The agent framework is a set of predefined functions compiled into the agent for each resource type. These functions include the ability to connect to the VCS engine and to understand the common configuration attributes, such as RestartLimit and MonitorInterval. When an agent is built using C++, the agent framework is compiled in the agent with an include statement. When an agent is built using script languages, such as shell or Perl, the user can use the different agent binaries on UNIX shipped with VCS that provides framework functions. The agent framework handles much of the complexity that need not concern the agent developer.

See Script based agent binaries.