mirror of
https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework.git
synced 2026-06-16 21:04:09 +08:00
Evan Mattson
3bbc81554b
* Improve the handling of intermediate outputs for workflows and orchestrations
* Address PR review feedback on intermediate output forwarding
- Switch workflow.as_agent() forwarding to an explicit allowlist of {output,
intermediate, data, request_info} so orchestration-internal events
(group_chat, handoff_sent, magentic_orchestrator) stay inside the workflow
instead of leaking into agent responses via str(data) coercion.
- Stop raising on intermediate AgentResponseUpdate in non-streaming run();
surface the partial as a Message with text_reasoning content. The defensive
raise still applies to terminal output events, where Update payloads would
corrupt message ordering.
- Extend the DevUI workflow-event mapper so intermediate yields wrapping
plain strings, Messages, and list[Message] render as visible output items
instead of generic completed-trace events.
- Add orchestration coverage for GroupChat, Handoff, and Magentic builders
(default vs intermediate_outputs=True; structural where end-to-end is heavy).
* Lift output-designation policy into a value type
Replace the ``Workflow._output_executors`` list and the
``RunnerContext.should_label_as_intermediate`` Protocol method with a single
immutable ``OutputDesignation`` value type owned by ``Workflow``. Thread the
designation as a parameter through the existing call chain (Runner ->
EdgeRunner -> Executor -> WorkflowContext) so ``yield_output`` consults the
threaded snapshot directly rather than calling back into the runner context.
Removes the ``InProcRunnerContext._workflow`` back-reference and the
``WorkflowBuilder.build()`` assignment that wired it up. Adds the public
predicate ``Workflow.is_terminal_executor(executor_id)`` for external
observers; ``OutputDesignation`` itself stays package-internal.
Key decisions
- ``OutputDesignation.designated`` is ``frozenset[str] | None`` -- ``None``
preserves legacy "every yield is type='output'" behavior, any frozenset
(including empty) opts into strict mode. The ``DeprecationWarning`` for
legacy mode at build time is unchanged.
- ``output_designation`` is an optional parameter on ``Runner``,
``EdgeRunner.send_message``, ``EdgeRunner._execute_on_target``,
``Executor.execute``, ``Executor._create_context_for_handler``, and
``WorkflowContext.__init__``. Each defaults to legacy ``OutputDesignation()``
so direct callers (Azure Functions ``CapturingRunnerContext``,
``test_runner`` recording fixtures) keep working without ceremony.
- The workflow-level filter in ``_run_core`` reads ``self._output_designation``
live, preserving today's semantics where mutating the designation after
build still affects subsequent runs (used by two existing tests).
- ``Workflow.to_dict()`` continues to emit ``"output_executors":
list[str] | None`` (sorted from the frozenset). Checkpoint format unchanged.
Files changed
- _workflow.py: add ``OutputDesignation`` dataclass; replace
``_output_executors`` with ``_output_designation``; add
``is_terminal_executor``; delete ``_should_yield_output_event``.
- _runner_context.py: drop ``should_label_as_intermediate`` Protocol method
and ``InProcRunnerContext`` impl; drop ``_workflow`` back-reference.
- _workflow_builder.py: remove ``context._workflow = workflow`` assignment.
- _runner.py, _edge_runner.py, _executor.py, _workflow_context.py: thread
``output_designation`` parameter through the call chain.
- tests/workflow/test_output_designation.py (new): three-state coverage of
the value type plus the public predicate delegation.
- tests/workflow/test_workflow_builder.py, test_validation.py,
test_workflow.py, test_runner.py and
orchestrations/tests/test_orchestration_intermediate_vs_terminal.py:
switch probes from ``_output_executors`` set checks to
``get_output_executors`` / ``is_terminal_executor``; update two
post-build mutation tests to set ``_output_designation`` instead.
Verification
- core/tests/workflow/, orchestrations/tests/, azurefunctions/tests/:
1119 passed, 42 skipped, 2 xfailed.
- ``uv run poe lint``: clean.
- ``uv run poe typing``: only the pre-existing
``_AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES`` pyright warning from 394bcd607 remains.
Notes for next iteration
- The builder's own ``_output_executors`` attribute (``list[Executor |
SupportsAgentRun]``) is intentionally untouched; the issue scoped the
rename to the workflow attribute.
