AZD VS Code Extension Updates & Improvements #6425

spboyer · 2025-12-22T16:48:45Z

Introduces significant improvements to the Azure Developer CLI VS Code extension, focusing on enhanced environment management, improved resource navigation, and better user experience.

📋 Summary of Changes

🆕 New Features

1. Standalone Environments View

Added a dedicated Environments view separate from the workspace view
Provides a unified interface for managing all azd environments across projects
Includes environment status indicators and management commands

2. Extensions Management View

New Extensions view for managing azd CLI extensions
Support for installing, uninstalling, and upgrading extensions
Visual status indicators for installed extensions

3. "Show in Azure Portal" Command

Quick navigation from VS Code directly to Azure resources in the portal
Context menu integration for services
Automatic portal URL construction with proper resource ID handling

4. Enhanced Environment Operations

Unified command support across workspace and standalone views
Commands: env-refresh, env-edit, env-delete, revealAzureResourceGroup
Automatic view synchronization after operations
Dual refresh mechanism ensures both views stay in sync

🔧 Improvements

Resource Navigation

Extended revealAzureResourceGroup to support standalone environments
Improved RevealStep with:
- Automatic Azure extension activation based on resource type
- Tree refresh mechanisms before reveal attempts
- Multi-attempt reveal logic with fallback options
- Resource group pre-expansion for better navigation
- User-friendly error messages with action buttons

User Experience

Removed automatic environment selection on click for better control
Enhanced error messages with "Copy Resource ID" and "Open in Portal" actions
Improved context menu organization with proper grouping
Updated Help and Feedback links to point to AZD Blog Posts
Better visual feedback for environment status

Code Quality

ESLint compliance fixes (naming-convention warnings resolved)
Improved regex patterns for better linting compliance
Added comprehensive debug logging throughout wizard steps
Added documentation comments explaining API limitations
Better type handling with EnvironmentTreeItem support

📊 Commits Included

bec9154f - Remove Environments from My Project view
89d29243 - Add extensions view and enhanced environment management
ab57695c - Update Help and Feedback link from Resources to AZD Blog Posts
15197c3d - Add 'Show in Azure Portal' command for services
a9f3d191 - Integrate environment commands with standalone Environments view

🧪 Testing Checklist

Environment creation from standalone view
Environment deletion and refresh operations
Resource group reveal from standalone environments
"Show in Azure Portal" command functionality
View synchronization after operations
Extension management operations
Cross-view command compatibility
Error handling and user feedback
Context menu integrations

🔍 Related Issues

<- Improved regex patterns in RevealStep for better linting compliance Link any related issues here -->

📝 Notes

This is a work in progress. Additional testing and refinement may be needed before final review.

- Add new Extensions view with tree data provider for managing azd extensions - Implement extension commands: install, uninstall, and upgrade - Add ExtensionProvider service for interacting with azd extension APIs - Add environment variables tree node for displaying env vars in workspace - Enhance environment tree views with toggle visibility and .env file viewing - Add inline actions to environment view (view .env, select environment) - Add navigation buttons to view titles (new environment, install extension) - Improve tree view type checking with isTreeViewModel utility - Update telemetry IDs for new extension and environment operations - Refactor command handlers to support both workspace and environment tree views

…g Posts - Rename 'Resources' link to 'AZD Blog Posts' in Help and Feedback view - Update URL to point to Azure SDK blog filtered by azure-developer-cli tag - Update command title to 'Open AZD Blog Posts'

- Added new command to open Azure resources directly in the Azure Portal - Created OpenInPortalStep wizard step to handle portal URL opening - Enhanced RevealStep with improved resource tree navigation and error handling - Added debug logging throughout wizard steps for better diagnostics - Improved error handling in PickResourceStep and PickResourceGroupStep - Updated command registration and package.json with new command - Added localized command title in package.nls.json - Modified reveal.ts to support both TreeViewModel and direct service item inputs - Enhanced RevealStep to activate required Azure extensions and refresh tree before reveal - Added fallback mechanisms when automatic reveal fails (copy ID, open in portal options)

