Verified project record

microsoft/autogen

A programming framework for multi-agent orchestration in Python and .NET, providing high-level APIs, an event-driven core, and a no-code GUI. The project is in community-managed maintenance mode without new features, and new production projects are directed to Microsoft Agent Framework.

Project overview

Offers a layered architecture for building autonomous AI applications with cross-language support and an optional no-code interface for rapid prototyping.

Project type: MCP · AI Agent
Use cases: Coding & Development · Automation
Deployment: Library integration
License: CC-BY-4.0

Best for

Developers evaluating or maintaining existing multi-agent applications who require a layered programming framework with Python and .NET cross-language support.

Key capabilities

An opinionated API designed for rapid prototyping of common multi-agent patterns, such as two-agent chats and group chats.
Implements message passing and event-driven agents with local and distributed runtime capabilities. Includes cross-language support for .NET and Python.
Supports first- and third-party extensions to expand framework functionality, including LLM clients such as OpenAI and Azure OpenAI, and capabilities like code execution.
Enables connecting agents to MCP servers using McpWorkbench to access external tools like Playwright for web browsing tasks.
A graphical interface for building and running multi-agent workflows to rapidly prototype without writing code.
A benchmarking suite designed for evaluating agent performance.

Limitations and risks

The framework is in maintenance mode, is community-managed, and will not receive new features or enhancements.
AutoGen Studio is intended for rapid prototyping and is not designed to be a production-ready application.
Connecting to MCP servers carries a security risk; users should only connect to trusted MCP servers to prevent unauthorized command execution or exposure of sensitive information in the local environment.

Getting started

Setup requires a Python environment. The primary path involves installing the necessary packages (pip install -U "autogen-agentchat" "autogen-ext[openai]"), exporting an OpenAI API key, and running a Python script.

Alternatives and comparisons

High-level abstractions and low-level APIs for building production-ready multi-agent workflows with autonomous agent collaboration.
A visual authoring experience for AI agents and workflows with built-in API and MCP servers.
A fair-code platform to build and deploy AI agents and workflows with a visual canvas and extensive integrations.

Project comparisons

Evidence and sources

GitHub project description: A programming framework for agentic AI
README: AutoGen is now in maintenance mode. It will not receive new features or enhancements and is community managed going forward.
README: Create an assistant agent using OpenAI's GPT-4o model. See [other supported models](https://microsoft.github.io/autogen/stable/user-guide/agentchat-user-guide/tutorial/models.html…
README: pip install -U "autogen-agentchat" "autogen-ext[openai]"
README: import asyncio from autogen_agentchat.agents import AssistantAgent from autogen_agentchat.ui import Console from autogen_ext.models.openai import OpenAIChatCompletionClient from a…

Reviewed at: 2026-07-17T06:09:20Z

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