Microsoft Agent Framework Agent Framework

Python Package Management

Monorepo Structure

python/
├── pyproject.toml              # Root package (agent-framework)
├── packages/
│   ├── core/                   # agent-framework-core (main package)
│   ├── foundry/                # agent-framework-foundry
│   ├── anthropic/              # agent-framework-anthropic
│   └── ...                     # Other connector packages

• agent-framework-core contains core abstractions and OpenAI/Azure OpenAI built-in
• Provider packages extend core with specific integrations
• Root agent-framework depends on agent-framework-core[all]

Dependency Management

Uses uv for dependency management and poethepoet for task automation.

# Full setup (venv + install + prek hooks)
uv run poe setup

# Install dependencies from lockfile (frozen resolution with prerelease policy)
uv run poe install

# Create venv with specific Python version
uv run poe venv --python 3.12

# Intentionally upgrade a specific dependency to reduce lockfile conflicts
uv lock --upgrade-package <dependency-name> && uv run poe install

# Refresh all dev dependency pins, lockfile, and validation in one run
uv run poe upgrade-dev-dependencies

# First, run workspace-wide lower/upper compatibility gates
uv run poe validate-dependency-bounds-test
# Defaults to --package "*"; pass a package to scope test mode
uv run poe validate-dependency-bounds-test --package core

# Then expand bounds for one dependency in the target package
uv run poe validate-dependency-bounds-project --mode both --package core --dependency "<dependency-name>"

# Repo-wide automation can reuse the same task
uv run poe validate-dependency-bounds-project --mode upper --package "*"

# Add a dependency to one project and run both validators for that project/dependency
uv run poe add-dependency-and-validate-bounds --package core --dependency "<dependency-spec>"

Dependency Bound Notes

• Stable dependencies (>=1.0) should typically be bounded as >=<known-good>,<next-major>.
• Prerelease (dev/a/b/rc) and <1.0 dependencies should use hard bounds with an explicit upper cap (avoid open-ended ranges).
• For <1.0 dependencies, prefer the broadest validated range the package can really support. That may be a patch line, a minor line, or multiple minor lines when checks/tests show the broader lane is compatible.
• Prefer supporting multiple majors when practical; if APIs diverge across supported majors, use version-conditional imports/paths.
• For dependency changes, run workspace-wide bound gates first, then validate-dependency-bounds-project --mode both for the target package/dependency to keep minimum and maximum constraints current. The same task can also drive repo-wide upper-bound automation by using --package "*" and omitting --dependency.
• Prefer targeted lock updates with uv lock --upgrade-package <dependency-name> to reduce uv.lock merge conflicts.
• Use add-dependency-and-validate-bounds for package-scoped dependency additions plus bound validation in one command.
• Use upgrade-dev-dependencies for repo-wide dev tooling refreshes; it repins dev dependencies, refreshes uv.lock, and reruns check, typing, and test.

Lazy Loading Pattern

Provider folders in core use __getattr__ to lazy load from connector packages:

# In agent_framework/foundry/__init__.py
_IMPORTS: dict[str, tuple[str, str]] = {
    "FoundryChatClient": ("agent_framework_foundry", "agent-framework-foundry"),
}

def __getattr__(name: str) -> Any:
    if name in _IMPORTS:
        import_path, package_name = _IMPORTS[name]
        try:
            return getattr(importlib.import_module(import_path), name)
        except ModuleNotFoundError as exc:
            raise ModuleNotFoundError(
                f"The package {package_name} is required to use `{name}`. "
                f"Install it with: pip install {package_name}"
            ) from exc

Adding a New Connector Package

Important: Do not create a new package unless approved by the core team.

Every new package starts as alpha.

Alpha package checklist

1. Create directory under packages/ (e.g., packages/my-connector/)
2. Add the package to tool.uv.sources in root pyproject.toml
3. Set the package version to the alpha pattern: 1.0.0a<date>
4. Set the package classifier to Development Status :: 3 - Alpha
5. Include samples inside the package (e.g., packages/my-connector/samples/)
6. Do NOT add to [all] extra in packages/core/pyproject.toml
7. Do NOT create lazy loading in core yet
8. Add the package to python/PACKAGE_STATUS.md and keep that file updated when packages are added, removed, renamed, or promoted. If the package exposes individually staged APIs, keep the feature list there current too.