…ents view - Extended environment commands to support both workspace and standalone views - Added refresh functionality to Environments view after environment operations - Connected env-refresh, env-edit, env-delete, and revealResourceGroup commands to standalone environments - Updated reveal.ts to handle EnvironmentTreeItem for resource group navigation - Modified env.ts to accept EnvironmentTreeItem in all environment operations - Added view refresh commands after env operations (delete, new, select, refresh) - Removed automatic env-select on click for non-default environments - Fixed ESLint warnings with naming-convention for Azure provider types - Added comment explaining focusGroup limitation in RevealStep - Improved regex patterns in RevealStep for better linting compliance This unifies the experience across both the workspace environments and the standalone environments view, ensuring users can perform the same operations from either location.

Copilot

Pull request overview

This WIP PR introduces significant improvements to the Azure Developer CLI VS Code extension, adding a new dedicated activity bar view with multiple panels for managing environments, extensions, and resources. The changes focus on providing a standalone interface for environment management and adding convenient navigation features to Azure Portal.

Key Changes:

Adds a new activity bar container with four views: My Project, Environments, Extensions, and Help and Feedback
Implements environment variable visibility toggle functionality with hidden-by-default behavior
Adds "Show in Azure Portal" command for quick navigation from services
Extends reveal commands to work with both workspace and standalone environment views

Reviewed changes

Copilot reviewed 35 out of 38 changed files in this pull request and generated 20 comments.

Show a summary per file

File	Description
`package-lock.json`	Empty lock file added at repository root (should be removed)
`ext/vscode/ext/vscode/package-lock.json`	Empty lock file in duplicate nested path (should be removed)
`ext/vscode/package-lock.json`	Lock file dependency updates (peer dependencies unmarked)
`.vscode/settings.json`	Added aspire settings (unrelated to PR scope)
`ext/vscode/package.json`	Registered new views container, views, commands, and menus for enhanced UI
`ext/vscode/package.nls.json`	Added localization for new "Show in Azure Portal" command
`ext/vscode/src/extension.ts`	Integrated new view registration in activation
`ext/vscode/src/views/registerViews.ts`	New file registering all tree data providers and view commands
`ext/vscode/src/views/myProject/MyProjectTreeDataProvider.ts`	New provider for My Project view without environments
`ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts`	New standalone environments view with variable visibility toggle
`ext/vscode/src/views/extensions/ExtensionsTreeDataProvider.ts`	New extensions management view
`ext/vscode/src/views/helpAndFeedback/HelpAndFeedbackTreeDataProvider.ts`	New help and feedback view with links
`ext/vscode/src/views/workspace/AzureDevCliApplication.ts`	Added environment variables provider and optional environment inclusion
`ext/vscode/src/views/workspace/AzureDevCliEnvironment.ts`	Enhanced with collapsible environment variables child node
`ext/vscode/src/views/workspace/AzureDevCliEnvironments.ts`	Added env values provider integration
`ext/vscode/src/views/workspace/AzureDevCliEnvironmentVariables.ts`	New classes for environment variable tree items with visibility toggle
`ext/vscode/src/views/workspace/AzureDevCliWorkspaceResourceBranchDataProvider.ts`	Added visibility state management
`ext/vscode/src/services/AzureDevEnvValuesProvider.ts`	New service to fetch environment variable values via CLI
`ext/vscode/src/services/AzureDevExtensionProvider.ts`	New service to list installed azd extensions
`ext/vscode/src/commands/registerCommands.ts`	Registered new extension management and portal navigation commands
`ext/vscode/src/commands/extensions.ts`	New command implementations for extension install/uninstall/upgrade
`ext/vscode/src/commands/env.ts`	Extended environment commands to support standalone view items
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/reveal.ts`	Extended reveal commands with EnvironmentTreeItem support and portal navigation
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/OpenInPortalStep.ts`	New wizard step for opening resources in Azure Portal
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/RevealStep.ts`	Enhanced with extension activation, retry logic, and better error handling
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/PickEnvironmentStep.ts`	Added debug logging
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/PickResourceStep.ts`	Added error handling and debug logging
`ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/PickResourceGroupStep.ts`	Added error handling and improved error messages
`ext/vscode/src/commands/up.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/down.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/deploy.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/provision.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/restore.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/packageCli.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/pipeline.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/commands/monitor.ts`	Added support for AzureDevCliModel type guard
`ext/vscode/src/utils/isTreeViewModel.ts`	Added isAzureDevCliModel type guard function
`ext/vscode/src/telemetry/telemetryId.ts`	Added telemetry IDs for extension management commands

