You've created a bot using a Bot Framework SDK template. Which tool should you use to test it locally?

The Bot Framework Emulator is specifically designed for testing and debugging bots created with the Bot Framework SDK. This tool allows developers to interact with their bot locally, simulating the experience users will have when they interact with the bot in a production environment. The Emulator provides a variety of features, including sending and receiving messages, inspecting activities, and viewing logs, which are essential for testing the functionality and flow of a bot before deploying it to a live environment.

On the other hand, Visual Studio Code is a versatile code editor that can be used for developing and editing code, but it does not provide the specialized testing interface needed for bots. Bot Framework Composer is a visual authoring tool designed for building bots, but it focuses more on the design aspect than on testing existing bot implementations. The Azure Portal provides management and deployment capabilities for Azure resources, including bots, but it is not intended for local testing. Therefore, the Bot Framework Emulator is the most suitable and dedicated tool for the purpose of testing a bot locally.