azure-mgmt-apicenter-dotnet
Azure API Center SDK for .NET. Centralized API inventory management with governance, versioning, and discovery.
About this skill
This skill provides a .NET SDK wrapper for the Azure API Center, allowing AI agents to programmatically interact with and manage an organization's comprehensive API inventory. It offers capabilities for centralized API discovery, versioning, lifecycle management, and governance across various environments within Azure. By leveraging this skill, an AI agent can assist developers and platform engineers in automating tasks such as registering new APIs, updating existing API definitions, enforcing governance policies, and providing real-time insights into the API landscape. The skill integrates with Azure Identity for secure authentication.
Best use case
Automating API registration and updates in Azure API Center; maintaining a centralized, discoverable catalog of all organizational APIs; enforcing API governance standards and lifecycle management; responding to queries about API availability and metadata; integrating API management into CI/CD pipelines via agent automation.
Azure API Center SDK for .NET. Centralized API inventory management with governance, versioning, and discovery.
Successful registration, update, or retrieval of API information within Azure API Center. Automated enforcement of API policies and standards. A centralized, up-to-date, and discoverable API inventory, managed efficiently by an AI agent.
Practical example
Example input
Register the 'Customer Data v3' API in Azure API Center, using the OpenAPI specification from `https://api.example.com/customer/v3/openapi.json` and associate it with the 'DataServices' department. Set its lifecycle stage to 'Production'.
Example output
Agent (internal thought): Executing Azure API Center .NET SDK call to register 'Customer Data v3'. Agent (response): "The 'Customer Data v3' API has been successfully registered in Azure API Center under the 'DataServices' department and set to 'Production' stage. API ID: `customer-data-v3-api`."
When to use this skill
- When your organization utilizes Azure API Center as its central API inventory and requires programmatic interaction. For AI agents needing to automate API lifecycle tasks, manage API versions, apply governance policies, or facilitate API discovery. Ideal for environments where .NET execution is available for the agent.
When not to use this skill
- If your organization does not use Azure API Center for API management, or if you need to manage APIs primarily hosted outside of Azure without integration into API Center. Not suitable for simple, one-off API calls that do not require centralized inventory management, or if the AI agent lacks a .NET execution environment.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/azure-mgmt-apicenter-dotnet/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How azure-mgmt-apicenter-dotnet Compares
| Feature / Agent | azure-mgmt-apicenter-dotnet | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Claude | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | medium | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Azure API Center SDK for .NET. Centralized API inventory management with governance, versioning, and discovery.
Which AI agents support this skill?
This skill is designed for Claude.
How difficult is it to install?
The installation complexity is rated as medium. You can find the installation instructions above.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
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SKILL.md Source
# Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter (.NET)
Centralized API inventory and governance SDK for managing APIs across your organization.
## Installation
```bash
dotnet add package Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter
dotnet add package Azure.Identity
```
**Current Version**: v1.0.0 (GA)
**API Version**: 2024-03-01
## Environment Variables
```bash
AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID=<your-subscription-id>
AZURE_RESOURCE_GROUP=<your-resource-group>
AZURE_APICENTER_SERVICE_NAME=<your-apicenter-service>
```
## Authentication
```csharp
using Azure.Identity;
using Azure.ResourceManager;
using Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter;
ArmClient client = new ArmClient(new DefaultAzureCredential());
```
## Resource Hierarchy
```
Subscription
└── ResourceGroup
└── ApiCenterService # API inventory service
├── Workspace # Logical grouping of APIs
│ ├── Api # API definition
│ │ └── ApiVersion # Version of the API
│ │ └── ApiDefinition # OpenAPI/GraphQL/etc specification
│ ├── Environment # Deployment target (dev/staging/prod)
│ └── Deployment # API deployed to environment
└── MetadataSchema # Custom metadata definitions
```
## Core Workflows
### 1. Create API Center Service
```csharp
using Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter;
using Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter.Models;
ResourceGroupResource resourceGroup = await client
.GetDefaultSubscriptionAsync()
.Result
.GetResourceGroupAsync("my-resource-group");
ApiCenterServiceCollection services = resourceGroup.GetApiCenterServices();
