🚀 JS AI Build‑a‑thon: One Week In & Join Us Now!

We launched the JS AI Build‑a‑thon last week — an epic learning journey crafted for JavaScript and TypeScript developers who want to step confidently into the world of AI.

If you haven’t jumped in yet, now’s the perfect moment—the journey is just getting started!

Visit 👉🏽 https://aka.ms/JSAIBuildathon to get started.

🌟 Why Join the Build-a-thon?

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.

This isn’t your average hackathon. It’s a hands-on, quest-driven learning experience designed for developers, packed with:

Interactive quests that guide you step by step — from your first prototype to production-ready apps
Community-powered support via our dedicated Discord and local, community-led study jams
Showcase moments to share your journey, get inspired, and celebrate what you build

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to sharpen your skills with frameworks like LangChain.js, tools like GitHub Models, the Azure AI Foundry and AI Toolkit Extensions, or diving deeper into agentic app design with MCP — this is your moment to start building.

🗺️ Your Build-a-thon Roadmap

The journey is broken into milestones — each building on the last — helping you go from zero to AI engineer at your own pace.

🔥 What We've Tackled So Far

You can easily catch up!

Quest 1 – Local Gen AI Prototype

Built a GenAI prototype using GitHub Models and the AI Toolkit—running completely locally with no cloud required.

Quest 2 – Deploy prototype to Azure AI Foundry

Deployed the same local model to Azure AI Foundry using the VS Code extension. One-click cloud magic.

Quest 3 – Chat UI with Vite, Lit & Azure Developer CLI (azd)

Brought your prototype to life with a responsive chat interface using Vite + Lit, plus infra managed via Bicep and azd (Azure Developer CLI).

🎯 Today’s Quest (4): Integrate External Data with RAG

In this quest, you’ll connect your AI app to external documents (like PDFs) and allow your app to “read” and respond using your real-world content.

⏭️ What's Next in the Roadmap

Tips & Tricks to Get the Most Out of the Build-a-thon

To make the most of your experience in the JS AI Build-a-thon, here are a few pro tips to keep in mind:

Follow the Quests in Order: Each quest builds on the previous one. Completing them sequentially ensures a smooth learning curve and helps you gradually level up your AI development skills.
Dive into the Resources Section: Every quest comes with a curated list of resources — links to docs, videos, tutorials, and related tools. Take time to explore these materials to deepen your understanding of the concepts introduced.
Experiment Beyond the Instructions: Don’t be afraid to tinker! Modify code, try different tools, and explore edge cases. This is your sandbox to learn, build, and get creative.
Lean on the Community: Join discussions on our Discord and connect with other developers through study jams and community channels. It’s easier (and more fun!) when you’re not building alone.