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AutoGen

AutoGen is Microsoft's open-source multi-agent AI framework, now in maintenance mode and community-managed after Microsoft Agent Framework — the AutoGen + Semantic Kernel successor — reached 1.0 GA in April 2026.

https://microsoft.github.io/autogen/ ↗
agent-frameworksopen-sourceenterpriseself-hostedanthropicdiscorddockermcpopenai

Key takeaways

  • AutoGen is now in maintenance mode and community-managed — Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 reached GA on April 2, 2026 as its official successor
  • AutoGen pioneered multi-agent orchestration patterns now adopted across the industry
  • 58.9k GitHub stars (as of June 2026) make it one of the most popular agent frameworks, but the last feature release shipped September 2025

FAQ

What is AutoGen?

AutoGen is Microsoft's open-source framework for building multi-agent AI applications that can act autonomously or work alongside humans.

Is AutoGen still being maintained?

AutoGen is in maintenance mode and community-managed as of 2026. It will not receive new features or enhancements — only bug fixes, security patches, and documentation improvements. New development happens in Microsoft Agent Framework.

What is Microsoft Agent Framework?

Microsoft Agent Framework is the successor to AutoGen, combining AutoGen's multi-agent orchestration with Semantic Kernel's enterprise readiness in a unified SDK. Version 1.0 reached general availability on April 2, 2026 with Python and .NET releases.

How does AutoGen compare to LangChain?

AutoGen focuses on multi-agent orchestration and conversation patterns, while LangChain provides broader LLM application development tools. AutoGen pioneered patterns like agent debate and group chat.

Can I use AutoGen in production?

Existing deployments keep working, but Microsoft directs new users to Microsoft Agent Framework and encourages existing users to migrate using the official AutoGen-to-Agent-Framework migration guide. AutoGen's last feature release was September 2025.

Executive Summary

Status: maintenance mode — superseded by Microsoft Agent Framework. As of June 2026, AutoGen's repository carries an official maintenance-mode notice: it "will not receive new features or enhancements and is community managed going forward." Microsoft Agent Framework — the AutoGen + Semantic Kernel consolidation — reached 1.0 general availability on April 2, 2026 with both Python and .NET releases, and Microsoft directs new users there while encouraging existing users to follow the official migration guide.

AutoGen is Microsoft's open-source framework for building multi-agent AI applications, pioneering conversation-based orchestration patterns that are now widely adopted across the industry. Microsoft announced the merger of AutoGen with Semantic Kernel into Microsoft Agent Framework, signaling a strategic shift toward unified enterprise-ready agent development.

AttributeValue
CompanyMicrosoft
Founded2023
FundingMicrosoft-backed
EmployeesMicrosoft Research
HeadquartersRedmond, WA

Product Overview

AutoGen is a framework for creating multi-agent AI applications that can act autonomously or collaborate with humans. It pioneered the multi-agent orchestration paradigm that has since been adopted by many other frameworks in the space.

The framework uses a layered architecture with clear separation of concerns:

Key Capabilities

CapabilityDescription
AgentChat APIHigh-level API for conversational multi-agent applications
Core APIEvent-driven programming for scalable multi-agent systems
ExtensionsFirst and third-party components for external services
AutoGen StudioNo-code GUI for prototyping multi-agent workflows
MCP SupportModel Context Protocol integration for tool discovery

Product Surfaces / Editions

SurfaceDescriptionAvailability
autogen-agentchatPython package for conversational agentsGA
autogen-coreEvent-driven runtime for distributed agentsGA
autogen-extExtensions for LLM clients, code executorsGA
AutoGen StudioWeb-based no-code interfaceGA
.NET SDKCross-language support via NuGetGA

Technical Architecture

AutoGen implements a layered, extensible architecture designed for both experimentation and production use.

Languages: Python 3.10+, .NET

Key Technical Details

AspectDetail
DeploymentSelf-hosted, containerized, cloud
Model(s)OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, local models
IntegrationsMCP servers, Docker code execution, gRPC distributed runtime
Open SourceYes (MIT License)

Orchestration Patterns

AutoGen supports multiple agent orchestration patterns:

  • Sequential — Step-by-step task execution
  • Concurrent — Parallel agent work
  • Group Chat — Collaborative agent brainstorming
  • Handoff — Dynamic responsibility transfer
  • Magentic — Manager-coordinated task ledger

Transition to Microsoft Agent Framework

Microsoft announced that AutoGen and Semantic Kernel are merging into Microsoft Agent Framework, and the transition is now complete: Agent Framework 1.0 went GA on April 2, 2026 and ships at a rapid cadence (Python 1.8.1 and .NET 1.10.0 shipped the week of June 9, 2026). Press coverage framed the move as Microsoft retiring AutoGen in favor of the unified framework. The unified framework combines:

  • AutoGen's multi-agent orchestration capabilities
  • Semantic Kernel's enterprise-ready connectors and observability
  • Support for MCP, A2A (Agent-to-Agent), and OpenAPI standards
  • Graph-based workflow orchestration

Impact on Current Users:

