Examples - Practical AZD Templates and Configurations

March 16, 2026 · View on GitHub

Learning by Example - Organized by Chapter

📚 Course Home: AZD For Beginners
📖 Chapter Mapping: Examples organized by learning complexity
🚀 Local Example: Retail Multi-Agent Solution
🤖 External AI Examples: Links to Azure Samples repositories

📍 IMPORTANT: Local vs External Examples
This repository contains 4 complete local examples with full implementations:

Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (gpt-4.1 deployment with chat interface)

Container Apps (Simple Flask API + Microservices)

Database App (Web + SQL Database)

Retail Multi-Agent (Enterprise AI Solution)

Additional examples are external references to Azure-Samples repositories that you can clone.

Introduction

This directory provides practical examples and references to help you learn Azure Developer CLI through hands-on practice. The Retail Multi-Agent scenario is a complete, production-ready implementation included in this repository. Additional examples reference official Azure Samples that demonstrate various AZD patterns.

Complexity Rating Legend

⭐ Beginner - Basic concepts, single service, 15-30 minutes
⭐⭐ Intermediate - Multiple services, database integration, 30-60 minutes
⭐⭐⭐ Advanced - Complex architecture, AI integration, 1-2 hours
⭐⭐⭐⭐ Expert - Production-ready, enterprise patterns, 2+ hours

🎯 What's Actually in This Repository

✅ Local Implementation (Ready to Use)

Microsoft Foundry Models Chat Application 🆕

Complete gpt-4.1 deployment with chat interface included in this repo

Location: examples/azure-openai-chat/
Complexity: ⭐⭐ (Intermediate)
What's Included:
- Complete Microsoft Foundry Models deployment (gpt-4.1)
- Python command-line chat interface
- Key Vault integration for secure API keys
- Bicep infrastructure templates
- Token usage and cost tracking
- Rate limiting and error handling

Quick Start:

# Navigate to example
cd examples/azure-openai-chat

# Deploy everything
azd up

# Install dependencies and start chatting
pip install -r src/requirements.txt
python src/chat.py

Technologies: Microsoft Foundry Models, gpt-4.1, Key Vault, Python, Bicep

Container App Examples 🆕

Comprehensive container deployment examples included in this repo

Location: examples/container-app/
Complexity: ⭐-⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Beginner to Advanced)
What's Included:
- Master Guide - Complete overview of container deployments
- Simple Flask API - Basic REST API example
- Microservices Architecture - Production-ready multi-service deployment
- Quick Start, Production, and Advanced patterns
- Monitoring, security, and cost optimization

Quick Start:

# View master guide
cd examples/container-app

# Deploy simple Flask API
cd simple-flask-api
azd up

# Deploy microservices example
cd ../microservices
azd up

Technologies: Azure Container Apps, Docker, Python Flask, Node.js, C#, Go, Application Insights

Retail Multi-Agent Solution 🆕

Complete production-ready implementation included in this repo

Location: examples/retail-multiagent-arm-template/
Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Advanced)
What's Included:
- Complete ARM deployment template
- Multi-agent architecture (Customer + Inventory)
- Microsoft Foundry Models integration
- AI Search with RAG
- Comprehensive monitoring
- One-click deployment script

Quick Start:

cd examples/retail-multiagent-arm-template
./deploy.sh -g myResourceGroup

Technologies: Microsoft Foundry Models, AI Search, Container Apps, Cosmos DB, Application Insights

🔗 External Azure Samples (Clone to Use)

The following examples are maintained in official Azure-Samples repositories. Clone them to explore different AZD patterns:

Simple Applications (Chapters 1-2)

Template	Repository	Complexity	Services
Python Flask API	Local: simple-flask-api	⭐	Python, Container Apps, Application Insights
Microservices	Local: microservices	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Multi-service, Service Bus, Cosmos DB, SQL
Node.js + MongoDB	todo-nodejs-mongo	⭐	Express, Cosmos DB, Container Apps
React + Functions	todo-csharp-sql-swa-func	⭐	Static Web Apps, Functions, SQL
Python Flask Container	container-apps-store-api	⭐	Python, Container Apps, API

