Deprecate PrefectAgent and prefect agent command group

src/prefect/_internal/compatibility/deprecated.py

@@ -107,6 +107,34 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
     return decorator
 
 
+def deprecated_class(
+    *,
+    start_date: Optional[str] = None,
+    end_date: Optional[str] = None,
+    stacklevel: int = 2,
+    help: str = "",
+) -> Callable[[T], T]:
+    def decorator(cls: T):
+        message = generate_deprecation_message(
+            name=to_qualified_name(cls),
+            start_date=start_date,
+            end_date=end_date,
+            help=help,
+        )
+
+        original_init = cls.__init__
+
+        @functools.wraps(original_init)
+        def new_init(self, *args, **kwargs):
+            warnings.warn(message, PrefectDeprecationWarning, stacklevel=stacklevel)
+            original_init(self, *args, **kwargs)
+
+        cls.__init__ = new_init
+        return cls
+
+    return decorator
+
+
 def deprecated_parameter(
     name: str,
     *,

src/prefect/agent.py

@@ -1,7 +1,12 @@
 """
-The agent is responsible for checking for flow runs that are ready to run and starting
-their execution.
+DEPRECATION WARNING:
+
+This module, is deprecated as of version March 2024 and not be available after September 2024.
+Agents have been replaced by workers, which offer enhanced functionality and better performance.
+
+For upgrade instructions, see https://docs.prefect.io/latest/guides/upgrade-guide-agents-to-workers/.
 """
+
 import inspect
 from typing import AsyncIterator, List, Optional, Set, Union
 from uuid import UUID
@@ -11,7 +16,9 @@
 import anyio.to_process
 import pendulum
 
-from prefect._internal.compatibility.experimental import experimental_parameter
+from prefect._internal.compatibility.deprecated import (
+    deprecated_class,
+)
 from prefect.blocks.core import Block
 from prefect.client.orchestration import PrefectClient, get_client
 from prefect.client.schemas.filters import (
@@ -44,10 +51,11 @@
 from prefect.states import Crashed, Pending, StateType, exception_to_failed_state
 
 
+@deprecated_class(
+    start_date="Mar 2024",
+    help="Use a worker instead. Refer to the upgrade guide for more information: https://docs.prefect.io/latest/guides/upgrade-guide-agents-to-workers/.",
+)
 class PrefectAgent:
-    @experimental_parameter(
-        "work_pool_name", group="work_pools", when=lambda y: y is not None
-    )
     def __init__(
         self,
         work_queues: List[str] = None,

src/prefect/cli/agent.py

@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 """
 Command line interface for working with agent services
 """
+
 import os
 from functools import partial
 from typing import List
@@ -25,7 +26,12 @@
 from prefect.utilities.services import critical_service_loop
 
 agent_app = PrefectTyper(
-    name="agent", help="Commands for starting and interacting with agent processes."
+    name="agent",
+    help="Commands for starting and interacting with agent processes.",
+    deprecated=True,
+    deprecated_name="agent",
+    deprecated_start_date="Mar 2024",
+    deprecated_help="Use `prefect worker start` instead. Refer to the upgrade guide for more information: https://docs.prefect.io/latest/guides/upgrade-guide-agents-to-workers/. ",
 )
 app.add_typer(agent_app)
 

tests/_internal/compatibility/test_deprecated.py

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 from prefect._internal.compatibility.deprecated import (
     PrefectDeprecationWarning,
     deprecated_callable,
+    deprecated_class,
     deprecated_field,
     deprecated_parameter,
     generate_deprecation_message,
@@ -173,3 +174,20 @@ class Foo(pydantic.BaseModel):
         ),
     ):
         Foo(x=10)
+
+
+def test_deprecated_class():
+    @deprecated_class(start_date="Jan 2022", help="test help")
+    class MyClass:
+        def __init__(self):
+            pass
+
+    with pytest.warns(
+        PrefectDeprecationWarning,
+        match=(
+            "MyClass has been deprecated. It will not be available after Jul 2022."
+            " test help"
+        ),
+    ):
+        obj = MyClass()
+        assert isinstance(obj, MyClass)

tests/agent/test_agent_deprecation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+import pytest
+
+from prefect._internal.compatibility.deprecated import PrefectDeprecationWarning
+from prefect.agent import PrefectAgent
+
+
+def test_agent_emits_deprecation_warning():
+    with pytest.warns(
+        PrefectDeprecationWarning,
+        match=(
+            "prefect.agent.PrefectAgent has been deprecated. It will not be available after Sep 2024. Use a worker instead. Refer to the upgrade guide for more information"
+        ),
+    ):
+        PrefectAgent()

tests/cli/test_agent.py

@@ -1,17 +1,45 @@
+import warnings
 from unittest.mock import ANY
 
+import pytest
+
 import prefect.cli.agent
 from prefect import PrefectClient
+from prefect._internal.compatibility.deprecated import PrefectDeprecationWarning
 from prefect.settings import PREFECT_AGENT_PREFETCH_SECONDS, temporary_settings
 from prefect.testing.cli import invoke_and_assert
 from prefect.testing.utilities import MagicMock
 from prefect.utilities.asyncutils import run_sync_in_worker_thread
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def ignore_agent_deprecation_warnings():
+    """
+    Ignore deprecation warnings from the agent module to avoid
+    test failures.
+    """
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        warnings.simplefilter("ignore", category=PrefectDeprecationWarning)
+        yield
+
+
+def test_start_agent_emits_deprecation_warning():
+    invoke_and_assert(
+        command=["agent", "start", "--run-once", "-q", "test"],
+        expected_code=0,
+        expected_output_contains=[
+            "The 'agent' command group has been deprecated.",
+            "It will not be available after Sep 2024.",
+            " Use `prefect worker start` instead.",
+            " Refer to the upgrade guide for more information",
+        ],
+    )
+
+
 def test_start_agent_with_no_args():
     invoke_and_assert(
         command=["agent", "start"],
-        expected_output="No work queues provided!",
+        expected_output_contains="No work queues provided!",
         expected_code=1,
     )
 

tests/conftest.py

@@ -76,6 +76,7 @@
 from .fixtures.client import *
 from .fixtures.collections_registry import *
 from .fixtures.database import *
+from .fixtures.deprecation import *
 from .fixtures.docker import *
 from .fixtures.logging import *
 from .fixtures.storage import *

tests/fixtures/deprecation.py

@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+"""
+Fixture to ignore our own deprecation warnings.
+
+Deprecations should be specifically tested to ensure they are emitted as expected.
+"""
+
+import warnings
+
+import pytest
+
+from prefect._internal.compatibility.deprecated import PrefectDeprecationWarning
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def ignore_prefect_deprecation_warnings():
+    """
+    Ignore deprecation warnings from the agent module to avoid
+    test failures.
+    """
+    with warnings.catch_warnings():
+        warnings.simplefilter("ignore", category=PrefectDeprecationWarning)
+        yield