Comparison
airflow vs hamilton
Verdict
Pick airflow if apache Airflow is a Python-based orchestrator for scheduling and monitoring workflows, suitable for tasks that require flexible DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) definitions; pick hamilton if apache Hamilton aids Python data environments by enabling modular, self-documenting dataflows with lineage/tracing and metadata support.
Markdown twin · airflow alternatives · hamilton alternatives
GraphCanon updated Sep 29, 2026
14views this month
Trust & integrity
| Signal | airflow | hamilton |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of Sep 29, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 14, 2026 · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of Sep 29, 2026 · github_public_v1 |
| OSV dependency advisories | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 15, 2026 · osv@v1 | No lockfile (source not queried) As of Jul 11, 2026 · osv@v1 |
| deps.dev advisories | Not queried deps.dev@v1 | Not queried deps.dev@v1 |
| OpenSSF Scorecard | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 | Not queried openssf-scorecard@v1 |
Tagline
- airflow
- A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows
- hamilton
- Modular dataflow definition for Python environments
Stars
- airflow
- 47k
- hamilton
- 2.6k
Forks
- airflow
- 18k
- hamilton
- 215
Open issues
- airflow
- 2.1k
- hamilton
- 153
Language
- airflow
- Python
- hamilton
- Jupyter Notebook
Adopt for
- airflow
- Apache Airflow is a Python-based orchestrator for scheduling and monitoring workflows, suitable for tasks that require flexible DAG (Directed Acyclic Graph) definitions.
- hamilton
- Apache Hamilton aids Python data environments by enabling modular, self-documenting dataflows with lineage/tracing and metadata support.
Persona
- airflow
- -
- hamilton
- -
Runtime
- airflow
- -
- hamilton
- -
License
- airflow
- Apache-2.0
- hamilton
- Apache-2.0
Last pushed
- airflow
- Sep 14, 2026
- hamilton
- Sep 29, 2026
Categories
- airflow
- Developer Tools
- hamilton
- Data & Retrieval, Developer Tools
Trust and health
Open issues (now)
- airflow
- 2.1k
- hamilton
- 153
Stars delta
- airflow
- +419 (30d)
- hamilton
- +44 (30d)
Open issues delta
- airflow
- +262 (30d)
- hamilton
- +5 (30d)
Full report
- airflow
- Trust report
- hamilton
- Trust report
Shared compatibility
- Python · airflow: Python runtime · hamilton: Python runtime
Choose airflow if…
- airflow is primarily Python; hamilton is Jupyter Notebook.
- Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, etl.
- airflow ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment.
- If you need to model complex workflow dependency graphs with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
When NOT to use airflow
- Avoid if you require Windows as the primary execution environment without using WSL2.
- If your project strictly adheres to MariaDB for database management, Airflow is not recommended because it is neither tested nor supported by the tool.
Choose hamilton if…
- hamilton is primarily Jupyter Notebook; airflow is Python.
- Tags unique to hamilton: data-analysis, data-science, feature-engineering, llmops.
- Also covers Data & Retrieval.
- Requires detailed lineage and tracing in Python-based ETL processes
When NOT to use hamilton
- Working exclusively within a non-Python environment where broader platform support is needed
- Projects that do not require extensive metadata capture or lineage tracking capabilities
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- GitHub forks (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Last push (apache/airflow) · observed Sep 14, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 20, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 16, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 15, 2026
- GitHub stars (apache/hamilton) · observed Sep 29, 2026
- GitHub forks (apache/hamilton) · observed Sep 29, 2026
- Last push (apache/hamilton) · observed Sep 29, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Sep 29, 2026
- Decision facts (enrichment) · observed Jul 17, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: airflow 47k · hamilton 2.6k (synced Sep 20, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between airflow and hamilton?
- airflow: A platform to programmatically author, schedule, and monitor workflows. hamilton: Modular dataflow definition for Python environments. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose airflow over hamilton?
- Choose airflow over hamilton when airflow is primarily Python; hamilton is Jupyter Notebook; Tags unique to airflow: airflow, apache, automation, etl; airflow ships Docker support for self-hosted deployment; If you need to model complex workflow dependency graphs with Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs).
- When should I choose hamilton over airflow?
- Choose hamilton over airflow when hamilton is primarily Jupyter Notebook; airflow is Python; Tags unique to hamilton: data-analysis, data-science, feature-engineering, llmops; Also covers Data & Retrieval; Requires detailed lineage and tracing in Python-based ETL processes.
- When should I avoid airflow?
- Avoid if you require Windows as the primary execution environment without using WSL2. If your project strictly adheres to MariaDB for database management, Airflow is not recommended because it is neither tested nor supported by the tool.
- When should I avoid hamilton?
- Working exclusively within a non-Python environment where broader platform support is needed Projects that do not require extensive metadata capture or lineage tracking capabilities
- Is airflow or hamilton more popular on GitHub?
- airflow has more GitHub stars (46,844 vs 2,601). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are airflow and hamilton open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (airflow: Apache-2.0, hamilton: Apache-2.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to airflow or hamilton?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at airflow alternatives and hamilton alternatives (airflow markdown twin, hamilton markdown twin), 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 mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, airflow or hamilton?
- airflow: Very active. hamilton: 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 airflow and hamilton?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: airflow trust report; hamilton trust report.