⚠️ AutoRest Deprecation – Effective July 1, 2026 | Migration to TypeSpec

[lmazuel]

⚠️ AutoRest Deprecation — Effective July 1, 2026

🚨 AutoRest is deprecated effective July 1, 2026.

AutoRest has historically been used as a framework for API code generation, including built‑in and community generators for C#, Java, JavaScript / TypeScript, Python, Go, and custom plugins.

As of July 1, 2026:

• ❌ AutoRest is no longer under active development
• ❌ No new features, language generators, or plugins will be added
• ⚠️ Critical fixes may be considered at maintainer discretion

The project remains available to support existing users during migration.

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✅ Recommended Replacement: TypeSpec

➡️ TypeSpec is the recommended successor to AutoRest.

TypeSpec is a modern API description language and code generation platform, and represents the long‑term direction for API modeling and SDK generation.

🔗 Learn more

• 🌐 Website: https://typespec.io/
• 💻 GitHub: https://github.com/microsoft/typespec

✨ Key benefits:

• Expressive, reusable, and maintainable API modeling
• Actively developed with long‑term investment
• First‑class, maintained code generators
• Can emit OpenAPI v2 and OpenAPI v3, allowing existing OpenAPI‑based workflows to continue after migration

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📘 Learning & Tooling

To get started with TypeSpec:

• 📖 Documentation & guides: https://typespec.io/docs
• 🧪 Playground: https://typespec.io/playground
• 🧩 VS Code extension:
  https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=typespec.typespec-vscode

The VS Code extension provides syntax highlighting, validation, navigation, and an improved authoring experience for TypeSpec.

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🔁 Migration Considerations

⚠️ Migrating from AutoRest requires rewriting API definitions from OpenAPI v2.0 into TypeSpec syntax.

This is a non‑trivial investment, but one we believe is worthwhile due to:

• ✅ Improved maintainability and clarity of API definitions
• ✅ Active development and long‑term support
• ✅ Alignment with the future direction of API description and code generation tooling

After migration, TypeSpec can still generate OpenAPI v2 or v3 documents as needed.

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👥 Who Is Affected?

This deprecation affects:

• Direct users of the AutoRest CLI
• Built‑in AutoRest language generators (C#, Java, JS/TS, Python, Go)
• Custom AutoRest plugins
• CI/CD pipelines relying on AutoRest

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🆘 Support & Questions

🔒 Microsoft internal teams

• 📧 Email: autorest-deprecation@microsoft.com
• 🤖 Transition help agent: https://aka.ms/azsdk/agent

🌍 Everyone

• TypeSpec migration questions:
  👉 Open an issue at https://github.com/microsoft/typespec

This issue is the single source of truth for AutoRest deprecation updates and guidance.