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FrootAI User Guide

> The complete guide to using FrootAI โ€” from first install to production deployment.


1. Getting Started

Step 1: Install the VS Code Extension

code --install-extension frootai.frootai-vscode

Or search โ€œFrootAIโ€ in the VS Code Extensions Marketplace.

Step 2: Browse the Knowledge Hub

Open the sidebar โ†’ FROOT Modules panel to explore 18 knowledge modules across 5 layers:

LayerModulesFocus
๐ŸŒฑ FoundationsGenAI, LLM Landscape, AI Glossary, Agentic OSCore AI concepts
๐Ÿชต ReasoningPrompt Engineering, RAG, Deterministic AIMaking AI reliable
๐ŸŒฟ OrchestrationSemantic Kernel, AI Agents, MCP & ToolsBuilding agents
๐Ÿƒ OperationsAzure AI, Infrastructure, Copilot EcosystemPlatform & infra
๐ŸŽ TransformationFine-Tuning, Responsible AI, Production PatternsProduction readiness

Step 3: Init DevKit

Open Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) โ†’ FROOT: Init DevKit

This scaffolds the .github/ Agentic OS into your project:

  • agent.md โ€” Agent behavior rules
  • copilot-instructions.md โ€” Copilot context
  • Prompt files, CI workflows, and config templates

Step 4: Init TuneKit

Command Palette โ†’ FROOT: Init TuneKit

Adds tunable configuration files:

  • config/agents.json โ€” Agent routing and parameters
  • config/model-comparison.json โ€” Model selection criteria
  • config/guardrails.json โ€” Safety and content limits
  • evaluation/ โ€” Golden sets and scoring scripts

Step 5: Deploy

Command Palette โ†’ FROOT: Deploy Solution

Packages your configured play for deployment. Output depends on the selected solution play.


2. Using the VS Code Extension

2.1 All Commands

Open Command Palette and type FROOT: to see all available commands:

CommandDescription
FROOT: Browse ModulesOpen the knowledge hub and browse all knowledge modules
FROOT: Search KnowledgeFull-text search across all modules
FROOT: Lookup TermLook up any AI term in the glossary (comprehensive glossary)
FROOT: Init DevKitScaffold .github Agentic OS files into your project
FROOT: Init TuneKitAdd config and evaluation files
FROOT: Show Solution PlaysBrowse all 20 solution plays with status
FROOT: Open PlayOpen a specific playโ€™s folder
FROOT: Deploy SolutionPackage and deploy the current play
FROOT: Show MCP ToolsView documentation for all 16 MCP tools
FROOT: Read User GuideOpen this guide in the editor
FROOT: Show ArchitectureDisplay system architecture diagram
FROOT: Show ChangelogView version history
FROOT: Check UpdatesCheck for new versions of all components

2.2 Sidebar Panels

The FrootAI sidebar (click the ๐ŸŒฑ icon) has these panels:

  1. FROOT Modules โ€” Expandable tree of all 18 knowledge modules, color-coded by layer
  2. Solution Plays โ€” All 20 plays with status badges (Ready / In Progress)
  3. MCP Tools โ€” Documentation for all 16 MCP server tools, grouped by type
  4. Quick Actions โ€” One-click access to common commands

2.3 Standalone Mode

The extension works offline with bundled knowledge. It caches downloaded content in globalStorage with a 24-hour TTL. No internet required for core functionality.


3. Using the MCP Server

3.1 What is the MCP Server?

The FrootAI MCP Server exposes 23 tools that any MCP-compatible AI agent can call. It adds AI architecture knowledge to your agentโ€™s capabilities.

3.2 Setup

Add to your .vscode/mcp.json:

{ "servers": { "frootai": { "command": "npx", "args": ["frootai-mcp"] } } }

3.3 Tool Reference

Static Tools (bundled knowledge)

ToolWhat it doesExample query
get_moduleRetrieve a full knowledge moduleโ€Get the RAG Architecture moduleโ€
list_modulesList all knowledge modules with metadataโ€What modules are available?โ€
search_knowledgeFull-text search across all contentโ€Search for vector databasesโ€
lookup_termLook up a term in the AI glossaryโ€What is LoRA?โ€

Live Tools (real-time retrieval)

ToolWhat it doesExample query
fetch_azure_docsFetch current Azure documentationโ€Get Azure AI Search pricingโ€
fetch_external_mcpQuery external MCP registriesโ€Find MCP servers for databasesโ€

Chain Tools (multi-step workflows)

ToolWhat it doesExample query
agent_buildGenerate a new agent scaffoldโ€Build an IT ticket resolution agentโ€
agent_reviewReview an agentโ€™s configurationโ€Review my agent.md for security issuesโ€
agent_tuneOptimize agent parametersโ€Tune my agent for lower latencyโ€

AI Ecosystem Tools

ToolWhat it doesExample query
get_architecture_patternGet architecture patterns for a scenarioโ€Pattern for multi-agent RAGโ€
get_froot_overviewOverview of the FrootAI platformโ€What is FrootAI?โ€
get_github_agentic_osExplain the .github Agentic OSโ€What files does DevKit create?โ€
list_community_playsBrowse community solution playsโ€Show me community playsโ€
get_ai_model_guidanceModel selection guidanceโ€Compare GPT-4o vs Claude 3.5โ€

