agent-framework
A framework for building, orchestrating and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows with support for Python and .NET.
The Lens
Microsoft's agent framework brings enterprise-grade tooling to the AI agent space. Graph-based workflows, first-class Python and .NET support, and a built-in DevUI for testing and debugging. Teams building multi-agent systems who need something more structured than LangChain should look here first.
The standout feature is the developer experience. Time-travel debugging lets you step backward through agent execution, OpenTelemetry is built in for observability, and the middleware pipeline gives you clean request/response interception. Microsoft clearly built this for teams that need to ship agent workflows to production, not just prototype them.
Enterprise teams on .NET or Python get the most value. Solo developers and startups might find it heavier than alternatives like CrewAI or AutoGen. But for multi-language parity, structured workflows, and production observability out of the box, this is one of the stronger options.
The catch: it's a Microsoft project, which means enterprise polish but also enterprise complexity. The learning curve is steeper than lightweight frameworks, and you're betting on Microsoft's continued investment.
Free vs Self-Hosted vs Paid
fully freeFree Tier
Everything. MIT-licensed, fully open source. All features included.
Self-Hosted
Runs anywhere Python or .NET runs. No special infrastructure needed beyond your LLM provider of choice. The DevUI runs locally for development.
Paid
No paid tier. LLM provider costs (OpenAI, Azure, etc.) are your only expense.
Completely free and open source. You pay for the LLMs, not the framework.
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License: MIT License
Use freely, including commercial. Just keep the license.
Commercial use: ✓ Yes
About
- Owner
- Microsoft (Organization)
- Backed by
- Microsoft
- Stars
- 10,685
- Forks
- 1,767