# APM – Agent Package Manager
**An open-source, community-driven dependency manager for AI agents.**
Think `package.json`, `requirements.txt`, or `Cargo.toml` — but for AI agent configuration.
GitHub Copilot · Claude Code · Cursor · OpenCode · Codex
**[Documentation](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/)** · **[Quick Start](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/getting-started/quick-start/)** · **[CLI Reference](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/reference/cli-commands/)**
## Why APM
AI coding agents need context to be useful — standards, prompts, skills, plugins — but today every developer sets this up manually. Nothing is portable nor reproducible. There's no manifest for it.
**APM fixes this.** Declare your project's agentic dependencies once in `apm.yml`, and every developer who clones your repo gets a fully configured agent setup in seconds — with transitive dependency resolution, just like npm or pip. It's also the first tool that lets you **author plugins** with a real dependency manager and export standard `plugin.json` packages.
```yaml
# apm.yml — ships with your project
name: your-project
version: 1.0.0
dependencies:
apm:
# Skills from any repository
- anthropics/skills/skills/frontend-design
# Plugins
- github/awesome-copilot/plugins/context-engineering
# Specific agent primitives from any repository
- github/awesome-copilot/agents/api-architect.agent.md
# A full APM package with instructions, skills, prompts, hooks...
- microsoft/apm-sample-package#v1.0.0
```
```bash
git clone <org/repo> && cd <repo>
apm install # every agent is configured
```
## Highlights
- **[One manifest for everything](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/reference/primitive-types/)** — instructions, skills, prompts, agents, hooks, plugins, MCP servers
- **[Install from anywhere](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/guides/dependencies/)** — GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Azure DevOps, GitHub Enterprise, any git host
- **[Transitive dependencies](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/guides/dependencies/)** — packages can depend on packages; APM resolves the full tree
- **[Content security](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/enterprise/security/)** — `apm audit` scans for hidden Unicode; `apm install` blocks compromised packages before agents read them
- **[Author plugins](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/guides/plugins/)** — build Copilot, Claude, and Cursor plugins with dependency management and security scanning, then export standard `plugin.json`
- **[Marketplaces](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/guides/marketplaces/)** — install plugins from curated registries in one command; deployed across all targets, locked, scanned, and [governed by `apm-policy.yaml`](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/enterprise/security/)
- **[Pack & distribute](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/guides/pack-distribute/)** — `apm pack` bundles your configuration as a zipped package or a standalone plugin
- **[CI/CD ready](https://github.com/microsoft/apm-action)** — GitHub Action for automated workflows
## Get Started
#### Linux / macOS
```bash
curl -sSL https://aka.ms/apm-unix | sh
```
#### Windows
```powershell
irm https://aka.ms/apm-windows | iex
```
Native release binaries are published for macOS, Linux, and Windows x86_64. `apm update` reuses the matching platform installer.
<details>
<summary>Other install methods</summary>
#### Linux / macOS
```bash
# Homebrew
brew install microsoft/apm/apm
# pip
pip install apm-cli
```
#### Windows
```powershell
# Scoop
scoop bucket add apm https://github.com/microsoft/scoop-apm
scoop install apm
# pip
pip install apm-cli
```
</details>
Then start adding packages:
```bash
apm install microsoft/apm-sample-package#v1.0.0
```
Or install from a marketplace:
```bash
apm marketplace add github/awesome-copilot
apm install azure-cloud-development@awesome-copilot
```
See the **[Getting Started guide](https://microsoft.github.io/apm/getting-started/quick-start/)** for the full walkthrough.
## Works with agentrc
[agentrc](https://github.com/microsoft/agentrc) analyzes your codebase and generates tailored agent instructions — architecture, conventions, build commands — from real code, not templates.
Use agentrc to author high-quality instructions, then package them with APM to share across your org. The `.instructions.md` format is shared by both tools — no conversion needed when moving instructions into APM packages.
## Community
Created by [@danielmeppiel](https://github.com/danielmeppiel). Maintained by [@danielmeppiel](https://github.com/danielmeppiel) and [@sergio-sisternes-epam](https://github.com/sergio-sisternes-epam).
- [Roadmap & Discussions](https://github.com/microsoft/apm/discussions/116)
- [Contributing](CONTRIBUTING.md)
- [AI Native Development guide](https://danielmeppiel.github.io/awesome-ai-native) — a practical learning path for AI-native development
---
**Built on open standards:** [AGENTS.md](https://agents.md) · [Agent Skills](https://agentskills.io) · [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)
## Trademarks
This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services. Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow [Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/legal/intellectualproperty/trademarks/usage/general). Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks or logos are subject to those third-party's policies.