- Adjacent review candidates (twin ``WorkflowAgent`` translators,
``_AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES`` kind classifier,
``_event_origin_context`` ContextVar removal, ``WorkflowEvent`` ADT
split, legacy-mode removal) remain out of scope.
* Add explicit workflow output designation
Key decisions
- Extend the internal OutputDesignation value type from terminal-only membership to output/intermediate/hidden classification. Legacy mode remains outputs=None, so workflows built without output_executors or intermediate_executors still label every yield_output as type='output'.
- WorkflowBuilder now accepts intermediate_executors. Providing either designation enters explicit mode; output executors emit output, intermediate executors emit intermediate, and unlisted yield_output payloads are hidden from caller-facing events while remaining in executor_completed data.
- Empty explicit designation, duplicate entries, overlaps, unknown executors, and designated executors without workflow output annotations fail build validation. Existing orchestration builders pass intermediate-capable participants through intermediate_executors to preserve current intermediate_outputs behavior until participant-oriented designation lands.
Files changed
- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow.py, _workflow_builder.py, _workflow_context.py, _validation.py, _events.py
- packages/core/tests/workflow/test_output_designation.py, test_output_executors_contract.py, test_strict_mode_event_labeling.py, test_validation.py, test_workflow.py, test_workflow_agent_intermediate.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_sequential.py, _concurrent.py, _group_chat.py, _magentic.py
- packages/core/AGENTS.md
Verification
- uv run pytest packages/core/tests/workflow packages/orchestrations/tests packages/devui/tests/devui/test_mapper.py -q
- uv run pytest packages/azurefunctions/tests -q
- uv run poe lint
- uv run poe typing fails only on pre-existing packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py _AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES private-use pyright error.
Notes for next iteration
- issues/03-core-workflow-explicit-designation.md was moved to issues/done but issues/ remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- Slice 4 should tighten workflow.as_agent() mapping for hidden emissions and streaming-only update payloads; Slice 5 should replace orchestration intermediate_outputs with participant-oriented designation.
* Tighten workflow-as-agent output mapping
Key decisions
- Treat AgentResponseUpdate as a streaming-only payload across the workflow.as_agent() adapter, so non-streaming agent runs now reject both terminal output and intermediate workflow events carrying updates.
- Keep streaming classification behavior explicit: terminal update payloads remain normal text content, while intermediate update payloads are rewritten to text_reasoning content.
- Add explicit-mode coverage proving hidden yield_output emissions do not appear in non-streaming AgentResponse messages or streaming AgentResponseUpdate chunks.
Files changed
- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py
- packages/core/tests/workflow/test_workflow_agent_intermediate.py
Verification
- uv run pytest packages/core/tests/workflow/test_workflow_agent_intermediate.py -q
- uv run pytest packages/core/tests/workflow/test_workflow_agent.py packages/core/tests/workflow/test_workflow_agent_intermediate.py -q
- uv run pytest packages/core/tests/workflow packages/orchestrations/tests packages/devui/tests/devui/test_mapper.py -q
- uv run poe lint
- uv run poe typing fails only on the pre-existing packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py _AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES private-use pyright error.
Blockers or notes for next iteration
- issues/04-workflow-as-agent-output-mapping.md was moved to issues/done/ but issues/ remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- Slice 5 should replace orchestration intermediate_outputs with participant-oriented designation.
* Add orchestration participant output designation
Key decisions
- Replace orchestration intermediate_outputs with participant-oriented output_participants and intermediate_participants across Sequential, Concurrent, GroupChat, Magentic, and Handoff builders.
- Keep synthetic final executors terminal by default for Concurrent, GroupChat, and Magentic; keep Sequential's final participant terminal by default; keep Handoff participants terminal by default.
- Centralize participant designation validation for empty explicit designation, duplicates, overlaps, and unknown participants, then map validated participants to workflow output/intermediate executors.
Files changed
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_participant_designation.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_sequential.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_concurrent.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_group_chat.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_magentic.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_handoff.py
- packages/orchestrations/tests/test_orchestration_intermediate_vs_terminal.py
- packages/orchestrations/tests/test_magentic.py
Blockers or notes for next iteration
- issues/05-orchestration-participant-designation.md was moved to issues/done/ but issues/ remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- Slice 7 should migrate samples and docs away from intermediate_outputs to the new participant designation API.