Recommended dependency workflow during connector implementation:

1. Add the dependency to the target package: uv run poe add-dependency-to-project --package core --dependency "<dependency-spec>"
2. Implement connector code and tests.
3. Validate dependency bounds for that package/dependency: uv run poe validate-dependency-bounds-project --mode both --package core --dependency "<dependency-name>"
4. If the package has meaningful tests/checks that validate dependency compatibility, you can use the add + validation flow in one command: uv run poe add-dependency-and-validate-bounds --package core --dependency "<dependency-spec>" If compatibility checks are not in place yet, add the dependency first, then implement tests before running bound validation.

Promotion path

Promotion work is not isolated to the package being promoted. If a promotion changes dependency metadata for downstream packages, also update the dependent packages' own versions so they publish new metadata alongside the promoted dependency bounds. Apply the internal package dependency update rules from the versioning section below during promotions as well as standalone version update work.

Alpha -> Beta

Move a package to beta when it is stable enough to be part of the main install surface.

1. Update the package version to the beta pattern: 1.0.0b<date>
2. Update the classifier to Development Status :: 4 - Beta
3. Add the package to [all] in packages/core/pyproject.toml
4. Move samples to the root samples/ tree and remove package-local samples
5. Create or update the relevant lazy-loading namespace in core when the package belongs under one
6. Update python/PACKAGE_STATUS.md

After alpha, there should be no samples left inside a package folder.

Beta -> RC

Move a package to rc when its API is close to the final released shape.

1. Update the package version to the release-candidate pattern: 1.0.0rc<number>
2. Keep the classifier at Development Status :: 4 - Beta because PyPI does not have a separate release-candidate classifier
3. Keep the package in core[all]
4. Keep samples only in the root samples/ tree
5. Update python/PACKAGE_STATUS.md to show the package as rc

RC -> Released

Move a package to released when it no longer carries a prerelease qualifier.

1. Update the package version to the stable pattern: 1.0.0
2. Update the classifier to Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable
3. Keep the package in core[all]
4. Keep samples only in the root samples/ tree
5. Update python/PACKAGE_STATUS.md to show the package as released
6. Update all README.md files that install that package with pip install agent-framework-... --pre so they use pip install agent-framework-... without the --pre suffix

Versioning

Internal package dependency updates

• If package A depends on package B within this repository, only update package A's dependency declaration when the work on package B actually affects package A.

• If package A does not need anything from the package B change, leave package A's dependency declaration unchanged.

• If package A does need something from the package B change, update package A's dependency declaration to the version or versioning scheme that matches what package A now requires.

• If package B is promoted to a different lifecycle stage, update package A's dependency declaration to the new versioning scheme for package B even when the only change is the stage transition itself.

• Use this guidance both for ordinary version updates and for package promotion work.

• All non-core packages declare a lower bound on agent-framework-core

• When core version bumps with breaking changes, update the lower bound in all packages

• Non-core packages version independently; only raise core bound when using new core APIs

• If promoting a package changes a dependent package's published dependency metadata, bump the dependent package's own version in the correct lifecycle pattern for its current stage

• Lifecycle version patterns:

  • alpha: 1.0.0a<date>
  • beta: 1.0.0b<date>
  • rc: 1.0.0rc<number>
  • released: 1.0.0

• Keep the Development Status classifier in pyproject.toml aligned with the lifecycle stage:

  • alpha -> Development Status :: 3 - Alpha
  • beta -> Development Status :: 4 - Beta
  • rc -> Development Status :: 4 - Beta
  • released -> Development Status :: 5 - Production/Stable

• See the PyPI classifier list for the available classifier values: https://pypi.org/classifiers/

Installation Options

pip install agent-framework-core          # Core only
pip install agent-framework-core[all]     # Core + all connectors
pip install agent-framework               # Same as core[all]
pip install agent-framework-foundry       # Specific connector (pulls in core)

Maintaining Documentation

When changing a package, check if its AGENTS.md needs updates:

• Adding/removing/renaming public classes or functions
• Changing the package's purpose or architecture
• Modifying import paths or usage patterns

Keep python/PACKAGE_STATUS.md updated when:

• A package is added, removed, renamed, or promoted between lifecycle stages
• A package starts or stops exposing individually staged experimental or release-candidate APIs

When a package adds, removes, or renames environment variables, update the related documentation in the same change:

• The package's README.md for package-level configuration/env var guidance
• samples/README.md if the package is included in packages/core/pyproject.toml [all] and the env var is part of the consolidated package env-var inventory
• Any affected sample/package-local .env.example, .env.template, or sample README files when sample setup changes alongside the package

Source: microsoft/agent-framework — distributed by TomeVault.