framework: openai_agents runs your agents YAML through the official OpenAI Agents SDK, with handoffs and task chaining from a single install.
Need a framework that isn’t listed here? See Framework Adapter Plugins to register your own via Python entry points.
Quick Start
How OpenAI Agents Works
Every result begins with the sentinel prefix### OpenAI Agents Output ###. Downstream parsers can split on this to extract only the run output.
Sequential Context (Task Chaining)
Tasks reference outputs of earlier tasks withcontext: [task_name]:
The
context: semantics match other framework wrappers (CrewAI, LangGraph, Google ADK). The OpenAI Agents adapter wires the dependency list into the SDK task graph.Agent Handoffs via YAML
framework: openai_agents is one of three runtimes with first-class handoff support (alongside praisonai and autogen_v4 — confirmed by praisonai doctor).
handoff.to lists target agents by their role: value (here "English Agent"), not the YAML role key. Spaced role names such as Triage Agent are sanitised for internal task references, so human-readable labels stay in YAML.Verify Installation
praisonai[openai-agents] is installed, the runtime table includes OpenAI Agents SDK with capabilities such as agent_creation, tool_execution, and optional handoff_support.
openai-agents distribution is installed, the agents import namespace exists, and from agents import Runner succeeds.
Pip Extras
| Extra | Installs | Required for |
|---|---|---|
praisonai[openai-agents] | praisonai-frameworks[openai-agents]>=0.1.3, praisonai-tools>=0.1.0 | Doctor recognition and CLI/YAML dispatch |
praisonai-frameworks[openai-agents] | Adapter entry point + OpenAI Agents PyPI package | Executing framework: openai_agents |
The YAML/CLI key is
openai_agents (underscore). Install hints use openai-agents (hyphen) to match PyPI normalisation.Advanced — Direct Adapter Use
Most users should use the CLI/YAML flow above. To call the adapter directly:Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
Framework 'openai_agents' was requested but is not installed | pip install "praisonai[openai-agents]" or pip install 'praisonai-frameworks[openai-agents]' |
ValueError: framework='openai_agents' in workflow YAML is not supported for workflow execution | Switch to agents YAML with roles: — not steps-style Workflow YAML |
framework='openai_agents' is not a valid choice (older CLI) | Upgrade PraisonAI or set framework: openai_agents in YAML and omit --framework |
| Handoff target not found | Ensure handoff.to strings match another role’s role: field exactly |
Best Practices
Prefer agents YAML with roles
Prefer agents YAML with roles
Use the
roles: agents.yaml shape. The native Workflow YAML engine supports only framework: praisonai.Use context for task dependencies
Use context for task dependencies
Declare dependencies with
context: [prior_task] instead of imperative wiring — the adapter builds the SDK task graph for you.When to pick openai_agents
When to pick openai_agents
Choose this framework when you want the official OpenAI Agents SDK semantics, especially SDK-native handoffs, rather than PraisonAI-native orchestration.
Parse on the output sentinel
Parse on the output sentinel
Split results on
### OpenAI Agents Output ### when you need only the model text in downstream automation.Related
AutoGen
AutoGen family wrapper
CrewAI
CrewAI wrapper
PraisonAI Agents
Native PraisonAI runtime
Agent Handoffs
Delegation model and Python API
Handoff Tool Policy
Tool intersection on handoff
Framework Availability
Probe API and install hints

