Microsoft Agent Framework

Welcome to the Private Preview of Agent Framework!

You're getting early access to Microsoft's comprehensive multi-language framework for building, orchestrating, and deploying AI agents with support for both .NET and Python implementations. This framework provides everything from simple chat agents to complex multi-agent workflows with graph-based orchestration.

📋 Important Setup Information

Package Availability: Public PyPI and NuGet packages are not yet available. You have two options:

Option 1: Run samples directly from this repository (no package installation needed)

• Clone this repository
• For .NET: Run samples with dotnet run from any sample directory (e.g., dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/Agents/Agent_Step01_Running)
• For Python: Run samples from any sample directory (e.g., python/samples/getting_started/minimal_sample.py) after setting up the local dev environment following this guide.

Option 2: Install packages in your own project

• .NET Getting Started Guide - Instructions for using nightly packages
• Python Package Installation Guide - Install packages directly from GitHub

Stay Updated: This is an active project - sync your local repository regularly to get the latest updates.

💬 We want your feedback!

• For bugs, please file a GitHub issue.
• For feedback and suggestions for the team, please fill out this survey.

✨ Highlights

• Flexible Agent Framework: build, orchestrate, and deploy AI agents and workflows
• Multi-Agent Orchestration: group chat, sequential, concurrent, and handoff patterns
• Graph-based Workflows: connect agents and deterministic functions using data flows with streaming, checkpointing, time-travel, and Human-in-the-loop.
• Plugin Ecosystem: extend with native functions, OpenAPI, Model Context Protocol (MCP), and more
• LLM Support: OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Foundry, and more
• Runtime Support: in-process and distributed agent execution
• Multimodal: text, vision, and function calling
• Cross-Platform: .NET and Python implementations

Below are the basics for each language implementation. For more details on python see here and for .NET see here.

More Examples & Samples

Python

• Getting Started with Agents: basic agent creation and tool usage
• Chat Client Examples: direct chat client usage patterns
• Azure Integration: Azure OpenAI and AI Foundry integration
• Getting Started with Workflows: basic workflow creation and integration with agents

.NET

• Getting Started with Agents: basic agent creation and tool usage
• Agent Provider Samples: samples showing different agent providers
• Orchestration Samples: advanced multi-agent patterns

Agent Framework Documentation

• Python documentation
• DotNet documentation
• Agent Framework Repository
• Design Documents
• Architectural Decision Records
• Learn docs are coming soon.