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AutoGen Framework

Master Microsoft AutoGen for building multi-agent conversational AI systems

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Group Chat Patterns

GroupChat is AutoGen's powerful pattern for coordinating multiple agents in dynamic conversations. A GroupChatManager orchestrates turn-taking, speaker selection, and conversation flow without rigid pipelines.

Interactive: Group Chat Simulator

👤
Planner
👤
Researcher
👤
Coder
👤
Critic

🎭 Speaker Selection Strategies

🤖

Auto (LLM-Based)

Manager agent uses LLM to decide who should speak next based on context.

Best for: Dynamic, context-aware workflows
🔄

Round Robin

Agents take turns in fixed order, cycling through the group.

Best for: Predictable, sequential workflows
📝

Manual

Human explicitly selects next speaker at each turn.

Best for: Human-in-loop, critical decisions
⚙️

Custom Function

Provide custom logic (function) to determine next speaker.

Best for: Complex, domain-specific rules

💡 GroupChat Best Practices

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Set max_round: Limit conversation rounds to prevent infinite loops and control costs. Typical: 10-20 rounds for most tasks.
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Use clear agent names/descriptions: LLM manager uses these to decide speaker selection. Be explicit: "PythonCoder - Writes and debugs Python code".
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Define termination clearly: Agents should know when to say "TERMINATE" or trigger completion. Include termination instructions in system messages.
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Specialize agents: Each agent should have distinct expertise. Avoid overlapping capabilities—better to have focused experts than generalists.

🎯 When to Use Group Chat

Group chat shines for tasks requiring multiple perspectives or iterative refinement: code review (coder + critic), research projects (researcher + analyst + writer), or complex problem-solving (planner + specialists). The dynamic speaker selection means agents naturally "jump in" when they have relevant expertise.

However, for simple linear workflows or two-agent conversations, basic two-agent chat is simpler and cheaper. Use group chat when you need > 2 agents and benefit from flexible, context-aware coordination rather than rigid sequencing.

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