appinsights-instrumentation Skill for Claude: Azure Application Insights Guide

Gives Claude reference guides for adding Azure Application Insights telemetry to ASP.NET Core, Node.js, Python and Container Apps.

Installs: 572.8K; on skills.sh
Stars: 1.6K; on GitHub
Files: 12; besides SKILL.md
Updated: Oct 2026; last repo commit

appinsights-instrumentation is a guide, not an installer. It tells Claude how to instrument a web app with Azure Application Insights, with patterns for ASP.NET Core, Node.js, Python and Azure Container Apps. For a C# app on App Service it points to auto-instrumentation.

If you want Claude to actually add App Insights to your project, the SKILL.md says to use azure-prepare instead. This skill supplies the reference material, and azure-prepare makes the changes.

Good for

Developers adding monitoring to an Azure-hosted web app
Teams using ASP.NET Core, Node.js or Python on Azure
Anyone learning what App Insights does and how to set it up

Install appinsights-instrumentation

Claude Code

Copy this prompt.

Install the appinsights-instrumentation skill in Claude Code. Run this command:

/plugin install azure@claude-plugins-official

Then check that it loaded and tell me how to use it.

2
Paste it into Claude Code. It shows the change and asks before running it.

Requires Azure CLI signed in.

Pick one route, not both. The plugin installs all the Azure skills and wires in the Azure and Foundry tool servers they call. The skills CLI route installs only the skills named in the command, and does not wire in the Azure or Foundry tool servers, so enable the Azure MCP server separately if you want the tools the skills call. Sign in with az login first.

From the project README. Source.

What's in the skill

When it loads

Guidance for instrumenting webapps with Azure Application Insights. Provides telemetry patterns, SDK setup, and configuration references. WHEN: how to instrument app, App Insights SDK, telemetry patterns, what is App Insights, Application Insights guidance, instrumentation examples, APM best practices.

Sections in SKILL.md

When to Use This Skill
When to Use azure-prepare Instead
Prerequisites
Guidelines
Collect context information
Prefer auto-instrument if possible
Manually instrument
SDK Quick References
Platform-Specific Guides

Key facts

Author: Microsoft
License: MIT (stated in SKILL.md)
GitHub stars: 1,609 for the whole microsoft/azure-skills repo (Nov 2, 2026)
Last commit: Oct 30, 2026
What installs: SKILL.md plus 12 files, 1 of them shell or PowerShell scripts
Needs: An app hosted in Azure; the Azure CLI to create the resource
Part of: The azure plugin in microsoft/azure-skills
skills.sh audits: Gen Agent Trust Hub pass, Socket pass, Snyk pass
Works in: GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI, OpenCode (plugin README)

What it includes

Asks for language, framework and where the app is hosted
Claude reads your code, then confirms the language, framework and hosting before choosing a path.
Collect context
Uses auto-instrumentation for ASP.NET Core on App Service
Applies to C# ASP.NET Core apps hosted in Azure App Service.
Read · Auto-instrument guide
Adds it to Bicep or runs a bundled Azure CLI script
Either adds the resource to an existing Bicep template or uses scripts/appinsights.ps1 to create it with the Azure CLI.
Runs code · Create the App Insights resource
Code changes for ASP.NET Core, Node.js and Python
Separate reference files for each language.
Write · Language guides
OpenTelemetry notes for Python, TypeScript and Java
Covers the Azure Monitor OpenTelemetry distro and exporter.
Read · SDK quick references

From the official docs

Permissions

Medium risk

Claude can create a billable Application Insights resource and edit your app code. Check the resource group and review the diff before you commit.

What it can do

Read your data
Create and change things
Delete things
Read-only mode

Watch out for

It can create a billable Azure resource
The create step runs an Azure CLI command or edits Bicep. Check the resource group and name before you approve.
It can edit your app code
The language guides change startup code. Review the diff before you commit.

Technical details

Scopes	May create an Application Insights resource with the Azure CLI May edit your application code and Bicep files Bundles one PowerShell script (scripts/appinsights.ps1)

Questions

What does appinsights-instrumentation do?

It gives Claude reference material for adding Azure Application Insights to ASP.NET Core, Node.js, Python and Container Apps. It covers SDK setup, telemetry patterns and the Azure resource.

How do I install it?

Use the install box at the top of this page. In Claude Code the plugin command installs the Azure skills together with the Azure tools they call, so pick it unless you want this one skill only. Run az login before you start.

Will it add App Insights to my app for me?

Mostly it guides. The SKILL.md says requests like "add App Insights" or "add telemetry" should go to azure-prepare, which orchestrates the changes.

Which apps does it support?

ASP.NET Core, Azure Container Apps, Node.js and Python apps hosted in Azure, per its prerequisites.

Is it safe?

It can create an Azure resource and change code when you approve it. skills.sh lists Gen Agent Trust Hub, Socket and Snyk as pass.

Does it need an API key?

The SKILL.md names no API key. It uses your Azure sign-in through the Azure CLI.

Does it work in the Claude app, Codex or Cursor?

The Azure README lists GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI and OpenCode as hosts for the plugin. It does not list the Claude desktop or web app.

Information

updated Nov 2, 2026

Repository: microsoft/azure-skills
Folder: skills/appinsights-instrumentation

microsoft/azure-skills skills.sh

Sources

Docs, issue trackers and discussions this page is built from.

Show all 3

microsoft/azure-skills README · github.com
appinsights-instrumentation SKILL.md · github.com
appinsights-instrumentation on skills.sh · skills.sh