Template Creation Squad

Automates end-to-end creation, validation, and maintenance of Azure Developer CLI (azd) templates using Squad -- an AI agent team framework for GitHub Copilot.

What This Does

This squad reduces template creation from 6-8 weeks to hours by orchestrating 10 specialized AI agents that encode template engineering best practices. It supports:

• Non-AI templates (web apps, APIs, microservices, serverless) for the awesome-azd gallery
• AI templates (RAG, chat, agents) for the ai-app-templates gallery
• Foundry templates using AI Foundry model catalog

Quick Start

Prerequisites

• Node.js >= 20
• GitHub Copilot access
• Squad CLI: npm install -g @bradygaster/squad-cli
• GitHub CLI: gh auth login

Setup

git clone <this-repo>
cd template-creation-squad
npm install

Create a Template

# Start the squad
squad

# In the squad shell, describe what you want:
@lead, create a RAG chat template with Python FastAPI, Azure OpenAI, AI Search, and Container Apps. Use --ai mode targeting both galleries.

# Or for a non-AI template:
@lead, create a REST API template with Node Express, Cosmos DB, and Container Apps. Target awesome-azd gallery.

# Or for a Foundry template:
@lead, create a chat completion template using AI Foundry models with .NET and App Service. Use --foundry mode.

Using with Copilot CLI

copilot --agent squad --yolo

Then describe your template scenario. The squad coordinates all agents automatically.

Squad Members

Agent	Role	Handles
lead	Template Architect	Scenario analysis, service selection, architecture decisions
infra	Infrastructure Engineer	Bicep modules, managed identity, Key Vault, RBAC
app	Application Developer	Source code, Docker, tests, SDK integration
azd	AZD Specialist	azure.yaml, devcontainer, hooks, GitHub Actions
security	Security Reviewer	Credential scanning, RBAC audit, OSSF readiness
docs	Documentation Writer	README, architecture diagrams, guides
validator	Quality Assurance	Template Doctor checks (6 categories, 30+ rules)
foundry	AI Model Specialist	Azure OpenAI and Foundry patterns
gallery	Gallery Manager	Metadata for ai-app-templates and awesome-azd
scribe	Memory Manager	Decision tracking, cross-session learning

Template Creation Workflow

The squad follows a 7-phase workflow:

1. Scenario Analysis     @lead analyzes requirements, creates template spec
2. Infrastructure        @infra writes Bicep, @security reviews (parallel)
3. Application Code      @app writes source, Docker, tests (parallel)
4. AZD Integration       @azd creates azure.yaml, devcontainer, workflows
5. Documentation         @docs writes README, guides, diagrams
6. Validation            @validator runs Template Doctor suite, iterates on failures
7. Gallery Preparation   @gallery creates metadata for target gallery(ies)

Three Operating Modes

Mode	Flag	Target Gallery	Includes AI
Non-AI (default)	(none)	awesome-azd	No
AI	--ai	ai-app-templates + awesome-azd	Azure OpenAI, AI Search
Foundry	--foundry	ai-app-templates + awesome-azd	AI Foundry model catalog

Best Practices Encoded

The squad enforces 35+ best practices distilled from the azure-search-openai-demo gold standard and Template Doctor validation rules:

• Managed Identity everywhere -- no connection strings, no access keys
• Key Vault for secrets -- RBAC-based access, not access policies
• Least-privilege RBAC -- specific role GUIDs, not Contributor/Owner
• Storage hardening -- no public blobs, no shared key access, TLS 1.2
• OpenAI key-less -- disableLocalAuth: true
• OIDC in CI/CD -- federated identity, no secrets in GitHub Actions
• Dual hosting -- App Service and Container Apps support
• Cost transparency -- document every service with pricing
• Architecture diagrams -- visual service topology in every README

Project Structure

template-creation-squad/
  squad.config.ts          # Squad definition (agents, routing, team)
  .squad/                  # Squad runtime state
    agents/                # Agent charters (expertise + best practices)
      lead/charter.md      # Template Architect
      infra/charter.md     # Infrastructure Engineer (27KB of Bicep patterns)
      app/charter.md       # Application Developer
      azd/charter.md       # AZD Integration Specialist
      security/charter.md  # Security Reviewer
      docs/charter.md      # Documentation Writer
      validator/charter.md # Quality Assurance
      foundry/charter.md   # AI Model Specialist
      gallery/charter.md   # Gallery Submission Manager
    team.md                # Squad roster
    routing.md             # Work routing rules
    decisions.md           # Accumulated decisions
  scaffolds/               # Reusable template scaffolds
    shared/                # Shared across all frameworks
      infra/core/          # Bicep modules (security, host, storage, ai, monitor, data)
      .devcontainer/       # Codespaces configuration
      .github/workflows/   # CI/CD with OIDC
      .env.example         # Environment variable template
      SECURITY.md          # Microsoft security policy
      CONTRIBUTING.md      # Contributing guide
      CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md   # Code of conduct
      LICENSE              # MIT
    python-fastapi/        # Python FastAPI scaffold
    node-express/          # Node Express TypeScript scaffold
    dotnet-aspnet/         # .NET ASP.NET Core scaffold
  test-scenarios/          # 7 validation scenarios (AI + non-AI mix)
  docs/                    # Integration documentation
    template-doctor-integration.md
    scout-evaluation-integration.md

Quality Tools Integration

Tool	Purpose	Integration
Template Doctor	30+ validation checks across 6 categories	Validator agent encodes all rules; API available for automated checks
Scout	E2E experience evaluation (5 phases)	Post-creation developer experience assessment
Sensei	Copilot Skill compliance scoring	If template includes skills
Waza	Skill trigger accuracy testing	If template includes skills
Beacon	Azure product knowledge (270+ agents)	Informs scenario design and service selection

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for development setup.

License

MIT