Validate

Validate

Extension ID: microsoft.validate · Package: @microsoft/wiqd-ext-validate · Upstream: bundled wiqd-validate .NET binary

What it does

The Validate extension provides the fastest feedback loop in Work IQ Dev Tools: offline static validation of declarative agent manifests against the current shipping schema. It also hosts the Language Server Protocol (LSP) server that powers the VS Code live-diagnostics experience.

Static validation runs the Microsoft Validation Layer (MVL) engine — the same one the M365 platform uses to accept a manifest. No network, no auth, sub-second on a normal project. Deep validation hands off to the Agents Toolkit for ATK’s semantic checks.

This is the only extension that ships a .NET binary. The MVL engine depends on Microsoft.DeclarativeAgents.Manifest.dll, a platform-owned .NET assembly with no TypeScript port. Everything else in the Work IQ Dev Tools ecosystem is TypeScript/Node.

Workflow walkthrough

# 1. Fast static validation — run before every commit
wiqd agent validate

# 2. Deep validation including ATK semantic checks
wiqd agent validate --mode deep

# 3. CI gate: machine-readable output
wiqd agent validate --json | jq '.data.diagnostics'

# 4. Editor integration — install the VS Code extension
wiqd install --vscode

# 5. The LSP server starts automatically when you open a project with the VS Code extension
#    No command to run manually, but if you want to debug it:
wiqd agent lsp --verbose

In VS Code, you’ll see MVL diagnostics inline as you type — squigglies on schema violations, hovers with details, and quick fixes where MVL can suggest them.

Where to look in the codebase

• packages/wiqd-ext-validate/wiqd-extension.json — manifest.
• packages/wiqd-ext-validate/src/WorkIQ.Dev.Validation/ — MVL invocation.
• packages/wiqd-ext-validate/src/WorkIQ.Dev.LSP/ — LSP server.
• packages/wiqd-vscode/ — VS Code extension that hosts the LSP client.

Go deeper

• CLI commands — every wiqd ... command this extension contributes.
• Agentic workflows — how Validate plugs into other extensions’ workflows.
• Copilot skills — why Validate has no dedicated skill scenario.
• VS Code extension concept — the editor-side surface this extension powers.