Mission Objective
Navigate the Foundry Portal confidently. Create a new workflow and add your first agent. Understand how to configure inputs and outputs. Test your workflow in the preview chat.
You've drawn the map. You've packed your bag. Now it's time to set up Base Camp—the place from which all expeditions launch. In Microsoft Foundry, Base Camp is the Build section of the portal. This is your command center.
From here, you can: Create and manage Agents, Design and test Workflows, Connect Knowledge Bases, and Deploy to Teams and Copilot. Today, we're going to walk through the portal and build our first simple agent.
Before we build a workflow, we need an Agent. Let's create the "YouTube Title Generator"—a real agent that you'll use throughout the rest of the course.
Key Takeaways:
- Navigate the Foundry Portal confidently
- Create a new workflow and add your first agent
- Understand how to configure inputs and outputs
- Test your workflow in the preview chat
The Gear List (Components)
Let's take a tour of the Foundry Portal. Understanding the layout will help you work efficiently:
Step 1: Sign In
Go to ai.azure.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account. Make sure the "New Foundry" toggle is activated (we're using the latest interface).
Step 2: Select or Create a Project
All agents and workflows live inside a Project. If you don't have a project, create one now. Give it a descriptive name like "YouTube Content Generator".
Discovery Tab
Browse models, tools, and templates. This is where you explore what's available.
Build Tab
Create agents and workflows. This is your main workspace where you'll spend most of your time.
Evaluate Tab
Test and score your agents. Run evaluations to check quality before deployment.
Operate Tab
Deploy and monitor production agents. This is where you go live and track performance.
Creating Your First Agent and Workflow
Creating an Agent: 1) Go to Build → Agents. 2) Click "Create new agent". 3) Fill in: Name = "YouTube Title Generator", Description = "Generates 5 catchy YouTube video title ideas based on a topic." 4) Select Model: Choose GPT-4.1 (or GPT-4o if available). 5) Write the Instructions (System Prompt): "You are a creative YouTube content strategist. When given a video topic, generate exactly 5 catchy, click-worthy title ideas. Each title should be under 60 characters and designed to maximize views." 6) Tools: For this agent, no tools are needed (it only needs to think, not act). 7) Click Save.
Test Your Agent: In the agent editor, there's a chat panel on the right. Type: "I'm making a video about Microsoft Foundry workflows." The agent should return 5 title ideas.
Creating Your First Workflow: 1) Go to Build → Workflows. 2) Click "Create a blank workflow". 3) Name it: "My YouTube Title Workflow". 4) You'll see the Workflow Visualizer with a "Start" node.
Adding the Agent: 1) Click the "+" button after the Start node. 2) Select "Invoke agent". 3) In the configuration panel: Name this action = "YT Title Gen", Agent = Select "YouTube Title Generator", Input message = Leave as System.LastMessage.Text (this captures the user's input). 4) Click Save. Test by clicking "Run Workflow" and typing a topic in the chat panel.
Key Points to Remember:
- Everything lives in a Project—create one to organize your work
- Agents are created separately, then invoked in workflows
- The Visualizer is your canvas—drag and drop to build flows
- Save often—Foundry doesn't auto-save
- Test early, test often—use the preview chat to verify each step
The Trail Map (Building Your First Workflow)
Field Notes: Build the Title Generator
Hands-on: Create your first agent and workflow in Microsoft Foundry.
- Create the "YouTube Title Generator" agent with the instructions provided
- Test the agent in the chat panel with: "I'm making a video about building AI agents"
- Create a blank workflow named "My YouTube Title Workflow"
- Add an "Invoke Agent" node pointing to your YouTube Title Generator
- Save and test the workflow
- STRETCH GOAL: Add a second agent—"YouTube Description Generator"—that receives the same user input and generates a description
Ranger's Warnings (Common Pitfalls)
Save Frequently!
Foundry does NOT auto-save. Click the Save button after every change or risk losing your work.
Input Configuration
System.LastMessage.Text captures the user's most recent message. Local.my_variable references a custom variable you defined. Make sure you're using the right input source.
Versioning
Each time you save, a new version is created. You can view version history and roll back if needed using the Version dropdown.
Pro Tips
Toggle between Horizontal and Vertical layouts in the Visualizer depending on workflow complexity.
Add Notes to your workflow canvas (top left) to document your workflow for teammates and your future self.