Add a new Azure Functions sample/quickstart to the Template Manifest. Use when asked to "add a sample", "add a template", "register a quickstart", or "add a connector/MCP/trigger sample" to Functions.Templates/Template-Manifest/manifest.json. Covers required fields, the short/long description pattern, category rules, priority assignment, metadata bumps (count/version/generatedAt), and keeping docs/priority-tiers.md in sync.
Add a new Azure Functions sample/quickstart to the Template Manifest. Use when asked to "add a sample", "add a template", "register a quickstart", or "add a connector/MCP/trigger sample" to Functions.Templates/Template-Manifest/manifest.json. Covers required fields, the short/long description pattern, category rules, priority assignment, metadata bumps (count/version/generatedAt), and keeping docs/priority-tiers.md in sync.
Add a new sample to the Template Manifest
This skill explains how to register a new template in the Azure Functions
Template Manifest so it appears in the VS Code Azure Functions extension and
other consumers.
Who consumes the manifest
Changes to manifest.json are surfaced by multiple downstream consumers, so keep
entries accurate and validated:
Azure Functions VS Code Extension — shows templates (and their
categories) in the create-project / create-sample experience.
Azure Functions CLI (Core Tools) v5 — quickstart command uses the manifest to list and
scaffold samples.
Azure MCP tool — exposes the manifest's templates to MCP clients/agents in Azure Functions Tools.
Azure skills — Copilot/agent skills that read the manifest to recommend or
generate Functions samples (entry point Azure MCP Tool)
JSON Schema. Only edit to add a new enum value (e.g. a new resource). Note: categories are not a schema enum — they are free-form kebab-case (pattern-validated), so adding a category needs no schema change.
Human-readable priority/coverage doc. Keep in sync with the manifest.
The manifest file is written as canonical json.dumps(indent=2, ensure_ascii=False)
output with a trailing newline. Preserve that formatting (2-space indent, no
trailing whitespace).
Step 1 — Inspect the source repository first
Never guess what a sample does. Inspect the actual repo at the exact tag you will
pin (gitRef) and confirm:
The folder (folderPath) and tag (gitRef) exist.
The real trigger/function names.
Whether it actually uses a binding you plan to mention. For example, only claim
"Blob output" if the code really has a Blob output binding — sibling samples in
different languages often differ (e.g. C# may use BlobOutput while the
TypeScript/Python ports only log the payload).
gh api "repos/<owner>/<repo>/contents/<folderPath>?ref=refs/tags/<tag>" --jq '.[] | "\(.type)\t\(.name)"'
Step 2 — Add the template object
Insert the template object adjacent to its peer entries (same resource value)
in the templates array, maintaining priority order within that group. If no
peers exist, append to the end of the array. Mirror the existing entry for the
same family/resource so the new one is consistent.
Mandatory fields for a new sample
A new template must include all of the following.
Enforced by the schema:id, displayName, shortDescription, longDescription, language, bindingType, resource,
iac, priority, categories, repositoryUrl, folderPath, gitRef.
Other fields (whatsIncluded, author, isHighlighted) are
optional but recommended where applicable. tags is deprecated — do not add it.
Field rules
id — kebab-case, unique (matches the schema id pattern). Convention:
<resource-or-feature>-<binding>-<language> (e.g. office365-connector-trigger-python).
Before adding the entry, search templates for a matching id. If a collision
is found, inform the user and suggest an alternative id (for example, append
a version suffix or disambiguating term). Never silently overwrite or duplicate
an id.
language — must be one of the schema language enum values.
bindingType — must be one of the schema bindingType enum values.
resource — must be one of the schema resource enum values. Add a new
enum value to manifest.schema.jsononly if none fits, and reuse it
consistently.
iac — must be one of the schema iac enum values.
