mcpbeat

Debug Agent

microsoft/debug-agent

Diagnose a pipeline failure or customer issue end-to-end. Accepts a log path, error text, ADO work item ID, or GitHub issue URL.

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on the repository, not the skill itself

Install

one command, takes just this skill from the repository
npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/powerplatform-build-tools --skill debug-agent

What it tells the agent to use

found in the instruction text
Read reads your files

The instruction itself

33 sections, as written by the author

Debug Agent

Diagnose a pipeline failure or customer issue end-to-end.

Accepts a log file path, pasted error text, ADO work item ID, or GitHub issue URL.

Determines ownership, resolves if PPBT-owned, or produces a precise triage package for the right team.

Invoke as: /debug-agent <log-file-path | error-text | issue-url | ado-id>

Works autonomously through all steps. One exception: pauses to request pipeline logs if they are referenced in an ICM/work item but not yet provided — log evidence is required before classifying the failure layer.


Step 0 — Ingest the input

Determine input type:

  • File path (.txt, .log, or similar): read it with the Read tool
  • ADO work item (dev.azure.com/... URL or bare integer): az boards work-item show --id <id> 2>&1
  • GitHub issue (github.com/.../issues/<n>): gh issue view <n> --comments 2>&1
  • Pasted text: use as-is

Extract and print:

Input summary:
- Type: <file | ado | github | text>
- Task/tool identified: <name from log header, or "unknown">
- Error snippet: <first clear error line, or "none found">
- Timestamp range: <start → end>
- Deployment result: <SUCCESS | FAILED | unknown>

Step 0b — Check for missing logs

If input is an ICM or ADO work item AND any of the following are true:

  • Custom field LogsAttached = "Yes"
  • Description mentions "logs attached" or "see attachment"
  • Issue cannot be diagnosed from text alone (no error snippet, no pac CLI output visible)

AND no log file path or log content was provided by the user:

STOP. Prompt the user:

Pipeline logs are attached to this ICM/work item but aren't accessible via API.
Please download the logs from the portal and provide the folder path.
Example: C:\Users\<you>\Downloads\

Once you share the path, I'll read the logs and continue the analysis from Step 1.

Do not proceed to Step 1 until log content is available. Do NOT classify the failure layer, assign ownership, or draw conclusions based solely on the ICM title or description — log evidence is mandatory.

If the user confirms no logs exist or they are unavailable, continue with Confidence: low noted throughout.


Step 1 — Verify PPBT is involved

ADO (Azure DevOps) — PPBT task identifiers

Every PPBT v2 task follows the pattern: microsoft-IsvExpTools.PowerPlatform-BuildTools.<task-id>.<TaskClass>@2

| Display Name | Task ID (in YAML/log) | Task Class |

|---|---|---|

| Power Platform Tool Installer | tool-installer | PowerPlatformToolInstaller@2 |

| Power Platform WhoAmI | whoami | PowerPlatformWhoAmi@2 |

| Power Platform Checker | checker | PowerPlatformChecker@2 |

| Power Platform Import Solution | import-solution | PowerPlatformImportSolution@2 |

| Power Platform Export Solution | export-solution | PowerPlatformExportSolution@2 |

| Power Platform Unpack Solution | unpack-solution | PowerPlatformUnpackSolution@2 |

| Power Platform Pack Solution | pack-solution | PowerPlatformPackSolution@2 |

| Power Platform Delete Solution | delete-solution | PowerPlatformDeleteSolution@2 |

| Power Platform Add Solution Component | add-solution-component | PowerPlatformAddSolutionComponent@2 |

| Power Platform Apply Solution Upgrade | apply-solution-upgrade | PowerPlatformApplySolutionUpgrade@2 |

| Power Platform Publish Customizations | publish-customizations | PowerPlatformPublishCustomizations@2 |

| Power Platform Set Solution Version | set-solution-version | PowerPlatformSetSolutionVersion@2 |

| Power Platform Set Connection Variables | set-connection-variables | PowerPlatformSetConnectionVariables@2 |

| Power Platform Deploy Package | deploy-package | PowerPlatformDeployPackage@2 |