How to use:

# Clone any example
git clone https://github.com/Azure-Samples/todo-nodejs-mongo
cd todo-nodejs-mongo

# Deploy
azd up

AI Application Examples (Chapters 2, 5, 8)

Template	Repository	Complexity	Focus
Microsoft Foundry Models Chat	Local: azure-openai-chat	⭐⭐	gpt-4.1 deployment
AI Chat Quickstart	get-started-with-ai-chat	⭐⭐	Basic AI chat
AI Agents	get-started-with-ai-agents	⭐⭐	Agent framework
Search + OpenAI Demo	azure-search-openai-demo	⭐⭐⭐	RAG pattern
Contoso Chat	contoso-chat	⭐⭐⭐⭐	Enterprise AI

Database & Advanced Patterns (Chapters 3-8)

Template	Repository	Complexity	Focus
C# + SQL	todo-csharp-sql	⭐⭐	Database integration
Python + Cosmos	todo-python-mongo-swa-func	⭐⭐	NoSQL serverless
Java Microservices	java-microservices-aca-lab	⭐⭐⭐	Multi-service
ML Pipeline	mlops-v2	⭐⭐⭐⭐	MLOps

Learning Goals

By working through these examples, you will:

Practice Azure Developer CLI workflows with realistic application scenarios
Understand different application architectures and their azd implementations
Master Infrastructure as Code patterns for various Azure services
Apply configuration management and environment-specific deployment strategies
Implement monitoring, security, and scaling patterns in practical contexts
Build experience with troubleshooting and debugging real deployment scenarios

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing these examples, you will be able to:

Deploy various application types using Azure Developer CLI confidently
Adapt provided templates to your own application requirements
Design and implement custom infrastructure patterns using Bicep
Configure complex multi-service applications with proper dependencies
Apply security, monitoring, and performance best practices in real scenarios
Troubleshoot and optimize deployments based on practical experience

Directory Structure

Azure Samples AZD Templates (linked externally):
├── todo-nodejs-mongo/       # Node.js Express with MongoDB
├── todo-csharp-sql-swa-func/ # React SPA with Static Web Apps  
├── container-apps-store-api/ # Python Flask containerized app
├── todo-csharp-sql/         # C# Web API with Azure SQL
├── todo-python-mongo-swa-func/ # Python Functions with Cosmos DB
├── java-microservices-aca-lab/ # Java microservices with Container Apps
└── configurations/          # Common configuration examples
    ├── environment-configs/
    ├── bicep-modules/
    └── scripts/

Quick Start Examples

💡 New to AZD? Start with example #1 (Flask API) - it takes ~20 minutes and teaches core concepts.

For Beginners

Container App - Python Flask API (Local) ⭐
Deploy a simple REST API with scale-to-zero
Time: 20-25 minutes | Cost: $0-5/month
You'll Learn: Basic azd workflow, containerization, health probes
Expected Outcome: Working API endpoint returning "Hello, World!" with monitoring
Simple Web App - Node.js Express ⭐
Deploy a Node.js Express web application with MongoDB
Time: 25-35 minutes | Cost: $10-30/month
You'll Learn: Database integration, environment variables, connection strings
Expected Outcome: Todo list app with create/read/update/delete functionality
Static Website - React SPA ⭐
Host a React static website with Azure Static Web Apps
Time: 20-30 minutes | Cost: $0-10/month
You'll Learn: Static hosting, serverless functions, CDN deployment
Expected Outcome: React UI with API backend, automatic SSL, global CDN

