Update to .NET 10 / Aspire 13.4, modernize AI stack (MAF + MCP), refresh slides

.devcontainer/.net/devcontainer.json

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": ".NET Aspire",
-  // Base .NET 9 image. Alternatively a Dockerfile/compose could be used.
-  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/dotnet:9.0-bookworm",
+  // Base .NET 10 image. Alternatively a Dockerfile/compose could be used.
+  "image": "mcr.microsoft.com/devcontainers/dotnet:10.0-bookworm",
   "features": {
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/docker-in-docker:3": {},
     "ghcr.io/devcontainers/features/powershell:2": {},

.vscode/launch.json

@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 			"type": "coreclr",
 			"request": "launch",
 			"preLaunchTask": "build", // Name of your build task in tasks.json
-			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net9.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
+			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net10.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
 			"args": ["--environment", "Ollama"],
 			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost",
 			"stopAtEntry": false,
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 			"type": "coreclr",
 			"request": "launch",
 			"preLaunchTask": "build", // Name of your build task in tasks.json
-			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net9.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
+			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net10.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
 			"args": ["--environment", "GitHubModels"],
 			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost",
 			"stopAtEntry": false,
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 			"type": "coreclr",
 			"request": "launch",
 			"preLaunchTask": "build", // Name of your build task in tasks.json
-			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net9.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
+			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net10.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
 			"args": ["--environment", "FoundryLocal"],
 			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost",
 			"stopAtEntry": false,
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 			"type": "coreclr",
 			"request": "launch",
 			"preLaunchTask": "build", // Name of your build task in tasks.json
-			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net9.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
+			"program": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/bin/Debug/net10.0/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.dll",
 			"args": ["--environment", "AzureOpenAI"],
 			"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}/src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost",
 			"stopAtEntry": false,

README.md

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ Chat Agent                  WeatherTools
 
 ### Prerequisites
 
-- .NET 9.0 SDK or later
+- .NET 10.0 SDK or later
 - Docker Desktop (for Aspire)
 - Visual Studio Code or Visual Studio 2022
 

aspire.config.json

@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+{
+  "appHost": {
+    "path": "src/BuildWithAspire.AppHost/BuildWithAspire.AppHost.csproj"
+  }
+}

global.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "sdk": {
-    "version": "9.0.0",
+    "version": "10.0.0",
     "rollForward": "latestMajor",
     "allowPrerelease": false
   }

nuget.config

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<configuration>
+  <packageSources>
+    <clear />
+    <add key="https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json" value="https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json" />
+  </packageSources>
+  <packageSourceMapping>
+    <packageSource key="https://api.nuget.org/v3/index.json">
+      <package pattern="*" />
+    </packageSource>
+  </packageSourceMapping>
+</configuration>

slides/Slides.md

@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ footer: '@Chris_L_Ayers - https://chris-ayers.com'
 
 - **Databases**: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, SQL Server
 - **Messaging**: Kafka, RabbitMQ, NATS
-- **AI & Observability**: Ollama, Semantic Kernel, OpenTelemetry
+- **AI & Observability**: Ollama, OpenAI, Foundry, OpenTelemetry
 
 </div>
 <div>
@@ -235,34 +235,34 @@ footer: '@Chris_L_Ayers - https://chris-ayers.com'
 ---
 
 
-# What's New in .NET Aspire 9.5
+# What's New in .NET Aspire 13.4
 
 <div class="columns">
 <div>
 
 ## ⚙️ CLI & Tooling
 
-- **aspire update** - Auto-update packages
-- **SSH Remote port forwarding** in VS Code
+- **TypeScript AppHost** now GA
+- **aspire deploy / publish** GA
+- **AI agent readiness** via skills
 
-## 🎨 Dashboard Enhancements
+## 🎨 Dashboard
 
-- **GenAI Visualizer** - Explore AI interactions
-- **Multi-resource console** logs view
+- **AI Agents dialog**
+- Structured search & trace filtering
 
 </div>
 <div>
 
-## 🤖 New Integrations
+## 🧩 App Model
 
-- **OpenAI hosting** integration
-- **GitHub Models** & **Azure AI Foundry** catalogs
-- **Dev Tunnels** hosting support
+- **Go** & **Bun** hosting integrations
+- **Blazor WebAssembly** hosting (preview)
 