| Power Platform Create Environment | create-environment | PowerPlatformCreateEnvironment@2 |

| Power Platform Delete Environment | delete-environment | PowerPlatformDeleteEnvironment@2 |

| Power Platform Assign User | assign-user | PowerPlatformAssignUser@2 |

| Power Platform Reset Environment | reset-environment | PowerPlatformResetEnvironment@2 |

| Power Platform Backup Environment | backup-environment | PowerPlatformBackupEnvironment@2 |

| Power Platform Copy Environment | copy-environment | PowerPlatformCopyEnvironment@2 |

| Power Platform Restore Environment | restore-environment | PowerPlatformRestoreEnvironment@2 |

| Export Dataverse Data | export-data | PowerPlatformExportData@2 |

| Import Dataverse Data | import-data | PowerPlatformImportData@2 |

| Power Platform Download PAPortal | download-paportal | PowerPlatformDownloadPaportal@2 |

| Power Platform Upload PAPortal | upload-paportal | PowerPlatformUploadPaportal@2 |

PPBT signals (any one is sufficient):

  • Task class matches any entry in the table above
  • Author is Microsoft (not Wael Hamze or other community authors)
  • Log contains POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH or PP_TOOLS_AUTOMATION_AGENT
  • pac CLI invoked: lines containing pac solution, pac auth, pac env, pac admin, pac package
  • BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl pipeline variable present

GitHub Actions — PPBT action identifiers

All PPBT GitHub Actions use: microsoft/powerplatform-actions/<action-name>@v1

| Action | uses: value |

|---|---|

| Install Power Platform Tools | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/actions-install@v1 |

| WhoAmI | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/whoAmI@v1 |

| Import Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/import-solution@v1 |

| Export Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/export-solution@v1 |

| Unpack Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/unpack-solution@v1 |

| Pack Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/pack-solution@v1 |

| Publish Customizations | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/publish-solution@v1 |

| Clone Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/clone-solution@v1 |

| Check Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/check-solution@v1 |

| Upgrade Solution | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/upgrade-solution@v1 |

| Deploy Package | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/deploy-package@v1 |

| Upload PAPortal | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/upload-paportal@v1 |

| Catalog Install | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/install@v1 |

| Catalog Submit | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/submit@v1 |

| Catalog Status | microsoft/powerplatform-actions/status@v1 |

Not-PPBT signals — deflect immediately:

  • Author: Wael Hamze → CRM Build Tools (community)
  • Microsoft.Xrm.Tooling.* PowerShell → old XRM Tooling
  • PackageDeployer PowerShell task (v12.x) → Wael Hamze legacy tooling
  • Task version @v1 and no microsoft/powerplatform-actions prefix → unrelated action

If not PPBT: skip to Step 5 (non-PPBT triage) immediately.


Step 2 — Identify the failing task and classify the layer

2a — Map the failing task to its inputs

Use the tables below to check whether required inputs are present in the log or YAML.

Helper tasks

Tool Installer (tool-installer) — must be FIRST task in every pipeline/workflow

  • No required inputs beyond defaults
  • Critical: if missing → all other tasks fail with "pac.exe not found" or POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH not set
  • Optional: AddToolsToPath: true (adds pac to PATH for script tasks)

WhoAmI (whoami / whoAmI)

  • Required: authenticationType + one of PowerPlatformEnvironment or PowerPlatformSPN
  • GitHub: environment-url + auth credentials (user-name/password-secret OR app-id/client-secret/tenant-id)
  • Use: connectivity check early in pipeline — failure here = auth or network issue, not solution issue
Quality check

Checker (checker / check-solution)

  • Required: PowerPlatformSPN (SPN only — username/password NOT supported for checker)
  • Required: RuleSet GUID
  • Optional: UseDefaultPACheckerEndpoint (default true) — if false, must set CustomPACheckerEndpoint
  • Output: SARIF file as pipeline artifact (ArtifactDestinationName)
  • Common issue: checker fails for username/password connections — SPN required
Solution tasks

Import Solution (import-solution)