For Intermediate Users

Microsoft Foundry Models Chat Application (Local) ⭐⭐
Deploy gpt-4.1 with chat interface and secure API key management
Time: 35-45 minutes | Cost: $50-200/month
You'll Learn: Microsoft Foundry Models deployment, Key Vault integration, token tracking
Expected Outcome: Working chat application with gpt-4.1 and cost monitoring
Container App - Microservices (Local) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Production-ready multi-service architecture
Time: 45-60 minutes | Cost: $50-150/month
You'll Learn: Service communication, message queuing, distributed tracing
Expected Outcome: 2-service system (API Gateway + Product Service) with monitoring
Database App - C# with Azure SQL ⭐⭐
Web application with C# API and Azure SQL Database
Time: 30-45 minutes | Cost: $20-80/month
You'll Learn: Entity Framework, database migrations, connection security
Expected Outcome: C# API with Azure SQL backend, automatic schema deployment
Serverless Function - Python Azure Functions ⭐⭐
Python Azure Functions with HTTP triggers and Cosmos DB
Time: 30-40 minutes | Cost: $10-40/month
You'll Learn: Event-driven architecture, serverless scaling, NoSQL integration
Expected Outcome: Function app responding to HTTP requests with Cosmos DB storage
Microservices - Java Spring Boot ⭐⭐⭐
Multi-service Java application with Container Apps and API gateway
Time: 60-90 minutes | Cost: $80-200/month
You'll Learn: Spring Boot deployment, service mesh, load balancing
Expected Outcome: Multi-service Java system with service discovery and routing

Microsoft Foundry Templates

Microsoft Foundry Models Chat App - Local Example ⭐⭐
Complete gpt-4.1 deployment with chat interface
Time: 35-45 minutes | Cost: $50-200/month
Expected Outcome: Working chat application with token tracking and cost monitoring
Azure Search + OpenAI Demo ⭐⭐⭐
Intelligent chat application with RAG architecture
Time: 60-90 minutes | Cost: $100-300/month
Expected Outcome: RAG-powered chat interface with document search and citations
AI Document Processing ⭐⭐
Document analysis using Azure AI services
Time: 40-60 minutes | Cost: $20-80/month
Expected Outcome: API extracting text, tables, and entities from uploaded documents
Machine Learning Pipeline ⭐⭐⭐⭐
MLOps workflow with Azure Machine Learning
Time: 2-3 hours | Cost: $150-500/month
Expected Outcome: Automated ML pipeline with training, deployment, and monitoring

Real-World Scenarios

Retail Multi-Agent Solution 🆕

Complete Implementation Guide

A comprehensive, production-ready multi-agent customer support solution that demonstrates enterprise-grade AI application deployment with AZD. This scenario provides:

Complete Architecture: Multi-agent system with specialized customer service and inventory management agents
Production Infrastructure: Multi-region Microsoft Foundry Models deployments, AI Search, Container Apps, and comprehensive monitoring
Ready-to-Deploy ARM Template: One-click deployment with multiple configuration modes (Minimal/Standard/Premium)
Advanced Features: Red teaming security validation, agent evaluation framework, cost optimization, and troubleshooting guides
Real Business Context: Retailer customer support use case with file uploads, search integration, and dynamic scaling

Technologies: Microsoft Foundry Models (gpt-4.1, gpt-4.1-mini), Azure AI Search, Container Apps, Cosmos DB, Application Insights, Document Intelligence, Bing Search API

Complexity: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Advanced - Enterprise Production Ready)

Perfect for: AI developers, solution architects, and teams building production multi-agent systems

Quick Start: Deploy the complete solution in under 30 minutes using the included ARM template with ./deploy.sh -g myResourceGroup

📋 Usage Instructions

Prerequisites

Before running any example:

✅ Azure subscription with Owner or Contributor access
✅ Azure Developer CLI installed (Installation Guide)
✅ Docker Desktop running (for container examples)
✅ Appropriate Azure quotas (check example-specific requirements)

💰 Cost Warning: All examples create real Azure resources that incur charges. See individual README files for cost estimates. Remember to run azd down when done to avoid ongoing costs.

