Improve Import Error Messages for LLM Client Dependencies

[Xurnnba]

What feature would you like to be added?

Current Behavior

When an import error occurs while initializing LLM clients (e.g., Gemini, Anthropic, etc.), the code raises a generic ImportError with a hardcoded message suggesting to install specific packages. However, the actual import error might be caused by other issues (like missing dependencies of those packages or version conflicts).

For example, when trying to use the Gemini client, if there's an error importing vertexai, the code shows:
ImportError: Please install google-generativeai to use Google OpenAI API.
Even though the actual error was:
ImportError: No module named 'vertexai'

Why is this needed?

Proposed Change

Modify the import error handling to:

1. Include the original error message in the raised ImportError
2. Provide more context about potential dependencies

Example implementation:
if gemini_import_exception:
raise ImportError(
f"Failed to initialize Gemini client. Original error: {gemini_import_exception}\n"
"Required packages:\n"
"- google-generativeai\n"
"- google-cloud-aiplatform (provides vertexai)"
)

Benefits

• Users get more accurate information about what's actually causing the import failure
• Easier troubleshooting of dependency issues
• Clearer guidance on required packages and their relationships

Affected Files

• /autogen/oai/client.py

[mmahjoub5]

Hi, I can attempt to take this issue, if no one has volunteered

[ekzhu]

Sure @mmahjoub5

[D-Yuva]

Hey, can i give it a shot too ?

[ekzhu]

@mmahjoub5 any update on your side?

@D-Yuva thanks! Since @mmahjoub5 is already working on it, let's wait for his response.

[dedsec995]

@ekzhu I think I want help out. This would be my first contribution to open source. If no one else is working.

[ekzhu]

@dedsec995 thanks. To avoid duplicate PRs let @D-Yuva submit a fix and you can review it?

v0.4 version's autogen-ext package also has many external dependencies, and it would be good to fix the import errors there too.

E.g.,

autogen/python/packages/autogen-ext/src/autogen_ext/agents/file_surfer/_markdown_file_browser.py

Lines 10 to 11 in d99fb23

	from markitdown import FileConversionException, MarkItDown, UnsupportedFormatException # type: ignore