AutoGen

**AutoGen** is a framework for creating multi-agent AI applications that can act autonomously or work alongside humans.
> [!CAUTION]
> **⚠️ Maintenance Mode**
>
> AutoGen is now in maintenance mode. It will not receive new features or enhancements and is community managed going forward.
>
> New users should start with Microsoft Agent Framework. Existing users are encouraged to migrate using the AutoGen → Microsoft Agent Framework migration guide.
>
> Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF) is the enterprise‑ready successor to AutoGen. Microsoft Agent FrameworkAF in now available as a production-ready release: stable APIs, and a commitment to long-term support. Whether you're building a single assistant or orchestrating a fleet of specialized agents, Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 gives you enterprise-grade multi-agent orchestration, multi-provider model support, and cross-runtime interoperability via A2A and MCP.
Installation
AutoGen requires **Python 3.10 or later**.
The current stable version can be found in the releases. If you are upgrading from AutoGen v0.2, please refer to the Migration Guide for detailed instructions on how to update your code and configurations.
Quickstart
The following samples call OpenAI API, so you first need to create an account and export your key as export OPENAI_API_KEY="sk-...".
Hello World
Create an assistant agent using OpenAI's GPT-4o model. See other supported models.
MCP Server
Create a web browsing assistant agent that uses the Playwright MCP server.
> **Warning**: Only connect to trusted MCP servers as they may execute commands
> in your local environment or expose sensitive information.
Multi-Agent Orchestration
You can use AgentTool to create a basic multi-agent orchestration setup.
For more advanced multi-agent orchestrations and workflows, read
AgentChat documentation.
AutoGen Studio
Use AutoGen Studio to prototype and run multi-agent workflows without writing code.
> **Caution**: AutoGen Studio is meant to help you rapidly prototype multi-agent workflows and
> demonstrate an example of end user interfaces built with AutoGen. It is **not meant to be a
> production-ready app**. Developers are encouraged to use the AutoGen framework to build their own
> applications, implementing authentication, security and other features required for deployed
> applications. See the security note for more details.
Why AutoGen?
Pioneered in Microsoft Research, AutoGen opened the door to experimental multi-agent orchestration patterns that inspired the community. While AutoGen is now in maintenance mode, existing users can continue to use the framework with the architecture described below. **For new projects, we recommend Microsoft Agent Framework**, which builds on the lessons learned from AutoGen with enterprise-grade support.
The autogen _framework_ uses a layered and extensible design. Layers have clearly divided responsibilities and build on top of layers below. This design enables you to use the framework at different levels of abstraction, from high-level APIs to low-level components.
- Core API implements message passing, event-driven agents, and local and distributed runtime for flexibility and power. It also support cross-language support for .NET and Python.
- AgentChat API implements a simpler but opinionated API for rapid prototyping. This API is built on top of the Core API and is closest to what users of v0.2 are familiar with and supports common multi-agent patterns such as two-agent chat or group chats.