Files not reviewed (2)

ext/vscode/ext/vscode/package-lock.json: Language not supported
ext/vscode/package-lock.json: Language not supported

ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/RevealStep.ts

ext/vscode/src/views/myProject/MyProjectTreeDataProvider.ts

ext/vscode/package.json

ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts

ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/PickResourceStep.ts

ext/vscode/src/services/AzureDevEnvValuesProvider.ts

.vscode/settings.json

ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts

ext/vscode/src/commands/env.ts

ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts

Added unit tests for: - OpenInPortalStep: Tests portal URL construction for various Azure resource types * Web Apps, Storage Accounts, Cosmos DB, Container Apps, Resource Groups * Error handling for missing resource IDs * Priority configuration - RevealStep: Tests Azure resource reveal functionality * Extension activation for different Azure providers * Resource group pre-expansion logic * Multi-attempt reveal with fallback * Error handling and user notifications * Tree refresh mechanisms - EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider: Tests standalone environments view * Environment listing and hierarchy * Default environment marking * Environment variable visibility toggling * Tree refresh events * Integration with environment providers - ExtensionsTreeDataProvider: Tests extensions management view * Extension listing and display * Version information * Tree item creation * Refresh functionality All tests use proper mocking with sinon, follow established patterns, and provide comprehensive coverage of success and error paths.

- Add sinon and @types/sinon for test mocking - Remove unused telemetryId parameter from registerActivityCommand - Add documentation for telemetry tracking in commands - Fix isAzdCommand to handle undefined input - Add TEST_COVERAGE.md documentation

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Implements comprehensive language support for azure.yaml configuration files: - Auto-completion for host types, lifecycle hooks, and properties with snippets - Hover documentation with examples and Microsoft Learn links - Quick fixes for missing folders, properties, and invalid configurations - Add new service refactoring with interactive wizard - Enhanced validation diagnostics Includes 28 new test cases (all passing) covering completion, hover, code actions, and diagnostics. Updated README.md, FEATURE_IDEAS.md, and cspell dictionary.

…rompts

… and initialization Add a new Template Tools view panel that helps users discover and initialize Azure Developer CLI templates: Features: - Dynamic Quick Start section (visible only when no azure.yaml exists) - Initialize from existing code - Create minimal project - Browse template gallery - Browse templates by 6 predefined categories (AI/ML, Web Apps, APIs, Containers, Databases, Starters) - AI Templates section with direct access to aka.ms/aiapps templates - Search functionality with QuickPick UI for filtering templates - Template items with inline actions: - Click template name to view README - Hover actions: Initialize (rocket icon), View on GitHub (github icon) - Context menu with all actions Implementation: - AzureDevTemplateProvider service for fetching/caching templates from awesome-azd JSON feed (1-hour cache) - TemplateToolsTreeDataProvider with FileSystemWatcher for azure.yaml changes - Template comm Add a new Template Tools view panel that helps users discover and initialize Azure Developer CLI temp) - Features: - Dynamic Quick Start section (visible only when no azure.yaml exists) - Initialize ft test coverage (11 n - Initialize from existing code - Create minined between Environmen - Create minimal projecs and seamlessly integrates with exi- Browse temit workflows.

Copilot

Pull request overview

Copilot reviewed 61 out of 64 changed files in this pull request and generated 2 comments.

Files not reviewed (1)

ext/vscode/package-lock.json: Language not supported

ext/vscode/src/services/AzureDevEnvValuesProvider.ts

Copilot

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vhvb1989 · 2026-01-02T23:06:46Z

@bwateratmsft ping

bwateratmsft

I've been on vacation, but I'll review this week. Doing "request changes" for now so it doesn't accidentally get merged ahead of that.

bwateratmsft

@copilot There is throughout the PR a general pattern of editing files just to add overly-verbose logging, and all of it via console.log which is not correct.