  • Required: service connection + SolutionInputFile
  • Key options: AsyncOperation: true (recommended for large solutions — avoids 4-min timeout), HoldingSolution (for upgrade pattern), UseDeploymentSettingsFile (for connection references + env vars)
  • Common issue: sync import times out on large solutions → set AsyncOperation: true, MaxAsyncWaitTime: 60
  • Common issue: connection references not set → use DeploymentSettingsFile

Export Solution (export-solution)

  • Required: service connection + SolutionName + SolutionOutputFile
  • Note: use solution *Name* not *Display Name*
  • Managed: true exports as managed

Apply Solution Upgrade (apply-solution-upgrade)

  • Required: service connection + SolutionName
  • Use after Import with HoldingSolution: true

Pack / Unpack Solution — local operations, no service connection needed

  • SolutionType: Managed | Unmanaged | Both

Set Solution Version (set-solution-version)

  • Required: service connection + SolutionName + SolutionVersionNumber
  • Tip: use $(Build.BuildId) as version number

Set Connection Variables (set-connection-variables)

  • Sets pipeline variables: BuildTools.TenantId, BuildTools.ApplicationId, BuildTools.ClientSecret, BuildTools.DataverseConnectionString
  • Username/password auth also requires ApplicationId and RedirectUri

Deploy Package (deploy-package)

  • Required: service connection + PackageFile (.dll)
  • GitHub Actions: Windows runner only (runs-on: windows-latest)
Environment management tasks

Create Environment (create-environment)

  • Required: DisplayName, LocationName, EnvironmentSku, CurrencyName, LanguageName, DomainName
  • Side effect: sets BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl pipeline variable — subsequent tasks use this automatically
  • Note: BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl overrides any service connection URL for downstream tasks

Copy Environment (copy-environment)

  • Required: TargetEnvironmentUrl
  • CopyType: FullCopy (data + metadata) or MinimalCopy (metadata only)

Restore Environment (restore-environment)

  • RestoreLatestBackup: true OR provide RestoreTimeStamp in mm/dd/yyyy hh:mm format

Export/Import Dataverse Data

  • Schema file created via Configuration Migration tool
  • Import accepts zip file or folder with data-schema.xml + data.xml
Power Pages tasks
  • download-paportal / upload-paportal: requires WebsiteId GUID, optional ModelVersion (1=standard, 2=enhanced data model)

2b — When is it a PPBT bug (this repo)?

PPBT owns exactly the boundary between the ADO/GitHub pipeline and cli-wrapper.

A bug is PPBT's if the wrong value reaches cli-wrapper or no value reaches cli-wrapper when the user configured the pipeline correctly.

PPBT owns it — fix in this repo — when:

| Symptom | Root cause | File to fix |

|---------|-----------|------------|

| Task input exists in task.json but is silently ignored / not passed to pac | index.ts doesn't read it via parameterMap | src/tasks/<name>/index.ts |

| Task input works on Windows but breaks on Linux (path, binary location) | CliLocator.ts platform logic | src/host/CliLocator.ts |

| Wrong cloud instance sent to pac for a valid service connection | resolveCloudInstance() missing a cloud mapping | src/params/auth/getCredentials.ts |

| BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl not set after create-environment runs | index.ts not calling tl.setVariable | src/tasks/create-environment/index.ts |

| Service connection field (e.g. tenantId) extracted as null/undefined | getCredentials.ts reading wrong endpoint field | src/params/auth/getCredentials.ts |

| Environment URL fallback chain skips a valid source | getEnvironmentUrl.ts fallback order wrong | src/params/auth/getEnvironmentUrl.ts |

| Tasks appear in wrong pipeline stage / wrong task GUIDs | GUID substitution bug in pack step | gulp/pack.mjs, extension/task-metadata.json |

| Tool installer fails to download pac or set POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH | Installer task logic | src/tasks/tool-installer/index.ts |

| New task input added to task.json but not wired through to pac | index.ts parameterMap not updated | src/tasks/<name>/index.ts |

| Task breaks after cli-wrapper version bump (interface mismatch) | BuildToolsHost or BuildToolsRunnerParams out of sync | src/host/BuildToolsHost.ts, src/host/BuildToolsRunnerParams.ts |

| Error message from task is unhelpful / missing context | Better error surfacing needed | src/tasks/<name>/index.ts |

