microsoft / microsoft/Build-CLI
Skill: agent skips Learn MCP tools because discovery is not explicit
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- Dominant language
- TypeScript
- Stars
- 293
- Forks
- 85
- PR merge metrics
- No merged PRs in 30d
Description
Problem
When executing the "What's new for my project?" workflow, the agent skips step 4 (Query Learn MCP Server) entirely. It has the Learn MCP tools available (microsoft_docs_search, microsoft_docs_fetch, microsoft_code_sample_search) via the plugin's bundled .mcp.json, but never checks its own tool list and defaults to session catalog only.
When prompted, the agent jumped to the CLI fallback (npx @microsoft/learn-cli) without first checking whether the MCP tools were available. The root cause: the skill says what to use but not how the agent discovers it at runtime.
Observed behavior
- Agent reads skill, identifies workflow steps
- Agent executes session catalog search (step 3)
- Agent skips Learn docs entirely (step 4)
- When asked why, agent reports: "The MCP tools don't appear in my top-level tool list. They exist but require active discovery. The skill assumes the agent will find them automatically."
Suggested fixes
-
Add explicit discovery instruction early in the skill: "Before executing workflows, verify Learn MCP tools are available by searching your tool list for
microsoft_docs. If found, use them. If not, fall back to the CLI." -
Reorder or parallelize steps 3-4: The current ordering (catalog first, Learn second) signals priority. If the skill said "steps 3-4 run in parallel" or listed Learn first (it is always available; the catalog is event-dependent), agents would be less likely to skip it.
Impact
Every user whose query would benefit from Learn docs (SDK updates, what's-new pages, migration guides) gets incomplete answers. The session catalog and news index compensate partially, but product-specific documentation is invisible unless the user explicitly asks for it.
Repro
> what is new at Build 2026 for my project?
# Agent fetches news + sessions, never queries Learn
> Why did you not search Learn docs?
# Agent admits it skipped step 4 and did not discover the MCP tools
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Locate the skill definition and inspect the bundled .mcp.json entry for the Learn tools; compare the workflow's session-catalog and Learn steps. Done means the skill explicitly explains runtime discovery, use of the Learn tools when available, the npx @microsoft/learn-cli fallback, and the intended ordering or parallel execution.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- typescript
- Domain
- cli, tooling
- Issue type
- Documentation
- Difficulty
- 2/5
- Estimated time
- 1-3 hours
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 68/100