Running Examples Locally

Clone or Copy Example

# Navigate to desired example
cd examples/simple-web-app

Initialize AZD Environment

# Initialize with existing template
azd init

# Or create new environment
azd env new my-environment

Configure Environment

# Set required variables
azd env set AZURE_LOCATION eastus
azd env set AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID your-subscription-id

Deploy

# Deploy infrastructure and application
azd up

Verify Deployment
```
# Get service endpoints
azd env get-values

# Test the endpoint (example)
curl https://your-app-url.azurecontainer.io/health
```
Expected Success Indicators:
- ✅ azd up completes without errors
- ✅ Service endpoint returns HTTP 200
- ✅ Azure Portal shows "Running" status
- ✅ Application Insights receiving telemetry

⚠️ Issues? See Common Issues for deployment troubleshooting

Adapting Examples

Each example includes:

README.md - Detailed setup and customization instructions
azure.yaml - AZD configuration with comments
infra/ - Bicep templates with parameter explanations
src/ - Sample application code
scripts/ - Helper scripts for common tasks

🎯 Learning Objectives

Example Categories

Basic Deployments

Single-service applications
Simple infrastructure patterns
Basic configuration management
Cost-effective development setups

Advanced Scenarios

Multi-service architectures
Complex networking configurations
Database integration patterns
Security and compliance implementations

Production-Ready Patterns

High availability configurations
Monitoring and observability
CI/CD integration
Disaster recovery setups

Development environment settings
Staging environment configurations
Production-ready configurations
Multi-region deployment setups

Bicep Modules

Reusable infrastructure components
Common resource patterns
Security-hardened templates
Cost-optimized configurations

Helper Scripts

Environment setup automation
Database migration scripts
Deployment validation tools
Cost monitoring utilities

🔧 Customization Guide

Adapting Examples for Your Use Case

Review Prerequisites
- Check Azure service requirements
- Verify subscription limits
- Understand cost implications
Modify Configuration
- Update azure.yaml service definitions
- Customize Bicep templates
- Adjust environment variables
Test Thoroughly
- Deploy to development environment first
- Validate functionality
- Test scaling and performance
Security Review
- Review access controls
- Implement secrets management
- Enable monitoring and alerting

📊 Comparison Matrix

Example	Services	Database	Auth	Monitoring	Complexity
Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (Local)	2	❌	Key Vault	Full	⭐⭐
Python Flask API (Local)	1	❌	Basic	Full	⭐
Microservices (Local)	5+	✅	Enterprise	Advanced	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Node.js Express Todo	2	✅	Basic	Basic	⭐
React SPA + Functions	3	✅	Basic	Full	⭐
Python Flask Container	2	❌	Basic	Full	⭐
C# Web API + SQL	2	✅	Full	Full	⭐⭐
Python Functions + SPA	3	✅	Full	Full	⭐⭐
Java Microservices	5+	✅	Full	Full	⭐⭐
Microsoft Foundry Models Chat	3	✅	Full	Full	⭐⭐⭐
AI Document Processing	2	❌	Basic	Full	⭐⭐
ML Pipeline	4+	✅	Full	Full	⭐⭐⭐⭐
Retail Multi-Agent (Local)	8+	✅	Enterprise	Advanced	⭐⭐⭐⭐

🎓 Learning Path

Recommended Progression

Start with Simple Web App
- Learn basic AZD concepts
- Understand deployment workflow
- Practice environment management
Try Static Website
- Explore different hosting options
- Learn about CDN integration
- Understand DNS configuration
Move to Container App
- Learn containerization basics
- Understand scaling concepts
- Practice with Docker
Add Database Integration
- Learn database provisioning
- Understand connection strings
- Practice secrets management
Explore Serverless
- Understand event-driven architecture
- Learn about triggers and bindings
- Practice with APIs
Build Microservices
- Learn service communication
- Understand distributed systems
- Practice complex deployments