PPBT does NOT own it — do not fix in this repo — when:

| Symptom | Actual owner |

|---------|-------------|

| User forgot to add tool-installer to pipeline | User/pipeline config — document the fix, no code change |

| User passed solution display name instead of unique name | User error |

| cli-wrapper assembles wrong pac args (but PPBT passed the right values to it) | cli-wrapper repo |

| pac CLI crashes or returns a wrong result | pac CLI / admin-tools |

| Dataverse operation fails (solution import engine, HTTP 5xx) | CDS / Solution Framework |

| Auth fails because service connection credentials are wrong/expired | User / service connection admin |

| MFA required on username/password connection | User — must switch to SPN |

The test: ask "If the user configured the pipeline exactly right, would this still fail?" If yes → PPBT bug. If no → user error or downstream team.

2c — Classify the failure layer

Azure DevOps / GitHub Actions pipeline
  → [L1] user/pipeline config error (task ordering, missing inputs, wrong auth type)
  → [L2] PPBT code bug  (src/tasks/<name>/index.ts, getCredentials.ts, CliLocator.ts, etc.)
  → [L3] cli-wrapper bug  (@microsoft/powerplatform-cli-wrapper/dist/actions/)
  → [L4] pac CLI binary  (pac.exe / pac)
       └─ [L4-admin]  pac env/admin commands → admin-tools team
       └─ [L4-pac]    pac CLI crash / .NET exception → pac CLI team
       └─ [L4→L5]     pac correctly relays Dataverse error → CDS team
  → [L5] Power Platform API  (Dataverse / crm.dynamics.com)

| Symptom | Layer | Owner |

|---------|-------|-------|

| pac.exe not found / POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH not set | L1 | User — tool-installer step missing |

| BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl targets wrong env | L1 | User — task ordering side effect |

| Required input missing because user left it blank | L1 | User — pipeline config |

| Checker fails with username/password | L1 | User — SPN required for checker |

| Import times out (~4 min) on large solution | L1 | User — set AsyncOperation: true |

| Input exists in task.json but is ignored / not passed to pac | L2 | PPBT bugindex.ts parameterMap |

| resolveCloudInstance() returns wrong cloud for valid endpoint | L2 | PPBT buggetCredentials.ts |

| Service connection field extracted as null despite being set | L2 | PPBT buggetCredentials.ts |

| BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl not set after create-environment | L2 | PPBT bugindex.ts missing setVariable |

| Task breaks on Linux but works on Windows | L2 | PPBT bugCliLocator.ts |

| Wrong task GUIDs / tasks conflict in marketplace | L2 | PPBT bugpack.mjs / task-metadata.json |

| auth create failed after correct args passed | L3 | cli-wrapper auth bug |

| Cannot resolve AAD authority / wrong AAD endpoint | L3 | cli-wrapper resolveCloudInstance() |

| WhoAmI fails on non-English agent | L3 | cli-wrapper (known ADO #4846644) |

| pac CLI crashes / .NET exception inside pac | L4-pac | pac CLI team |

| pac env create/delete/backup/restore/copy fails | L4-admin | admin-tools team |

| pac admin * command fails | L4-admin | admin-tools team |

| pac auth create crashes after correct args | L4-pac | pac CLI team |

| pac solution import/export/publish + Dataverse HTTP error | L4→L5 | CDS / Solution Framework |

| pac solution check / checker API error | L4→L5 | Power Apps Checker team |

| pac package deploy + Dataverse-side error | L4→L5 | CDS / Solution Framework |

| HTTP 4xx/5xx from crm.dynamics.com | L5 | CDS / Solution Framework |

| Solution component errors / missing dependencies | L5 | CDS / Solution Framework |

| PVA component import failure | L5 | pac CLI team (known IcM 604312672) |

2d — pac command → owning team (the critical split)