ApiCenterServiceData data = new ApiCenterServiceData(AzureLocation.EastUS)
{
Identity = new ManagedServiceIdentity(ManagedServiceIdentityType.SystemAssigned)
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterServiceResource> operation = await services
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "my-api-center", data);
ApiCenterServiceResource service = operation.Value;
```
### 2. Create Workspace
```csharp
ApiCenterWorkspaceCollection workspaces = service.GetApiCenterWorkspaces();
ApiCenterWorkspaceData workspaceData = new ApiCenterWorkspaceData
{
Title = "Engineering APIs",
Description = "APIs owned by the engineering team"
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterWorkspaceResource> operation = await workspaces
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "engineering", workspaceData);
ApiCenterWorkspaceResource workspace = operation.Value;
```
### 3. Create API
```csharp
ApiCenterApiCollection apis = workspace.GetApiCenterApis();
ApiCenterApiData apiData = new ApiCenterApiData
{
Title = "Orders API",
Description = "API for managing customer orders",
Kind = ApiKind.Rest,
LifecycleStage = ApiLifecycleStage.Production,
TermsOfService = new ApiTermsOfService
{
Uri = new Uri("https://example.com/terms")
},
ExternalDocumentation =
{
new ApiExternalDocumentation
{
Title = "Documentation",
Uri = new Uri("https://docs.example.com/orders")
}
},
Contacts =
{
new ApiContact
{
Name = "API Support",
Email = "api-support@example.com"
}
}
};
// Add custom metadata
apiData.CustomProperties = BinaryData.FromObjectAsJson(new
{
team = "orders-team",
costCenter = "CC-1234"
});
ArmOperation<ApiCenterApiResource> operation = await apis
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "orders-api", apiData);
ApiCenterApiResource api = operation.Value;
```
### 4. Create API Version
```csharp
ApiCenterApiVersionCollection versions = api.GetApiCenterApiVersions();
ApiCenterApiVersionData versionData = new ApiCenterApiVersionData
{
Title = "v1.0.0",
LifecycleStage = ApiLifecycleStage.Production
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterApiVersionResource> operation = await versions
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "v1-0-0", versionData);
ApiCenterApiVersionResource version = operation.Value;
```
### 5. Create API Definition (Upload OpenAPI Spec)
```csharp
ApiCenterApiDefinitionCollection definitions = version.GetApiCenterApiDefinitions();
ApiCenterApiDefinitionData definitionData = new ApiCenterApiDefinitionData
{
Title = "OpenAPI Specification",
Description = "Orders API OpenAPI 3.0 definition"
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterApiDefinitionResource> operation = await definitions
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "openapi", definitionData);
ApiCenterApiDefinitionResource definition = operation.Value;
// Import specification
string openApiSpec = await File.ReadAllTextAsync("orders-api.yaml");
ApiSpecImportContent importContent = new ApiSpecImportContent
{
Format = ApiSpecImportSourceFormat.Inline,
Value = openApiSpec,
Specification = new ApiSpecImportSpecification
{
Name = "openapi",
Version = "3.0.1"
}
};
await definition.ImportSpecificationAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, importContent);
```
### 6. Export API Specification
```csharp
ApiCenterApiDefinitionResource definition = await client
.GetApiCenterApiDefinitionResource(definitionResourceId)
.GetAsync();
ArmOperation<ApiSpecExportResult> operation = await definition
.ExportSpecificationAsync(WaitUntil.Completed);
ApiSpecExportResult result = operation.Value;
// result.Format - e.g., "inline"
// result.Value - the specification content
```
### 7. Create Environment
```csharp
ApiCenterEnvironmentCollection environments = workspace.GetApiCenterEnvironments();
ApiCenterEnvironmentData envData = new ApiCenterEnvironmentData
{
Title = "Production",
Description = "Production environment",
Kind = ApiCenterEnvironmentKind.Production,
Server = new ApiCenterEnvironmentServer
{
ManagementPortalUris = { new Uri("https://portal.azure.com") }
},
Onboarding = new EnvironmentOnboardingModel
{
Instructions = "Contact platform team for access",
DeveloperPortalUris = { new Uri("https://developer.example.com") }
}
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterEnvironmentResource> operation = await environments
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "production", envData);
```
### 8. Create Deployment
```csharp
ApiCenterDeploymentCollection deployments = workspace.GetApiCenterDeployments();
// Get environment resource ID
ResourceIdentifier envResourceId = ApiCenterEnvironmentResource.CreateResourceIdentifier(
subscriptionId, resourceGroupName, serviceName, workspaceName, "production");
// Get API definition resource ID
ResourceIdentifier definitionResourceId = ApiCenterApiDefinitionResource.CreateResourceIdentifier(
subscriptionId, resourceGroupName, serviceName, workspaceName,
"orders-api", "v1-0-0", "openapi");
ApiCenterDeploymentData deploymentData = new ApiCenterDeploymentData
{
Title = "Orders API - Production",
Description = "Production deployment of Orders API v1.0.0",
EnvironmentId = envResourceId,
