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

# hello-agents vs aqueduct

*GraphCanon updated Jul 11, 2026*

## Verdict

Pick hello-agents when hello-agents is primarily Python; aqueduct is Go; pick aqueduct when aqueduct is primarily Go; hello-agents is Python.

[hello-agents](https://hello-agents.datawhale.cc) reports 65k GitHub stars, 8.1k forks, and 144 open issues, last pushed Jul 10, 2026. [aqueduct](https://aqueducthq.com) has 517 stars, 20 forks, and 11 open issues, last pushed Jun 7, 2023. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [hello-agents's repository](https://github.com/datawhalechina/hello-agents) and [aqueduct's repository](https://github.com/RunLLM/aqueduct).

| | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) | [aqueduct](/tools/runllm-aqueduct.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tagline | Course on building intelligent agents from scratch | Aqueduct is no longer being maintained. Aqueduct allows you to run LLM and ML workloads on any cloud infrastructure. |
| Stars | 65,432 | 517 |
| Forks | 8,109 | 20 |
| Open issues | 144 | 11 |
| Language | Python | Go |
| 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. | Apache-2.0 |
| Categories | AI Agents, LLM Frameworks | AI Agents, LLM Frameworks, Model Training |

## Trust and health

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

| | [hello-agents](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents.md) | [aqueduct](/tools/runllm-aqueduct.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Dormant (18%) |
| Days since push | 0d | 1130d |
| Open issues (now) | 144 | 11 |
| Full report | [trust report](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/runllm-aqueduct/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…

- hello-agents is primarily Python; aqueduct is Go.
- License: hello-agents is Other, aqueduct is Apache-2.0.
- Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed.
- Tags unique to hello-agents: agent, rag, tutorial.
- You should use hello-agents if you are interested in practical, step-by-step instructions on building intelligent agents from the ground up.

### Choose aqueduct if…

- aqueduct is primarily Go; hello-agents is Python.
- License: aqueduct is Apache-2.0, hello-agents is Other.
- Tags unique to aqueduct: ai, data, data-science, kubernetes.
- Also covers Model Training.

## 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 aqueduct

- Last GitHub push was 1130 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jun 7, 2023). Validate activity before betting a new project on aqueduct.
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.
- 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.

## Common questions

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

hello-agents: Course on building intelligent agents from scratch. aqueduct: Aqueduct is no longer being maintained. Aqueduct allows you to run LLM and ML workloads on any cloud infrastructure.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.

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

Choose hello-agents over aqueduct when hello-agents is primarily Python; aqueduct is Go; License: hello-agents is Other, aqueduct is Apache-2.0; Requirements: Min 4 GB RAM; Python knowledge assumed; Tags unique to hello-agents: agent, rag, tutorial; 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 aqueduct over hello-agents?

Choose aqueduct over hello-agents when aqueduct is primarily Go; hello-agents is Python; License: aqueduct is Apache-2.0, hello-agents is Other; Tags unique to aqueduct: ai, data, data-science, kubernetes; Also covers Model Training.

### 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 aqueduct?

Last GitHub push was 1130 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jun 7, 2023). Validate activity before betting a new project on aqueduct. AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism. 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.

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

hello-agents has more GitHub stars (65,432 vs 517). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.

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

Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (hello-agents: Other, aqueduct: Apache-2.0).

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

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

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

hello-agents: Very active. aqueduct: 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 aqueduct?

GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [hello-agents trust report](/tools/datawhalechina-hello-agents/trust); [aqueduct trust report](/tools/runllm-aqueduct/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/_
