Comparison
agent-starter-pack vs agent-kernel
Verdict
Pick agent-starter-pack if agent-starter-pack offers built-in CI/CD, evaluation tools, and observability for deploying generative AI agents on Google Cloud with Python; pick agent-kernel if agent-kernel provides an operating system for scalable enterprise AI agents, supporting deployment and orchestration at scale with native integration support for MCP and A2A.
Markdown twin · agent-starter-pack alternatives · agent-kernel alternatives
GraphCanon updated 1d
vs
Trust & integrity
| Signal | agent-starter-pack | agent-kernel |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active (29d since push) As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Very active (2d since push) As of 1w · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1w · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of 1mo · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- agent-starter-pack
- Ship AI Agents to Google Cloud in minutes with built-in CI/CD, evaluation, and observability
- agent-kernel
- The Operating System for Scalable Enterprise AI Agents
Stars
- agent-starter-pack
- 6.5k
- agent-kernel
- 113
Forks
- agent-starter-pack
- 1.5k
- agent-kernel
- 60
Open issues
- agent-starter-pack
- 49
- agent-kernel
- 128
Language
- agent-starter-pack
- Python
- agent-kernel
- Python
Adopt for
- agent-starter-pack
- agent-starter-pack offers built-in CI/CD, evaluation tools, and observability for deploying generative AI agents on Google Cloud with Python.
- agent-kernel
- Agent-kernel provides an operating system for scalable enterprise AI agents, supporting deployment and orchestration at scale with native integration support for MCP and A2A.
Persona
- agent-starter-pack
- -
- agent-kernel
- -
Runtime
- agent-starter-pack
- -
- agent-kernel
- -
License
- agent-starter-pack
- Apache-2.0
- agent-kernel
- Apache-2.0
Last pushed
- agent-starter-pack
- Jul 21, 2026
- agent-kernel
- Aug 7, 2026
Categories
- agent-starter-pack
- AI Agents, Evaluation & Observability
- agent-kernel
- AI Agents
Trust and health
Maintenance
- agent-starter-pack
- Active (82%)
- agent-kernel
- Very active (96%)
Days since push
- agent-starter-pack
- 29d
- agent-kernel
- 2d
Open issues (now)
- agent-starter-pack
- 49
- agent-kernel
- 128
Stars delta
- agent-starter-pack
- +18 (30d)
- agent-kernel
- Unknown
Open issues delta
- agent-starter-pack
- +1 (30d)
- agent-kernel
- Unknown
Full report
- agent-starter-pack
- Trust report
- agent-kernel
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · agent-starter-pack: Python runtime · agent-kernel: Python runtime
Choose agent-starter-pack if…
- Requirements: Depends on Python 3.10+.; Requires the Google Cloud SDK for interacting with GCP services.; Terraform is needed for deployment purposes.; Make utility should be installed for development tasks..
- Tags unique to agent-starter-pack: agents, gcp, gemini, genai-agents.
- Also covers Evaluation & Observability.
- You are working with Google Cloud and wish to deploy generative AI agents quickly using production-ready templates that come with integrated CI/CD pipelines.
When NOT to use agent-starter-pack
- Your project is hosted on a cloud provider other than Google Cloud, as this tool is optimized for GCP services and uses Terraform specifically configured for deployment with it.
- You do not need or want built-in CI/CD pipelines and evaluation tools, preferring to manage these components separately through different tools or self-configured setups.
Choose agent-kernel if…
- Requirements: It requires Python versions between 3.12 and 3.13.x.; Supports deployment to various environments such as AWS Lambda, ECS, Azure Functions, or Container Apps via one Terraform module..
- Tags unique to agent-kernel: a2a, adk, aws, azure.
- If you require seamless scalability across different cloud providers like AWS and Azure without lock-in or rewrites.
When NOT to use agent-kernel
- If your project is confined to a single, specific AI framework which doesn't require the flexibility Agent-kernel offers.
- When you do not have Python version 3.12 - 3.13.x, as it's the required runtime environment.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (GoogleCloudPlatform/agent-starter-pack) · observed Aug 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (GoogleCloudPlatform/agent-starter-pack) · observed Aug 20, 2026
- Last push (GoogleCloudPlatform/agent-starter-pack) · observed Jul 21, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (yaalalabs/agent-kernel) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- GitHub forks (yaalalabs/agent-kernel) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- Last push (yaalalabs/agent-kernel) · observed Aug 7, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Aug 9, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: agent-starter-pack 6.5k · agent-kernel 113 (synced Aug 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between agent-starter-pack and agent-kernel?
- agent-starter-pack: Ship AI Agents to Google Cloud in minutes with built-in CI/CD, evaluation, and observability. agent-kernel: The Operating System for Scalable Enterprise AI Agents. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose agent-starter-pack over agent-kernel?
- Choose agent-starter-pack over agent-kernel when Requirements: Depends on Python 3.10+.; Requires the Google Cloud SDK for interacting with GCP services.; Terraform is needed for deployment purposes.; Make utility should be installed for development tasks.; Tags unique to agent-starter-pack: agents, gcp, gemini, genai-agents; Also covers Evaluation & Observability; You are working with Google Cloud and wish to deploy generative AI agents quickly using production-ready templates that come with integrated CI/CD pipelines.
- When should I choose agent-kernel over agent-starter-pack?
- Choose agent-kernel over agent-starter-pack when Requirements: It requires Python versions between 3.12 and 3.13.x.; Supports deployment to various environments such as AWS Lambda, ECS, Azure Functions, or Container Apps via one Terraform module.; Tags unique to agent-kernel: a2a, adk, aws, azure; If you require seamless scalability across different cloud providers like AWS and Azure without lock-in or rewrites.
- When should I avoid agent-starter-pack?
- Your project is hosted on a cloud provider other than Google Cloud, as this tool is optimized for GCP services and uses Terraform specifically configured for deployment with it. You do not need or want built-in CI/CD pipelines and evaluation tools, preferring to manage these components separately through different tools or self-configured setups.
- When should I avoid agent-kernel?
- If your project is confined to a single, specific AI framework which doesn't require the flexibility Agent-kernel offers. When you do not have Python version 3.12 - 3.13.x, as it's the required runtime environment.
- Is agent-starter-pack or agent-kernel more popular on GitHub?
- agent-starter-pack has more GitHub stars (6,537 vs 113). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are agent-starter-pack and agent-kernel open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-starter-pack: Apache-2.0, agent-kernel: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to agent-starter-pack or agent-kernel?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at agent-starter-pack alternatives and agent-kernel alternatives (agent-starter-pack markdown twin, agent-kernel markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, agent-starter-pack or agent-kernel?
- agent-starter-pack: Active. agent-kernel: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for agent-starter-pack and agent-kernel?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: agent-starter-pack trust report; agent-kernel trust report.