# Welcome to Microsoft Agent Framework!
[](https://discord.gg/b5zjErwbQM)
[](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/)
[](https://pypi.org/project/agent-framework/)
[](https://www.nuget.org/profiles/MicrosoftAgentFramework/)
Welcome 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.
Watch the full Agent Framework introduction (30 min)
## 📋 Getting Started
### 📦 Installation
Python
```bash
pip install agent-framework --prerelease=allow
# This will install all sub-packages, see `python/packages` for individual packages.
# It may take a minute on first install on Windows.
```
.NET
```bash
dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AI
```
### 📚 Documentation
- **[Overview](https://learn.microsoft.com/agent-framework/overview/agent-framework-overview)** - High level overview of the framework
- **[Quick Start](https://learn.microsoft.com/agent-framework/tutorials/quick-start)** - Get started with a simple agent
- **[Tutorials](https://learn.microsoft.com/agent-framework/tutorials/overview)** - Step by step tutorials
- **[User Guide](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/user-guide/overview)** - In-depth user guide for building agents and workflows
- **[Migration from Semantic Kernel](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/migration-guide/from-semantic-kernel)** - Guide to migrate from Semantic Kernel
- **[Migration from AutoGen](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/migration-guide/from-autogen)** - Guide to migrate from AutoGen
### ✨ **Highlights**
- **Graph-based Workflows**: Connect agents and deterministic functions using data flows with streaming, checkpointing, human-in-the-loop, and time-travel capabilities
- [Python workflows](./python/samples/getting_started/workflows/) | [.NET workflows](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/Workflows/)
- **AF Labs**: Experimental packages for cutting-edge features including benchmarking, reinforcement learning, and research initiatives
- [Labs directory](./python/packages/lab/)
- **DevUI**: Interactive developer UI for agent development, testing, and debugging workflows
- [DevUI package](./python/packages/devui/)
See the DevUI in action (1 min)
- **Python and C#/.NET Support**: Full framework support for both Python and C#/.NET implementations with consistent APIs
- [Python packages](./python/packages/) | [.NET source](./dotnet/src/)
- **Observability**: Built-in OpenTelemetry integration for distributed tracing, monitoring, and debugging
- [Python observability](./python/samples/getting_started/observability/) | [.NET telemetry](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/AgentOpenTelemetry/)
- **Multiple Agent Provider Support**: Support for various LLM providers with more being added continuously
- [Python examples](./python/samples/getting_started/agents/) | [.NET examples](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/AgentProviders/)
- **Middleware**: Flexible middleware system for request/response processing, exception handling, and custom pipelines
- [Python middleware](./python/samples/getting_started/middleware/) | [.NET middleware](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/Agents/Agent_Step14_Middleware/)
### 💬 **We want your feedback!**
- For bugs, please file a [GitHub issue](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework/issues).
## Quickstart
### Basic Agent - Python
Create a simple Azure Responses Agent that writes a haiku about the Microsoft Agent Framework
```python
# pip install agent-framework --pre
# Use `az login` to authenticate with Azure CLI
import asyncio
from agent_framework.azure import AzureOpenAIResponsesClient
from azure.identity import AzureCliCredential
async def main():
# Initialize a chat agent with Azure OpenAI Responses
agent = AzureOpenAIResponsesClient(
endpoint="https://your-custom-endpoint.openai.azure.com/",
deployment_name="gpt-5",
api_version="2025-03-01-preview",
credential=AzureCliCredential(),
).create_agent(
name="HaikuBot",
instructions="You are an upbeat assistant that writes beautifully.",
)
print(await agent.run("Write a haiku about Microsoft Agent Framework."))
asyncio.run(main())
```
### Basic Agent - .NET
```c#
// dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AI.OpenAI --prerelease
// dotnet add package Azure.AI.OpenAI
// dotnet add package Azure.Identity
// Use `az login` to authenticate with Azure CLI
using System;
using Azure.AI.OpenAI;
using Azure.Identity;
using Microsoft.Agents.AI;
using OpenAI;
var endpoint = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT")!;
var deploymentName = Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("AZURE_OPENAI_DEPLOYMENT_NAME")!;
var agent = new AzureOpenAIClient(new Uri(endpoint), new AzureCliCredential())
.GetOpenAIResponseClient(deploymentName)
.CreateAIAgent(name: "HaikuBot", instructions: "You are an upbeat assistant that writes beautifully.");
Console.WriteLine(await agent.RunAsync("Write a haiku about Microsoft Agent Framework."));
```
## More Examples & Samples
### Python
- [Getting Started with Agents](./python/samples/getting_started/agents): basic agent creation and tool usage
- [Chat Client Examples](./python/samples/getting_started/chat_client): direct chat client usage patterns
- [Getting Started with Workflows](./python/samples/getting_started/workflows): basic workflow creation and integration with agents
### .NET
- [Getting Started with Agents](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/Agents): basic agent creation and tool usage
- [Agent Provider Samples](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/AgentProviders): samples showing different agent providers
- [Workflow Samples](./dotnet/samples/GettingStarted/Workflows): advanced multi-agent patterns and workflow orchestration
## Contributor Resources
- [Contributing Guide](./CONTRIBUTING.md)
- [Python Development Guide](./python/DEV_SETUP.md)
- [Design Documents](./docs/design)
- [Architectural Decision Records](./docs/decisions)