Microsoft Code Reference

# Microsoft Code Reference

## Tools

| Need | Tool | Example |
|------|------|---------|
| API method/class lookup | `microsoft_docs_search` | `"BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"` |
| Working code sample | `microsoft_code_sample_search` | `query: "upload blob managed identity", language: "python"` |
| Full API reference | `microsoft_docs_fetch` | Fetch URL from `microsoft_docs_search` (for overloads, full signatures) |

## Finding Code Samples

Use `microsoft_code_sample_search` to get official, working examples:

```
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "upload file to blob storage", language: "csharp")
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "authenticate with managed identity", language: "python")
microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "send message service bus", language: "javascript")
```

**When to use:**
- Before writing code—find a working pattern to follow
- After errors—compare your code against a known-good sample
- Unsure of initialization/setup—samples show complete context

## API Lookups

```
# Verify method exists (include namespace for precision)
"BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"
"GraphServiceClient Users Microsoft.Graph"

# Find class/interface
"DefaultAzureCredential class Azure.Identity"

# Find correct package
"Azure Blob Storage NuGet package"
"azure-storage-blob pip package"
```

Fetch full page when method has multiple overloads or you need complete parameter details.

## Error Troubleshooting

Use `microsoft_code_sample_search` to find working code samples and compare with your implementation. For specific errors, use `microsoft_docs_search` and `microsoft_docs_fetch`:

| Error Type | Query |
|------------|-------|
| Method not found | `"[ClassName] methods [Namespace]"` |
| Type not found | `"[TypeName] NuGet package namespace"` |
| Wrong signature | `"[ClassName] [MethodName] overloads"` → fetch full page |
| Deprecated warning | `"[OldType] migration v12"` |
| Auth failure | `"DefaultAzureCredential troubleshooting"` |
| 403 Forbidden | `"[ServiceName] RBAC permissions"` |

## When to Verify

Always verify when:
- Method name seems "too convenient" (`UploadFile` vs actual `Upload`)
- Mixing SDK versions (v11 `CloudBlobClient` vs v12 `BlobServiceClient`)
- Package name doesn't follow conventions (`Azure.*` for .NET, `azure-*` for Python)
- Using an API for the first time

## Validation Workflow

Before generating code using Microsoft SDKs, verify it's correct:

1. **Confirm method or package exists** — `microsoft_docs_search(query: "[ClassName] [MethodName] [Namespace]")`
2. **Fetch full details** (for overloads/complex params) — `microsoft_docs_fetch(url: "...")`
3. **Find working sample** — `microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "[task]", language: "[lang]")`

For simple lookups, step 1 alone may suffice. For complex API usage, complete all three steps.

## CLI Alternative

If the Learn MCP server is not available, use the `mslearn` CLI from a terminal or shell (for example, Bash, PowerShell, or cmd) instead:

```sh
# Run directly (no install needed)
npx @microsoft/learn-cli search "BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"

# Or install globally, then run
npm install -g @microsoft/learn-cli
mslearn search "BlobClient UploadAsync Azure.Storage.Blobs"
```

| MCP Tool | CLI Command |
|----------|-------------|
| `microsoft_docs_search(query: "...")` | `mslearn search "..."` |
| `microsoft_code_sample_search(query: "...", language: "...")` | `mslearn code-search "..." --language ...` |
| `microsoft_docs_fetch(url: "...")` | `mslearn fetch "..."` |

Pass `--json` to `search` or `code-search` to get raw JSON output for further processing.