---
title: "Strands Agents: features, version and quickstart · DotsAgent"
description: "Strands Agents by AWS: licence, latest version, MCP support, durable runs, human approval, tracing and evals, plus a quickstart to copy."
url: https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/strands-agents
---

Framework · AWS

# Strands Agents at a glance

An AWS SDK for Python and TypeScript where the model drives the loop and the agent runs in your own process, with no control plane. Amazon Bedrock is the default provider, and Bedrock AgentCore Runtime is the deployment path.

**Best for:**  In-process, model-driven agents with a smooth path to Amazon Bedrock and AgentCore.

## Key facts

- **Maintainer**: AWS
- **Languages**: Python, TypeScript
- **Licence**: Apache-2.0
- **Latest version**: `Python 1.57.1 / TypeScript 1.19.0` · September 25, 2026
- **Repository**: [strands-agents/harness-sdk](https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk) · 8,594 stars
- **Hosted option**: [Amazon Bedrock AgentCore Runtime](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/sdk/deploy/deploy_to_bedrock_agentcore/)Serverless, with a microVM for each session.

## Quickstart

Install the package, set the credentials, then run the smallest agent from the official docs. Model IDs are the ones the docs use and may not be enabled on your account.

`Install`

```
pip install strands-agents
```

Needs AWS credentials with Bedrock model access (default provider)

`Python`

```
from strands import Agent

# Bedrock is the default, so no model object is needed.
agent = Agent()

agent("What is an agent harness, in one sentence?")
```

[Quickstart source](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/sdk/quickstart/python/)

## Features

| Any model | — | Bedrock by default; Anthropic, OpenAI, Gemini, Ollama and more |
| --- | --- | --- |
| MCP client | — | — |
| MCP server | — | — |
| Multi-agent | — | — |
| Durable runs | — | Session managers persist state; no durable engine documented |
| Human approval | — | Interrupts and a HumanInTheLoop handler with trust mode |
| Tracing | — | The agent loop traces every decision by default |
| Evals | — | Separate Strands Evals SDK |

## Recent changes

- Repos were merged into strands-agents/harness-sdk; sdk-python redirects there and sdk-typescript is archived.
- Added the Strands harness (create_harness / createHarness) and a strands CLI.
- The TypeScript SDK reached 1.x.

## Alternatives in the same language

- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/openai-agents-python)

- [OpenAI Agents SDK (JS)](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/openai-agents-js)

- [Claude Agent SDK](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/claude-agent-sdk)

- [Google ADK](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/google-adk)

- [Microsoft Agent Framework](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/microsoft-agent-framework)

- [LangGraph](https://dotsagent.io/frameworks/langgraph)

## Sources

1. [github.com](https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk)/strands-agents/harness-sdk
2. [strandsagents.com](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/sdk/quickstart/python/)/docs/user-guide/sdk/quickstart/python/
3. [strandsagents.com](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/sdk/quickstart/overview/)/docs/user-guide/sdk/quickstart/overview/
4. [strandsagents.com](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/concepts/interrupts/)/docs/user-guide/concepts/interrupts/
5. [strandsagents.com](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/concepts/agents/interventions/human-in-the-loop/)/docs/user-guide/concepts/agents/interventions/human-in-the-loop/
6. [strandsagents.com](https://strandsagents.com/docs/user-guide/sdk/deploy/deploy_to_bedrock_agentcore/)/docs/user-guide/sdk/deploy/deploy_to_bedrock_agentcore/
7. [pypi.org](https://pypi.org/pypi/strands-agents/json)/pypi/strands-agents/json
8. [registry.npmjs.org](https://registry.npmjs.org/@strands-agents%2fsdk)/@strands-agents%2fsdk

Independent reference for people who build AI agents. Not affiliated with any vendor named here.

© 2026 DotsAgent · Facts checked October 1, 2026