DefinitionId = definitionResourceId,
State = ApiCenterDeploymentState.Active,
Server = new ApiCenterDeploymentServer
{
RuntimeUris = { new Uri("https://api.example.com/orders") }
}
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterDeploymentResource> operation = await deployments
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "orders-api-prod", deploymentData);
```
### 9. Create Metadata Schema
```csharp
ApiCenterMetadataSchemaCollection schemas = service.GetApiCenterMetadataSchemas();
string jsonSchema = """
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"team": {
"type": "string",
"title": "Owning Team"
},
"costCenter": {
"type": "string",
"title": "Cost Center"
},
"dataClassification": {
"type": "string",
"enum": ["public", "internal", "confidential"],
"title": "Data Classification"
}
},
"required": ["team"]
}
""";
ApiCenterMetadataSchemaData schemaData = new ApiCenterMetadataSchemaData
{
Schema = jsonSchema,
AssignedTo =
{
new MetadataAssignment
{
Entity = MetadataAssignmentEntity.Api,
Required = true
}
}
};
ArmOperation<ApiCenterMetadataSchemaResource> operation = await schemas
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "api-metadata", schemaData);
```
### 10. List and Search APIs
```csharp
// List all APIs in a workspace
ApiCenterWorkspaceResource workspace = await client
.GetApiCenterWorkspaceResource(workspaceResourceId)
.GetAsync();
await foreach (ApiCenterApiResource api in workspace.GetApiCenterApis())
{
Console.WriteLine($"API: {api.Data.Title}");
Console.WriteLine($" Kind: {api.Data.Kind}");
Console.WriteLine($" Stage: {api.Data.LifecycleStage}");
// List versions
await foreach (ApiCenterApiVersionResource version in api.GetApiCenterApiVersions())
{
Console.WriteLine($" Version: {version.Data.Title}");
}
}
// List environments
await foreach (ApiCenterEnvironmentResource env in workspace.GetApiCenterEnvironments())
{
Console.WriteLine($"Environment: {env.Data.Title} ({env.Data.Kind})");
}
// List deployments
await foreach (ApiCenterDeploymentResource deployment in workspace.GetApiCenterDeployments())
{
Console.WriteLine($"Deployment: {deployment.Data.Title}");
Console.WriteLine($" State: {deployment.Data.State}");
}
```
## Key Types Reference
| Type | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `ApiCenterServiceResource` | API Center service instance |
| `ApiCenterWorkspaceResource` | Logical grouping of APIs |
| `ApiCenterApiResource` | Individual API |
| `ApiCenterApiVersionResource` | Version of an API |
| `ApiCenterApiDefinitionResource` | API specification (OpenAPI, etc.) |
| `ApiCenterEnvironmentResource` | Deployment environment |
| `ApiCenterDeploymentResource` | API deployment to environment |
| `ApiCenterMetadataSchemaResource` | Custom metadata schema |
| `ApiKind` | rest, graphql, grpc, soap, webhook, websocket, mcp |
| `ApiLifecycleStage` | design, development, testing, preview, production, deprecated, retired |
| `ApiCenterEnvironmentKind` | development, testing, staging, production |
| `ApiCenterDeploymentState` | active, inactive |
## Best Practices
1. **Organize with workspaces** — Group APIs by team, domain, or product
2. **Use metadata schemas** — Define custom properties for governance
3. **Track lifecycle stages** — Keep API status current (design → production → deprecated)
4. **Document environments** — Include onboarding instructions and portal URIs
5. **Version consistently** — Use semantic versioning for API versions
6. **Import specifications** — Upload OpenAPI/GraphQL specs for discovery
7. **Link deployments** — Connect APIs to their runtime environments
8. **Use managed identity** — Enable SystemAssigned identity for secure integrations
## Error Handling
```csharp
using Azure;
try
{
ArmOperation<ApiCenterApiResource> operation = await apis
.CreateOrUpdateAsync(WaitUntil.Completed, "my-api", apiData);
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 409)
{
Console.WriteLine("API already exists with conflicting configuration");
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex) when (ex.Status == 400)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Invalid request: {ex.Message}");
}
catch (RequestFailedException ex)
{
Console.WriteLine($"Azure error: {ex.Status} - {ex.Message}");
}
```
## Related SDKs
| SDK | Purpose | Install |
|-----|---------|---------|
| `Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter` | API Center management (this SDK) | `dotnet add package Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter` |
| `Azure.ResourceManager.ApiManagement` | API gateway and policies | `dotnet add package Azure.ResourceManager.ApiManagement` |
## Reference Links
| Resource | URL |
|----------|-----|
| NuGet Package | https://www.nuget.org/packages/Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter |
| API Reference | https://learn.microsoft.com/dotnet/api/azure.resourcemanager.apicenter |
| Product Documentation | https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/api-center/ |
| GitHub Source | https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-net/tree/main/sdk/apicenter/Azure.ResourceManager.ApiCenter |
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