--- title: "agent-framework vs sdk-python" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-temporalio-sdk-python" tools: ["microsoft-agent-framework", "temporalio-sdk-python"] --- # agent-framework vs sdk-python *GraphCanon updated Sep 20, 2026* ## Verdict Pick agent-framework if the agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments; pick sdk-python if temporal Python SDK enables dependable orchestration of durable workflows and microservices tasks in distributed systems with Python. [agent-framework](https://aka.ms/agent-framework) reports 14k GitHub stars, 2.3k forks, and 605 open issues, last pushed Sep 18, 2026. [sdk-python](https://github.com/temporalio/sdk-python) has 1.2k stars, 241 forks, and 104 open issues, last pushed Sep 20, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [agent-framework's repository](https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework) and [sdk-python's repository](https://github.com/temporalio/sdk-python). | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [sdk-python](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows | Temporal Python SDK for orchestrating durable workflows and microservices tasks | | Stars | 13,573 | 1,195 | | Forks | 2,335 | 241 | | Open issues | 605 | 104 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. | Temporal Python SDK enables dependable orchestration of durable workflows and microservices tasks in distributed systems with Python. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT | | Categories | AI Agents, Developer Tools | Developer Tools | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) | [sdk-python](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Open issues (now) | 605 | 104 | | Stars delta | +855 (30d) | +35 (30d) | | Open issues delta | -80 (30d) | -5 (30d) | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python/trust.md) | ## Shared compatibility - **Python**: [agent-framework](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework.md) - Python runtime; [sdk-python](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python.md) - Python runtime ## Decision facts: agent-framework - **Requirements:** Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages. - **Adopt for:** The agent-framework provides tools for developers to build and deploy AI agents and multi-agent workflows in Python and .NET environments. ## Decision facts: sdk-python - **Adopt for:** Temporal Python SDK enables dependable orchestration of durable workflows and microservices tasks in distributed systems with Python. ## Choose when ### Choose agent-framework if… - Requirements: Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages.. - Tags unique to agent-framework: agent-framework, agentic-ai, agents, multi-agent. - Also covers AI Agents. - Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### Choose sdk-python if… - Tags unique to sdk-python: durable-execution, microservices, open-source, python. - Need integration with Temporal for task orchestration - More recently updated (last pushed Sep 20, 2026). ## When NOT to use agent-framework - Avoid using the agent-framework if your team does not have proficiency in either Python or.NET, as this may cause difficulties in leveraging its features effectively. - Do not opt for agent-framework if you only need lightweight support for AI agents without a comprehensive orchestration and deployment framework. ## When NOT to use sdk-python - Looking for a general-purpose SDK without focus on temporal workflow orchestration - Do not require durable execution features or are satisfied with less robust microservices coordination tools ## Common questions ### What is the difference between agent-framework and sdk-python? agent-framework: Framework for building and deploying AI agents and multi-agent workflows. sdk-python: Temporal Python SDK for orchestrating durable workflows and microservices tasks. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose agent-framework over sdk-python? Choose agent-framework over sdk-python when Requirements: Python version 3.6 or newer is required for Python installations.; The .NET Core SDK must be installed for utilizing the .NET packages.; Tags unique to agent-framework: agent-framework, agentic-ai, agents, multi-agent; Also covers AI Agents; Choose agent-framework if your project requires support for both Python and .NET, allowing you to develop across different ecosystems. ### When should I choose sdk-python over agent-framework? Choose sdk-python over agent-framework when Tags unique to sdk-python: durable-execution, microservices, open-source, python; Need integration with Temporal for task orchestration; More recently updated (last pushed Sep 20, 2026). ### When should I avoid agent-framework? Avoid using the agent-framework if your team does not have proficiency in either Python or.NET, as this may cause difficulties in leveraging its features effectively. Do not opt for agent-framework if you only need lightweight support for AI agents without a comprehensive orchestration and deployment framework. ### When should I avoid sdk-python? Looking for a general-purpose SDK without focus on temporal workflow orchestration Do not require durable execution features or are satisfied with less robust microservices coordination tools ### Is agent-framework or sdk-python more popular on GitHub? agent-framework has more GitHub stars (13,573 vs 1,195). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are agent-framework and sdk-python open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (agent-framework: MIT, sdk-python: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to agent-framework or sdk-python? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [agent-framework alternatives](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives) and [sdk-python alternatives](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python/alternatives) ([agent-framework markdown twin](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/alternatives.md), [sdk-python markdown twin](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python/alternatives.md)), 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](/compare/microsoft-agent-framework-vs-temporalio-sdk-python.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, agent-framework or sdk-python? agent-framework: Very active. sdk-python: 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-framework and sdk-python? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [agent-framework trust report](/tools/microsoft-agent-framework/trust); [sdk-python trust report](/tools/temporalio-sdk-python/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=microsoft-agent-framework`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=microsoft-agent-framework) - LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt) - Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt) _GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_