APM

APM is a dependency manager for AI agents that handles configuration, prompts, and skills to ensure reproducible agent setups across development environments.

APM (Agent Package Manager) functions as an open-source dependency manager for AI agent configurations. It uses an apm.yml manifest file to declare requirements such as instructions, skills, prompts, plugins, and MCP servers. The tool resolves full dependency trees and generates apm.lock.yaml files to ensure consistent environments across various clients, including GitHub Copilot, Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf. Security features include scanning for hidden Unicode, content integrity hashing, and policy enforcement via apm-policy.yml. It serves as a governance layer for development teams to control sources and permissions within their repositories.

APM at a glance

Best for: Software engineer
Runs on: macOS, Linux, Windows
Pricing: Free
Released: September 2025
Category: AI coding tool
Website: github.com/microsoft/apm

Key features

Declare agent dependencies in a single YAML manifest file
Generate lockfiles to pin resolved dependency trees
Install agent configurations from Git repositories and registries
Scan content for hidden Unicode to prevent prompt hijacking
Export standard software bills of materials
Enforce security policies across repositories and organizations
Integrate MCP servers and custom plugin development

Use it for

Share standardized agent instructions across a development team
Deploy consistent agent setups across IDEs like Cursor and VS Code
Enforce security policies for AI agent tools in enterprise environments
Manage transitive dependencies for AI agent plugins

Companions

Tools that articles about APM recommend using with it, each with its job.

Context7 — Provides up-to-date documentation for AI agents and code editors.
Ollama — Run local models at zero marginal cost, with code kept on your machine.
OpenRouter — Access over 500 models and 80 providers through one unified API.
Daytona — Runs sessions in isolated sandboxes synced to git branches.
Composio — Equips AI agents with tools, managed user auth, and sandboxes across 1,500+ apps
Oh My OpenCode Slim — Lightweight multi-agent orchestration and background tasks.

Alternatives to APM

AGENTS.md — It separates agent-specific instructions from human-focused README files.
Agent Manager — Run multiple AI coding agents side by side with live status, quick prompts, and diff review.
jevgrep — Reduces coding agent costs by providing targeted, relevant repository context.
AG-UI — Standardizes agent-user interactions and generative UI for applications.
OpenCode — Works with 75+ model providers, local models, and existing subscriptions
pstack — Improves AI coding agent outcomes with rigorous workflows.
Magpie — It enables AI agents to use models not natively supported by their internal protocols.
fast-agent — Improves agent accuracy and cost efficiency via MCP integration.
jpm — A fast, secure-by-default package manager that installs dependencies efficiently.
Factorai — Manages multiple independent AI coding agents in parallel from one interface.
ProjectMem — Records project history locally to prevent AI from repeating failed work.
CLI Manager — Manage multiple AI coding agents and watch visible sessions from a single interface.

All APM alternatives