- uv run poe typing still fails only on the pre-existing packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py _AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES private-use pyright error.
* Migrate samples to explicit output designation
Key decisions
- Replace sample usage of the removed orchestration intermediate_outputs boolean with participant-oriented intermediate_participants designation.
- Update raw workflow guidance to show output_executors together with intermediate_executors, and document that unlisted yields are hidden in explicit designation mode.
- Keep orchestration final outputs terminal while streaming designated participant responses as intermediate progress, including workflow.as_agent() samples where intermediates map to text_reasoning content.
- Refresh workflow and orchestration README guidance plus the changelog reference so public docs no longer point users at intermediate_outputs.
Files changed
- CHANGELOG.md
- packages/orchestrations/README.md
- samples/README.md
- samples/03-workflows/README.md
- samples/03-workflows/control-flow/intermediate_vs_terminal_outputs.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/README.md
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_agent_manager.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_philosophical_debate.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/group_chat_simple_selector.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/magentic.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/magentic_human_plan_review.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/sequential_chain_only_agent_responses.py
- samples/03-workflows/agents/group_chat_workflow_as_agent.py
- samples/03-workflows/agents/magentic_workflow_as_agent.py
- samples/03-workflows/agents/sequential_workflow_as_agent.py
- samples/semantic-kernel-migration/orchestrations/group_chat.py
- samples/semantic-kernel-migration/orchestrations/magentic.py
Blockers or notes for next iteration
- issues/07-samples-and-docs-explicit-output-designation.md was moved to issues/done/ but issues/ remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- issues/06-devui-intermediate-event-rendering.md remains present and appears already satisfied by existing DevUI mapper/tests from the prior implementation slice.
- PRD-explicit-workflow-output-designation.md remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
* Render DevUI intermediate workflow outputs
Key decisions
- Preserve workflow output designation metadata on visible DevUI output messages and text deltas so intermediate/data emissions remain distinguishable from terminal output.
- Render intermediate workflow message items in the execution timeline using executor metadata, while excluding them from the final workflow result aggregation.
- Keep terminal output message rendering unchanged and retain legacy data events on the intermediate compatibility path.
Files changed
- packages/devui/agent_framework_devui/_mapper.py
- packages/devui/frontend/src/components/features/workflow/execution-timeline.tsx
- packages/devui/frontend/src/components/features/workflow/workflow-view.tsx
- packages/devui/frontend/src/types/openai.ts
- packages/devui/tests/devui/test_mapper.py
Blockers or notes for next iteration
- issues/06-devui-intermediate-event-rendering.md was moved to issues/done/ but issues/ remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- PRD-explicit-workflow-output-designation.md remains untracked and intentionally excluded from this commit.
- uv run poe typing still fails only on the pre-existing packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py _AGENT_FORWARDED_EVENT_TYPES private-use pyright error.
* Fix mypy
* Clarify orchestration participant output config
* Rename participant output kwargs for clarity
output_participants -> final_output_from, intermediate_participants ->
intermediate_output_from. The old names read like categories of
participant; the new names make it clear the kwarg designates which
participants' outputs surface as final vs. intermediate events.
* Rename core workflow output kwargs with deprecation shim
Adds final_output_from / intermediate_output_from as canonical kwargs on
Workflow and WorkflowBuilder. Old output_executors / intermediate_executors
kwargs continue to work but emit DeprecationWarning via a shared coalesce
helper that also rejects supplying both. Wire-format keys in to_dict()
stay as output_executors / intermediate_executors so checkpoint
compatibility is preserved.
Internal call sites in orchestrations and samples updated to the new
names so users following sample code learn the canonical vocabulary;
legacy callers still work with a one-shot warning.
* Suppress pyright reportPrivateUsage on cross-module sentinel import
* Update docstrings
* Propagate sub-workflow intermediate outputs, fix handoff/sequential intermediate-only designation, and shore up tests, sample, and docstrings around the intermediate output contract.
