Long-term memory in Microsoft Agent Framework

Long-term memory in AI agents refers to the ability to retain information across multiple interactions and sessions. This is essential for creating a more personalized user experience, as it allows agents to recall user preferences, past conversations, and contextual information. The Microsoft Agent Framework employs a dual memory architecture that includes both short-term and long-term memory.

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LangChain vs Microsoft Agent Framework

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, developers are presented with a myriad of frameworks to build applications that leverage the power of large language models (LLMs) and multi-agent systems. Among these, LangChain, LangGraph, and the Microsoft Agent Framework stand out for their unique capabilities and target use cases. This post aims to examine the differences between these frameworks, helping developers make informed decisions based on their specific needs and environments.

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OpenTelemetry in Microsoft Agent Framework Apps

Observability has become a critical component for ensuring the performance and reliability of applications. OpenTelemetry, an open-source observability framework, provides developers with the tools necessary to collect and export telemetry data from their applications. When integrated with the Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF), OpenTelemetry offers profound insights into the performance and behavior of AI agents. This post will explore how to effectively use OpenTelemetry in a Microsoft Agent Framework application, highlighting key trends, real-world use cases, challenges, and providing practical code examples.

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Agentic Table of Contents (so far)

1 RAG – A quick example

2 RAG in detail

3 Deeper into RAG

4 The R in RAG

5 PEAS for Agentic AI

6 AI Reasoning and Planning

7 REACT and Agents in AI

8 Creating a multi-agent system (Python & LangChain/LangGraph) part 1 of 6

14 Migrating Agentic Code Python -> C# Part 1 of 6

20 Dependency Injection & Microsoft Agentic Framework

21 Migrating C# to Microsoft Agentic Framework

22 Transparency in Agentics

23 Ensuring Agent Safety

24 Logging & OpenTelemetry in Microsoft Agentic Framework

25 Activity Source in Microsoft Agentic Framework

26 Middleware in Microsoft Agentic Framework

27 Limit token usage in Microsoft Agentic Framework

28 Using OpenTelemetry in Microsoft Agent Framework

29 LangChain/LangGraph vs. Microsoft Agent Framework

30 Long term memory in Microsoft Agent Framework

31 Agent vs ChatClient Middleware

32 Managing Secrets

33 Microsoft Agent Framework and Foundry

34 Agent Memory for .NET

35 About Neo4j

36 Reducing Token Usage

37 Deploying Microsoft Agent Framework applications to Foundry

38 Copilot Harness and Microsoft Agent Framework

39 GitHub SpecKit

40RAG in Microsoft Agent Framework

41 Executors and Edges

42 Deploying a Microsoft Agent Framework application to Foundry

43 Implementing the Move to Foundry

44 Agent Skills 101

45 Microsoft Tenants

46 Microsoft Agent Framework Deep Dive Podcast

47 Copilot Review

48 Session State

49 Human In The Loop

50 Spec-Driven Development

51 Adding Cosmos with Spec Kit and Copilot

52 Creating A Front End with Spec Kit and Copilot

53 SDD Phases (https://bit.ly/SDDPhases)

54 BlogWriter Architecture Part 1

55 Memory in BlogWriter

55 Chat client v Responses Client

56 Run Locally

57 RAG Implementation Step by Step

58 MCP and Microsoft Agent Framework

59 When Is the LLM Called?

60 Prompts in MCP

61 4 Solutions to Spec Kit Issues

62 Creating Presets Step By Step

63 Creating a Spec Kit Extension Step By Step

64 RAG and Microsoft Agent Framework Step By Step (2)

65 Prompts are dead; long live loops!

66 Agentic Loops v Spec-Driven Development

Note: many of these blog posts had initial research and drafts done by the Blog Writer multi-agent application that serves as a demo for these articles. All were then edited by me.

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Limit token usage in Microsoft Agent Framework

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, managing costs associated with API usage is a critical concern for developers. The Microsoft Agent Framework offers a powerful tool in this regard: ChatClientAgentRunOptions. This component allows developers to cap the number of output tokens generated in a single call, ensuring that a single interaction does not exceed budgetary constraints. In this post, we will explore how ChatClientAgentRunOptions functions, its key features, real-world applications, and the challenges developers may face when implementing it.

Overview of ChatClientAgentRunOptions

At its core, ChatClientAgentRunOptions is designed to manage various parameters for chat interactions within the Microsoft Agent Framework. One of its most significant features is the ability to limit the number of tokens generated in a single response through the max_tokens parameter. This capability is essential for controlling costs, as excessive token consumption can lead to budget overruns, especially in applications with high user engagement.

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Middleware in Microsoft Agent Framework

A critical need, when creating multi-agent applications is to manage token usage in API calls. This is where middleware plays a crucial role. In this post, we will explore what middleware is within the Microsoft Agent Framework, why it is essential for capping token usage, and how to implement it effectively.

What is Middleware in the Microsoft Agent Framework?

Middleware serves as an intermediary layer that processes requests and responses between users and AI agents. It acts as a bridge, allowing developers to intercept, inspect, and modify the data flowing through the system. This capability is vital for implementing additional logic, such as validation, logging, and, importantly, token management.

In the context of the Microsoft Agent Framework, middleware can be utilized to enhance the functionality of AI agents by providing a structured way to handle requests and responses. This not only improves the overall efficiency of the system but also allows for greater control over how the AI interacts with users.

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Activity Source in Microsoft Agent Framework

In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, the ability to monitor and debug multi-agent systems is paramount. The Microsoft Agent Framework (MAF) has taken a significant step forward by integrating OpenTelemetry, a powerful observability framework that enhances the monitoring capabilities of AI agents. This post delves into the key features, innovations, and real-world applications of this integration, providing developers with the insights they need to optimize their AI systems.

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Logging & OpenTelemetry in MAF

In the rapidly evolving landscape of software development, particularly in the realm of artificial intelligence and automation, the importance of robust logging mechanisms cannot be overstated. This is especially true for multi-agent systems, where numerous agents interact and collaborate to achieve complex tasks. In this post, we will explore the significance of logging in a multi-agent Microsoft Agent Framework application, the trends and innovations in logging practices, real-world use cases, and a practical implementation example.

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Which Pilot is Which?

Microsoft can make you crazy by naming so many products with overlapping titles: Copilot, Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot, and GitHub Copilot App

In the rapidly evolving landscape of software development and productivity tools, understanding the distinctions between various Microsoft AI-assisted applications is crucial for developers and users alike. This post will delve into the differences between Copilot, Copilot Studio, GitHub Copilot, and the GitHub Copilot App, highlighting their unique features, use cases, and how they can enhance your workflow.

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Ensuring Agent Safety in AI Development

Key Insights from Microsoft Learn*

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, ensuring the safety and security of AI agents has become more important. The Microsoft Learn documentation on agent safety provides a comprehensive overview of best practices and guidelines for developers.

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MAF-Doctor Walkthrough

Our latest video is a walkthrough of MAF-Doctor. This is an extraordinary utility for anyone using the Microsoft Agent Framework.

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Transparency in Agentics

A key requirement in building agentic systems is for their reasoning to be transparent. This allows you to ensure accuracy and to provide “human in the loop” oversight. This is also a key requirement for debugging your agents and their interactions.

To accomplish this, your agents will need, at a minimum, structured logs of its plans, what tools it calls and an audit trail of the steps it takes.

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