AgentOS Protocol
MPLP is a protocol-level operating system for agent lifecycle governance. It defines a vendor-neutral semantic contract that runtimes and agents are designed to respect.
Core Distinction
Protocol-level OS vs Runtime OS
MPLP operates at the protocol level, not the runtime level. This distinction is fundamental to understanding its role in the agent ecosystem.
Protocol-level OS (MPLP)
- ✓Defines what is expected to be true across interoperable implementations
- ✓Specifies lifecycle semantics, not execution mechanics
- ✓Enforces governance boundaries across vendors
- ✓Enables interoperability through shared contracts
Runtime OS (Others)
- ○Defines how to execute specific operations
- ○Provides execution engines and runtime environments
- ○Manages resources and scheduling
- ○Vendor-specific, framework-dependent
Structural Relationship
Protocol–Runtime Layering Relationship
MPLP is a protocol-level semantic substrate that operates beneath agent runtimes and operating systems, defining lifecycle governance rather than execution behavior.
Agent Ecosystem Dependency Stack
Agent runtimes and operating systems may differ in execution models, but all can rely on MPLP to provide shared lifecycle semantics, governance boundaries, and auditability.
⚠Clarification: What MPLP Is Not
- ✗MPLP does NOT replace agent runtimes or execution systems
- ✗MPLP does NOT schedule or execute agents
- ✗MPLP is designed to be embedded, not deployed as a standalone system
MPLP defines the semantic contract that runtimes implement. It is a governance layer, not a competing execution platform.
Architecture
Agent Stack: Four Layers
MPLP defines a layered architecture that separates concerns and enables governance at each level.
Core Protocol
Lifecycle primitives, semantic frames, and invariants.
Coordination
Modular governance primitives: Context, Plan, Confirm, Trace...
Execution
Execution runtimes and state handling that implement MPLP semantics (informative).
Integration
Models, tools, infrastructure, and external systems.
Core Principle
Governs, Not Executes
This is the defining characteristic of MPLP as an AgentOS Protocol.
“MPLP does not execute agents. It governs their lifecycle semantics so that every conforming runtime shares a common understanding of state, intent, and behavior boundaries.”
— MPLP Protocol Governance Committee
Semantic Authority
MPLP defines the meaning of lifecycle events, not how they are processed.
Vendor Neutrality
Any runtime can implement MPLP semantics, regardless of underlying technology.
Governance Properties
When adopted, lifecycle behavior can be made observable and auditable through shared semantics.
Related Positioning: Agentic State Sovereignty · Semantic Drift Control