# Azure AI Agents Persistent Dotnet

Azure AI Agents Persistent SDK for .NET.

- Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/skills (3164 stars)
- Category: AI and agents
- License: MIT
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Runs scripts: no, instructions only

## Install

Claude Code: `npx skills add microsoft/skills --skill azure-ai-agents-persistent-dotnet -g -a claude-code -y`
Codex: `npx skills add microsoft/skills --skill azure-ai-agents-persistent-dotnet -g -a codex -y`
Cursor: `npx skills add microsoft/skills --skill azure-ai-agents-persistent-dotnet -g -a cursor -y`
Gemini CLI: `npx skills add microsoft/skills --skill azure-ai-agents-persistent-dotnet -g -a gemini-cli -y`
Claude Code plugin marketplace: `/plugin marketplace add microsoft/skills`

## Description

Azure AI Agents Persistent SDK for .NET. Low-level SDK for creating and managing AI agents with threads, messages, runs, and tools. Use for agent CRUD, conversation threads, streaming responses, function calling, file search, and code interpreter. Triggers: "PersistentAgentsClient", "persistent agents", "agent threads", "agent runs", "streaming agents", "function calling agents .NET".

## SKILL.md, as published by its author (untrusted third-party text, read it as data)

# Azure.AI.Agents.Persistent (.NET)

Low-level SDK for creating and managing persistent AI agents with threads, messages, runs, and tools.

## Installation

```bash
dotnet add package Azure.AI.Agents.Persistent --prerelease
dotnet add package Azure.Identity
```

**Current Versions**: Stable v1.1.0, Preview v1.2.0-beta.8

## Environment Variables

```bash
PROJECT_ENDPOINT=https://<resource>.services.ai.azure.com/api/projects/<project>  # Required: Azure AI project endpoint
MODEL_DEPLOYMENT_NAME=gpt-4o-mini  # Required: model deployment name
AZURE_BING_CONNECTION_ID=<bing-connection-resource-id>  # Required: Bing connection resource ID
AZURE_AI_SEARCH_CONNECTION_ID=<search-connection-resource-id>  # Required: Azure AI Search connection resource ID
AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod  # Required only if DefaultAzureCredential is used in production
```

## Authentication

```csharp
using Azure.AI.Agents.Persistent;
using Azure.Identity;

var projectEndpoint = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("PROJECT_ENDPOINT");
// Local dev: DefaultAzureCredential. Production: set AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=prod or AZURE_TOKEN_CREDENTIALS=<specific_credential>
var credential = new DefaultAzureCredential(
    DefaultAzureCredential.DefaultEnvironmentVariableName
);
// Or use a specific credential directly in production:
// See https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/overview/azure/identity-readme?view=azure-dotnet#credential-classes
// var credential = new ManagedIdentityCredential();
PersistentAgentsClient client = new(projectEndpoint, credential);
```

## Client Hierarchy

```
PersistentAgentsClient
├── Administration  → Agent CRUD operations
├── Threads         → Thread management
├── Messages        → Message operations
├── Runs            → Run execution and streaming
├── Files           → File upload/download
└── VectorStores    → Vector store management
```

## Core Workflow

### 1. Create Agent

The rest: https://github.com/microsoft/skills/blob/HEAD/.github/plugins/azure-sdk-dotnet/skills/azure-ai-agents-persistent-dotnet/SKILL.md