Discover practical tips, examples, and best practices for writing effective instructions files. Whether you’re new or experienced, you’ll find something to level up your code reviews. The post Unlocking the full power of Copilot code review: Master your instructions files appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the way we code. GitHub Copilot, powered by OpenAI’s models, has become a game-changer for developers, offering real-time code suggestions, generating boilerplate code, and even helping solve complex problems. But like any tool, its effectiveness depends on how you use it. Enter prompt engineering—the art of crafting instructions that get the most accurate and useful results from AI. In this blog, we’ll explore how developers can master prompt engineering to get the best out of Copilot, maximize productivity, and improve code quality. https://dellenny.com/prompt-engineering-for-developers-getting-the-best-out-of-copilot/

Today, we are unveiling the next Fairwater site of Azure AI datacenters in Atlanta, Georgia. This purpose-built datacenter is connected to our first Fairwater site in Wisconsin, prior generations of AI supercomputers and the broader Azure global datacenter footprint to create the world’s first planet-scale AI superfactory. The post Infinite scale: The architecture behind the Azure AI superfactory appeared first on Microsoft Azure Blog.

When we launched the Secure Future Initiative, our mission was clear: accelerate innovation, strengthen resilience, and lead the industry toward a safer digital future. The post Securing our future: November 2025 progress report on Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative appeared first on Microsoft Azure Blog.

In today’s fast-paced software development environment, efficiency and code quality are paramount. Developers are constantly seeking tools that can accelerate coding tasks without compromising quality. One tool that has rapidly gained popularity among programmers is GitHub Copilot. Powered by AI, Copilot can assist in writing code, refactoring existing code, and testing, making it an invaluable addition to any developer’s toolkit. In this blog, we’ll explore practical use cases for leveraging GitHub Copilot to streamline your coding workflow. https://dellenny.com/practical-use-cases-writing-refactoring-and-testing-code-with-github-copilot/

Managing cloud resources often means juggling multiple tools, writing custom scripts, and switching contexts between your IDE and cloud management portals. These extra steps slow development and make it harder to build intelligent, secure applications efficiently. We’re excited to announce that Azure MCP Server (Model Context Protocol) tools are now generally available out-of-the-box in Visual […] The post Azure MCP Server Now Built-In with Visual Studio 2026: A New Era for Agentic Workflows appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

In October, we experienced four incidents that resulted in degraded performance across GitHub services. The post GitHub Availability Report: October 2025 appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

An interview with the leader of GitHub Next, Idan Gazit, on TypeScript, Python, and what comes next. The post TypeScript, Python, and the AI feedback loop changing software development appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Visual Studio 2026 introduces a refreshed user experience, thoughtfully crafted for clarity, accessibility, and a clean interface that feels right at home on Windows. This update is the result of extensive collaboration with developers and incorporates valuable feedback from the community. We’ve improved typography, iconography, and the overall layout to minimize distractions and keep your […] The post A first look at the all‑new UX in Visual Studio 2026 appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Learn what is new in the Visual Studio Code October 2025 Release (1.106). Read the full article

Faster responses, a lower chance of rate limiting, and 10% off premium requests for paid users – auto picks the best available model for each request based on current capacity and performance. With auto, you don’t need to choose a specific model. Copilot automatically selects the best one for your task. Auto model selection in […] The post Introducing Copilot auto model selection (preview) appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

A breakdown of how Copilot coding agent has contributed to a better, more powerful GitHub. The post How Copilot helps build the GitHub platform appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Dear developers, We’re thrilled to announce that Visual Studio 2026 is now generally available! This is a moment we’ve built side by side with you. Your feedback has helped shape this release more than any before. Since the introduction of the Insiders Channel in September, more developers have downloaded and tested this preview than any […] The post Visual Studio 2026 is here: faster, smarter, and a hit with early adopters appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.

Announcing the release of .NET 10, the most productive, modern, secure, intelligent, and performant release of .NET yet. With updates across ASP.NET Core, C# 14, .NET MAUI, Aspire, and so much more. The post Announcing .NET 10 appeared first on .NET Blog.

A recap of the latest servicing updates for .NET and .NET Framework for November 2025. The post .NET and .NET Framework November 2025 servicing releases updates appeared first on .NET Blog.

Since its launch at Microsoft Ignite 2019, Azure Ultra Disk has powered some of the world's most demanding applications and workloads. The post The new era of Azure Ultra Disk: Experience the next generation of mission-critical block storage appeared first on Microsoft Azure Blog.