When pac CLI exits non-zero, the owning team depends on which pac command ran AND where the error originates:

pac command                    → Error origin               → Owner
─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
pac auth create/clear          → pac crashes / token error  → pac CLI (admin-tools)
pac auth create/clear          → wrong args from wrapper    → cli-wrapper (L3)

pac env create/delete/         → any pac-side failure       → admin-tools
  backup/restore/copy/reset

pac admin *                    → any failure                → admin-tools

pac solution import            → pac crashes / bad args     → pac CLI (admin-tools)
pac solution import            → Dataverse API error        → CDS / Solution Framework
pac solution import            → PVA component error        → pac CLI (IcM 604312672)

pac solution export            → pac crashes / bad args     → pac CLI (admin-tools)
pac solution export            → Dataverse API error        → CDS / Solution Framework

pac solution publish           → Dataverse API error        → CDS / Solution Framework

pac solution check             → checker service error      → Power Apps Checker team

pac package deploy             → pac crashes               → pac CLI (admin-tools)
pac package deploy             → Dataverse-side error       → CDS / Solution Framework

How to tell pac crash vs Dataverse error:

  • pac crash / pac team: System.Exception, NullReferenceException, Unhandled exception, pac process exits with code 1 and no HTTP status in the message, InnerException in .NET stack trace
  • Dataverse error / CDS team: HTTP status code in error (400, 403, 404, 500), OrganizationServiceFault, ErrorCode:, Microsoft.Crm.* in the message, ImportJobId, solution operation GUID, The import of solution messages
  • Auth error / admin-tools or cli-wrapper: Azure AD / MSAL errors, AADSTS* error codes, interaction_required, token acquisition errors

Print:

Failing task: <task name>
pac command: <exact pac subcommand, e.g. "pac solution import">
Layer: <L1 | L2 | L3 | L4-pac | L4-admin | L4→L5>
Owner: <PPBT | cli-wrapper | pac-CLI/admin-tools | CDS/solution-framework | pipeline-config>
Error origin signal: <pac crash | Dataverse HTTP error | auth/AAD error | pipeline config>
Confidence: <high | medium | low>
Reasoning: <one sentence>

2d — pac CLI telemetry (L4-pac and L4→L5 only)

Run this step if and only if the layer is L4-pac or L4→L5.

pac CLI sends telemetry to PPUX Analytics via OneCollector. If the error output contains a Session ID like:

Sorry, the app encountered a non recoverable error and will need to terminate.
Session Id: 57f79894-80fb-4f44-8c94-8f800fc13e63,
Exception Type: System.ServiceModel.CommunicationException

Extract the Session ID and run the following Kusto query in PPUX Analytics to pull all telemetry events for that session:

EventAll
| where data_appName == "ppdevtools-pac"
| where data_clientSessionId == "<session-id-from-error>"

Additional useful queries:

Get the exact commands executed in the session:

EventAll
| where data_appName == "ppdevtools-pac"
| where data_clientSessionId == "<session-id-from-error>"
| where data_eventModifier == "Complete"
| extend eventInfo = parse_json(data_eventInfo)
| project eventInfo.command, timestamp

Get all errors in the session:

EventAll
| where data_appName == "ppdevtools-pac"
| where data_clientSessionId == "<session-id-from-error>"
| where data_eventModifier == "Failed" or data_severity >= 3
| project timestamp, data_eventName, data_eventInfo

If no Session ID is present in the log: note it and proceed — telemetry lookup not possible without it.

Print telemetry findings before continuing to Step 3.


Step 3 — Search for known issues (run all in parallel)

Extract 2–3 keywords from the error.

3a — GitHub issues

gh search issues --repo microsoft/powerplatform-build-tools \
  --state open --limit 10 "<keyword1> <keyword2>" 2>&1
gh search issues --repo microsoft/powerplatform-build-tools \
  --state closed --limit 5 "<keyword1> <keyword2>" 2>&1

3b — Merged PRs

gh search prs --repo microsoft/powerplatform-build-tools \
  --state merged --limit 5 "<keyword1> <keyword2>" 2>&1

3c — ADO work items

az boards query --wiql "
  SELECT [System.Id], [System.Title], [System.State], [System.ChangedDate]
  FROM WorkItems
  WHERE [System.AreaPath] UNDER 'OneCRM\Client\UnifiedClient\AppLifeCycle\PPBT Extensions'
    AND [System.Title] CONTAINS '<keyword1>'
  ORDER BY [System.ChangedDate] DESC
" --output json 2>&1

3d — Local knowledge base

Read memory/ado-knowledge.md and check MEMORY.md known customer issues section.

