1---2name: azure-durable-task3description: Expert knowledge for Azure Durable Task development including best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. Use when versioning Durable workflows, using continue-as-new, managing instances via APIs, or fan-out/fan-in orchestration, and other Azure Durable Task related development tasks. Not for Azure Functions (use azure-functions), Azure Service Bus (use azure-service-bus), Azure Logic Apps (use azure-logic-apps), Azure App Service (use azure-app-service).4---5# Azure Durable Task Skill
6
7This skill provides expert guidance for Azure Durable Task. Covers best practices, decision making, architecture & design patterns, limits & quotas, configuration, integrations & coding patterns, and deployment. It combines local quick-reference content with remote documentation fetching capabilities.
8
9## How to Use This Skill
10
11> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: Use the **Category Index** below to locate relevant sections. For categories with line ranges (e.g., `L35-L120`), use `read_file` with the specified lines. For categories with file links (e.g., `[security.md](security.md)`), use `read_file` on the linked reference file
12
13> **IMPORTANT for Agent**: If `metadata.generated_at` is more than 3 months old, suggest the user pull the latest version from the repository. If `mcp_microsoftdocs` tools are not available, suggest the user install it: [Installation Guide](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/mcp/blob/main/README.md)
14
15This skill requires **network access** to fetch documentation content:
16- **Preferred**: Use `mcp_microsoftdocs:microsoft_docs_fetch` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill`. Returns Markdown.
17- **Fallback**: Use `fetch_webpage` with query string `from=learn-agent-skill&accept=text/markdown`. Returns Markdown.
18
19## Category Index
20
21| Category | Lines | Description |
22|----------|-------|-------------|
23| Best Practices | L35-L43 | Guidance on writing robust orchestrator code, configuring retries and error handling, using continue-as-new, handling external events, and building singleton/eternal Durable Functions. |
24| Decision Making | L44-L49 | Guidance on when to use Durable Functions vs raw Durable Task SDK, and how to compare and choose durable storage providers/backends for orchestrations. |
25| Architecture & Design Patterns | L50-L57 | Patterns for orchestrating Durable workflows: fan-out/fan-in, human approval steps, long-running monitors, and function chaining design and implementation. |
26| Limits & Quotas | L58-L63 | Configuring orchestration status size/retention limits, querying status, and monitoring Durable Task Scheduler action metrics, performance, and billing impacts. |
27| Configuration | L64-L68 | Configuring Durable Task hubs storage (connection, scaling, reliability) and using instance management APIs to query, control, and manage orchestration instances. |
28| Integrations & Coding Patterns | L69-L73 | Managing Durable Task workflow instances: starting, querying, terminating, purging, and using instance management APIs for lifecycle control and monitoring |
29| Deployment | L74-L77 | Guidance on safely deploying Durable orchestrations using versioning strategies, handling breaking changes, and managing upgrades without disrupting running workflows. |
30
31### Best Practices
32| Topic | URL |
33|-------|-----|
34| Follow orchestrator code constraints in Durable Functions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-code-constraints |
35| Configure error handling and retries in Durable Functions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-error-handling |
36| Implement eternal orchestrations with continue-as-new | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-eternal-orchestrations |
37| Handle external events in Durable orchestrations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-external-events |
38| Implement singleton orchestrators in Durable Functions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-singletons |
39
40### Decision Making
41| Topic | URL |
42|-------|-----|
43| Choose Durable Functions vs Durable Task SDK hosting | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/choose-orchestration-framework |
44| Compare Durable Task storage providers and choose backends | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-storage-providers |
45
46### Architecture & Design Patterns
47| Topic | URL |
48|-------|-----|
49| Implement fan-out/fan-in pattern in Durable Functions | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-fan-in-fan-out |
50| Design human interaction workflows in Durable Task | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-human-interaction |
51| Build monitor pattern workflows with Durable orchestrations | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-monitor |
52| Use function chaining pattern in Durable workflows | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-sequence |
53
54### Limits & Quotas
55| Topic | URL |
56|-------|-----|
57| Configure and query custom orchestration status limits | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-custom-orchestration-status |
58| Monitor Durable Task Scheduler action metrics and billing | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-metrics |
59
60### Configuration
61| Topic | URL |
62|-------|-----|
63| Configure and manage Durable Task hubs storage | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-hubs |
64
65### Integrations & Coding Patterns
66| Topic | URL |
67|-------|-----|
68| Use instance management APIs for Durable Task workflows | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-task-instance-management |
69
70### Deployment
71| Topic | URL |
72|-------|-----|
73| Use orchestration versioning for safe Durable deployments | https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/durable-task/common/durable-orchestration-versioning |
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