 ## 🚀 Deployment
 
-- **Azure Container App Jobs**
-- **Built-in Azure deployment** via `aspire deploy`
+- **Azure Container App Jobs** stable
+- Richer **Kubernetes / AKS** APIs
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -324,7 +324,6 @@ aspire exec
 ```bash
 azd up         # Deploy everything
 azd deploy     # App only
-azd provision  # Infrastructure only
 azd init       # Initialize
 ```
 
@@ -336,9 +335,7 @@ azd init       # Initialize
 - Auto-detects app structure
 - Environment variable mapping
 - Native Aspire support
-- Credential providers
 - Key Vault integration
-- Secure access
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -368,8 +365,6 @@ var api = builder.AddProject<Projects.Api>("api")
 - **Automatic prompting** for missing parameters
 - **Rich form inputs** in dashboard
 - **Secret masking** for sensitive data
-- **Validation support** with custom rules
-- **Save to user secrets** for persistence
 
 **Input Types**: Text, Password, Choice, Boolean, Number
 
@@ -383,7 +378,7 @@ var api = builder.AddProject<Projects.Api>("api")
 | **Component** | **Local** | **Cloud** |
 |--------------|----------|----------|
 | **AI Models** | Ollama, Foundry local, LM Studio | Azure OpenAI, AI Foundry |
-| **Models** | Llama 3, Phi-4, Qwen | GPT-4.1, GPT-5-mini, Claude 4 |
+| **Models** | Llama 3.2, Qwen2.5, Phi-4 | GPT-5, GPT-5-mini, Claude 4 |
 | **Vector DB** | Qdrant, Chroma, pgvector | Azure AI Search, Cosmos DB |
 
 **Features**: Zero-friction transitions • Emulator support • Hybrid development • Auto configuration • Secret management
@@ -430,7 +425,6 @@ public class ExampleService(IChatClient chatClient)
 - **Privacy & Security**: All data stays on your machine
 - **Offline Capability**: Work without internet connectivity
 - **Fast Iteration**: No network latency for testing
-- **Model Experimentation**: Try different open-source models
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -461,11 +455,10 @@ public class ExampleService(IChatClient chatClient)
 </div>
 <div>
 
-- **Latest Models**: Access to GPT-4, Claude, and cutting-edge AI
+- **Latest Models**: Access to GPT-5, Claude 4, and cutting-edge AI
 - **Global Availability**: 99.9% SLA with worldwide deployment
 - **Managed Infrastructure**: No server maintenance required
 - **Advanced Features**: Function calling, vision, audio processing
-- **Compliance Ready**: SOC 2, HIPAA, and enterprise certifications
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -491,7 +484,6 @@ public class ExampleService(IChatClient chatClient)
 - **Inconsistent APIs**: Each framework had unique approaches
 - **Integration Complexity**: Difficult to combine tools
 - **Provider Lock-in**: Hard to switch AI providers
-- **Learning Curve**: Multiple frameworks to master
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -505,22 +497,43 @@ public class ExampleService(IChatClient chatClient)
 
 ## Unified Multi-Agent Platform
 
-- **Consolidation**: Replaces Semantic Kernel & AutoGen
-- **Built on Microsoft.Extensions.AI**: Leverages unified abstractions
-- **Multi-Agent Orchestration**: Coordinate multiple AI agents
-- **Event-Driven Architecture**: Flexible agent communication
+- **Now GA**: Unifies Semantic Kernel & AutoGen
+- **Built on Microsoft.Extensions.AI**: Unified abstractions
+- **Multi-Agent Orchestration**: Coordinate AI agents
 
 </div>
 <div>
 
 ## Key Features
 
 - **Agent Types**: Task-based, conversational, autonomous
-- **Memory Systems**: Short-term and long-term context
-- **Tool Integration**: Function calling and external tools
+- **Tool Integration**: MCP tools & function calling
 - **Provider Agnostic**: Works with any AI backend
 
-**Learn more**: [Microsoft Agent Framework](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework)
+</div>
+</div>
+
+---
+
+# Model Context Protocol (MCP)
+
+<div class="columns">
+<div>
+
+## Standardized Tool Access
+
+- **Open protocol** for exposing tools to AI
+- **Dynamic discovery**: agents load tools at runtime
+- **Transport-agnostic**: stdio, HTTP, SSE
+
+</div>
+<div>
+
+## In this Demo
+
+- **MCP server** hosts Math, Weather, System & Text tools
+- **MAF agent** discovers tools via `McpClientTool`
+- **Local tool-calling** with Foundry Local (Qwen2.5)
 
 </div>
 </div>
@@ -547,19 +560,17 @@ public class ExampleService(IChatClient chatClient)
 ## Links
 
