microsoft-agent-framework

Microsoft Agent Framework Skill

Version: 0.1.0-preview | Last Updated: 2025-11-15 | Framework Version: 0.1.0-preview Languages: Python 3.10+, C# (.NET 8.0+) | License: MIT

Quick Reference

Microsoft Agent Framework is an open-source platform for building production AI agents and workflows, unifying AutoGen's simplicity with Semantic Kernel's enterprise features.

Core Capabilities: AI Agents (stateful conversations, tool integration) | Workflows (graph-based orchestration, parallel processing) | Enterprise features (telemetry, middleware, MCP support)

Installation:

• Python: pip install agent-framework-core --pre
• C#: dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AI --prerelease

Repository: https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework (5.1k stars)

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When to Use This Skill

Use Microsoft Agent Framework when you need:

1. Production AI Agents with enterprise features (telemetry, middleware, structured outputs)
2. Multi-Agent Orchestration via graph-based workflows with conditional routing
3. Tool/Function Integration with approval workflows and error handling
4. Cross-Platform Development requiring both Python and C# implementations
5. Research-to-Production Pipeline leveraging AutoGen + Semantic Kernel convergence

Integration with amplihack: Use Agent Framework for stateful conversational agents and complex orchestration. Use amplihack's native agent system for stateless task delegation and simple orchestration. See @integration/decision-framework.md for detailed guidance.

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Core Concepts

1. AI Agents

Stateful conversational entities that process messages, call tools, and maintain context.

Python Example:

from agents_framework import Agent, ModelClient

# Create agent with model
agent = Agent(
    name="assistant",
    model=ModelClient(model="gpt-4"),
    instructions="You are a helpful assistant"
)

# Single-turn conversation
response = await agent.run(message="Hello!")
print(response.content)

# Multi-turn with thread
from agents_framework import Thread
thread = Thread()
response = await agent.run(thread=thread, message="What's 2+2?")
response = await agent.run(thread=thread, message="Double that")

C# Example:

using Microsoft.Agents.AI;

var agent = new Agent(
    name: "assistant",
    model: new ModelClient(model: "gpt-4"),
    instructions: "You are a helpful assistant"
);

var response = await agent.RunAsync("Hello!");
Console.WriteLine(response.Content);

2. Tools & Functions

Extend agent capabilities by providing callable functions.

Python Example:

from agents_framework import function_tool

@function_tool
def get_weather(location: str) -> str:
    """Get weather for a location."""
    return f"Weather in {location}: Sunny, 72°F"

agent = Agent(
    name="assistant",
    model=ModelClient(model="gpt-4"),
    tools=[get_weather]
)

response = await agent.run(message="What's the weather in Seattle?")
# Agent automatically calls get_weather() and responds with result

C# Example:

[FunctionTool]
public static string GetWeather(string location)
{
    return $"Weather in {location}: Sunny, 72°F";
}

var agent = new Agent(
    name: "assistant",
    model: new ModelClient(model: "gpt-4"),
    tools: new[] { typeof(Tools).GetMethod("GetWeather") }
);

3. Workflows

Graph-based orchestration for multi-agent systems with conditional routing and parallel execution.

Python Example:

from agents_framework import Workflow, GraphWorkflow

# Define workflow graph
workflow = GraphWorkflow()

# Add agents as nodes
workflow.add_node("researcher", research_agent)
workflow.add_node("writer", writer_agent)
workflow.add_node("reviewer", review_agent)

# Define edges (control flow)
workflow.add_edge("researcher", "writer")  # Sequential
workflow.add_edge("writer", "reviewer")

# Conditional routing
def should_revise(state):
    return state.get("needs_revision", False)

workflow.add_conditional_edge(
    "reviewer",
    should_revise,
    {"revise": "writer", "done": "END"}
)

# Execute workflow
result = await workflow.run(initial_message="Research AI trends")

C# Example:

var workflow = new GraphWorkflow();

workflow.AddNode("researcher", researchAgent);
workflow.AddNode("writer", writerAgent);
workflow.AddNode("reviewer", reviewAgent);

workflow.AddEdge("researcher", "writer");
workflow.AddEdge("writer", "reviewer");

var result = await workflow.RunAsync("Research AI trends");

4. Context & State Management

Maintain conversation history and shared state across agents.

Python:

from agents_framework import Thread, ContextProvider

# Thread maintains conversation history
thread = Thread()
await agent.run(thread=thread, message="Remember: My name is Alice")
await agent.run(thread=thread, message="What's my name?")  # "Alice"

# Custom context provider
class DatabaseContext(ContextProvider):
    async def get_context(self, thread_id: str):
        return await db.fetch_history(thread_id)

    async def save_context(self, thread_id: str, messages):
        await db.save_history(thread_id, messages)

agent = Agent(model=model, context_provider=DatabaseContext())

5. Middleware & Telemetry

Add cross-cutting concerns like logging, auth, and monitoring.