As organizations accelerate their adoption of generative AI, the need for secure, scalable, and business-aligned solutions within familiar tools like Excel has never been greater. Excel’s new Agent Mode (Frontier) empowers users to build intelligent agents that automate workflows, enhance productivity, and uphold responsible AI principles. What is Frontier or a Frontier firm? A Frontier firm refers to a business that prioritizes the use of AI to solve enterprise and business challenges first, only turning to other services or solutions when AI alone cannot address the problem. This blog explores how technical and business leaders can leverage Agent Mode in Excel to create extensible, trustworthy AI solutions, drawing on best practices from recent learning paths and community feedback. Why Agent Mode in Excel Matters Agentic AI: From Automation to Autonomous Intelligence Traditional Excel automation relies on fixed rules. Agentic AI, through Agent Mode, adds autonomous agents capable of context-aware decision-making in dynamic business environments. These agents: Use thread-based memory and learn from workbook interactions. Collaborate with other agents and tools. Execute tasks autonomously from natural language prompts. Excel’s Agent Mode lets organizations build smart agents for workflow automation and advanced reasoning, using core Excel features and Microsoft’s Frontier program. What Makes Agent Mode Unique Natural Language Interaction: Users describe tasks in plain English, and Agent Mode executes complex workflows. Deep Excel Integration: Agents work natively with Excel features, keeping outputs editable and synced. Contextual Awareness: Understands workbook structure and selection for precise results. Multi-Step Reasoning: Orchestrates tasks beyond simple commands, like merging sheets or building reports. Expanded Technical Capabilities Workbook Manipulation: Add, rename, and delete sheets; manage ranges and visibility. Data Creation & Transformation: Generate synthetic data, apply formulas, and summarize datasets. Artifact Generation: Build charts, PivotTables, dashboards, and templates linked to source data. Formatting & Presentation: Apply consistent styling and conditional formatting to highlight trends. Integration & Extensibility: Connects to APIs, databases, and supports multi-agent collaboration for complex needs. Key Business Benefits Rapid Innovation: Build agents quickly to address business needs. Scalability: Share agents with individuals, teams, or organizations for automation at any scale. Security and Compliance: Operates in Microsoft’s secure environment, respecting data boundaries and compliance. Responsible AI: Governance, lifecycle management, and content safety support ethical AI solutions. Access and Requirements Available in Excel for the web under the Frontier program or via Excel Labs add-in. Requires a Microsoft 365 Copilot license or a Personal/Family/Premium subscription. Admins can enable Frontier features in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Technical Capabilities Goal-Oriented Design: Agents are configured with clear objectives and constraints, ensuring alignment with business outcomes. Tool Integration: Agents connect to APIs, databases, and external services for specialized tasks. Multi-Agent Collaboration: Enables coordinated strategies for complex scenarios. Advanced Fine-Tuning: Techniques like supervised fine-tuning and reinforcement learning allow agents to be tailored for domain-specific needs and compliance. Spotlight: The Copilot function Formula in Excel Agent Mode A game-changer in Excel’s Agent Mode is the new Copilot function formula, which brings the power of generative AI directly into your spreadsheets. With Copilot function, you simply type plain English prompts into a cell and receive intelligent, context-aware answers, no coding required. This means anyone can automate tasks, analyze data, and generate reports using natural language, making advanced AI accessible to everyone, regardless of technical expertise. How to Use Copilot function: Step-by-Step Click any cell where you want your AI answer to appear. Type the following =Copilot(natural language prompt) using the Copilot function formula. For example: =Copilot ("Summarize sales trends for Q3 using the data in Table1") 3. Press Enter. Excel’s Copilot function analyzes your prompt and the referenced data, returning a concise summary or actionable insight in the cell. More Example Prompts: =Copilot ("Generate an onboarding checklist for new hires in the Marketing department") =Copilot ("Find anomalies in expense report data (Sheet2)") =Copilot ("Visualize monthly revenue and highlight significant changes") When to Use Copilot function: Transformative Scenarios Summarizing Complex Data: Instantly generate executive summaries, trend analyses, or key insights from thousands of rows, no formulas or pivot tables needed. Automating Routine Tasks: Create checklists, draft emails, or generate reports with a single prompt. Exploring Data Context: Ask Copilot function to explain anomalies, suggest next steps, or answer “what-if” scenarios specific to your spreadsheet’s content. Whether you’re a business analyst, HR manager, or finance leader, the Copilot function formula unlocks a new level of productivity and insight, making advanced AI accessible to everyone in Excel. Responsible AI: Governance, Ethics, and Agent Mode Safeguards As organizations embrace Agentic AI to drive business transformation, it becomes essential to foster a culture of accountability and continuous improvement. By encouraging regular reviews of agent decisions, establishing clear guidelines for ethical use, and promoting collaboration between technical and governance teams, businesses can proactively identify and mitigate risks. This holistic approach not only supports regulatory compliance but also builds trust among stakeholders, creating a strong foundation for the effective integration of autonomous intelligence within dynamic enterprise environments. Call to Action As you navigate the evolving landscape of AI in the enterprise, prioritize secure, responsible, and extensible agentic solutions. Leverage Excel’s Agent Mode to build agents that not only automate tasks but drive meaningful business outcomes, while upholding the highest standards of security, compliance, and ethical AI. Developer and Business Requirements To build and deploy agentic AI solutions in Excel, organizations need: Microsoft 365 Subscription: Access to the latest Excel features. Agent Mode Activation: Enable Agent Mode in Excel settings. Development Skills: While setup is streamlined, agent logic may require custom code or scripting. Policy Configuration: Control model deployment and connector usage to align with organizational standards. Compliance Readiness: Ensure solutions meet regulatory and ethical requirements. Getting Started: Learning Paths and Resources Microsoft provides comprehensive learning paths and documentation to guide teams through every stage of agent development in Excel: Build secure and responsible AI solutions and manage generative AI lifecycles Create Agentic AI solutions by using Azure AI Foundry https://support.microsoft.com/excel About the Author: Hello, Jacques “Jack” here! I am a Microsoft Technical Trainer dedicated to assisting learners and organizations in implementing intelligent automation using Microsoft technologies. This blog reflects my experience guiding teams in building agentic AI solutions that are not only powerful but also secure, ethical, and scalable. #SkilledByMTT #MicrosoftLearn

