apm-usage

by microsoft

APM (Agent Package Manager) is the open-source package manager for AI coding agents. It lets teams install, share, and govern reusable instructions, prompts, agents, skills, and MCP server configurations across projects. npx skills add https://github.com/microsoft/apm --skill apm-usage Download ZIPGitHub3.1k

When to activate

• User mentions apm or "Agent Package Manager"

• Questions about installing or managing AI-agent packages

• Setting up instructions, prompts, agents, skills, or chatmodes

• Configuring MCP servers through apm.yml

• Authentication for private repos (GitHub, ADO, GHES, Artifactory)

• Policy enforcement or apm audit

• Package authoring or publishing

• Compiling agent context (apm compile)

• Troubleshooting apm errors

Key rules

• Commit these files: apm.yml, apm.lock.yaml, .apm/, .github/, .claude/, .cursor/

• Never commit: apm_modules/ (add to .gitignore)

• Team sync: after git clone, run apm install to restore dependencies

• Update deps: apm install --update refreshes to latest refs

• Pin versions: use tags (#v1.0.0) in production, branches for development

• ASCII only: all CLI output and source must stay within printable ASCII

Reference

For detailed guidance, see the following resources:

• Installation -- install and update APM

• Workflow -- core workflow, apm.yml format, what to commit

• Commands -- full CLI command reference

• Dependencies -- all dependency formats and version pinning

• Authentication -- token setup for private repos

• Governance -- policy engine and audit checks

• Package Authoring -- creating APM packages

• Troubleshooting -- common errors and fixes

APM Usage

APM (Agent Package Manager) is the open-source package manager for AI coding agents. It lets teams install, share, and govern reusable instructions, prompts, agents, skills, and MCP server configurations across projects.