The same enum-extension rule applies to language, bindingType, and iac:
add a new enum value in manifest.schema.json only when no existing value fits,
then reuse it consistently across related samples. When any enum is extended,
bump manifest version with a minor increment.
repositoryUrl — must satisfy the schema pattern (GitHub HTTPS URL).
folderPath — path within the repo (. for root).
gitRef — mandatory for new samples. Always pin a signed release tag,
e.g. refs/tags/v1.0.0. Never leave it unset and never point a new sample at a
moving branch (refs/heads/main) — that makes the template non-reproducible.
Verify the tag exists before committing. Whenever the sample repo ships a new
release, ask the user to update gitRef to the new tag (and re-verify the
pinned folderPath/contents still match) so the manifest tracks the intended
release.
If the tag does not exist in the target repository, do not proceed
with adding the template. Inform the user that the tag was not found, provide
the exact command used to verify, and ask them to confirm the tag name
or create the release first.
The allowed values, patterns, and limits for every field are defined in
schemas/manifest.schema.json — read them there rather than relying on a copy.
A quick way to print the enums:
cd Functions.Templates\Template-Manifest
@'
import json
p = json.load(open(r"schemas\manifest.schema.json", encoding="utf-8"))["$defs"]["template"]["properties"]
for f in ("language", "bindingType", "resource", "iac"):
print(f, "->", p[f]["enum"])
'@ | python -
Categories (match existing — shown in VS Code)
categories are displayed/filtered in the VS Code extension, so only use
categories that already exist in the manifest unless you have a deliberate reason
to introduce a new one. Derive the current set from the manifest instead of
hardcoding it:
cd Functions.Templates\Template-Manifest
@'
import json
d = json.load(open("manifest.json", encoding="utf-8"))
print(sorted({c for t in d["templates"] for c in t["categories"]}))
'@ | python -
Most starter samples include starters plus a domain category
(e.g. ["starters", "connectors", "event-processing"]). Values are kebab-case.
tags are deprecated
Do not add a tags array to new entries. It is deprecated and not used by
consumers. (Older entries may still contain it; leave those as-is unless asked.)
Description pattern
Match the established pattern used across the manifest:
shortDescription (respect the schema's maxLength): a concise capability
summary that ends with deployed via azd for azd-based templates.
Pattern: "<Service> <scope> <mechanism>, deployed via azd".
Example: "Office 365 Outlook email and calendar connector triggers with Blob output, deployed via azd".
If the sample is not azd-based (for example, iac is none or deployment is
manual), omit the deployed via azd suffix. End with the real deployment
mechanism (for example, deployed via ARM template) or with the capability
summary when no deployment mechanism is represented.
longDescription: start with the imperative
Build and deploy …, then explicitly name the trigger(s) and binding(s)
the sample demonstrates — e.g. the specific trigger type(s)
(ConnectorTrigger, McpToolTrigger, CosmosDBTrigger, …) and any input/output
bindings (BlobInput/BlobOutput, etc.). Enumerate (1) … (2) … when there are
multiple functions/tools, naming each one. Only list a binding if the sample's
code actually uses it (verify per language — siblings often differ). Then name
the SDK/extension, give the hosting/auth summary, and end with
Deployed with azd.
For non-azd samples, omit the Deployed with azd. closing and end with the
deployment approach actually used or a neutral capability summary.
whatsIncluded: a short list of concrete artifacts (functions, bindings,
infra, azd config). Keep claims accurate to the real sample.
Example object
{"id":"office365-connector-trigger-python","displayName":"Office 365 Outlook Connector Triggers (Python + AZD + Bicep)","shortDescription":"Office 365 Outlook email and calendar connector triggers, deployed via azd","longDescription":"Build and deploy an Office 365 Outlook connector app on Azure Functions in Python. This app provides five connector trigger functions ... Deployed with azd.","language":"Python","bindingType":"trigger","resource":"connector","iac":"bicep","priority":80,"categories":["starters","connectors","event-processing"],"author":"Azure Functions Team","repositoryUrl":
isHighlighted: true is optional and only for samples that should be
featured/highlighted in the consuming UI (e.g. VS Code).
