# How Assemble Compares

Different tools for different jobs.

Scroll horizontally to see all columns

| Feature | Assemble | CrewAI | AutoGen | LangGraph |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Category | Config Generator | Runtime Framework | Multi-Agent Framework | State Machine |
| Architecture | Build-time generation | Runtime execution | Runtime execution | Runtime graph |
| Dependencies | 0 | 50+ | 80+ | 100+ |
| Runtime Required | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | 21 IDE/CLI | Python only | Python only | Python/JS |
| Setup Time | 2 min | 30+ min | 45+ min | 60+ min |
| Lock-in | None (native files) | Framework | Library | Runtime |
| Language | Any (platform-native) | Python | Python | Python/JS |
| Token Efficiency | Optimized prompts | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| Governance | Built-in (3 levels) | None | None | None |

## When to use what

### Use Assemble when...

Configuration is your priority.

- You want to configure AI agents in your IDE
- You need multi-platform support (21 targets)
- You want zero runtime overhead
- You need built-in governance and quality controls

### Use CrewAI / AutoGen when...

Autonomous execution is your priority.

- You need autonomous agent execution
- You are building custom AI pipelines
- You want agents to run tasks programmatically
- You need inter-agent communication at runtime

### They're complementary

Different tools for different problems.

- Use Assemble to configure your IDE agents
- Use CrewAI for runtime agent orchestration
- Combine both for full-stack AI coverage
- No lock-in means easy integration

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Is Assemble a replacement for CrewAI?**  
No. Assemble generates configuration files for AI coding tools (IDEs and CLIs). CrewAI is a runtime framework that executes multi-agent workflows. They solve different problems and can be used together.

**Can I use Assemble with AutoGen agents?**  
Assemble and AutoGen operate at different layers. Assemble configures your IDE to work with AI agents. AutoGen runs agents programmatically. You can use both in the same project without conflict.

**Why does Assemble have zero dependencies?**  
Assemble generates plain text configuration files — Markdown and YAML. It does not need a runtime, a server, or external libraries. This means zero supply chain risk and instant setup.

**What does 'build-time generation' mean?**  
Assemble runs once to generate static config files. After generation, there is no Assemble process running. Your IDE reads the generated files natively. No daemon, no server, no memory footprint.

**How does governance work in Assemble?**  
Assemble offers three governance levels: none (default), standard (decision gates and risk assessment), and strict (audit trail, RBAC, NIST AI RMF mapping). It is configured in a single YAML file.

## Ready to try Assemble?

Zero dependencies. Two-minute setup. No lock-in.

terminal

```
$ npx cohesiumai-assemble
```