* Add canonical workflow output_from selection
Key decisions:\n- Make output_from the canonical workflow-output allow-list and keep output_executors/final_output_from as deprecated compatibility aliases.\n- Treat empty output_from/intermediate_output_from lists as explicit selections and keep validation responsible for empty, duplicate, overlap, and unknown selections.\n- Remove the branch-only public intermediate_executors WorkflowBuilder kwarg while preserving legacy wire keys in to_dict().\n\nFiles changed:\n- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow.py\n- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_builder.py\n- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_context.py\n- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent.py\n- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_agent_executor.py\n- packages/core/tests/workflow/* output-selection coverage updates\n- packages/core/AGENTS.md\n- issues/done/001-canonical-list-based-output-selection.md\n\nBlockers/notes:\n- Orchestration builders still pass final_output_from internally; follow-up issue 004 should migrate them to output_from.\n- Legacy omitted-selection behavior and explicit all/all_other literals are left for issues 002 and 003.
* Add explicit all workflow output selection
Key decisions:
- Treat output_from='all' as an explicit workflow-output selection sentinel and expand it at build time to executors with declared workflow output types.
- Keep omitted output selections in legacy all-output mode with a deprecation warning that names output_from and intermediate_output_from and points to output_from='all'.
- Reject intermediate_output_from='all' at construction because the all-output literal is output-only for this issue.
Files changed:
- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_builder.py
- packages/core/tests/workflow/test_output_executors_contract.py
- issues/done/002-explicit-all-output-and-legacy-migration.md
Blockers/notes:
- all_other intermediate-output selection remains for issue 003.
- Workflow-as-agent/orchestration parity remains for issue 004.
* Add all-other intermediate output selection
Key decisions:
- Treat intermediate_output_from='all_other' as an explicit intermediate-output selection sentinel and expand it at build time after the workflow graph is complete.
- Expand all_other to output-capable executors not selected by output_from; omitted or empty output_from selects no workflow outputs, while output_from='all' leaves an empty intermediate selection.
- Keep output_from='all_other' invalid so all_other remains intermediate-output-only and runtime classification still receives concrete executor-id sets.
Files changed:
- packages/core/agent_framework/_workflows/_workflow_builder.py
- packages/core/tests/workflow/test_output_executors_contract.py
- issues/done/003-all-other-intermediate-output-selection.md
Blockers/notes:
- Workflow-as-agent and orchestration parity remains for issue 004.
- Full documentation updates remain for issue 005.
* Add orchestration output selection parity
Key decisions:
- Expose output_from on sequential, concurrent, group chat, handoff, and magentic builders while keeping final_output_from as a deprecated compatibility alias.
- Resolve orchestration participant selections through the same explicit rules as workflows: output_from='all', intermediate_output_from='all_other', hidden unselected participant payloads, and overlap/duplicate/unknown/invalid-literal validation.
- Continue preserving documented orchestration defaults by always designating each pattern's terminal internal executor where applicable.
Files changed:
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_participant_output_config.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_sequential.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_concurrent.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_group_chat.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_handoff.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_magentic.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_orchestration_request_info.py
- packages/orchestrations/tests/test_orchestration_intermediate_vs_terminal.py
- issues/done/004-workflow-as-agent-and-orchestration-parity.md
Blockers/notes:
- Full documentation and sample migration wording remains for issue 005.
- Existing tests that intentionally use final_output_from now emit the new deprecation warning.
* Document workflow output selection contract
Key decisions:
- Use Workflow Output and Intermediate Output as the developer-facing terms for selected caller-facing emissions.
- Document output_from and intermediate_output_from as the canonical API, with output_from as an allow-list and unselected payloads hidden unless explicitly selected as intermediate.
- Add scenario and invalid-selection tables for workflow and orchestration docs, including legacy omission warnings, output_from='all', intermediate_output_from='all_other', list selections, invalid literals, overlap, duplicates, unknown selections, and empty explicit selections.
- Migrate samples away from final_output_from and output_executors except where compatibility aliases are explicitly documented.
Files changed:
- packages/core/AGENTS.md
- packages/orchestrations/README.md
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_handoff.py
- packages/orchestrations/agent_framework_orchestrations/_sequential.py
- samples/03-workflows/README.md
- samples/03-workflows/control-flow/intermediate_vs_terminal_outputs.py
- samples/03-workflows/human-in-the-loop/agents_with_approval_requests.py
- samples/03-workflows/orchestrations/README.md
- samples/04-hosting/foundry-hosted-agents/responses/05_workflows/main.py
- scripts/sample_validation/create_dynamic_workflow_executor.py
- issues/done/005-document-output-selection-contract.md
Blockers/notes:
- Direct full Ruff on scripts/sample_validation/create_dynamic_workflow_executor.py still reports pre-existing docstring/print/line-length issues outside this docs migration; syntax-focused checks for changed files pass.
