Join the JS AI Build-a-thon, a unique, hands-on learning journey for JavaScript and TypeScript developers eager to master AI. From building prototypes to deploying AI agents, this quest-driven program offers interactive challenges, community support, and expert resources to elevate your AI skills on Azure. Unique :

Jumpstart Your AI Journey with the JS AI Build-a-thon
Microsoft just launched the JS AI Build-a-thon, a hands-on learning experience designed for JavaScript and TypeScript developers eager to dive into AI. This isn’t your typical hackathon — it’s a quest-driven adventure that takes you from zero to AI engineer, step by step.
What’s New: A Developer-Centric AI Learning Experience
The Build-a-thon offers interactive quests that guide you through building AI-powered apps using popular tools and frameworks like LangChain.js, Azure AI Foundry, and AI Toolkit Extensions. Plus, you get community support through Discord and local study jams.
“We’re entering a future where AI-first and agentic developer experiences will shape how we build — and you don’t want to be left behind.”
Whether you’re just starting or want to sharpen your AI skills, this program adapts to your pace and interests. The roadmap is broken into milestones, each building on the last, making complex AI concepts approachable.
Major Updates: Step-by-Step Quests to Build Real AI Apps
- Quest 1: Build a local Gen AI prototype using the AI Toolkit VS Code extension — no Azure account needed.
- Quest 2: Migrate your prototype to Azure AI Foundry for scalable cloud hosting.
- Quest 3: Add a chat UI with Vite, Lit, and manage infrastructure using Bicep and Azure Developer CLI.
- Quest 4-7: Connect to external data, add conversation history with LangChain.js, and build smart AI agents.
- Quest 8: Automate GitHub code reviews with GenAIScript.
- Quest 9: Customize production-ready project templates from Azure Developer CLI and AI Template Gallery.
The Build-a-thon kicks off with a live launch call on June 9 and wraps up with a closing ceremony on June 30, where participants showcase their projects.
“This isn’t your average hackathon. It’s a hands-on, quest-driven learning experience designed for developers.”
What You Need to Know: Tips to Maximize Your Build-a-thon Experience
Follow the quests in order to build foundational skills smoothly. Dive into the curated resources for each quest, including docs and tutorials. Don’t hesitate to experiment beyond instructions — this is your sandbox to get creative.
Also, lean on the community! Join the Discord server and local study jams to connect with fellow developers. Collaboration makes the journey more fun and productive.
Ready to Build?
Sign up now at https://aka.ms/JSAIBuild-a-thon and start your AI adventure today. Plus, explore free open-source curricula like the Model Context Protocol and AI Agents for Beginners to prep yourself.
Community leaders interested in hosting study jams can reach out to the organizers for support. This is your chance to join the future of AI-first development with JavaScript on Azure.
From the New blog articles in Microsoft Community Hub