Is there text-coding alternative to what's achievable on Foundry?

Asvoria Kuan 20 Reputation points
2026-06-25T00:11:27.96+00:00

Reading the training modules, when using Foundry, the design process is very visual and block-diagram based. Is there any alternative programming method where I can setup an agent running on Team with text coding? I found block diagram very challenging.

Microsoft Copilot | Other
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AI answer

2026-06-25T00:11:41.03+00:00

Yes. Agents and AI solutions in Microsoft Foundry do not have to be built with visual, block-diagram tools only.

Two code-first options are available:

  1. Microsoft Agent Framework (Python / .NET)
    The Microsoft Agent Framework is an open-source SDK for building agents and multi-agent systems in code. It is the recommended path for Hosted agents on Microsoft Foundry. With it, agents are defined and orchestrated using normal programming constructs instead of visual flows. Key points:
    • Write agents in Python or C# (.NET).
    • Package the agent as a container image or a zip of source code.
    • Run it as a Hosted agent (preview) in Foundry, which provides:
      • Managed, network-addressable endpoint.
      • Automatic scaling on isolated Micro VMs.
      • Dedicated Microsoft Entra agent identity.
      • Session-level state and observability.
    • Hosted agents are suitable when an agent must be callable from other apps or agents (for example, a Teams-integrated solution that calls a Foundry-hosted backend agent).
  2. Code-based agents outside Foundry using the Responses API
    If the agent is hosted outside Foundry (for example, in a custom web service or bot that integrates with Teams), the same Agent Framework can call the Responses API directly instead of using visual tools. Characteristics:
    • Use the FoundryChatClient provider in Agent Framework to call:
      {project_endpoint}/openai/v1/responses
    • This gives access, via code, to:
      • Foundry models (Azure OpenAI and Foundry direct models) through one API.
      • Platform tools such as file search, code interpreter, memory, web search, MCP servers, SharePoint, WorkIQ, and Fabric IQ.
      • Project-scoped data, On-Behalf-Of (OBO) tool authentication, and project-level tracing and content filters.
    • The same code can later be packaged as a Hosted agent when a Foundry-managed endpoint is needed.

In summary, instead of visual block diagrams, agents can be implemented entirely in code using the Microsoft Agent Framework (Python or .NET), either as Hosted agents in Foundry or as externally hosted agents calling the Responses API. Those code-first agents can then be integrated into experiences such as Microsoft Teams.

References:

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