---
name: microsoft-foundry-local
description: Expert knowledge for Microsoft Foundry Local (aka Azure AI Foundry Local) development including best practices, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. Use when compiling HF models with Olive, managing local models via CLI, or building chat, embeddings, or transcription apps, and other Microsoft Foundry Local related development tasks. Not for Microsoft Foundry (use microsoft-foundry), Microsoft Foundry Classic (use microsoft-foundry-classic), Microsoft Foundry Tools (use microsoft-foundry-tools), Azure Local (use azure-local).
compatibility: Requires network access. Uses mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch or fetch_webpage to retrieve documentation.
metadata:
  generated_at: "2026-07-19"
  generator: "docs2skills/1.0.0"
---
# Microsoft Foundry Local Skill

This skill provides expert guidance for Microsoft Foundry Local. Covers best practices, configuration, and integrations & coding patterns. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.

## How to Use This Skill

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file

> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)

This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.

## Category Index

| Category | Lines | Description |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| Best Practices | L31-L35 | Guidance on using Foundry Local CLI effectively, following recommended workflows, and diagnosing/fixing common CLI issues and misconfigurations. |
| Configuration | L36-L43 | Configuring Foundry Local: compiling/optimizing Hugging Face models with Olive, using the CLI to manage local models, and migrating/reconfiguring apps to the new Foundry Local SDK. |
| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L44-L56 | Using Foundry Local APIs/SDKs for chat, embeddings, transcription, OpenAI-compatible clients, LangChain apps, tool calling, and REST/SDK reference (C#, JS, Python, Rust, legacy). |

### Best Practices
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Apply best practices and fix issues in Foundry Local CLI | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-best-practice |

### Configuration
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Compile Hugging Face models for Foundry Local with Olive | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-compile-hugging-face-models |
| Use Foundry Local CLI to manage local models | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-use-foundry-local-cli |
| Foundry Local CLI command and options reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-cli |
| Migrate and reconfigure apps to new Foundry Local SDK | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-sdk-migration |

### Integrations & Coding Patterns
| Topic | URL |
|-------|-----|
| Generate text embeddings with Foundry Local SDK | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-generate-embeddings |
| Integrate Foundry Local with OpenAI-style inference SDKs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-integrate-with-inference-sdks |
| Live microphone transcription with Foundry Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-live-transcribe-audio |
| Transcribe audio using Foundry Local transcription API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-transcribe-audio |
| Build a LangChain translation app with Foundry Local | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-use-langchain-with-foundry-local |
| Use Foundry Local native chat completions API | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-use-native-chat-completions |
| Implement tool calling with Foundry Local models | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/how-to/how-to-use-tool-calling-with-foundry-local |
| Foundry Local REST API reference for local inference | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-rest |
| Reference for Foundry Local SDKs in C#, JS, Python, Rust | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-sdk-current |
| Legacy Foundry Local SDK reference and CLI-dependent APIs | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/foundry-local/reference/reference-sdk-legacy |