- No remaining AFK issue files are present under issues/.
* Latest updates
* Typing fixes
* Cleanup
3bbc81554b
·
2026-05-19 00:15:25 +00:00
History
Semantic Kernel → Microsoft Agent Framework Migration Samples
This gallery helps Semantic Kernel (SK) developers move to the Microsoft Agent Framework (AF) with minimal guesswork. Each script pairs SK code with its AF equivalent so you can compare primitives, tooling, and orchestration patterns side by side while you migrate production workloads.
What’s Included
What’s Included
Chat completion parity
- 01_basic_chat_completion.py — Minimal SK
ChatCompletionAgentand AFAgentconversation. - 02_chat_completion_with_tool.py — Adds a simple tool/function call in both SDKs.
- 03_chat_completion_thread_and_stream.py — Demonstrates session reuse and streaming prompts.
Azure AI agent parity
OpenAI Assistants API parity
OpenAI Assistants parity samples were removed alongside the deprecated Python assistants surface and are no longer part of this migration gallery.
OpenAI Responses API parity
- 01_basic_responses_agent.py — Basic responses agent migration.
- 02_responses_agent_with_tool.py — Tool-augmented responses workflows.
- 03_responses_agent_structured_output.py — Structured JSON output alignment.
Copilot Studio parity
- 01_basic_copilot_studio_agent.py — Minimal Copilot Studio agent invocation.
- 02_copilot_studio_streaming.py — Streaming responses from Copilot Studio agents.
Orchestrations
- sequential.py — Step-by-step SK Team → AF
SequentialBuildermigration. - concurrent_basic.py — Concurrent orchestration parity.
- group_chat.py — Group chat coordination with an LLM-backed manager in both SDKs.
- handoff.py - Handoff coordination between agents.
- magentic.py — Magentic Team orchestration vs. AF builder wiring.
Processes
- fan_out_fan_in_process.py — Fan-out/fan-in comparison between SK Process Framework and AF workflows.
- nested_process.py — Nested process orchestration vs. AF sub-workflows.
Each script is fully async and the main() routine runs both implementations back to back so you can observe their outputs in a single execution.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.10 or later.
- Access to the necessary model endpoints (Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Azure AI, Copilot Studio, etc.).
- Installed SDKs:
semantic-kerneland the Microsoft Agent Framework (pip install semantic-kernel agent-framework), or the repo’s editable packages if you are developing locally. - Service credentials exposed through environment variables (for example
OPENAI_API_KEY,AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT,AZURE_OPENAI_API_KEY, or Copilot Studio auth settings).
Running Single-Agent Samples
From the repository root:
python samples/semantic-kernel-migration/chat_completion/01_basic_chat_completion.py
Every script accepts no CLI arguments and will first call the SK implementation, followed by the AF version. Adjust the prompt or credentials inside the file as necessary before running.
Running Orchestration & Workflow Samples
Advanced comparisons are split between samantic-kernel-migration/orchestrations (Sequential, Concurrent, Magentic) and samantic-kernel-migration/processes (fan-out/fan-in, nested). You can run them directly, or isolate dependencies in a throwaway virtual environment:
cd samples/semantic-kernel-migration
uv venv --python 3.10 .venv-migration
source .venv-migration/bin/activate
uv pip install semantic-kernel agent-framework
uv run python orchestrations/sequential.py
uv run python processes/fan_out_fan_in_process.py
Swap the script path for any other workflow or process sample. Deactivate the sandbox with deactivate when you are finished.
Tips for Migration
- Keep the original SK sample open while iterating on the AF equivalent; the code is intentionally formatted so you can copy/paste across SDKs.
- Sessions/conversation state are explicit in AF. When porting SK code that relies on implicit session reuse, call
agent.create_session()and pass it into eachruncall. - Tools map cleanly: SK
@kernel_functionplugins translate to AF@toolcallables. Hosted tools (code interpreter, web search, MCP) are available only in AF—introduce them once parity is achieved. - For multi-agent orchestration, AF workflows expose checkpoints and resume capabilities that SK Process/Team abstractions do not. Use the workflow samples as a blueprint when modernizing complex agent graphs.