.Net: Processes Sample - Account Creation (#8990)

### Motivation and Context

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### Description

Adding New Processes Feature Sample -  Create Account

This sample helps showcase the capabilities of process showing the use
of:
- cycles
- conditional outputs
- use of multiple outputs/inputs -> fan-in/fan-out behavior
- complex example that showcases a real life scenario

Adding Processes Samples README with diagrams to make it easier to
understand how the sample processes flow works

### Contribution Checklist

<!-- Before submitting this PR, please make sure: -->

- [x] The code builds clean without any errors or warnings
- [x] The PR follows the [SK Contribution
Guidelines](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md)
and the [pre-submission formatting
script](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#development-scripts)
raises no violations
- [x] All unit tests pass, and I have added new tests where possible
- [x] I didn't break anyone 😄

---------

Co-authored-by: Ben Thomas <bentho@microsoft.com>

dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/Events/CommonEvents.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+namespace Events;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Processes Events emitted by shared steps.<br/>
+/// </summary>
+public static class CommonEvents
+{
+    public static readonly string UserInputReceived = nameof(UserInputReceived);
+    public static readonly string AssistantResponseGenerated = nameof(AssistantResponseGenerated);
+}

dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/GettingStartedWithProcesses.csproj

@@ -37,15 +37,11 @@
   <Import Project="$(RepoRoot)/dotnet/src/InternalUtilities/samples/SamplesInternalUtilities.props" />
 
   <ItemGroup>
-    <ProjectReference
-      Include="..\..\src\Connectors\Connectors.AzureOpenAI\Connectors.AzureOpenAI.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference
-      Include="..\..\src\Experimental\Process.Abstractions\Process.Abstractions.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Connectors\Connectors.AzureOpenAI\Connectors.AzureOpenAI.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Experimental\Process.Abstractions\Process.Abstractions.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Experimental\Process.Core\Process.Core.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference
-      Include="..\..\src\Experimental\Process.LocalRuntime\Process.LocalRuntime.csproj" />
-    <ProjectReference
-      Include="..\..\src\SemanticKernel.Abstractions\SemanticKernel.Abstractions.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\Experimental\Process.LocalRuntime\Process.LocalRuntime.csproj" />
+    <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\SemanticKernel.Abstractions\SemanticKernel.Abstractions.csproj" />
     <ProjectReference Include="..\..\src\SemanticKernel.Core\SemanticKernel.Core.csproj" />
   </ItemGroup>
 

dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/README.md

@@ -0,0 +1,127 @@
+# Semantic Kernel Processes - Getting Started
+
+This project contains a step by step guide to get started with  _Semantic Kernel Processes_.
+
+
+#### NuGet:
+- [Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.Abstractions](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.Abstractions)
+- [Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.Core](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.Core)
+- [Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.LocalRuntime](https://www.nuget.org/packages/Microsoft.SemanticKernel.Process.LocalRuntime)
+
+#### Sources
+- [Semantic Kernel Processes - Abstractions](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/tree/main/dotnet/src/Experimental/Process.Abstractions)
+- [Semantic Kernel Processes - Core](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/tree/main/dotnet/src/Experimental/Process.Core)
+- [Semantic Kernel Processes - LocalRuntime](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/tree/main/dotnet/src/Experimental/Process.LocalRuntime)
+
+The examples can be run as integration tests but their code can also be copied to stand-alone programs.
+
+## Examples
+
+The getting started with agents examples include:
+
+Example|Description
+---|---
+[Step01_Processes](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/main/dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/Step01_Processes.cs)|How to create a simple process with a loop and a conditional exit
+[Step02_AccountOpening](https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/blob/main/dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/Step02_AccountOpening.cs)|Showcasing processes cycles, fan in, fan out for opening an account.
+
+### Step01_Processes
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR  
+    Intro(Intro)--> UserInput(User Input)
+    UserInput-->|User message == 'exit'| Exit(Exit)
+    UserInput-->|User message| AssistantResponse(Assistant Response)
+    AssistantResponse--> UserInput
+```
+
+### Step02_AccountOpening
+
+```mermaid
+flowchart LR  
+    User(User) -->|Provides user details| FillForm(Fill New <br/> Customer <br/> Form)  
+
+    FillForm -->|Need more info| AssistantMessage(Assistant <br/> Message)
+    FillForm -->|Welcome Message| AssistantMessage
+    FillForm --> CompletedForm((Completed Form))
+    AssistantMessage --> User
+  
+    CompletedForm --> CreditCheck(Customer <br/> Credit Score <br/> Check)  
+    CompletedForm --> Fraud(Fraud Detection)
+    CompletedForm -->|New Customer Form + Conversation Transcript| CoreSystem
+  
+    CreditCheck -->|Failed - Notify user about insufficient credit score| Mailer(Mail <br/> Service)  
+    CreditCheck -->|Approved| Fraud  
+  
+    Fraud --> |Failed - Notify user about failure to confirm user identity| Mailer  
+    Fraud --> |Passed| CoreSystem(Core System <br/> Record <br/> Creation)  
+  
+    CoreSystem --> Marketing(New Marketing <br/> Record Creation)  
+    CoreSystem --> CRM(CRM Record <br/> Creation)  
+    CoreSystem -->|Account Details| Welcome(Welcome <br/> Packet)  
+  
+    Marketing -->|Success| Welcome  
+    CRM -->|Success| Welcome  
+  
+    Welcome -->|Success: Notify User about Account Creation| Mailer  
+    Mailer -->|End of Interaction| User
+```
+
+
+## Running Examples with Filters
+Examples may be explored and ran within _Visual Studio_ using _Test Explorer_.
+
+You can also run specific examples via the command-line by using test filters (`dotnet test --filter`). Type `dotnet test --help` at the command line for more details.
+
+Example:
+
+```
+dotnet test --filter Step01_Processes
+```
+
+## Configuring Secrets
+
+Each example requires secrets / credentials to access OpenAI or Azure OpenAI.
+
+We suggest using .NET [Secret Manager](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/aspnet/core/security/app-secrets) to avoid the risk of leaking secrets into the repository, branches and pull requests. You can also use environment variables if you prefer.
+
+To set your secrets with .NET Secret Manager:
+
+1. Navigate the console to the project folder:
+
+    ```
+    cd dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses
+    ```
+
+2. Examine existing secret definitions:
+
+    ```
+    dotnet user-secrets list
+    ```
+
+3. If needed, perform first time initialization:
+
+    ```
+    dotnet user-secrets init
+    ```
+
+4. Define secrets for either Open AI:
+
+    ```
+    dotnet user-secrets set "OpenAI:ChatModelId" "..."
+    dotnet user-secrets set "OpenAI:ApiKey" "..."
+    ```
+
+5. Or Azure Open AI:
+
+    ```
+    dotnet user-secrets set "AzureOpenAI:DeploymentName" "..."
+    dotnet user-secrets set "AzureOpenAI:ChatDeploymentName" "..."
+    dotnet user-secrets set "AzureOpenAI:Endpoint" "https://... .openai.azure.com/"
+    dotnet user-secrets set "AzureOpenAI:ApiKey" "..."
+    ```
+
+> NOTE: Azure secrets will take precedence, if both Open AI and Azure Open AI secrets are defined, unless `ForceOpenAI` is set:
+
+```
+protected override bool ForceOpenAI => true;
+```

dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/SharedSteps/DisplayAssistantMessageStep.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+
+using Events;
+using Microsoft.SemanticKernel;
+
+namespace SharedSteps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// Step used in the Processes Samples:
+/// - Step_02_AccountOpening.cs
+/// </summary>
+public class DisplayAssistantMessageStep : KernelProcessStep
+{
+    public static class Functions
+    {
+        public const string DisplayAssistantMessage = nameof(DisplayAssistantMessage);
+    }
+
+    [KernelFunction(Functions.DisplayAssistantMessage)]
+    public async ValueTask DisplayAssistantMessageAsync(KernelProcessStepContext context, string assistantMessage)
+    {
+        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Blue;
+        Console.WriteLine($"ASSISTANT: {assistantMessage}\n");
+        Console.ResetColor();
+
+        // Emit the assistantMessageGenerated
+        await context.EmitEventAsync(new() { Id = CommonEvents.AssistantResponseGenerated, Data = assistantMessage });
+    }
+}

dotnet/samples/GettingStartedWithProcesses/SharedSteps/ScriptedUserInputStep.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft. All rights reserved.
+
+using Events;
+using Microsoft.SemanticKernel;
+
+namespace SharedSteps;
+
+/// <summary>
+/// A step that elicits user input.
+///
+/// Step used in the Processes Samples:
+/// - Step_01_Processes.cs
+/// - Step_02_AccountOpening.cs
+/// </summary>
+public class ScriptedUserInputStep : KernelProcessStep<UserInputState>
+{
+    public static class Functions
+    {
+        public const string GetUserInput = nameof(GetUserInput);
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// The state object for the user input step. This object holds the user inputs and the current input index.
+    /// </summary>
+    protected UserInputState? _state;
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Method to be overridden by the user to populate with custom user messages
+    /// </summary>
+    public virtual void PopulateUserInputs()
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Activates the user input step by initializing the state object. This method is called when the process is started
+    /// and before any of the KernelFunctions are invoked.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="state">The state object for the step.</param>
+    /// <returns>A <see cref="ValueTask"/></returns>
+    public override ValueTask ActivateAsync(KernelProcessStepState<UserInputState> state)
+    {
+        state.State ??= new();
+        _state = state.State;
+
+        PopulateUserInputs();
+
+        return ValueTask.CompletedTask;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// Gets the user input.
+    /// </summary>
+    /// <param name="context">An instance of <see cref="KernelProcessStepContext"/> which can be
+    /// used to emit events from within a KernelFunction.</param>
+    /// <returns>A <see cref="ValueTask"/></returns>
+    [KernelFunction(Functions.GetUserInput)]
+    public async ValueTask GetUserInputAsync(KernelProcessStepContext context)
+    {
+        var userMessage = _state!.UserInputs[_state.CurrentInputIndex];
+        _state.CurrentInputIndex++;
+
+        Console.ForegroundColor = ConsoleColor.Yellow;
+        Console.WriteLine($"USER: {userMessage}");
+        Console.ResetColor();
+
+        // Emit the user input
+        await context.EmitEventAsync(new() { Id = CommonEvents.UserInputReceived, Data = userMessage });
+    }
+}
+
+/// <summary>
+/// The state object for the <see cref="ScriptedUserInputStep"/>
+/// </summary>
+public record UserInputState
+{
+    public List<string> UserInputs { get; init; } = [];
+
+    public int CurrentInputIndex { get; set; } = 0;
+}