Semantic Kernel

license

MIT(OSI)

source

public(C#/Python/Java)

core features withheld

no

MIT multi-language SDK; first-class Azure connectors but model-agnostic and self-hostable. The repo page carries a banner that Semantic Kernel is now Microsoft Agent Framework, which is a succession notice rather than a change of terms.

• https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel recorded 2026-08-13

  MIT license badge and README statement "Licensed under the MIT license"; full C#/Python/Java source published, 28.4k stars and 4.7k forks; banner announcing Microsoft Agent Framework as the successor; no enterprise directory or paid tier

• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/main/LICENSE recorded 2026-09-29

  The repository LICENSE file is the MIT License: "MIT License", "Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation." and a grant "to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell" the software.

• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/main/README.md recorded 2026-09-29

  The README calls Semantic Kernel "a model-agnostic SDK" with Python, .NET and Java support, states "Licensed under the [MIT](LICENSE) license." and mentions no enterprise edition, license key or paid tier (searched: enterprise edition, license key, paid: none).

Adoption is measured by PyPI downloads of the semantic-kernel package over the trailing month, covering the Python distribution only. Because Semantic Kernel's .NET and NuGet channel is larger and not counted here, this reading is a floor rather than the full picture.

• https://pypistats.org/api/packages/semantic-kernel/recent recorded 2026-10-07

  300,767 downloads in the trailing 30 days for semantic-kernel (pypistats last_month)

Semantic Kernel's strength is enterprise multi-language orchestration, with uniquely strong .NET and Java coverage beside the more common Python-first frameworks. That feature breadth matches AutoGen's.

• https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel recorded 2026-08-13

  README banner - "Semantic Kernel is now Microsoft Agent Framework"; multi-LLM connectors, plugin/OpenAPI system, agent abstractions and memory connectors still published

• https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/agent-framework/overview/ recorded 2026-09-29

  The Microsoft Agent Framework overview says it combines "AutoGen's simple abstractions for single- and multi-agent patterns with Semantic Kernel's enterprise-grade features".

• https://raw.githubusercontent.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel/main/README.md recorded 2026-09-29

  The README lists "Model Flexibility", "Agent Framework", "Plugin Ecosystem" (native functions, prompt templates, OpenAPI specs, MCP) and "Vector DB Support", and a banner says "Semantic Kernel is now [Microsoft Agent Framework]".