microsoft/autogen
A programming framework for agentic AI
AutoGen claims 56,791 GitHub stars as the dominant multi-agent framework before maintenance mode. Developers orchestrate agent teams for code gen, data analysis, planning -- pip install pyautogen then define agents and start chats.
Our Review
AutoGen is Microsoft Research's open-source multi-agent AI framework -- 56,791 GitHub stars prove its past dominance. Maintenance mode limits it to bug fixes; agents collaborate via conversations on complex tasks.
What AutoGen does:
- •Multi-agent conversations agents with roles team up on tasks like coding or research.
- •AgentChat API assemble conversational teams with minimal code.
- •Broad model support works with OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Anthropic, local LLMs.
- •Human-in-the-loop agents pause for user input or approval.
- •Sandboxed code execution run agent-generated code safely.
AutoGen ecosystem:
- •AutoGen Studio no-code GUI for agent workflows via
pip install autogenstudio. - •Group chat patterns use SelectorGroupChat, RoundRobinGroupChat, or Swarm.
Getting started:
Run pip install pyautogen. Define agents with from autogen import AssistantAgent, UserProxyAgent. Start group chat with groupchat.initiate().
Limitations:
In maintenance mode as of 2026 -- no new features, community-maintained only. Official documentation directs new users to Microsoft Agent Framework. Async-first design requires Python 3.10+. Existing projects work fine, but avoid AutoGen for new builds.
Our Verdict
Developers inherit proven patterns from AutoGen's 56k-star legacy for multi-agent experiments. Study its code to grasp conversation flows before modern tools.
Vibe Builders grab AutoGen Studio for quick prototypes, but expect no updates.
New projects demand active development -- pick Microsoft Agent Framework instead.
Skip if you build production apps or need ongoing enhancements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is AutoGen?
AutoGen is a multi-agent AI framework developed by Microsoft Research. It has 56,791 GitHub stars.
Is AutoGen still actively developed?
AutoGen is now in maintenance mode as of 2026 with no new features. The successor is Microsoft Agent Framework.
What is the latest release of AutoGen?
The latest release is python-v0.7.5 from September 2025.
What license does AutoGen use?
AutoGen is released under the MIT license.
How does AutoGen compare to CrewAI and LangGraph?
AutoGen requires Python 3.10+ and offers AutoGen Studio no-code GUI. Choose AutoGen when you need a mature Microsoft Research framework, choose CrewAI or LangGraph when you want active development and new features.
How do I install autogen?
Visit the GitHub repository at https://github.com/microsoft/autogen for installation instructions.
What are alternatives to autogen?
Explore related tools and alternatives on My AI Guide.
Open source & community-verified
CC-BY-4.0 licensed: free to use in any project, no strings attached. 58,003 developers have starred this, meaning the community has reviewed and trusted it.
Reviewed by My AI Guide for relevance, quality, and active maintenance before listing.