Where the logs are valuable to the user, it should instead be changed to ext.outputChannel.

Otherwise, where the substance of the file hasn't changed--and just overly-verbose logging is added--please revert the files to their original state. We can add things back in a separate PR if we desire.

ext/vscode/.github/copilot-instructions.md

ext/vscode/TEST_COVERAGE.md

package-lock.json

ext/vscode/ext/vscode/package-lock.json

ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/OpenInPortalStep.ts

ext/vscode/README.md

ext/vscode/package.json

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-07T17:14:08Z

ext/vscode/package.json

+                {
+                    "id": "azure-dev-view",
+                    "title": "Azure Developer CLI",
+                    "icon": "resources/icon.png"


@spboyer I think this icon looks pretty weird:

All the detail is removed and just the outer shape remains

It is a placeholder need an production version for this from @SophCarp

@spboyer Here's the png, let me know if you need it as an SVG or any other changes.

Actually since this is png, here's a larger one for higher resolution:

@SophCarp an SVG would be better since that will follow theming

Fixes Azure#5691 Implements friendly azure.yaml/azure.yml validation within the extension to catch errors before they cause unfriendly error dialog pop-ups. Changes: - Enhanced diagnostic provider with comprehensive validation - Improved error handling in AzureDevShowProvider - Added 17 new test cases (all passing) - Updated README.md and TESTING_GUIDE.md with validation features - All lint, tests, and cspell checks passing Key features: - Empty file detection with helpful guidance - YAML parsing errors with user-friendly messages - Missing required properties validation - Invalid service properties detection - Directs users to Problems panel instead of showing pop-ups

- Remove all console.log/console.error statements, replace with ext.outputChannel.appendLog where appropriate - Add category to new commands in package.json - Remove redundant CI test step from copilot-instructions.md - Delete unnecessary TEST_COVERAGE.md file - Delete duplicate ext/vscode/package-lock.json - Update README.md Getting Started with extension install command option - Update minimum AZD version requirement to 1.8.0

spboyer · 2026-01-07T21:29:43Z

@bwateratmsft addressed most if not all feedback. Thanks for the review!

azure-sdk · 2026-01-07T21:54:19Z

VSCode Extension Installation Instructions

Download the extension at https://azuresdkartifacts.z5.web.core.windows.net/azd/vscode/pr/6425/azure-dev-0.11.0-alpha.1.vsix
Extract the extension from the compressed file
In vscode
a. Open "Extensions" (Ctrl+Shift+X)
b. Click the ...\ menu at top of Extensions sidebar
c. Click "Install from VSIX"
d. Select location of downloaded file

bwateratmsft

None of the playwright tests that were added provide any real value. They should just be removed, along with the playwright dev dependency.

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:24:40Z

ext/vscode/.gitignore

+playwright-report/
+test-results/
+playwright/.cache/


These should be added to the .vscodeignore as well. Additionally, all of these should be added to the .vscodeignore:

The .github folder

playwright.config.js

FEATURE_IDEAS.md

PLAYWRIGHT_QUICK_START.md

TESTING_GUIDE.md

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:28:40Z

ext/vscode/playwright.config.js.map

@spboyer This file should not be checked in

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:30:11Z

ext/vscode/playwright.config.ts

@spboyer This file can most likely be renamed to .mjs, and the playwright.config.js file removed. It's going to be confusing maintaining both a source and a built file in the repository.

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:33:28Z

ext/vscode/playwright.config.ts

@copilot Copyright header

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:35:07Z

ext/vscode/src/test/e2e/documentation-links.spec.ts

The only thing this file is testing is if the links in the Help and Feedback view are live. However, it is using copies of the URLs, so if the Help and Feedback view were updated, this test would become useless, unless it also was updated.

Honestly I don't see this file as worthwhile at all.

Also, copyright header is missing...(though doesn't matter if we delete this file)

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:37:31Z

ext/vscode/src/test/e2e/portal-urls.spec.ts

Same as the previous file, this is basically just a self-test that will drift out-of-date and become useless.

