bump version and add release note (#3246)

dotnet/eng/MetaInfo.props

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <Project ToolsVersion="4.0" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003">
     <PropertyGroup>
-        <VersionPrefix>0.0.16</VersionPrefix>
+        <VersionPrefix>0.0.17</VersionPrefix>
         <Authors>AutoGen</Authors>
         <PackageProjectUrl>https://microsoft.github.io/autogen-for-net/</PackageProjectUrl>
         <RepositoryUrl>https://github.com/microsoft/autogen</RepositoryUrl>

dotnet/website/release_note/0.0.17.md

@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+# AutoGen.Net 0.0.17 Release Notes
+
+## 🌟 What's New
+
+1. **.NET Core Target Framework Support** ([#3203](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3203))
+   - 🚀 Added support for .NET Core to ensure compatibility and enhanced performance of AutoGen packages across different platforms.
+
+2. **Kernel Support in Interactive Service Constructor** ([#3181](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3181))
+   - 🧠 Enhanced the Interactive Service to accept a kernel in its constructor, facilitating usage in notebook environments.
+
+3. **Constructor Options for OpenAIChatAgent** ([#3126](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3126))
+   - ⚙️ Added new constructor options for `OpenAIChatAgent` to allow full control over chat completion flags/options.
+
+4. **Step-by-Step Execution for Group Chat** ([#3075](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3075))
+   - 🛠️ Introduced an `IAsyncEnumerable` extension API to run group chat step-by-step, enabling developers to observe internal processes or implement early stopping mechanisms.
+
+## 🚀 Improvements
+
+1. **Cancellation Token Addition in Graph APIs** ([#3111](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3111))
+   - 🔄 Added cancellation tokens to async APIs in the `AutoGen.Core.Graph` class to follow best practices and enhance the control flow.
+
+## ⚠️ API Breaking Changes
+
+1. **FunctionDefinition Generation Stopped in Source Generator** ([#3133](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3133))
+   - 🛑 Stopped generating `FunctionDefinition` from `Azure.AI.OpenAI` in the source generator to eliminate unnecessary package dependencies. Migration guide:
+     - ➡️ Use `ToOpenAIFunctionDefinition()` extension from `AutoGen.OpenAI` for generating `FunctionDefinition` from `AutoGen.Core.FunctionContract`.
+     - ➡️ Use `FunctionContract` for metadata such as function name or parameters.
+
+2. **Namespace Renaming for AutoGen.WebAPI** ([#3152](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3152))
+   - ✏️ Renamed the namespace of `AutoGen.WebAPI` from `AutoGen.Service` to `AutoGen.WebAPI` to maintain consistency with the project name.
+
+3. **Semantic Kernel Version Update** ([#3118](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3118))
+   - 📈 Upgraded the Semantic Kernel version to 1.15.1 for enhanced functionality and performance improvements. This might introduce break change for those who use a lower-version semantic kernel.
+
+## 📚 Documentation
+
+1. **Consume AutoGen.Net Agent in AG Studio** ([#3142](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3142))
+   - Added detailed documentation on using AutoGen.Net Agent as a model in AG Studio, including examples of starting an OpenAI chat backend and integrating third-party OpenAI models.
+
+2. **Middleware Overview Documentation Errors Fixed** ([#3129](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues/3129))
+   - Corrected logic and compile errors in the example code provided in the Middleware Overview documentation to ensure it runs without issues.
+
+---
+
+We hope you enjoy the new features and improvements in AutoGen.Net 0.0.17! If you encounter any issues or have feedback, please open a new issue on our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/microsoft/autogen/issues).

dotnet/website/release_note/toc.yml

@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+- name: 0.0.17
+  href: 0.0.17.md
+
 - name: 0.0.16
   href: 0.0.16.md