Amplihack is a framework for agentic coding that was originally designed to support popular agent coding tools including Claude Code, GitHub Copilot CLI, and Microsoft Amplifier. The Python-based repository provided structured workflows, persistent memory capabilities, specialized agents, goal-seeking functionality, autonomous execution, and continuous improvement features intended for systematic software engineering practices.
The framework operated as a development tool that enabled users to orchestrate and manage interactions with multiple AI coding agents through a unified interface. It supported recipe-based execution patterns where users could define and run coding tasks through named recipes, with a recipe runner accessible via the run_recipe_by_name() function. The system included hook mechanisms implemented as Python scripts that allowed customization and extension of framework behavior. Orchestration capabilities were provided through an orch_helper.py module that facilitated coordination between different components and agents.
However, the repository is now deprecated and no longer maintained. The original Python implementation has been completely rewritten in Rust under the amplihack-rs project, which represents a significant architectural shift. The migration from Python to Rust brought substantial performance improvements and operational changes. The original Python version required Python 3.11 or higher and could be installed via pip or uv tool install, with a startup time of approximately two seconds. The Rust rewrite eliminates runtime dependencies by providing a single static binary with startup times under fifty milliseconds, representing a dramatic performance improvement.
The command-line interfaces and operational patterns changed significantly in the Rust version. Recipe execution shifted from the Python function run_recipe_by_name() to a native command-line interface using amplihack recipe run with YAML recipe files. Hooks transitioned from Python scripts to native Rust binaries through the amplihack-hooks command. Orchestration helper functionality moved from the orch_helper.py module to native Rust implementation accessible via amplihack orch helper. Installation also changed from traditional package management to a self-contained amplihack install command.
The README explicitly directs all users to migrate to amplihack-rs, providing platform-specific guidance for macOS users with both Apple Silicon and Intel architectures. The migration documentation includes a detailed comparison table highlighting the differences between the deprecated Python version and the new Rust implementation. For users maintaining the old Python version, the framework provides automatic update mechanisms that download the latest release binary and refresh all framework assets including recipes, skills, and hooks.
The original repository served as the foundation for agentic coding workflows but has been superseded by a more performant and maintainable Rust-based implementation. All active development, issue tracking, and documentation now occur in the amplihack-rs repository, making this Python version purely historical. Users seeking to work with amplihack should use the Rust version available at github.com/rysweet/amplihack-rs, which provides the same core functionality with significantly improved performance characteristics and reduced operational overhead.
