Microsoft Agent Framework Python 1.6.0: Shell Tool for Local/Docker Execution and Monty-Backed CodeAct

Microsoft GitHub·low signal

Microsoft released Agent Framework Python 1.6.0 on May 22, adding a core Shell tool supporting both local and Docker execution environments, a new Monty-backed CodeAct provider package, experimental hosted tool factories in Foundry, and instrumentation enabled by default. The release continues rapid iteration since the framework's 1.0 GA in April 2026, competing directly with LangGraph, CrewAI, and JetBrains Koog for the enterprise agent orchestration layer.