Also, copyright header is missing...(though doesn't matter if we delete this file)

bwateratmsft · 2026-01-08T14:38:22Z

ext/vscode/src/test/e2e/template-gallery.spec.ts

Same as the previous two files, this is just a self-test that will drift out-of-date and become useless.

Also, copyright header is missing...(though doesn't matter if we delete this file)

spboyer added 8 commits December 19, 2025 11:37

Add side panel view with My Project and Help and Feedback sections

1d19f93

Implement My Project section with project structure

9e0c355

Add Environments section with details and variables

30769cf

Remove Environments from My Project view

bec9154

feat(vscode): Update Help and Feedback link from Resources to AZD Blo…

ab57695

…g Posts - Rename 'Resources' link to 'AZD Blog Posts' in Help and Feedback view - Update URL to point to Azure SDK blog filtered by azure-developer-cli tag - Update command title to 'Open AZD Blog Posts'

Copilot AI review requested due to automatic review settings December 22, 2025 16:48

spboyer requested review from JeffreyCA, bwateratmsft, hemarina, karolz-ms, rajeshkamal5050, tg-msft, vhvb1989, wbreza and weikanglim as code owners December 22, 2025 16:48

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of spboyer December 22, 2025 16:49 View session

microsoft-github-policy-service bot assigned spboyer Dec 22, 2025

Copilot AI reviewed Dec 22, 2025

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spboyer and others added 9 commits December 22, 2025 12:13

Update ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts

ef86d25

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Remove debug consol logs, update for proper logging

1cf4ebb

Update ext/vscode/src/views/environments/EnvironmentsTreeDataProvider.ts

d11000b

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Update ext/vscode/src/commands/env.ts

e65e759

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Update ext/vscode/ext/vscode/package-lock.json

4324bc9

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

Update ext/vscode/src/commands/azureWorkspace/wizard/PickResourceStep.ts

3ba2757

Co-authored-by: Copilot <175728472+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>

fix build/test ts error

e80abf2

spboyer added 2 commits December 23, 2025 13:27

fix build/tests failing

d316dde

fix linting errors

8d0f581

spboyer changed the title ~~[WIP] AZD VS Code Extension Updates & Improvements~~ AZD VS Code Extension Updates & Improvements Dec 28, 2025

spboyer added 7 commits December 29, 2025 09:10

fix build error/linting

fe57c74

add copilot instructions specific to the extension

b5b058c

feat: Implement 'Add Service' command for azure.yaml file with user p…

c8fb0e9

…rompts

fix: Remove unnecessary blank lines in addService command and tests

14d6ac6

spboyer requested a review from Copilot December 31, 2025 14:55

Copilot started reviewing on behalf of spboyer December 31, 2025 14:56 View session

Copilot AI reviewed Dec 31, 2025

View reviewed changes

ext/vscode/src/services/AzureDevEnvValuesProvider.ts Outdated Show resolved Hide resolved

Copilot AI reviewed Dec 31, 2025

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vhvb1989 approved these changes Jan 2, 2026

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bwateratmsft requested changes Jan 5, 2026

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bwateratmsft requested changes Jan 7, 2026

View reviewed changes

spboyer added 4 commits January 7, 2026 15:44

Address PR feedback: Remove duplicate YAML functionality

201314b

Add missing words to cspell dictionary

c9d60c0

bwateratmsft reviewed Jan 8, 2026

View reviewed changes

AZD VS Code Extension Updates & Improvements #6425

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📋 Summary of Changes

🆕 New Features

1. Standalone Environments View

2. Extensions Management View

3. "Show in Azure Portal" Command

4. Enhanced Environment Operations

🔧 Improvements

Resource Navigation

User Experience

Code Quality

📊 Commits Included

🧪 Testing Checklist

🔍 Related Issues

📝 Notes

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vhvb1989 commented Jan 2, 2026

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spboyer commented Jan 7, 2026

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azure-sdk commented Jan 7, 2026

VSCode Extension Installation Instructions

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spboyer commented Dec 22, 2025 •

edited

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