  • AutoGen is community-managed in maintenance mode — contributions are limited to bug fixes, security patches, and documentation improvements
  • No new features will be added to AutoGen; its last feature release (python-v0.7.5) shipped September 30, 2025
  • An official migration guide maps AutoGen concepts to Agent Framework — AssistantAgent becomes Agent (multi-turn by default), orchestration moves to WorkflowBuilder and SequentialBuilder/ConcurrentBuilder, and MCP tools carry over

Strengths

  • Pioneer in multi-agent orchestration — Introduced patterns like agent debate, group chat, and handoff that are now industry standard
  • Microsoft backing — Corporate resources, research depth, and enterprise integration path
  • Mature codebase — 58.9k stars and 8.9k forks as of June 2026, with 440+ contributors
  • Cross-language support — Both Python and .NET SDKs with consistent APIs
  • No-code option — AutoGen Studio allows prototyping without writing code
  • Clear upgrade path — Official migration guide to Microsoft Agent Framework published alongside the 1.0 GA

Cautions

  • Maintenance mode — No new features or enhancements; community-managed with bug fixes, security patches, and docs only
  • Stalled releases — Last feature release was python-v0.7.5 in September 2025; Agent Framework ships weekly by comparison
  • Enterprise features limited — Observability, compliance hooks better in successor framework
  • Learning curve — Multiple API layers (Core, AgentChat, Extensions) can be confusing
  • Long-running durability gaps — Production workloads better served by Microsoft Agent Framework
  • Migration is a rewrite, not a rename — Agent Framework changes core semantics (stateless Agent, multi-turn by default, new workflow model), so porting nontrivial AutoGen apps takes real effort

Pricing & Licensing

TierPriceIncludes
Open SourceFreeFull framework (MIT License)
Azure IntegrationAzure costsAzure OpenAI, AI Foundry hosting

Licensing model: Open source (MIT) with optional Azure services

Hidden costs: Azure OpenAI API costs, compute for self-hosting, potential migration costs to Microsoft Agent Framework

Competitive Positioning

Direct Competitors

CompetitorDifferentiation
LangChain/LangGraphLangChain focuses on LLM app development; AutoGen specializes in multi-agent conversation
CrewAICrewAI offers simpler role-based agents; AutoGen provides more orchestration patterns
LlamaIndexLlamaIndex excels at RAG/documents; AutoGen focuses on agent orchestration
MastraMastra is TypeScript-native; AutoGen is Python/.NET with Microsoft ecosystem

When to Choose AutoGen Over Alternatives

  • Choose AutoGen when: You already run AutoGen in production and migration costs outweigh the benefits today
  • Choose Microsoft Agent Framework when: Starting any new project — it is Microsoft's actively developed successor, GA since April 2026
  • Choose LangChain when: You need broader LLM development tools and integrations
  • Choose CrewAI when: You want simpler role-based agent teams with less complexity

Ideal Customer Profile

Best fit:

  • Microsoft-centric enterprises evaluating agent frameworks
  • Researchers exploring multi-agent orchestration patterns
  • Teams with existing Semantic Kernel or Azure investments
  • Developers wanting both Python and .NET support
  • Organizations planning to migrate to Microsoft Agent Framework

Poor fit:

  • Teams needing production-ready enterprise features today (use Microsoft Agent Framework)
  • Organizations avoiding Microsoft ecosystem
  • TypeScript-first development teams
  • Projects requiring immediate long-running workflow durability

Viability Assessment

FactorAssessment
Financial HealthStrong — Microsoft-backed
Market PositionSuperseded — Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 GA since April 2026
Innovation PaceHalted — Maintenance mode; no new features, community-managed
Community/EcosystemLarge but legacy — 58.9k stars, active Discord
Long-term OutlookSunset — Future is Microsoft Agent Framework

AutoGen's market position is unique: it pioneered multi-agent orchestration but has now been absorbed into Microsoft Agent Framework. With the successor at GA and an official migration guide published, AutoGen itself is a legacy codebase — stable, widely starred, and Microsoft-hosted, but with innovation fully redirected to the unified framework, which has already accumulated 11.2k stars of its own as of June 2026.

Bottom Line

AutoGen is a foundational framework that defined modern multi-agent orchestration patterns — and as of 2026 it is officially in maintenance mode, community-managed, with Microsoft Agent Framework 1.0 GA as its designated successor. The merger represents maturation rather than abandonment — the innovations live on in a more enterprise-ready package — but new investment in AutoGen itself has ended.

Recommended for: Existing AutoGen deployments that are stable and not yet ready to migrate, and researchers studying the multi-agent orchestration patterns it pioneered.

Not recommended for: Any new project. Microsoft's own guidance is unambiguous: new users should start with Microsoft Agent Framework, and existing users should plan a migration using the official guide.

Outlook: AutoGen's patterns and community persist through Microsoft Agent Framework, which is iterating fast (multiple Python and .NET releases per month since the April 2026 GA). Expect AutoGen to remain a frozen, dependable legacy package; the open question is how quickly its 58k-star community completes the move.

Research by Ry Walker Research • methodology

Sources

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