3.4 Using in Copilot Chat

In VS Code with GitHub Copilot, you can invoke MCP tools naturally:

@workspace Use frootai to search for "semantic kernel orchestration" @workspace Use frootai to get the RAG Architecture module @workspace Use frootai agent_build to create an IT ticket agent

4. Solution Plays

4.1 What is a Solution Play?

A solution play is a pre-configured scenario accelerator. Each play includes:

  • README.md โ€” Overview, architecture, deployment steps
  • DevKit (.github/ Agentic OS) โ€” Agent rules, copilot instructions, prompts, CI
  • TuneKit (config/ + evaluation/) โ€” Tunable parameters and quality benchmarks

4.2 Available Plays (20)

#PlayCategory
01IT Ticket ResolutionIT Operations
02Customer Support AgentCustomer Service
03Code Review AssistantDevelopment
04Security Incident ResponseSecurity
05Knowledge Base FAQKnowledge Management
06Onboarding AssistantHR / People
07Sales IntelligenceSales
08Compliance CheckerGovernance
09Data Quality MonitorData Engineering
10Infrastructure HealthPlatform / SRE
11Cost Optimization AdvisorFinOps
12Release Notes GeneratorDevOps
13API Documentation WriterDocumentation
14Meeting SummarizerProductivity
15Competitive AnalysisStrategy
16Training Content CreatorLearning
17Change ManagementITSM
18Document ProcessorDocument AI
19Multi-Agent OrchestratorAgent Platform
20Custom Play TemplateTemplate

4.3 Choosing a Play

Use the Solution Configurator at /configurator โ€” answer 3 questions and get a recommendation. Or use the AI Assistant at /chatbot.

4.4 Customizing a Play

  1. FROOT: Init DevKit to scaffold the playโ€™s .github files
  2. Edit agent.md to adjust behavior rules
  3. FROOT: Init TuneKit to add config parameters
  4. Tune config/agents.json for your scenario
  5. Run evaluation against the golden set

5. DevKit Deep Dive

The DevKit scaffolds .github Agentic OS โ€” a structured set of files that make your project agent-ready.

5.1 File Reference

FilePurpose
.github/agent.mdPrimary agent behavior rules โ€” scope, constraints, tools, error handling
.github/copilot-instructions.mdGitHub Copilot context โ€” project structure, conventions, key files
.github/prompts/init.prompt.mdInitial prompt for bootstrapping the agent
.github/prompts/review.prompt.mdCode review prompt template
.github/prompts/deploy.prompt.mdDeployment preparation prompt
.github/workflows/validate.ymlCI pipeline โ€” structure validation, lint, test
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug.ymlStructured bug report template
.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature.ymlFeature request template
.github/pull_request_template.mdPR description template

5.2 The 7 Primitives

The Agentic OS uses 7 composable primitives:

  1. Agent Rules (agent.md) โ€” Behavioral boundaries
  2. Context (copilot-instructions.md) โ€” Project knowledge
  3. Prompts (prompts/*.prompt.md) โ€” Reusable prompt templates
  4. Workflows (workflows/*.yml) โ€” CI/CD automation
  5. Templates (ISSUE_TEMPLATE/, pull_request_template.md) โ€” Structured collaboration
  6. Config (config/) โ€” Tunable parameters
  7. Evaluation (evaluation/) โ€” Quality benchmarks

6. TuneKit Deep Dive

6.1 Config Files

FileParameters
config/agents.jsonAgent routing, model selection, temperature, max_tokens
config/model-comparison.jsonModel capabilities, latency, cost comparison
config/guardrails.jsonContent filters, blocked topics, rate limits
config/search.jsonSearch method (vector, hybrid, keyword), top_k
config/chunking.jsonChunk size, overlap, strategy

6.2 Tuning Workflow

  1. Review current config: FROOT: Show Config
  2. Adjust parameters based on your scenario
  3. Run evaluation: python evaluation/evaluate.py
  4. Compare scores against the golden set
  5. Iterate until quality targets are met

6.3 Evaluation

Each play includes:

  • evaluation/golden-set.jsonl โ€” Expected inputs/outputs (5+ examples)
  • evaluation/evaluate.py โ€” Scoring script (accuracy, latency, safety)
  • Results output to evaluation/results.json

6b. SpecKit Deep Dive

SpecKit provides architecture specifications and WAF (Well-Architected Framework) alignment for every solution play.

Whatโ€™s in SpecKit?

FilePurpose
spec/play-spec.jsonArchitecture pattern, WAF pillar scores, evaluation thresholds

WAF Alignment (6 Pillars)

Every play is scored across the Azure Well-Architected Framework:

PillarWhat it checks
ReliabilityRetry policies, health probes, multi-region readiness
SecurityManaged identity, private endpoints, RBAC, no API keys
Cost OptimizationRight-sized SKUs, autoscaling, reserved capacity
Operational ExcellenceDiagnostic settings, Log Analytics, CI/CD
PerformanceCaching, async patterns, connection pooling
Responsible AIContent Safety, guardrails, bias monitoring

CLI WAF Scorecard

npx frootai validate --waf

Runs 17 checks across 6 pillars and shows per-pillar scores + failing items.