Step 3 — Choose a priority
priority is the primary sort key (lower = shown first), an integer within the
range defined by the schema's priority bounds. It is organized in blocks (see
docs/priority-tiers.md):
Language samples that share a sub-type share the same priority and are sorted by
language order: .NET → Python → TypeScript → JavaScript → Java → PowerShell.
Use this lookup style to avoid inferring block math from memory. Build/update this
table from docs/priority-tiers.md before assigning a new value:
Resource
Block Start
trigger
input
output
variant
mcp
50
50
51
52
53
connector
80
80
81
82
83
If the target resource/block is unclear or overlaps with existing assignments,
stop and confirm the intended block with the user before setting priority.
Reuse the priority of the matching peer template (e.g. all Office 365 connector
samples = P80, all SharePoint = P81). Use the next free slot/block for a brand-new
category.
Step 4 — Bump manifest metadata
In manifest.json, update the top-level fields:
totalTemplates — must equal the number of objects in templates.
version — bump semver (minor bump for new templates / a new resource
enum value; patch for description-only fixes).
Use these exact rules: bump the minor version (for example, 1.2.0 →
1.3.0) if the PR adds one or more new templates or introduces a new enum
value (resource, language, bindingType, or iac). Bump the patch
version (for example, 1.2.0 → 1.2.1) if the PR only fixes descriptions or
metadata without adding/removing templates or extending enums. If both occur in
one PR, use the higher bump (minor).
generatedAt — current UTC time in YYYY-MM-DDTHH:MM:SSZ.
Step 5 — Update docs/priority-tiers.md
Keep the doc in sync with the manifest:
Update the header Total templates and Manifest version.
Add the new row(s) to the Full template listing (use *new* in the Was
column), in priority → language order.
Update the Priority block map and Coverage matrix if you added a
sub-type/category, and the Summary counts and Total (must match
totalTemplates).
If samples are removed (e.g. archived repos), delete their rows and note the
removal in the block map / coverage matrix (e.g. *(removed — repos archived)*).
Step 6 — Validate
Always validate JSON parses and conforms to the schema, and that the counts match
(install the validator first if needed: pip install jsonschema):
Run the repo's reference validator, which checks that every template's
repositoryUrl, gitRef, and folderPath actually resolve on GitHub (and warns
when a gitRef is a branch instead of a signed tag). Requires an authenticated
gh CLI:
The script validates the whole manifest, so pre-existing refs/heads/* branch
entries may already emit warnings. For the sample(s) you added or changed, the
output must show OK with no WARN/ERROR lines — i.e. the repo, tag, and
folder resolve and gitRef is a signed tag (refs/tags/*). Fix any error and
re-run until your entries are clean before committing.
Checklist
Verified repo, folderPath, and gitRef (tag) exist; claims match real code.
gitRef set to a pinned release tag (mandatory; not a moving branch).
Template object added with all mandatory fields (incl. gitRef); id unique.
categories use only existing values; no tags on new entries.
shortDescription follows deployment mode rules: for azd templates it ends with
deployed via azd; for non-azd templates it omits that suffix and uses the
actual deployment mechanism (or a capability-only ending).
longDescription starts with Build and deploy …, explicitly names the
trigger(s)/binding(s) demonstrated; for azd templates it ends with
Deployed with azd., and for non-azd templates it omits that closing and
uses the actual deployment approach (or a neutral capability summary).
priority matches peers / correct block.
totalTemplates, version, generatedAt updated.
docs/priority-tiers.md listing, block map, coverage matrix, and totals updated.
JSON parses, schema validates, counts match; no formatting drift (round-trip).
eng\scripts\validate-manifest-refs.ps1 shows OK (no WARN/ERROR) for
the sample(s) you touched.
