Feedback: integrations-semantic-kernel

Documentation Feedback

Original URL: https://www.assemblyai.com/docs/integrations/semantic-kernel
Category: integrations
Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:27:15 pm

---

Claude Sonnet 4 Feedback

Generated: 05/08/2025, 4:27:14 pm

Technical Documentation Analysis: Semantic Kernel Integration for AssemblyAI

Overall Assessment

This documentation provides a solid foundation but needs significant improvements in structure, completeness, and user guidance. Here’s my detailed analysis:

Critical Missing Information

1. Prerequisites Section

Issue: Users may struggle without clear setup requirements.

## Prerequisites
- .NET 6.0 or later
- Visual Studio 2022 or VS Code with C# extension
- AssemblyAI API key ([Get your free key here](link))
- Basic familiarity with Semantic Kernel concepts

2. API Key Setup Instructions

Issue: The current approach only shows environment variables without proper setup guidance. Solution: Add comprehensive API key configuration:

## Setting up your API Key

### Option 1: Environment Variable (Recommended for development)
```bash
# Windows
set ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

# macOS/Linux
export ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

Option 2: .NET Configuration (Recommended for production)

appsettings.json

{
  "AssemblyAI": {
    "ApiKey": "your_api_key_here"
  }
}

### 3. **Error Handling and Troubleshooting**
**Missing**: No guidance on common errors or debugging.
**Add**:
```markdown
## Error Handling

### Common Issues
- **401 Unauthorized**: Check your API key configuration
- **File not found**: Ensure file paths are correct and accessible
- **Unsupported format**: Verify audio/video format compatibility

### Exception Handling
```csharp
try
{
    var result = await kernel.InvokeAsync(/*...*/);
}
catch (HttpRequestException ex)
{
    // Handle API connectivity issues
}
catch (ArgumentException ex)
{
    // Handle invalid file paths or URLs
}

## Structure and Organization Issues

### 1. **Inconsistent Code Examples**
**Problem**: The local file example still uses a URL instead of a local path.
**Fix**:
```csharp
// Correct local file example
new KernelArguments
{
    ["INPUT"] = @"C:\path\to\your\audio.mp3"  // Local file path
}

2. Missing Complete Working Example

Solution: Add a comprehensive example:

## Complete Example

Here's a full working example that demonstrates the integration:

```csharp
using AssemblyAI.SemanticKernel;
using Microsoft.SemanticKernel;

class Program
{
    static async Task Main(string[] args)
    {
        // 1. Setup kernel
        var kernel = Kernel.CreateBuilder().Build();

        // 2. Configure API key
        string apiKey = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY")
            ?? throw new InvalidOperationException("ASSEMBLYAI_API_KEY not found");

        // 3. Register plugin
        kernel.ImportPluginFromObject(new TranscriptPlugin(apiKey: apiKey));

        // 4. Transcribe audio
        var result = await kernel.InvokeAsync(
            nameof(TranscriptPlugin),
            TranscriptPlugin.TranscribeFunctionName,
            new KernelArguments { ["INPUT"] = "your_audio_url_here" }
        );

        // 5. Display results
        Console.WriteLine("Transcript:");
        Console.WriteLine(result.GetValue<string>());
    }
}

## Content Clarity Issues

### 1. **Technical Specifications Missing**
**Add**:
```markdown
## Supported Formats and Limits

### Audio/Video Formats
- MP3, MP4, WAV, FLAC, M4A, OGG, WEBM
- Maximum file size: 2.2GB
- Maximum duration: 12 hours

### Input Sources
- HTTP/HTTPS URLs
- Local file paths (requires `AllowFileSystemAccess = true`)
- Cloud storage URLs (S3, Google Drive, etc.)

2. Configuration Options

Missing: Available configuration parameters. Add:

## Configuration Options

```csharp
var plugin = new TranscriptPlugin(apiKey: apiKey)
{
    AllowFileSystemAccess = true,  // Enable local file processing
    // Add other available configuration options
};

Available Parameters

Parameter	Type	Description	Default
AllowFileSystemAccess	bool	Enable local file transcription	false

## User Experience Improvements

### 1. **Better Navigation**
**Current structure**: Flat organization
**Improved structure**:
```markdown
# Semantic Kernel Integration for AssemblyAI

## Table of Contents
- [Overview](#overview)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
- [Installation](#installation)
- [Quick Start](#quick-start)
- [Configuration](#configuration)
- [Usage Examples](#usage-examples)
- [Error Handling](#error-handling)
- [API Reference](#api-reference)
- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
- [Additional Resources](#additional-resources)

2. Progressive Examples

Issue: Examples jump complexity levels too quickly. Solution: Structure examples from basic to advanced:

## Usage Examples

### Basic Transcription
[Simple URL example]

### Local File Transcription
[Local file with proper setup]

### Advanced: Integration with LLM Processing
[Semantic function example]

### Production Ready: With Error Handling
[Complete robust implementation]

Specific Technical Corrections

1. Fix the local file example - currently shows URL instead of file path
2. Add async/await best practices - show proper async handling
3. Include disposal patterns - if applicable for the plugin
4. Show configuration validation - verify API key format/validity

Additional Recommendations

1. Performance Considerations

## Performance Tips
- Cache transcripts for repeated use
- Use async patterns for multiple files
- Consider file size limits for optimal performance

2. Security Best Practices

## Security
- Store API keys securely (Azure Key Vault, etc.)
- Validate file paths to prevent directory traversal
- Use HTTPS URLs only for remote files

3. Testing Guidance

## Testing Your Integration
- Use the provided sample audio file for initial testing
- Implement unit tests with mock responses
- Test error scenarios (invalid keys, bad URLs)

This analysis identifies the key areas needing improvement to transform this from basic documentation into comprehensive, user-friendly guidance that reduces friction and improves developer success rates.

---