6c. Using the CLI

The FrootAI CLI (npx frootai) provides 8 commands for terminal-based workflows.

Commands

CommandWhat it does
npx frootai initInteractive project scaffolding (auto-detects existing projects)
npx frootai scaffold <play>One-command play scaffold (e.g. scaffold play-01)
npx frootai search <query>Search across 18 knowledge modules
npx frootai cost <service>Estimate Azure AI service costs
npx frootai validateRun consistency checks across your project
npx frootai validate --wafWAF alignment scorecard (6 pillars, 17 checks)
npx frootai doctorHealth check: Node.js, npm, VS Code, MCP config
npx frootai helpShow all available commands

Scaffold Command

One-command play scaffolding โ€” creates all 5 FROOT kits + froot.json manifest:

npx frootai scaffold 01-enterprise-rag # or shorthand: npx frootai scaffold play-01

Creates: .github/agents/, config/, spec/, evaluation/, froot.json, WAF instructions. Auto-detects existing projects and merges files alongside yours.


6d. Using Docker

Run the FrootAI MCP Server as a container โ€” no Node.js required.

Quick Start

docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/frootai/frootai-mcp:latest

Client Configuration

Claude Desktop / Cursor:

{ "mcpServers": { "frootai": { "command": "docker", "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "ghcr.io/frootai/frootai-mcp:latest"] } } }

VS Code Copilot (.vscode/mcp.json):

{ "servers": { "frootai": { "command": "docker", "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "ghcr.io/frootai/frootai-mcp:latest"], "type": "stdio" } } }

Multi-arch (amd64 + arm64). Same 23 tools, 682KB knowledge. Pinnable versions.


6e. Using the REST API

The Agent FAI workload API provides a branded, authenticated endpoint โ€” no SDK or MCP client needed.

Base URL

https://frootai.dev/v1/agent

Endpoints

MethodEndpointDescription
POST/chatRun Agent FAI with a fai_live_โ€ฆ account API key
GET/web/healthBranded FAI Engine status and capabilities
POST/web/search-playsSearch solution plays
POST/web/estimate-costEstimate solution cost
GET/openapi.jsonOpenAPI 3.1 specification

Rate Limits

Workload calls use your account plan quota. Responses include minute and daily quota headers and return HTTP 429 when exceeded.


7. Agent Chain

The build โ†’ review โ†’ tune chain is a three-step workflow:

Step 1: Build (agent_build)

Generate a new agent scaffold based on your scenario description. Produces agent.md, config files, and evaluation templates.

Step 2: Review (agent_review)

Analyze the generated agent for:

  • Security gaps
  • Missing error handling
  • Unclear scope boundaries
  • Config completeness

Step 3: Tune (agent_tune)

Optimize parameters based on review findings and evaluation results. Adjusts temperature, model selection, guardrails, and routing.


Deploying a Solution Play

Deploy any play with one command:

# Deploy play 01 (Enterprise RAG) ./scripts/deploy-play.sh 01 --resource-group rg-frootai-dev # Deploy play 05 (IT Ticket Resolution) without evaluation ./scripts/deploy-play.sh 05 --resource-group rg-frootai --skip-eval

The script: validates the play structure โ†’ deploys Azure infra via Bicep โ†’ copies config files โ†’ runs evaluation.

Exporting FROOT Knowledge as Copilot Skills

Make any FROOT module available as a GitHub Copilot skill:

# Export a single module ./scripts/export-skills.sh F1 # Export all knowledge modules ./scripts/export-skills.sh --all

This creates .github/skills/<module-id>/SKILL.md + README.md that Copilot reads automatically.

Knowledge Auto-Update

The MCP server can auto-refresh its knowledge:

  • Bundled knowledge.json is checked every 7 days
  • If stale, fetches latest from GitHub automatically
  • Falls back to bundled version if offline

To manually rebuild: ./scripts/rebuild-knowledge.sh


8. FAQ

Q: Does FrootAI require an internet connection? A: Core functionality works offline. The VS Code extension bundles knowledge locally. Live tools (fetch_azure_docs, fetch_external_mcp) require connectivity.

Q: Which AI models does FrootAI support? A: FrootAI is model-agnostic. Solution plays can be configured for any model in config/agents.json. The knowledge modules cover GPT-4o, Claude, Gemini, Phi, Llama, and more.

Q: Can I use FrootAI without VS Code? A: Yes. The MCP server works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Azure AI Foundry). The website is accessible via browser.

Q: How do I add a custom solution play? A: See the Contributor Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Q: Is FrootAI free? A: Yes. FrootAI is 100% open source under the MIT license.

Q: How do I report a bug? A: Open an issue on GitHubย  using the bug report template.

Q: How often is the knowledge base updated? A: Knowledge modules are updated with each release. The changelog tracks all content changes.


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