Stay in Flow. Let Storage Follow.
Author: Cloud Storage Product Team - Nitya Gupta, Prabu Arjunan, Sagar Gupta
Executive Summary
We’re excited to announce the general availability of our newest innovation: the AI-Powered VS Code Extension for Azure NetApp Files (ANF). This extension transforms the way developers and IT teams manage and interact with storage—making it as simple as typing a chat message. By combining AI-driven insights with seamless VS Code integration, it reduces complexity, saves time, and helps teams focus on what matters most: building great software.
Why Does It Matter?
Managing cloud storage has traditionally required multiple tools, portals, and context switches. With this extension, you can now:
- Talk to your storage. Use natural language commands like “analyze this volume” or “provision 2TB for test”—right inside VS Code.
- Stay in flow. No more bouncing between coding and admin portals. Storage tasks happen where you code.
- Work smarter. AI recommendations remove the guesswork from capacity planning and configuration, saving both time and money.
Key Benefits
Business Benefits
- For Developers Faster Delivery: Developers manage storage directly in VS Code, speeding up workflows and reducing time-to-market.
- Better Collaboration: Teams can easily provision and adjust storage without IT bottlenecks.
- Less Context Switching: Drops from 12–15 interruptions per day to just 1–2—up to 90% fewer disruptions.
Economic Benefits
- Cost Savings: Intelligent provisioning reduces wasted storage spending.
- Productivity at Scale: +2 hours saved daily per developer. For a 25-person team, that’s 50+ hours reclaimed every day.
- Operational Flexibility: Easily adapt to changing project needs without over-investing.
Technical Benefits
- Natural Language Commands: Manage storage using everyday language.
- Productivity Gains: Developers cut 20-minute tasks to seconds.
- Smarter Storage: AI-powered recommendations ensure optimal performance and prevent costly over-provisioning.
How Does It Work?
The AI-powered chat interface and natural language command features are built directly into the VS Code extension for Azure NetApp Files. This integration offers:
- Conversational Storage Management: Interact with your storage using simple chat commands.
- AI Recommendations: Get suggestions tailored to real usage and best practices
- Seamless Integration: Everything runs inside VS Code—no separate logins, no extra portals.
Real-World Scenario
Consider Meet Sarah, an engineer building an e-commerce application:
- Old Way: She pauses coding, logs into the cloud portal, navigates multiple screens, and manually analyzes storage needs—a process that can take up to 20 minutes and disrupt her focus, with the added risk of over-provisioning.
- New Way with AI-Powered Extension: Sarah simply types “analyze my storage” in VS Code. In seconds, she gets recommendations and can adjust resources—all without leaving her code editor
Result: Sarah stays focused, delivers faster, and avoids unnecessary costs.
The AI-Powered VS Code Extension for Azure NetApp Files makes storage invisible, intelligent, and developer-first.
Learn More
To get started and explore more about this feature, check out the following resources:
- VS Code Marketplace– Install the extension
- Documentation – Complete user guide
- GitHub Repository – Source code and issue tracking
- Community Forum– Get help and share feedback
- NetApp Support) – Technical support
For questions or feedback, please contact NetApp Support.