Research summary (print before acting)

Known issue match: <issue/PR/ADO ID + title, or "none">
Accepted risk: <yes — <reason>, or "no">
Fix already shipped: <yes — in PR #<n> / pac version <v>, or "no">
Recommended action: <resolve | triage | deflect | update-pac | pipeline-fix>

If a confirmed fix already exists in a merged PR or shipped pac CLI version, report it and stop here.


Step 4 — Resolve (L1 pipeline config or L2 build-tools code)

L1 — Pipeline configuration fix (no code change)

Produce a precise fix instruction:

Pipeline fix required:
- Issue: <what's wrong>
- Fix: <exact YAML or UI step>
- Reference: <task name + parameter from Step 2 tables>

Common L1 fixes:

  • Missing tool-installer → add PowerPlatformToolInstaller@2 as first step
  • Import timeout → add AsyncOperation: true and MaxAsyncWaitTime: 60
  • Wrong environment targeted → check BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl side effect from create-environment
  • Checker with username/password → switch service connection to SPN
  • Connection references missing → add UseDeploymentSettingsFile: true + provide DeploymentSettingsFile
  • GitHub Actions: timeout installing pac CLI → add actions-install@v1 before other actions

L2 — Build-tools code fix (this repo)

  • Read the relevant src/tasks/<name>/index.ts and task.json
  • Make the minimal fix
  • npm run build 2>&1 — must pass
  • npm test 2>&1 — must pass (functional test failures are expected locally — not a blocker)
  • git commit -m "fix: <description> (#<work-item-id-if-known>)"
  • Hand off to /create-pr

Step 5 — Triage package (L3–L5 and non-PPBT)

Routing table

| Layer / Signal | Route to | Contact / Repo |

|---|---|---|

| L3 — cli-wrapper arg assembly or auth arg bug | cli-wrapper repo | GH issue on microsoft/powerplatform-cli-wrapper |

| L4-pac — pac CLI crash, .NET exception in pac | pac CLI / admin-tools | ADO: OneCRM\Client\UnifiedClient\AppLifeCycle\Deployment Hub\Admin |

| L4-admin — pac env * or pac admin * failure | admin-tools | ADO: OneCRM\Client\UnifiedClient\AppLifeCycle\Deployment Hub\Admin |

| L4→L5 — pac solution import/export/publish + Dataverse HTTP error | CDS / Solution Framework | ADO: OneCRM\CDS (use pac team as router if area unclear) |

| L4→L5 — pac solution check / checker API | Power Apps Checker service | Route via PAC team or CDS |

| L5 — PVA component import failure | pac CLI team (known IcM 604312672) | ADO: Deployment Hub\Admin |

| L5 — pure Dataverse API error, no pac involvement | CDS / Solution Framework | ADO: OneCRM\CDS |

| Non-PPBT (Wael Hamze, XRM Tooling) | Deflect | Community tool — not Microsoft PPBT |

| ADO Server 2020 on-prem | Deflect | Not supported — cloud or Server 2022+ only |

Triage package

This is mandatory output for ALL L3–L5 and non-PPBT cases. You MUST produce this block — do not skip it, summarize it, or replace it with prose.

For non-PPBT deflects (Wael Hamze, XRM Tooling, ADO Server 2020), fill in:

  • Route to: Deflect to CSS / community tool owner
  • ADO area path: N/A
  • PPBT is not the root cause because: — cite the exact log signal that proves it (author, task class, tool name, absence of PPBT signals)
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TRIAGE PACKAGE
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════
Route to:        <team name | "Deflect — community tool">
ADO area path:   <path, or N/A>
GitHub repo:     <repo, or N/A>

Issue summary:
  <2–3 sentence plain-English description of what failed and where>

