---
title: "LLM-VM vs hello-agents"
type: "comparison"
canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/anarchy-ai-llm-vm-vs-datawhalechina-hello-agents"
tools: ["anarchy-ai-llm-vm", "datawhalechina-hello-agents"]
---

# LLM-VM vs hello-agents

*GraphCanon updated Jul 11, 2026*

## Verdict

Pick LLM-VM when license: LLM-VM is MIT, hello-agents is Other; pick hello-agents when license: hello-agents is Other, LLM-VM is MIT.

[LLM-VM](https://anarchy.ai/) reports 491 GitHub stars, 136 forks, and 130 open issues, last pushed May 14, 2024. [hello-agents](https://hello-agents.datawhale.cc) has 65k stars, 8.1k forks, and 144 open issues, last pushed Jul 10, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [LLM-VM's repository](https://github.com/anarchy-ai/LLM-VM) and [hello-agents's repository](https://github.com/datawhalechina/hello-agents).

| | [LLM-VM](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm.md) | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tagline | irresponsible innovation. Try now at https://chat.dev/ | Course on building intelligent agents from scratch |
| Stars | 491 | 65,432 |
| Forks | 136 | 8,109 |
| Open issues | 130 | 144 |
| Language | Python | Python |
| Adopt for | - | hello-agents is a comprehensive guide and hands-on tutorial for developing AI agents using LLMs (Large Language Models) and RAG methods. |
| Persona | - | - |
| Runtime | - | - |
| License | MIT | hello-agents is covered under an unconventional license which may require further review before usage. |
| Categories | LLM Frameworks, Model Training, AI Agents | LLM Frameworks, AI Agents |

## Trust and health

_Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._

| | [LLM-VM](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm.md) | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maintenance | Dormant (18%) | Very active (96%) |
| Days since push | 788d | 0d |
| Open issues (now) | 130 | 144 |
| Full report | [trust report](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/trust.md) |

## Decision facts: hello-agents

- **Requirements:** Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed
- **Adopt for:** hello-agents is a comprehensive guide and hands-on tutorial for developing AI agents using LLMs (Large Language Models) and RAG methods.
- **License detail:** hello-agents is covered under an unconventional license which may require further review before usage.

## Choose when

### Choose LLM-VM if…

- License: LLM-VM is MIT, hello-agents is Other.
- Tags unique to LLM-VM: distillation-model, deep-learning, llm-local, artificial-intelligence.
- Also covers Model Training.

### Choose hello-agents if…

- License: hello-agents is Other, LLM-VM is MIT.
- Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed.
- Tags unique to hello-agents: rag, tutorial, agent.
- You should use hello-agents if you are interested in practical, step-by-step instructions on building intelligent agents from the ground up.

## When NOT to use LLM-VM

- Last GitHub push was 789 days ago (dormant maintenance, May 14, 2024). Validate activity before betting a new project on LLM-VM.
- LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves.
- Model Training: Try prompting and RAG first; fine-tuning is the answer to style/format, not missing knowledge.
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.

## When NOT to use hello-agents

- Avoid using hello-agents if you are looking for a quick, superficial introduction to AI agents; this tool focuses heavily on in-depth learning and practical application.
- Do not opt for hello-agents if you want a more general AI development resource; unlike some competitors, it has a narrower focus specifically on agent creation with advanced methods like LLMs and RAG.

## Common questions

### What is the difference between LLM-VM and hello-agents?

LLM-VM: irresponsible innovation. Try now at https://chat.dev/. hello-agents: Course on building intelligent agents from scratch. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.

### When should I choose LLM-VM over hello-agents?

Choose LLM-VM over hello-agents when License: LLM-VM is MIT, hello-agents is Other; Tags unique to LLM-VM: distillation-model, deep-learning, llm-local, artificial-intelligence; Also covers Model Training.

### When should I choose hello-agents over LLM-VM?

Choose hello-agents over LLM-VM when License: hello-agents is Other, LLM-VM is MIT; Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed; Tags unique to hello-agents: rag, tutorial, agent; You should use hello-agents if you are interested in practical, step-by-step instructions on building intelligent agents from the ground up.

### When should I avoid LLM-VM?

Last GitHub push was 789 days ago (dormant maintenance, May 14, 2024). Validate activity before betting a new project on LLM-VM. LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves. Model Training: Try prompting and RAG first; fine-tuning is the answer to style/format, not missing knowledge. AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.

### When should I avoid hello-agents?

Avoid using hello-agents if you are looking for a quick, superficial introduction to AI agents; this tool focuses heavily on in-depth learning and practical application. Do not opt for hello-agents if you want a more general AI development resource; unlike some competitors, it has a narrower focus specifically on agent creation with advanced methods like LLMs and RAG.

### Is LLM-VM or hello-agents more popular on GitHub?

hello-agents has more GitHub stars (65,432 vs 491). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.

### Are LLM-VM and hello-agents open source?

Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (LLM-VM: MIT, hello-agents: Other).

### Where can I find alternatives to LLM-VM or hello-agents?

GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [LLM-VM alternatives](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm/alternatives) and [hello-agents alternatives](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/alternatives) ([LLM-VM markdown twin](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm/alternatives.md), [hello-agents markdown twin](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/alternatives.md)), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.

### Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?

Yes. The markdown twin at [this comparison](/compare/anarchy-ai-llm-vm-vs-datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.

### Which is better maintained, LLM-VM or hello-agents?

LLM-VM: Dormant. hello-agents: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.

### Where are the full trust reports for LLM-VM and hello-agents?

GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [LLM-VM trust report](/tools/anarchy-ai-llm-vm/trust); [hello-agents trust report](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/trust).

---

**Machine-readable endpoints**

- JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=anarchy-ai-llm-vm`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=anarchy-ai-llm-vm)
- LLM index: [/llms.txt](/llms.txt)
- Full corpus: [/llms-full.txt](/llms-full.txt)

_GraphCanon - The knowledge graph for AI development. https://www.graphcanon.com/_
