---
title: "hello-agents vs llm_agents"
type: "comparison"
canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/datawhalechina-hello-agents-vs-mpaepper-llm-agents"
tools: ["datawhalechina-hello-agents", "mpaepper-llm-agents"]
---

# hello-agents vs llm_agents

*GraphCanon updated Jul 11, 2026*

## Verdict

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

[hello-agents](https://hello-agents.datawhale.cc) reports 65k GitHub stars, 8.1k forks, and 144 open issues, last pushed Jul 10, 2026. [llm_agents](https://www.paepper.com/blog/posts/intelligent-agents-guided-by-llms/) has 1.1k stars, 85 forks, and 3 open issues, last pushed Jun 23, 2025. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [hello-agents's repository](https://github.com/datawhalechina/hello-agents) and [llm_agents's repository](https://github.com/mpaepper/llm_agents).

| | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) | [llm_agents](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tagline | Course on building intelligent agents from scratch | Build agents which are controlled by LLMs |
| Stars | 65,432 | 1,050 |
| Forks | 8,109 | 85 |
| Open issues | 144 | 3 |
| 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 | hello-agents is covered under an unconventional license which may require further review before usage. | MIT |
| Categories | LLM Frameworks, AI Agents | LLM Frameworks, AI Agents |

## Trust and health

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

| | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) | [llm_agents](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Dormant (18%) |
| Days since push | 0d | 382d |
| Open issues (now) | 144 | 3 |
| Owner type | Organization | User |
| Security scan | No lockfile | 32 low (32 low) |
| Full report | [trust report](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/mpaepper-llm-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 hello-agents if…

- License: hello-agents is Other, llm_agents is MIT.
- Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed.
- Tags unique to hello-agents: llm, 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.

### Choose llm_agents if…

- License: llm_agents is MIT, hello-agents is Other.
- Tags unique to llm_agents: llms, deep-learning, machine-learning, python.
- Leaner open-issue backlog (3).

## 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.

## When NOT to use llm_agents

- Last GitHub push was 383 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jun 23, 2025). Validate activity before betting a new project on llm_agents.
- LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves.
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.

## Common questions

### What is the difference between hello-agents and llm_agents?

hello-agents: Course on building intelligent agents from scratch. llm_agents: Build agents which are controlled by LLMs. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.

### When should I choose hello-agents over llm_agents?

Choose hello-agents over llm_agents when License: hello-agents is Other, llm_agents is MIT; Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed; Tags unique to hello-agents: llm, 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 choose llm_agents over hello-agents?

Choose llm_agents over hello-agents when License: llm_agents is MIT, hello-agents is Other; Tags unique to llm_agents: llms, deep-learning, machine-learning, python; Leaner open-issue backlog (3).

### 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.

### When should I avoid llm_agents?

Last GitHub push was 383 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jun 23, 2025). Validate activity before betting a new project on llm_agents. LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves. AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.

### Is hello-agents or llm_agents more popular on GitHub?

hello-agents has more GitHub stars (65,432 vs 1,050). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.

### Are hello-agents and llm_agents open source?

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

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

GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [hello-agents alternatives](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/alternatives) and [llm_agents alternatives](/tools/mpaepper-llm-agents/alternatives) ([hello-agents markdown twin](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/alternatives.md), [llm_agents markdown twin](/tools/mpaepper-llm-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/datawhalechina-hello-agents-vs-mpaepper-llm-agents.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.

### Which is better maintained, hello-agents or llm_agents?

hello-agents: Very active. llm_agents: Dormant. 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 hello-agents and llm_agents?

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

---

**Machine-readable endpoints**

- JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=datawhalechina-hello-agents`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=datawhalechina-hello-agents)
- 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/_