Python:

from agents_framework import Middleware
from opentelemetry import trace

# Custom middleware
class LoggingMiddleware(Middleware):
    async def process(self, message, next_handler):
        print(f"Processing: {message.content}")
        response = await next_handler(message)
        print(f"Response: {response.content}")
        return response

# OpenTelemetry integration
tracer = trace.get_tracer(__name__)
with tracer.start_as_current_span("agent-run"):
    response = await agent.run(message="Hello")

C#:

public class LoggingMiddleware : IMiddleware
{
    public async Task<Message> ProcessAsync(Message message, Func<Message, Task<Message>> next)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Processing: {message.Content}");
        var response = await next(message);
        Console.WriteLine($"Response: {response.Content}");
        return response;
    }
}

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Common Patterns

Human-in-the-Loop Approval

from agents_framework import HumanInTheLoop

@function_tool
def delete_file(path: str) -> str:
    """Delete a file (requires approval)."""
    return f"Deleted {path}"

# Add approval wrapper
delete_file_with_approval = HumanInTheLoop(
    tool=delete_file,
    approval_prompt="Approve deletion of {path}?"
)

agent = Agent(tools=[delete_file_with_approval])

Parallel Agent Execution

workflow = GraphWorkflow()

# Add multiple agents
workflow.add_node("analyst1", analyst_agent)
workflow.add_node("analyst2", analyst_agent)
workflow.add_node("synthesizer", synthesis_agent)

# Parallel execution
workflow.add_edge("START", ["analyst1", "analyst2"])  # Both run in parallel
workflow.add_edge(["analyst1", "analyst2"], "synthesizer")  # Wait for both

result = await workflow.run(message="Analyze market trends")

Structured Output Generation

from pydantic import BaseModel

class WeatherReport(BaseModel):
    location: str
    temperature: float
    conditions: str

agent = Agent(
    model=model,
    instructions="Generate weather reports",
    response_format=WeatherReport
)

response = await agent.run(message="Weather in Seattle")
report: WeatherReport = response.parsed
print(f"{report.location}: {report.temperature}°F, {report.conditions}")

Error Handling & Retries

from agents_framework import RetryPolicy

agent = Agent(
    model=model,
    retry_policy=RetryPolicy(
        max_retries=3,
        backoff_factor=2.0,
        exceptions=[TimeoutError, ConnectionError]
    )
)

try:
    response = await agent.run(message="Hello")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Failed after retries: {e}")

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Integration with amplihack

Decision Framework

Use Microsoft Agent Framework when:

• Building stateful conversational agents (multi-turn dialogue)
• Need enterprise features (telemetry, middleware, auth)
• Complex multi-agent orchestration with conditional routing
• Cross-platform requirements (Python + C#)
• Integration with Microsoft ecosystem (Azure, M365)

Use amplihack native agents when:

• Stateless task delegation (code review, analysis)
• Simple sequential/parallel orchestration
• File-based operations and local tooling
• Rapid prototyping without infrastructure
• Token-efficient skill-based architecture

Hybrid Approach:

# Use amplihack for orchestration
from claude import Agent as ClaudeAgent

orchestrator = ClaudeAgent("orchestrator.md")

# Delegate to Agent Framework for stateful agents
from agents_framework import Agent, Thread

conversational_agent = Agent(
    model=ModelClient(model="gpt-4"),
    instructions="Maintain conversation context"
)

thread = Thread()
response1 = await conversational_agent.run(thread=thread, message="Start task")
response2 = await conversational_agent.run(thread=thread, message="Continue")

# Use amplihack for final synthesis
result = orchestrator.process({"responses": [response1, response2]})

See @integration/amplihack-integration.md for complete patterns.

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Quick Start Workflow

1. Install: pip install agent-framework-core --pre (Python) or dotnet add package Microsoft.Agents.AI --prerelease (C#)

2. Create Basic Agent:

   from agents_framework import Agent, ModelClient
   
   agent = Agent(
       name="assistant",
       model=ModelClient(model="gpt-4"),
       instructions="You are a helpful assistant"
   )
   
   response = await agent.run(message="Hello!")
   

3. Add Tools:

   @function_tool
   def calculate(expr: str) -> float:
       return eval(expr)
   
   agent = Agent(model=model, tools=[calculate])
   

4. Build Workflow:

   workflow = GraphWorkflow()
   workflow.add_node("agent1", agent1)
   workflow.add_node("agent2", agent2)
   workflow.add_edge("agent1", "agent2")
   result = await workflow.run(message="Task")
   

5. Add Telemetry:

   from opentelemetry import trace
   tracer = trace.get_tracer(__name__)
   with tracer.start_as_current_span("agent-run"):
       response = await agent.run(message="Hello")
   

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Reference Documentation

For detailed information, see:

• @reference/01-overview.md - Architecture, components, use cases
• @reference/02-agents.md - Agent creation, lifecycle, advanced features
• @reference/03-workflows.md - Workflow patterns, executors, checkpointing
• @reference/04-tools-functions.md - Tool definition, approval workflows, error handling
• @reference/05-context-middleware.md - Context providers, middleware patterns, auth
• @reference/06-telemetry-monitoring.md - OpenTelemetry, logging, debugging
• @reference/07-advanced-patterns.md - Multi-agent patterns, streaming, DevUI

Working Examples

• @examples/01-basic-agent.py - Simple conversational agent
• @examples/02-tool-integration.py - Agent with function calling
• @examples/03-simple-workflow.py - Multi-agent workflow
• @examples/04-basic-agent.cs - C# agent implementation
• @examples/05-tool-integration.cs - C# tool integration
• @examples/06-simple-workflow.cs - C# workflow example

Maintenance

Check framework freshness: python @scripts/check-freshness.py

Current version tracking: @metadata/version-tracking.json

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Token Count: ~4,200 tokens (under 4,800 limit)