Google ADK

In this catalog it is the Frameworks option when you need to compose multi-step agent loops and tool handoffs. Keep Google ADK on the observe/propose side of the loop: useful signals and drafts, with human or policy authority still required before anything irreversible runs.

Google ADK is a code-first agent kit: sessions, tools, evaluation, streaming, and multi-agent delegation with local debug and deploy adapters.

1. Define agents, tools, and session state.
2. Run locally with the ADK debugger / runner.
3. Delegate to sub-agents when the graph requires it.
4. Evaluate and deploy via documented adapters.

Related: crew-ai · topics/12-central-nervous-system

• Use when: Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) is a code-first OSS framework for agents and workflows with sessions, tools, evaluation, local debugging, deployment adapters, streaming, and multi-agent delegation matches the bottleneck and you specifically need to compose multi-step agent loops and tool handoffs.
• Skip when: another pack already covers the need with less ops surface, or Google ADK would become a second place people retype truth.
• Prefer instead: compare Crew AI before locking the cell.

• Ops: confirm license, hosting, and release cadence for Google ADK (google/adk-python) before relying on it in a live corridor.
• Integration: bad credentials, scopes, or schema drift produce empty retrievals or runaway tool/model spend without an obvious UI alarm.
• Scope: Frameworks components support agents; they are not the company ledger or the approval authority.