In vector stores will be "brought" to Agent Framework or any newer package that is not set to be retired like SK?

[christianarg]

A while ago you already moved the VectorStore features to separate packages than SK: Microsoft.Extensions.VectorData.Abstractions
But currently the connectors are mantained by SK

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/semantic-kernel/concepts/vector-store-connectors/out-of-the-box-connectors/?pivots=programming-language-csharp

Since SK new state is "new development will be focused in Agent Framework", I'm wondering what will happen to these connectors, will you "bring" them to Agent Framework or any newer package that is not set to be retired like SK?

I'm particulary intrested at least in the InMemoryVectorStore as with the new AgentFramework it would be relatively easy to implement contextual function selection like what you had in SK https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/semantic-kernel/frameworks/agent/agent-contextual-function-selection?pivots=programming-language-csharp
This was actually a neat idea

[christianarg]

Anyone?

[eavanvalkenburg]

@westey-m

[westey-m]

@christianarg, these packages already have no dependency on Semantic Kernel, and are intended to be used with any framework whether that be Semantic Kernel or Microsoft Agent Framework or another. As part of the graduation effort to make these Generally Available, we want to rename them to make this separation clearer.
You may have noticed that we use these already in samples in the Agent Framework repository. See e.g. here

Also, thanks for calling out that you find the contextual function selection useful. We haven't ported it yet, but considering that you are finding this useful, I added a task for it: #2448

[christianarg]

Ok the important thing is that you have planned to use it with any framework. Have in mind that some of the connectors DO have dependencies with SK for now:

[westey-m]

@christianarg, note that that connector is not a vector store connector, but rather for an inference service and the inference service connectors are tied to Semantic Kernel.

With Agent Framework the recommendations is:
For inference services use Microsoft.Extensions.AI.Abstractions implementations, e.g. Microsoft.Extensions.AI.OpenAI
For vector stores use Microsoft.Extensions.VectorData.Abstractions implementations (keeping in mind that the naming for these aren't the best right now)

Getting the naming of the vector store implementations fixed is high on our list so watch this space.