Reproduction evidence:
  Platform:      <ADO | GitHub Actions>
  Task/Action:   <name + version>
  pac CLI ver:   <version from log, or unknown>
  Auth type:     <SPN | Username/Password | Workload Identity Federation>
  Environment:   <cloud / region if visible>
  Error line:    <exact log line that proves the failure>
  Timestamp:     <ISO timestamp>

PPBT is not the root cause because:
  <one sentence — e.g. "pac CLI exited with code 1 after a Dataverse HTTP 500 on the import endpoint">

Suggested next steps for the receiving team:
  1. <action>
  2. <action>

Related known issues:
  <ADO ID / GH issue / IcM, or "none found">

Log file / evidence:
  <file path, or "pasted text — see conversation">
═══════════════════════════════════════════════════════

Step 6 — Outcome summary

Always end with a plain-English paragraph covering:

  • What failed and where in the call chain
  • Whether PPBT owns it
  • What was done (fix applied / triage package / deflected)
  • Any follow-up needed from the user

Quick-reference: authentication types

| ADO authenticationType | GitHub secrets | pac CLI args | MFA support |

|---|---|---|---|

| PowerPlatformSPN (recommended) | app-id + client-secret + tenant-id | --applicationId --clientSecret --tenant | Yes |

| PowerPlatformEnvironment (user/pass) | user-name + password-secret | --username --password | No |

| Workload Identity Federation | ADO service connection only | --azureDevOpsFederated | Yes |

| Managed Identity | ADO service connection only | --managedIdentity | Yes |

Quick-reference: task ordering rules

tool-installer / actions-install     ← MUST run first (sets POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH)
      │
      ├── whoAmI                     ← optional connectivity check
      │
      ├── create-environment         → sets BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl (auto-used by downstream tasks)
      │         │
      │         ├── import-solution  ← use AsyncOperation:true for large solutions
      │         ├── apply-solution-upgrade  ← only after import with HoldingSolution:true
      │         ├── export-solution
      │         ├── pack-solution / unpack-solution  (local, no connection needed)
      │         ├── publish-customizations
      │         ├── set-solution-version
      │         ├── checker          ← SPN only, no username/password
      │         └── deploy-package   ← Windows runner only (GitHub Actions)
      │
      ├── backup-environment → restore-environment
      ├── copy-environment
      └── delete-environment

Quick-reference: common error → fix mapping

| Error message / symptom | Likely cause | Fix |

|---|---|---|

| pac.exe not found / POWERPLATFORMTOOLS_PACCLIPATH not set | tool-installer not run first | Add PowerPlatformToolInstaller@2 as first pipeline step |

| Task times out at 4 minutes (import) | Sync import of large solution | Add AsyncOperation: true |

| auth create failed | Wrong credentials or cloud instance | Check service connection; verify cloudInstance via resolveCloudInstance() |

| Cannot resolve AAD authority | Wrong cloud / blocked AAD endpoint | Check cloudInstance, check network/proxy on agent |

| WhoAmI failed on non-English agent | cli-wrapper locale bug (ADO #4846644) | Set LANG=en_US.UTF-8 on agent; workaround only |

| Connection references not configured | DeploymentSettingsFile not provided | Set UseDeploymentSettingsFile: true and provide settings file |

| Checker fails with username/password | Checker only supports SPN | Switch service connection to SPN |

| deploy-package fails on Linux | Windows-only task | Use runs-on: windows-latest (GitHub Actions) |

| PVA component import fails | pac CLI issue (IcM 604312672) | Update pac CLI version in nuget.json; escalate to pac team if persists |

| BuildTools.EnvironmentUrl wrong env | Create-environment side effect overriding | Explicitly set Environment input on subsequent tasks to override |

| Timeout installing pac (GitHub Actions) | pac CLI install race condition | Add actions-install@v1 before other actions |

| Old v1 tasks used with v2 tasks | Cannot mix task versions | Upgrade all tasks to @v2 |

How to use it

Copy the folder

Take microsoft/debug-agent from the repository into ~/.claude/skills for personal use, or into .claude/skills inside a project.

Check the name does not clash

The agent identifies a skill by the name field in its header. Two skills with the same name cannot sit side by side — one of them will be ignored.