autogen/docs/dotnet/user-guide/core-user-guide/differences-python.md

• Differences from Python
• • Agents Self-Interact
  • 'Local' Runtime is Multithreaded
  • No equivalent to 'stop_when_idle()'
  • All message types need to be Protocol Buffers

Differences from Python

Agents Self-Interact

When an agent sends a message of a type to which it also listens:

[TopicSubscription("default")]
public class MyAgent(
    IAgentWorker worker,
    [FromKeyedServices("EventTypes")] EventTypes typeRegistry
    ) :
      Agent(worker, typeRegistry),
      IHandle<Message>
{
  async Task SomeInternalFunctionAsync()
  {
    Message m;

    // ...

    await this.PublishMessageAsync(m);
  }

  public async Task Handle(Message message)
  {
    // will receive messages sent by SomeInternalFunctionAsync()
  }
}

Tracked by #4998

'Local' Runtime is Multithreaded

Unlike the single_threaded_runtime, the InProcess (local: true) runtime for .NET is multi-threaded, so messages will process in arbitrary order across agents. This means that an agent may process messages sent after the termination request has been made unless checking for termination using the IHostApplicationLifecycle service.

No equivalent to 'stop_when_idle()'

Agents need to request termination explicitly, as there is no meaningful 'idle' state.

All message types need to be Protocol Buffers

See (linkto: defining-message-types.md) for instructions on defining messages

Tracked by #4695