What does this skill do, and when should you use it?
install-atk is an Agent Skill for installing or updating the M365 Agents Toolkit (ATK) CLI and VS Code extension. It determines whether the user wants the CLI, the extension, or both. The CLI is run through npx, which downloads and executes the latest package without a global installation. Before invoking atk, the skill sets ATK_CLI_SKILL so subsequent CLI calls are tagged as skill-initiated.
Sets ATK_CLI_SKILL=true before running atk commands; verifies the CLI with npx -y --package @microsoft/m365agentstoolkit-cli atk --version; installs the VS Code extension with code --install-extension TeamsDevApp.ms-teams-vscode-extension when requested; reports the version or failure; and explains the npx command prefix used for ATK commands.
- A developer starting with M365 Agents Toolkit who wants both the CLI and VS Code extension configured.
- A developer who wants to verify that the ATK CLI is available.
- A developer who wants to update ATK without installing the CLI globally.
- A developer who specifically needs the ATK VS Code extension or VSIX installed or updated.
How do you install this skill?
- Obtain explicit user confirmation before execution: npx downloads and runs the latest CLI, while code modifies the local VS Code extension environment.
- The skill does not explain what data, if any, is recorded or transmitted by ATK_CLI_SKILL=true.
- Version pinning, extension verification, uninstall, and rollback procedures are missing.
- Reachability and mirror configuration for npm registry and VS Code Marketplace are unspecified and may affect mainland-China users.
- Shell / CLI
- Network access
- Local filesystem
Node.js 18+npmnpxVisual Studio Code (for extension installation)
Install the repository collection with npx skills add microsoft/skills, then select the required skill in the wizard. Skills are installed in the selected agent's directory, such as .github/skills/ for GitHub Copilot. The source does not provide a separate command for installing only install-atk.
tmp="$(mktemp -d)"
git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/microsoft/skills.git "$tmp"
mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
cp -R "$tmp/.github/plugins/microsoft-365-agents-toolkit/skills/install-atk" ~/.claude/skills/
rm -rf "$tmp"Generated from the source repository and skill path; it copies only this skill's folder. If the author's install steps above differ, follow those first. To scope it to one project, replace ~/.claude/skills with that project's .claude/skills.
How do you use this skill?
Once installed, send your agent any of these to trigger it:
- install agents toolkit,
- install atk cli,
- install atk extension.
Prompt the Agent with phrases such as “install atk,” “update atk,” “install agents toolkit,” “install atk cli,” or “install atk extension.” Verify the CLI with npx -y --package @microsoft/m365agentstoolkit-cli atk --version. Install the extension with code --install-extension TeamsDevApp.ms-teams-vscode-extension. Subsequent atk commands should use the same npx package prefix.
What are this skill's strengths and limitations?
- Covers installation and update requests for both the ATK CLI and VS Code extension.
- Uses npx to download and run the latest CLI without a global installation.
- Requires reporting the CLI version or failure and checking Node.js and npm when verification fails.
- Tags skill-initiated CLI calls through ATK_CLI_SKILL=true.
- Requires Node.js 18+, npm, and a working npx environment.
- Extension installation requires an available VS Code code command.
- The source does not document compatibility across operating systems, permission configurations, or proxy environments.
- The README test-coverage summary does not explicitly identify dedicated install-atk tests.
How does this skill compare with similar options?
Side by side with related skills; every score comes from the same FSRS standard.
| Skill | FS score | Stars | Last updated | License |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M365 Agents Toolkit Installer this page ✓ Microsoft · Official | 44 · Not recommended | ★ 2.7k | 3mo ago | MIT |
| Teams App Developer ✓ Microsoft · Official | 51 · Use with care | ★ 2.7k | 3mo ago | MIT |
| M365 Declarative Agent Developer ✓ Microsoft · Official | 46 · Use with care | ★ 2.7k | 3mo ago | MIT |
| CC Safety Net Command Guard | 53 · Use with care | ★ 1.6k | 11d ago | MIT |
| Azure Queue Storage TypeScript Skill ✓ Microsoft · Official | 48 · Use with care | ★ 2.7k | 3mo ago | MIT |
How did FollowSkills review this skill?
The skill explicitly sets ATK_CLI_SKILL=true and discloses use of npx to download @microsoft/m365agentstoolkit-cli and install a VS Code extension. However, it does not require user confirmation before external downloads and installation, or explain telemetry data flow, permission scope, or uninstall/rollback. The MIT license and Microsoft provenance support attribution, but do not resolve the supply-chain and external-effect controls, so points are deducted.
Commands, intent mapping, Node.js 18+/npm prerequisite checks, and failure reporting are clearly stated. However, the CLI version is not pinned, extension installation is not verified, diagnostics for missing npx/code or network failures are thin, and no skill-specific execution tests are provided. The score is moderate under the static ceiling, with deductions for edge-case handling.
Trigger phrases and CLI/extension/all-components scenarios are reasonably explicit. Non-fit boundaries, platform limitations, input/output expectations, and non-interactive behavior are not specified. Core operation depends on npm registry, npx, and the VS Code Marketplace, with no evidence of reachability from mainland-China networks, so points are deducted.
The document has clear trigger, behavior, command, execution, and safety sections and is easy to follow. It lacks versioning strategy, changelog, maintenance ownership, compatibility matrix, uninstall guidance, FAQs, and known limitations. Repository-level MIT licensing, official provenance, and CI/evaluation signals help contextually but do not substitute for skill-level maintenance documentation.
The skill provides directly usable commands for the core ATK CLI and VS Code extension installation/update tasks and distinguishes user intent. It verifies only the CLI version, does not verify extension installation, and installs the latest package without a reproducibility guarantee; failures still require user-led recovery. It therefore earns only a basic effectiveness score.
The commands and stated success/failure behavior are auditable, and the repository contains general CI and test material. The supplied evidence does not cover this skill's key paths, and there are no committed skill-specific acceptance tests, third-party execution records, or versioned results. Because this is a static review with no evidence URLs, only limited points are awarded.
Open a dimension to read why it scored that way
Evidence confidence：Low — Mostly static review, author material or a limited demo; useful for discovery, not high-risk decisions.
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