 - [.NET Aspire](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/aspire/get-started/aspire-overview)
-- [What's new in .NET Aspire 9.5](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/aspire/whats-new/dotnet-aspire-9.5)
+- [What's new in .NET Aspire 13.4](https://aspire.dev/whats-new/aspire-13-4/)
 - [Microsoft.Extensions.AI](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/ai/microsoft-extensions-ai)
 - [Microsoft Agent Framework](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework)
-- [Aspirify](https://aspireify.net/)
 - [Aspire Samples](https://github.com/dotnet/aspire-samples)
-- [eShopLite](https://github.com/Azure-Samples/eShopLite)
 
 </div>
 <div>
 
 ## Follow Chris Ayers
 
-![w:400px](./img/chris_ayers.svg)
+![w:300px](./img/chris_ayers.svg)
 
 <!--
 <i class="fa-brands fa-bluesky"></i> BlueSky: [@chris-ayers.com](https://bsky.app/profile/chris-ayers.com)

src/BuildWithAspire.Abstractions/AIConfiguration.cs

@@ -12,7 +12,16 @@ public enum AIProvider
         AzureAIFoundry
     }
 
-    public record AISettings(AIProvider Provider, string DeploymentName, string Model, int TimeoutSeconds);
+    public record AISettings(AIProvider Provider, string DeploymentName, string Model, int TimeoutSeconds)
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// True when the model was set explicitly via <c>AI:Model</c> configuration,
+        /// as opposed to falling back to the provider default. The AppHost uses this to
+        /// choose between the strongly-typed model catalog (defaults) and the string
+        /// overloads (explicit overrides).
+        /// </summary>
+        public bool ModelExplicitlyConfigured { get; init; }
+    }
 
     public static AISettings GetSettings(IConfiguration configuration)
     {
@@ -21,7 +30,10 @@ public static AISettings GetSettings(IConfiguration configuration)
         var model = GetModel(configuration, provider);
         var timeoutSeconds = GetTimeoutSeconds(configuration);
 
-        return new AISettings(provider, deploymentName, model, timeoutSeconds);
+        return new AISettings(provider, deploymentName, model, timeoutSeconds)
+        {
+            ModelExplicitlyConfigured = !string.IsNullOrEmpty(configuration["AI:Model"])
+        };
     }
 
     public static AIProvider GetProvider(IConfiguration configuration)
@@ -61,14 +73,22 @@ public static string GetModel(IConfiguration configuration, AIProvider? provider
         var model = provider switch
         {
             AIProvider.Ollama => "llama3.2",
-            AIProvider.AzureOpenAI => "gpt-4o",
-            AIProvider.GitHubModels => "openai/gpt-4o-mini",
-            AIProvider.AzureAIFoundry => "phi-3.5-mini",
+            AIProvider.AzureOpenAI => "gpt-5",
+            AIProvider.GitHubModels => "openai/gpt-5-mini",
+            // Foundry Local runs small on-device models; cloud Azure AI Foundry defaults to a
+            // hosted OpenAI model. These names mirror the strongly-typed catalog constants the
+            // AppHost deploys (FoundryModel.Local.Qwen2515b / FoundryModel.OpenAI.Gpt5Mini) so the
+            // advertised AI:Model matches the deployed model. qwen2.5-1.5b reliably emits tool
+            // calls locally (the phi-4-mini Foundry build does not).
+            AIProvider.AzureAIFoundry => IsFoundryLocal(configuration) ? "qwen2.5-1.5b" : "gpt-5-mini",
             _ => throw new InvalidOperationException($"No default model available for provider: {provider}")
         };
         return model;
     }
 
+    private static bool IsFoundryLocal(IConfiguration configuration) =>
+        configuration["AI:Provider"]?.ToLowerInvariant() == "foundrylocal";
+
     public static int GetTimeoutSeconds(IConfiguration configuration)
     {
         var timeoutString = configuration["AI:TimeoutSeconds"];

src/BuildWithAspire.Abstractions/BuildWithAspire.Abstractions.csproj

@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 <Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
   <PropertyGroup>
-    <TargetFramework>net9.0</TargetFramework>
+    <TargetFramework>net10.0</TargetFramework>
     <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
     <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
   </PropertyGroup>
 
     <ItemGroup>
-      <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="9.0.10" />
+      <PackageReference Include="Microsoft.Extensions.Configuration.Abstractions" Version="10.0.9" />
     </ItemGroup>
 </Project>