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Free course · For developers

Building AI Agents: Frameworks, MCP and Production Patterns

Build AI agents with MCP, LangGraph, CrewAI, Microsoft Agent Framework and vendor SDKs, then ship safely.

Intermediate8 lessons4 hoursQuizzes and exercisesNo sign up
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What you will learn

Outcomes

01

Explain the agent loop and design tools, memory and limits for an agent.

02

Build and test a minimal MCP server in Python.

03

Build stateful, resumable agent graphs with LangGraph and role based crews with CrewAI.

04

Describe the current status of AutoGen, AG2, Semantic Kernel and Microsoft Agent Framework.

05

Compare vendor agent SDKs by language, licence and core concepts.

06

Add evaluation, guardrails and human approval gates before shipping an agent.

Before you start
  • Comfortable writing Python, including async functions.
  • Basic experience calling a language model API.
  • Familiarity with JSON, the command line and virtual environments.
Syllabus

8 lessons

Each lesson ends with key takeaways, a practical exercise and a three question quiz.

01What Is an AI Agent? Tools, Memory, Planning and the Agent LoopLearn what separates an AI agent from a chatbot by looking at its four parts: a model, tools, memory and the loop that ties them together.25 min02Model Context Protocol (MCP) Explained, With a Minimal Python ServerUnderstand how MCP connects AI applications to tools and data, then build a two-function MCP server in Python.30 min03LangGraph Tutorial: Building Stateful Agent GraphsModel an agent as a graph of nodes that share state, then add checkpoints and a human pause with LangGraph.30 min04CrewAI Tutorial: Multi-Agent Teams With Crews and FlowsBuild a small team of role based agents with CrewAI, and learn when Flows and hierarchical processes help.25 min05AutoGen, AG2, Semantic Kernel and Microsoft Agent Framework: What Happened and What to UseGet a clear status map of Microsoft's agent projects and the AG2 community fork, then write a first Microsoft Agent Framework agent.25 min06OpenAI Agents SDK vs Claude Agent SDK vs Google ADK vs Pydantic AICompare four agent SDKs by language support, licence and key concepts, with a minimal example of each.35 min07AI Agent Evaluation, Guardrails and Human Approval Gates in ProductionMake agents safe to ship by testing trajectories and answers, blocking bad inputs with guardrails and pausing risky tool calls for human approval.35 min08How to Choose an AI Agent Framework: Decision Guide and Comparison TableUse a short set of questions and a comparison table to pick an agent framework that fits your team, stack and risk level.25 min
Sources

Where the facts come from

Checked against official documentation and primary sources. Tools change quickly, so always confirm against the current docs.

  1. Agent SDK overview Anthropic, 2026
  2. Agent SDK quickstart Anthropic, 2026
  3. Donating the Model Context Protocol and establishing the Agentic AI Foundation Anthropic, 2025
  4. Model Context Protocol specification (2026-07-28) Model Context Protocol, 2026
  5. MCP Python SDK documentation Model Context Protocol, 2026
  6. LangGraph overview (Python) LangChain, 2026
  7. LangGraph overview (JavaScript) LangChain, 2026
  8. LangGraph interrupts LangChain, 2026
  9. langgraph on PyPI Python Package Index, 2026
  10. CrewAI introduction CrewAI, 2026
  11. CrewAI crews concepts CrewAI, 2026
  12. crewai on PyPI Python Package Index, 2024
  13. Microsoft ships production ready Agent Framework 1.0 for .NET and Python Visual Studio Magazine, 2026
  14. Microsoft Agent Framework repository Microsoft, 2026
  15. Microsoft Agent Framework quick start Microsoft Learn, 2026
  16. Semantic Kernel and Microsoft Agent Framework Microsoft, 2025
  17. AutoGen repository Microsoft, 2026
  18. AG2 repository metadata (ag2ai/ag2) Ecosyste.ms, 2026
  19. OpenAI Agents SDK documentation OpenAI, 2026
  20. OpenAI Agents SDK README OpenAI, 2026
  21. OpenAI Agents SDK JS/TS README OpenAI, 2026
  22. openai-agents on PyPI Python Package Index, 2026
  23. OpenAI Agents SDK guardrails OpenAI, 2026
  24. OpenAI Agents SDK human in the loop OpenAI, 2026
  25. One Agent Development Kit, five languages Google Cloud, 2026
  26. adk-python repository metadata Ecosyste.ms, 2026
  27. ADK: Why evaluate agents Google, 2026
  28. Pydantic AI agents Pydantic, 2026
  29. pydantic-ai package metadata Ecosyste.ms, 2026
Questions

About this course

Is this course free?

Yes. All 8 lessons of Building AI Agents: Frameworks, MCP and Production Patterns are free to read on xdqlabs.com, with no sign up.

Who is this course for?

It is written for developers at intermediate level. Prerequisites: Comfortable writing Python, including async functions.; Basic experience calling a language model API.; Familiarity with JSON, the command line and virtual environments..

How long does it take?

About 4 hours across 8 lessons. Each lesson has key takeaways, a practical exercise and a short quiz.

Can XDQ Labs train my team or build this for us?

Yes. XDQ Labs runs team workshops and delivers software, AI agent and compliance projects for companies in India, the US, the UK and the Gulf. Write to enquiry@xdqlabs.com.

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