Unlocking Azure's Hidden Features with the Azure CLI Extensions Repository

If you work with Azure, you've probably used the Azure CLI. It's that trusty command-line tool that lets you manage cloud resources without leaving your terminal. But did you know there's a whole ecosystem of extensions that add capabilities the core CLI doesn't have? Microsoft just made discovering and contributing to these extensions much more transparent.

The Azure CLI Extensions repository is now public on GitHub, giving developers direct access to the source code for dozens of specialized commands and tools. This isn't just another GitHub repo—it's a window into the future features of Azure tooling and a place where you can actually shape the tools you use every day.

What It Does

The Azure CLI Extensions repository contains the source code for all the extensions available for the Azure CLI. While the core Azure CLI handles fundamental resource management, extensions provide additional commands for specific services, preview features, or specialized functionality that hasn't been integrated into the main CLI yet.

Think of it as the plugin ecosystem for Azure's command-line interface. Want to manage Azure Blockchain Workbench? There's an extension for that. Need to work with Azure Virtual WAN? There's an extension for that too.

Why It's Cool

This move to open up the extensions repository changes the game for Azure developers in a few key ways:

Transparency in Development: You can now see exactly how these extensions work under the hood. No more black boxes—just readable Python code that shows the actual implementation of the commands you're running.

Community Contribution: Found a bug? Want to add a feature? You can actually submit pull requests directly to the extensions you use. This is a significant shift from the traditional "wait for Microsoft to fix it" approach.

Early Access and Learning: Since many extensions represent preview features or specialized services, the repository serves as a fantastic learning resource. You can explore how new Azure services are being integrated into the CLI before they hit general availability.

Extension Discovery: Browsing the repository gives you a much better sense of what's available than just running az extension list-available. You can see the actual capabilities and implementation details before installing anything.

How to Try It

Getting started with Azure CLI extensions is straightforward:

First, make sure you have the Azure CLI installed:

# On Windows
winget install Microsoft.AzureCLI

# On macOS
brew install azure-cli

# On Linux
curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash

Then you can explore and install extensions:

# List available extensions
az extension list-available --output table

# Install an extension by name
az extension add --name <extension-name>

# For example, to add the DevOps extension
az extension add --name azure-devops

To dive into the source code or contribute, head over to the repository:

git clone https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions

The repository is well-organized with each extension in its own directory, complete with source code, tests, and documentation.

Final Thoughts

As someone who spends a lot of time in the terminal, I find this public repository genuinely exciting. It's not just about the convenience of having these extensions—it's about the transparency and community involvement it enables. Instead of wondering why a certain command behaves oddly, I can now check the source directly. Instead of waiting months for a small fix, I can potentially submit a PR and get it resolved.

For Azure developers, this repository is both a practical tool and an educational resource. Whether you're looking to extend your own automation scripts, understand how Azure services work under the hood, or contribute back to the tools you use daily, this open approach benefits everyone. It's one of those quiet but important shifts that makes the developer ecosystem just a little bit better.

@githubprojects