.NET: Expose workflows as MCP tools when hosting on Azure functions

dotnet/agent-framework-dotnet.slnx

@@ -76,6 +76,8 @@
     <Project Path="samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/01_SequentialWorkflow/01_SequentialWorkflow.csproj" />
     <Project Path="samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/02_ConcurrentWorkflow/02_ConcurrentWorkflow.csproj" />
     <Project Path="samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/03_WorkflowHITL/03_WorkflowHITL.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/04_WorkflowMcpTool.csproj" />
+    <Project Path="samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/05_WorkflowAndAgents/05_WorkflowAndAgents.csproj" />
   </Folder>
   <Folder Name="/Samples/GettingStarted/">
     <File Path="samples/GettingStarted/README.md" />

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/04_WorkflowMcpTool.csproj

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net10.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <AzureFunctionsVersion>v4</AzureFunctionsVersion>
+    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <!-- The Functions build tools don't like namespaces that start with a number -->
+    <AssemblyName>WorkflowMcpTool</AssemblyName>
+    <RootNamespace>WorkflowMcpTool</RootNamespace>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <FrameworkReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.App" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Azure Functions packages -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.DurableTask" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.DurableTask.AzureManaged" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.Http.AspNetCore" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Sdk" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Local projects that should be switched to package references when using the sample outside of this MAF repo -->
+  <!--
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\..\..\src\Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions\Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/Executors.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+
+using Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows;
+
+namespace WorkflowMcpTool;
+
+internal sealed class TranslateText() : Executor<string, TranslationResult>("TranslateText")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<TranslationResult> HandleAsync(
+        string message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine($"[Activity] TranslateText: '{message}'");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult(new TranslationResult(message, message.ToUpperInvariant()));
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed class FormatOutput() : Executor<TranslationResult, string>("FormatOutput")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<string> HandleAsync(
+        TranslationResult message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine("[Activity] FormatOutput: Formatting result");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult($"Original: {message.Original} => Translated: {message.Translated}");
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed class LookupOrder() : Executor<string, OrderInfo>("LookupOrder")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<OrderInfo> HandleAsync(
+        string message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine($"[Activity] LookupOrder: '{message}'");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult(new OrderInfo(message, "Alice Johnson", "Wireless Headphones", Quantity: 2, UnitPrice: 49.99m));
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed class EnrichOrder() : Executor<OrderInfo, OrderSummary>("EnrichOrder")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<OrderSummary> HandleAsync(
+        OrderInfo message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine($"[Activity] EnrichOrder: '{message.OrderId}'");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult(new OrderSummary(message, TotalPrice: message.Quantity * message.UnitPrice, Status: "Confirmed"));
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed record TranslationResult(string Original, string Translated);
+
+internal sealed record OrderInfo(string OrderId, string CustomerName, string Product, int Quantity, decimal UnitPrice);
+
+internal sealed record OrderSummary(OrderInfo Order, decimal TotalPrice, string Status);

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/Program.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+
+// This sample demonstrates how to expose a durable workflow as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool.
+// When using AddWorkflow with exposeMcpToolTrigger: true, the Functions host will automatically
+// generate a remote MCP endpoint for the app at /runtime/webhooks/mcp with a workflow-specific
+// tool name. MCP-compatible clients can then invoke the workflow as a tool.
+
+using Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions;
+using Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows;
+using Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Builder;
+using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
+using WorkflowMcpTool;
+
+// Define executors
+TranslateText translateText = new();
+FormatOutput formatOutput = new();
+LookupOrder lookupOrder = new();
+EnrichOrder enrichOrder = new();
+
+// Build a simple workflow: TranslateText -> FormatOutput
+Workflow translateWorkflow = new WorkflowBuilder(translateText)
+    .WithName("Translate")
+    .WithDescription("Translate text to uppercase and format the result")
+    .AddEdge(translateText, formatOutput)
+    .Build();
+
+// Build a workflow that returns a POCO: LookupOrder -> EnrichOrder
+Workflow orderLookupWorkflow = new WorkflowBuilder(lookupOrder)
+    .WithName("OrderLookup")
+    .WithDescription("Look up an order by ID and return enriched order details")
+    .AddEdge(lookupOrder, enrichOrder)
+    .Build();
+
+using IHost app = FunctionsApplication
+    .CreateBuilder(args)
+    .ConfigureFunctionsWebApplication()
+    .ConfigureDurableWorkflows(workflows =>
+    {
+        // Expose both workflows as MCP tool triggers.
+        workflows.AddWorkflow(translateWorkflow, exposeStatusEndpoint: false, exposeMcpToolTrigger: true);
+        workflows.AddWorkflow(orderLookupWorkflow, exposeStatusEndpoint: false, exposeMcpToolTrigger: true);
+    })
+    .Build();
+app.Run();

