--- title: "train-llm-from-scratch vs open-r1" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch-vs-huggingface-open-r1" tools: ["fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch", "huggingface-open-r1"] --- # train-llm-from-scratch vs open-r1 *GraphCanon updated Aug 17, 2026* ## Verdict Pick train-llm-from-scratch if train-llm-from-scratch offers a comprehensive approach for training your own Large Language Model (LLM) using PyTorch, solely powered by a single GPU; pick open-r1 if open-R1 is an open-source effort to replicate DeepSeek-R1's models and training pipelines involving model distillation, RL pipeline replication, and multi-stage training. [train-llm-from-scratch](https://fareedkhan-dev.github.io/train-llm-from-scratch/) reports 9.1k GitHub stars, 1.3k forks, and 6 open issues, last pushed Aug 17, 2026. [open-r1](https://github.com/huggingface/open-r1) has 26k stars, 2.4k forks, and 340 open issues, last pushed Apr 2, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [train-llm-from-scratch's repository](https://github.com/FareedKhan-dev/train-llm-from-scratch) and [open-r1's repository](https://github.com/huggingface/open-r1). | | [train-llm-from-scratch](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch.md) | [open-r1](/tools/huggingface-open-r1.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | A straightforward method for training your LLM from raw text to aligned model generation | Fully open reproduction of DeepSeek-R1 | | Stars | 9,141 | 26,423 | | Forks | 1,264 | 2,447 | | Open issues | 6 | 340 | | Language | Python | Python | | Adopt for | train-llm-from-scratch offers a comprehensive approach for training your own Large Language Model (LLM) using PyTorch, solely powered by a single GPU. | Open-R1 is an open-source effort to replicate DeepSeek-R1's models and training pipelines involving model distillation, RL pipeline replication, and multi-stage training. | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | The project is licensed under Apache-2.0, providing a permissive license that allows for free use, modification, and distribution. | | Categories | Inference & Serving, Model Training | Inference & Serving, Model Training | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [train-llm-from-scratch](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch.md) | [open-r1](/tools/huggingface-open-r1.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Slowing (36%) | | Days since push | 0d | 125d | | Open issues (now) | 6 | 340 | | Stars delta | +765 (30d) | Unknown | | Open issues delta | +4 (30d) | Unknown | | Owner type | User | Organization | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/huggingface-open-r1/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: train-llm-from-scratch - **Pricing:** freemium - This repository is available under the MIT license, allowing free use for both personal and commercial purposes. The model training requires resources on your end with no additional licensing costs. - **Requirements:** A single GPU environment is necessary.; Basic understanding of PyTorch is recommended to leverage the full potential of this tool.; Familiarity with NLP and transformer-based models can be helpful but not mandatory. - **Adopt for:** train-llm-from-scratch offers a comprehensive approach for training your own Large Language Model (LLM) using PyTorch, solely powered by a single GPU. ## Decision facts: open-r1 - **Requirements:** Min 8 GB RAM; Installation requires CUDA version 12.4 and PyTorch v2.6.0, with specific dependencies like vLLM and FlashAttention that are critical. - **Adopt for:** Open-R1 is an open-source effort to replicate DeepSeek-R1's models and training pipelines involving model distillation, RL pipeline replication, and multi-stage training. - **License detail:** The project is licensed under Apache-2.0, providing a permissive license that allows for free use, modification, and distribution. ## Choose when ### Choose train-llm-from-scratch if… - License: train-llm-from-scratch is MIT, open-r1 is Apache-2.0. - Pricing: This repository is available under the MIT license, allowing free use for both personal and commercial purposes. The model training requires resources on your end with no additional licensing costs.. - Requirements: A single GPU environment is necessary.; Basic understanding of PyTorch is recommended to leverage the full potential of this tool.; Familiarity with NLP and transformer-based models can be helpful but not mandatory.. - Tags unique to train-llm-from-scratch: gemini, large language models, llm, openai. - You're interested in building an LLM from the ground up without relying on prebuilt packages like transformers or peft. ### Choose open-r1 if… - License: open-r1 is Apache-2.0, train-llm-from-scratch is MIT. - Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM; Installation requires CUDA version 12.4 and PyTorch v2.6.0, with specific dependencies like vLLM and FlashAttention that are critical.. - Tags unique to open-r1: cuda, deepseek-r1, flashattention, model distillation. - Use Open-R1 