The world of software development is rapidly evolving, especially with the rise of AI-assisted coding tools. One key certification that’s gained attention is the one for GitHub Copilot, the AI-pair programmer developed by GitHub (in conjunction with Microsoft). This blog dives deep into the exam blueprint — what domains it covers, what skills are measured, and how you can prepare effectively. https://dellenny.com/understanding-the-github-copilot-exam-blueprint-skills-measured-topics-covered/

The GitHub Copilot Certification Exam is an exciting new way to prove your skills in using one of the most innovative AI tools for software development. Designed for developers, DevOps engineers, administrators, and technical leaders, this certification tests your ability to use GitHub Copilot effectively and responsibly in real-world scenarios. The best part? You don’t have to pay for premium courses or third-party study materials. GitHub and Microsoft provide free, official learning resources that cover everything you need to know. This guide breaks down those resources, how to use them, and how to structure your preparation to maximize your success. https://dellenny.com/free-official-learning-resources-for-the-github-copilot-certification-exam/

When you build conversational agents using Copilot Studio, deploying them is only half the job. To deliver reliable and useful bots, you must invest time in testing and debugging—and do so efficiently. This guide walks you through structured strategies for testing and debugging Copilot Studio bots, highlights built-in tools and practices, and offers expert tips to help you identify and resolve issues quickly. https://dellenny.com/debugging-and-testing-your-copilot-studio-bots-efficiently/

Nearly a billion commits later, the way we ship code has changed for good. Here’s what the 2025 Octoverse data says about how devs really work now. The post What 986 million code pushes say about the developer workflow in 2025 appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Have you joined our Customer Hub webinar sessions? In today's hybrid work environment, modern communication and solutions are essential. Leveraging AI and cutting-edge technology, our goal is to help you explore what you can achieve with Microsoft solutions—empowering smarter collaboration, streamlined workflows, and innovative ways to work. Customer Hub webinar series | adoption.microsoft.com/customer-hub/ Join us for one or more of the upcoming sessions, including the launch of several new Copilot webinar series. We also have all past session recordings so you can watch any that you miss. Sign up today by clicking on any of the session titles below. Microsoft 365 Copilot Sessions Nov 13 Talent Transformed: AI-Powered Hiring & Performance with Microsoft Copilot Nov 18 Champion Copilot Adoption Dec 9 Champion Copilot Adoption: Strategies, Skills, and Resources for Success Dec 10 Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat for Manufacturing Dec 11 Holiday Hustle, Copilot Style: Stay Productive While You Unplug Microsoft Teams Phone Sessions Dec 3 Microsoft Teams Phone extensibility for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center and CCaaS Dec 10 Getting Started with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center Other Microsoft Sessions Dec 2 Modernize and Transform your Device Estate: Why Windows in the Cloud is the Game-Changer for IT Our up to date Customer Hub website lists all future sessions and past recordings available to watch on demand! Customer Hub is a virtual journey of webinars designed to help you understand and envision what you can achieve - and we are here with you every step along the way. - Harumi Togo, Technical Program Manager, Microsoft

Curious about using GitHub Copilot in your terminal? Here's our guide to GitHub Copilot CLI, including a starter kit with the best prompts for a wide range of use cases. The post GitHub Copilot CLI 101: How to use GitHub Copilot from the command line appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

TypeScript just became the most-used language on GitHub. Here’s why, according to its creator. The post TypeScript’s rise in the AI era: Insights from Lead Architect, Anders Hejlsberg appeared first on The GitHub Blog.

Today, we’re excited to share our public roadmap, which outlines the next steps in evolving Visual Studio with AI-powered agentic experiences. With every month, we aim to deliver smarter, faster, and more intuitive tools that enhance your coding experience. Disclaimer: The items outlined here represent ongoing work for the month. They are not commitments or […] The post Roadmap for AI in Visual Studio (November) appeared first on Visual Studio Blog.