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+# Workflow as MCP Tool Sample
+
+This sample demonstrates how to expose durable workflows as [MCP (Model Context Protocol)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) tools, enabling MCP-compatible clients to invoke workflows directly.
+
+## Key Concepts Demonstrated
+
+- **Workflow as MCP Tool**: Expose workflows as callable MCP tools using `exposeMcpToolTrigger: true`
+- **MCP Server Hosting**: The Azure Functions host automatically generates a remote MCP endpoint at `/runtime/webhooks/mcp`
+- **String and POCO Results**: Shows workflows returning both plain strings and structured JSON objects
+
+## Sample Architecture
+
+The sample creates two workflows exposed as MCP tools:
+
+### Translate Workflow (returns a string)
+
+| Executor | Input | Output | Description |
+|----------|-------|--------|-------------|
+| **TranslateText** | `string` | `TranslationResult` | Converts input text to uppercase |
+| **FormatOutput** | `TranslationResult` | `string` | Formats the result into a readable string |
+
+### OrderLookup Workflow (returns a POCO)
+
+| Executor | Input | Output | Description |
+|----------|-------|--------|-------------|
+| **LookupOrder** | `string` | `OrderInfo` | Looks up an order by ID |
+| **EnrichOrder** | `OrderInfo` | `OrderSummary` | Adds computed fields (total price, status) |
+
+## Environment Setup
+
+See the [README.md](../../README.md) file in the parent directory for complete setup instructions, including:
+
+- Prerequisites installation
+- Durable Task Scheduler setup
+- Storage emulator configuration
+
+For this sample, you'll also need [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/en/download) to use the [MCP Inspector](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/tools/inspector).
+
+## Running the Sample
+
+1. **Start the Function App**:
+
+   ```bash
+   cd dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool
+   func start
+   ```
+
+2. **Note the MCP Server Endpoint**: When the app starts, you'll see the MCP server endpoint in the terminal output:
+
+   ```text
+   MCP server endpoint:  http://localhost:7071/runtime/webhooks/mcp
+   ```
+
+## Invoking Workflows via MCP Inspector
+
+1. Install and run the [MCP Inspector](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/tools/inspector):
+
+   ```bash
+   npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector
+   ```
+
+2. Connect to the MCP server endpoint:
+   - For **Transport Type**, select **"Streamable HTTP"**
+   - For **URL**, enter `http://localhost:7071/runtime/webhooks/mcp`
+   - Click the **Connect** button
+
+3. Click the **List Tools** button. You should see two tools: `Translate` and `OrderLookup`.
+
+4. Test the **Translate** tool (returns a plain string):
+   - Select the `Translate` tool
+   - Set `hello world` as the `input` parameter
+   - Click **Run Tool**
+   - Expected result: `Original: hello world => Translated: HELLO WORLD`
+
+5. Test the **OrderLookup** tool (returns a JSON object):
+   - Select the `OrderLookup` tool
+   - Set `ORD-2025-42` as the `input` parameter
+   - Click **Run Tool**
+   - Expected result: A JSON object containing order details such as `OrderId`, `CustomerName`, `Product`, `TotalPrice`, and `Status`
+
+You'll see the workflow executor activities logged in the terminal where you ran `func start`.

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/host.json

@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+{
+  "version": "2.0",
+  "logging": {
+    "logLevel": {
+      "Microsoft.Agents.AI.DurableTask": "Information",
+      "Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions": "Information",
+      "DurableTask": "Information",
+      "Microsoft.DurableTask": "Information"
+    }
+  },
+  "extensions": {
+    "durableTask": {
+      "hubName": "default",
+      "storageProvider": {
+        "type": "AzureManaged",
+        "connectionStringName": "DURABLE_TASK_SCHEDULER_CONNECTION_STRING"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/04_WorkflowMcpTool/local.settings.json

@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+{
+  "IsEncrypted": false,
+  "Values": {
+    "FUNCTIONS_WORKER_RUNTIME": "dotnet-isolated",
+    "AzureWebJobsStorage": "UseDevelopmentStorage=true",
+    "DURABLE_TASK_SCHEDULER_CONNECTION_STRING": "Endpoint=http://localhost:8080;TaskHub=default;Authentication=None"
+  }
+}

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/05_WorkflowAndAgents/05_WorkflowAndAgents.csproj

@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
+  <PropertyGroup>
+    <TargetFrameworks>net10.0</TargetFrameworks>
+    <AzureFunctionsVersion>v4</AzureFunctionsVersion>
+    <OutputType>Exe</OutputType>
+    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
+    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
+    <!-- The Functions build tools don't like namespaces that start with a number -->
+    <AssemblyName>WorkflowAndAgents</AssemblyName>
+    <RootNamespace>WorkflowAndAgents</RootNamespace>
+  </PropertyGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <FrameworkReference Include="Microsoft.AspNetCore.App" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Azure Functions packages -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.DurableTask" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.DurableTask.AzureManaged" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Extensions.Http.AspNetCore" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Azure.Functions.Worker.Sdk" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Azure.AI.OpenAI" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Azure.Identity" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+
+  <!-- Local projects that should be switched to package references when using the sample outside of this MAF repo -->
+  <!--
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions" />
+    <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Agents.AI.OpenAI" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+  -->
+  <ItemGroup>
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\..\..\src\Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions\Microsoft.Agents.AI.Hosting.AzureFunctions.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\..\..\..\src\Microsoft.Agents.AI.OpenAI\Microsoft.Agents.AI.OpenAI.csproj" />
+  </ItemGroup>
+</Project>

dotnet/samples/04-hosting/DurableWorkflows/AzureFunctions/05_WorkflowAndAgents/Executors.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+
+using Microsoft.Agents.AI.Workflows;
+
+namespace WorkflowAndAgents;
+
+internal sealed class TranslateText() : Executor<string, TranslationResult>("TranslateText")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<TranslationResult> HandleAsync(
+        string message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine($"[Activity] TranslateText: '{message}'");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult(new TranslationResult(message, message.ToUpperInvariant()));
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed class FormatOutput() : Executor<TranslationResult, string>("FormatOutput")
+{
+    public override ValueTask<string> HandleAsync(
+        TranslationResult message,
+        IWorkflowContext context,
+        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
+    {
+        Console.WriteLine("[Activity] FormatOutput: Formatting result");
+        return ValueTask.FromResult($"Original: {message.Original} => Translated: {message.Translated}");
+    }
+}
+
+internal sealed record TranslationResult(string Original, string Translated);