when you need a detailed understanding of how DeepSeek-R1 operates, considering the project closely mirrors its architecture and processes. ## When NOT to use train-llm-from-scratch - Your goal is to rapidly prototype and fine-tune an existing pre-trained LLM with minimal coding effort. - You prefer using established transformer libraries or frameworks like Hugging Face's transformers, which offer quicker setup but less control over the underlying code. - You are working in a multi-GPU environment and need distributed training capabilities that go beyond what is offered here. - You seek immediate access to state-of-the-art models without wanting to dive into the intricate workings of an LLM. ## When NOT to use open-r1 - Avoid Open-R1 if your hardware does not support CUDA 12.4 or cannot run PyTorch `v2.6.0`, as this may lead to errors. - Do not use it if the need for rapid experimentation outweighs the value of detailed replication, since the multi-stage training and datasets curation process can be time-consuming. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between train-llm-from-scratch and open-r1? train-llm-from-scratch: A straightforward method for training your LLM from raw text to aligned model generation. open-r1: Fully open reproduction of DeepSeek-R1. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose train-llm-from-scratch over open-r1? Choose train-llm-from-scratch over open-r1 when License: train-llm-from-scratch is MIT, open-r1 is Apache-2.0; Pricing: This repository is available under the MIT license, allowing free use for both personal and commercial purposes. The model training requires resources on your end with no additional licensing costs.; Requirements: A single GPU environment is necessary.; Basic understanding of PyTorch is recommended to leverage the full potential of this tool.; Familiarity with NLP and transformer-based models can be helpful but not mandatory.; Tags unique to train-llm-from-scratch: gemini, large language models, llm, openai; You're interested in building an LLM from the ground up without relying on prebuilt packages like transformers or peft. ### When should I choose open-r1 over train-llm-from-scratch? Choose open-r1 over train-llm-from-scratch when License: open-r1 is Apache-2.0, train-llm-from-scratch is MIT; Requirements: Min 8 GB RAM; Installation requires CUDA version 12.4 and PyTorch v2.6.0, with specific dependencies like vLLM and FlashAttention that are critical.; Tags unique to open-r1: cuda, deepseek-r1, flashattention, model distillation; Use Open-R1 when you need a detailed understanding of how DeepSeek-R1 operates, considering the project closely mirrors its architecture and processes. ### When should I avoid train-llm-from-scratch? Your goal is to rapidly prototype and fine-tune an existing pre-trained LLM with minimal coding effort. You prefer using established transformer libraries or frameworks like Hugging Face's transformers, which offer quicker setup but less control over the underlying code. You are working in a multi-GPU environment and need distributed training capabilities that go beyond what is offered here. You seek immediate access to state-of-the-art models without wanting to dive into the intricate workings of an LLM. ### When should I avoid open-r1? Avoid Open-R1 if your hardware does not support CUDA 12.4 or cannot run PyTorch `v2.6.0`, as this may lead to errors. Do not use it if the need for rapid experimentation outweighs the value of detailed replication, since the multi-stage training and datasets curation process can be time-consuming. ### Is train-llm-from-scratch or open-r1 more popular on GitHub? open-r1 has more GitHub stars (26,423 vs 9,141). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are train-llm-from-scratch and open-r1 open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (train-llm-from-scratch: MIT, open-r1: Apache-2.0). ### Where can I find alternatives to train-llm-from-scratch or open-r1? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [train-llm-from-scratch alternatives](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch/alternatives) and [open-r1 alternatives](/tools/huggingface-open-r1/alternatives) ([train-llm-from-scratch markdown twin](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch/alternatives.md), [open-r1 markdown twin](/tools/huggingface-open-r1/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/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch-vs-huggingface-open-r1.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, train-llm-from-scratch or open-r1? train-llm-from-scratch: Very active. open-r1: Slowing. 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 train-llm-from-scratch and open-r1? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [train-llm-from-scratch trust report](/tools/fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch/trust); [open-r1 trust report](/tools/huggingface-open-r1/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=fareedkhan-dev-train-llm-from-scratch) - 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/_