent Skills, then exploring the GitHub Copilot SDK, and finally building full agents using the Microsoft Agent Framework.

We begin with the essentials: integrating LLMs using Microsoft.Extensions.AI, working with embeddings and vector databases, and implementing RAG to deliver grounded, reliable intelligence inside .NET applications.

Next, we introduce the Model Context Protocol and Agent Skills - the open, interoperable standards to expose tools, data, and capabilities to AI systems. You’ll build MCP servers in .NET, define tool schemas, and create reusable Skills that become the extensibility layer for agentic applications.

From there, we explore the GitHub Copilot SDK, which provides a simple, high level way to integrate AI into local development scenarios. You’ll learn how the SDK enables applications to plan, call tools, and execute multi step workflows - making it easy to embed AI powered reasoning into CLIs, developer tools, and internal apps without building an agent runtime from scratch.

Finally, we bring everything together with the Microsoft Agent Framework. You’ll build agents that can reason, plan, and take action using MCP exposed tools, Skills, and Copilot SDK capabilities. We’ll cover grounding, safety, orchestration, and multi agent collaboration patterns that enable agents to perform real work inside your .NET applications.

You will learn how to:

• Build intelligent .NET apps using Microsoft.Extensions.AI
• Use embeddings, vector stores, and semantic search
• Implement RAG for grounded AI
• Build extensible tools and Skills using MCP
• Implement reusable Agent Skills in .NET
• Integrate AI into local development workflows using the GitHub Copilot SDK
• Build agentic workflows using the Microsoft Agent Framework
• Design agents that call tools, coordinate tasks, and collaborate safely

Attendee Requirements:

• You must provide your own laptop computer (Windows or Mac) for this hands-on lab

Prerequisites:

• Basic software development experience is required, including familiarity with basic programming language constructs, tools, and techniques.
• Web development experience is preferred but not required.

Accounts:

• A GitHub account is required.
• An Azure account is recommended but not required. An Azure subscription will not be provided for this workshop.

Computer Setup:
You will need the following to complete this workshop:

• Windows 11, macOS, or Linux laptop
• A GitHub account
• .NET 10 SDK
• Docker Desktop
• EITHER Visual Studio 2026 with the web development workload installed
• OR Visual Studio Code with the C# Dev Kit extension installed