🔍 Finding the Right Example

By Technology Stack

Container Apps: Python Flask API (Local), Microservices (Local), Java Microservices
Node.js: Node.js Express Todo App, Microservices API Gateway (Local)
Python: Python Flask API (Local), Microservices Product Service (Local), Python Functions + SPA
C#: Microservices Order Service (Local), C# Web API + SQL Database, Microsoft Foundry Models Chat App, ML Pipeline
Go: Microservices User Service (Local)
Java: Java Spring Boot Microservices
React: React SPA + Functions
Containers: Python Flask (Local), Microservices (Local), Java Microservices
Databases: Microservices (Local), Node.js + MongoDB, C# + Azure SQL, Python + Cosmos DB
AI/ML: Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (Local), Microsoft Foundry Models Chat App, AI Document Processing, ML Pipeline, Retail Multi-Agent Solution
Multi-Agent Systems: Retail Multi-Agent Solution
OpenAI Integration: Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (Local), Retail Multi-Agent Solution
Enterprise Production: Microservices (Local), Retail Multi-Agent Solution

By Architecture Pattern

Simple REST API: Python Flask API (Local)
Monolithic: Node.js Express Todo, C# Web API + SQL
Static + Serverless: React SPA + Functions, Python Functions + SPA
Microservices: Production Microservices (Local), Java Spring Boot Microservices
Containerized: Python Flask (Local), Microservices (Local)
AI-Powered: Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (Local), Microsoft Foundry Models Chat App, AI Document Processing, ML Pipeline, Retail Multi-Agent Solution
Multi-Agent Architecture: Retail Multi-Agent Solution
Enterprise Multi-Service: Microservices (Local), Retail Multi-Agent Solution

By Complexity Level

Beginner: Python Flask API (Local), Node.js Express Todo, React SPA + Functions
Intermediate: Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (Local), C# Web API + SQL, Python Functions + SPA, Java Microservices, Microsoft Foundry Models Chat App, AI Document Processing
Advanced: ML Pipeline
Enterprise Production-Ready: Microservices (Local) (Multi-service with message queuing), Retail Multi-Agent Solution (Complete multi-agent system with ARM template deployment)

Follow the established directory structure
Include comprehensive README.md
Add comments to configuration files
Test thoroughly before submitting
Include cost estimates and prerequisites

Example Template Structure

example-name/
├── README.md           # Detailed setup instructions
├── azure.yaml          # AZD configuration
├── infra/              # Infrastructure templates
│   ├── main.bicep
│   └── modules/
├── src/                # Application source code
├── scripts/            # Helper scripts
├── .gitignore         # Git ignore rules
└── docs/              # Additional documentation

Pro Tip: Start with the simplest example that matches your technology stack, then gradually work your way up to more complex scenarios. Each example builds on concepts from the previous ones!

🚀 Ready to Start?

Your Learning Path

Complete Beginner? → Start with Flask API (⭐, 20 mins)
Have Basic AZD Knowledge? → Try Microservices (⭐⭐⭐⭐, 60 mins)
Building AI Apps? → Start with Microsoft Foundry Models Chat (⭐⭐, 35 mins) or explore Retail Multi-Agent (⭐⭐⭐⭐, 2+ hours)
Need Specific Tech Stack? → Use Finding the Right Example section above

Next Steps

✅ Review Prerequisites above
✅ Choose an example matching your skill level (see Complexity Legend)
✅ Read the example's README thoroughly before deploying
✅ Set a reminder to run azd down after testing
✅ Share your experience via GitHub Issues or Discussions

Need Help?

📖 FAQ - Common questions answered
🐛 Troubleshooting Guide - Fix deployment issues
💬 GitHub Discussions - Ask the community
📚 Study Guide - Reinforce your learning

Navigation

📚 Course Home: AZD For Beginners
📖 Study Materials: Study Guide | Cheat Sheet | Glossary
🔧 Resources: FAQ | Troubleshooting

Last Updated: November 2025 | Report Issues | Contribute Examples