---
title: "llama.cpp vs codellama"
type: "comparison"
canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/ggml-org-llama-cpp-vs-meta-llama-codellama"
tools: ["ggml-org-llama-cpp", "meta-llama-codellama"]
---

# llama.cpp vs codellama

*GraphCanon updated Aug 7, 2026*

## Verdict

Pick llama.cpp if llama.cpp is a C++ framework for LLM inference, offering versatile installation options including package managers, Docker, and binary downloads; pick codellama if codellama offers an open-source inference framework for CodeLlama models using Python.

[llama.cpp](https://llama.app) reports 123k GitHub stars, 21k forks, and 2.0k open issues, last pushed Aug 7, 2026. [codellama](https://github.com/meta-llama/codellama) has 16k stars, 1.9k forks, and 116 open issues, last pushed Aug 12, 2024. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [llama.cpp's repository](https://github.com/ggml-org/llama.cpp) and [codellama's repository](https://github.com/meta-llama/codellama).

| | [llama.cpp](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp.md) | [codellama](/tools/meta-llama-codellama.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tagline | LLM inference in C/C++ | Inference code for CodeLlama models |
| Stars | 122,941 | 16,280 |
| Forks | 21,406 | 1,939 |
| Open issues | 1,969 | 116 |
| Language | C++ | Python |
| Adopt for | llama.cpp is a C++ framework for LLM inference, offering versatile installation options including package managers, Docker, and binary downloads. | codellama offers an open-source inference framework for CodeLlama models using Python. |
| Persona | - | - |
| Runtime | - | - |
| License | MIT licensed, allowing free use and modification under certain conditions. | Other |
| Categories | Inference & Serving | Inference & Serving |

## Trust and health

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

| | [llama.cpp](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp.md) | [codellama](/tools/meta-llama-codellama.md) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Maintenance | Very active (96%) | Archived (8%) |
| Days since push | 0d | 722d |
| Archived on GitHub | No | Yes |
| Open issues (now) | 2.0k | 116 |
| Stars delta | +3.4k (30d) | Unknown |
| Open issues delta | +143 (30d) | Unknown |
| Full report | [trust report](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/meta-llama-codellama/trust.md) |

## Decision facts: llama.cpp

- **Hosting:** unknown - llama.cpp supports various installation methods including package managers (like brew), Docker containers for isolation, pre-built binaries for ease of deployment, and source builds for flexibility.
- **Requirements:** Installation can be done via multiple channels including package managers, Docker, and direct downloads.
- **Adopt for:** llama.cpp is a C++ framework for LLM inference, offering versatile installation options including package managers, Docker, and binary downloads.
- **License detail:** MIT licensed, allowing free use and modification under certain conditions.

## Decision facts: codellama

- **Pricing:** freemium - codellama operates on an open-source model with freedoms for both researchers and commercial entities. Costs will arise from hosting and running environments where required.
- **Requirements:** Users should familiarize themselves with the acceptable use policy to align their projects accordingly.; Dependencies include Python, which must be installed for using codellama.
- **Adopt for:** codellama offers an open-source inference framework for CodeLlama models using Python.

## Choose when

### Choose llama.cpp if…

- llama.cpp is primarily C++; codellama is Python.
- License: llama.cpp is MIT, codellama is Other.
- llama.cpp supports various installation methods including package managers (like brew), Docker containers for isolation, pre-built binaries for ease of deployment, and source builds for flexibility.
- Requirements: Installation can be done via multiple channels including package managers, Docker, and direct downloads..
- Tags unique to llama.cpp: c++, ggml.
- - You need high-performance inference capabilities in a lightweight environment where C++ performance benefits are critical.

### Choose codellama if…

- codellama is primarily Python; llama.cpp is C++.
- License: codellama is Other, llama.cpp is MIT.
- Pricing: codellama operates on an open-source model with freedoms for both researchers and commercial entities. Costs will arise from hosting and running environments where required..
- Requirements: Users should familiarize themselves with the acceptable use policy to align their projects accordingly.; Dependencies include Python, which must be installed for using codellama..
- Tags unique to codellama: codellama, inference, python.
- If you need to work with the CodeLlama models specifically and benefit from their specialized capabilities in coding tasks, codellama provides tailored support that may outperform generic solutions.

## When NOT to use llama.cpp

- - If you prefer a language other than C++, as this tool lacks support for Python or JavaScript bindings that provide higher-level abstractions.
- - When your project demands extensive runtime customization and flexibility that is more easily achieved in languages like Python with libraries such as PyTorch.

## When NOT to use codellama

- If you are working on projects that do not align with CodeLlama's acceptable use policy or require compliance with specific industry standards beyond what codellama offers.
- For tasks that demand a different primary programming language other than Python, as codellama is primarily developed around the Python ecosystem.

## Common questions

### What is the difference between llama.cpp and codellama?

llama.cpp: LLM inference in C/C++. codellama: Inference code for CodeLlama models. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.

### When should I choose llama.cpp over codellama?

Choose llama.cpp over codellama when llama.cpp is primarily C++; codellama is Python; License: llama.cpp is MIT, codellama is Other; llama.cpp supports various installation methods including package managers (like brew), Docker containers for isolation, pre-built binaries for ease of deployment, and source builds for flexibility; Requirements: Installation can be done via multiple channels including package managers, Docker, and direct downloads.; Tags unique to llama.cpp: c++, ggml; - You need high-performance inference capabilities in a lightweight environment where C++ performance benefits are critical.

### When should I choose codellama over llama.cpp?

Choose codellama over llama.cpp when codellama is primarily Python; llama.cpp is C++; License: codellama is Other, llama.cpp is MIT; Pricing: codellama operates on an open-source model with freedoms for both researchers and commercial entities. Costs will arise from hosting and running environments where required.; Requirements: Users should familiarize themselves with the acceptable use policy to align their projects accordingly.; Dependencies include Python, which must be installed for using codellama.; Tags unique to codellama: codellama, inference, python; If you need to work with the CodeLlama models specifically and benefit from their specialized capabilities in coding tasks, codellama provides tailored support that may outperform generic solutions.

### When should I avoid llama.cpp?

- If you prefer a language other than C++, as this tool lacks support for Python or JavaScript bindings that provide higher-level abstractions. - When your project demands extensive runtime customization and flexibility that is more easily achieved in languages like Python with libraries such as PyTorch.

### When should I avoid codellama?

If you are working on projects that do not align with CodeLlama's acceptable use policy or require compliance with specific industry standards beyond what codellama offers. For tasks that demand a different primary programming language other than Python, as codellama is primarily developed around the Python ecosystem.

### Is llama.cpp or codellama more popular on GitHub?

llama.cpp has more GitHub stars (122,941 vs 16,280). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.

### Are llama.cpp and codellama open source?

Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (llama.cpp: MIT, codellama: Other).

### Where can I find alternatives to llama.cpp or codellama?

GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [llama.cpp alternatives](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp/alternatives) and [codellama alternatives](/tools/meta-llama-codellama/alternatives) ([llama.cpp markdown twin](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp/alternatives.md), [codellama markdown twin](/tools/meta-llama-codellama/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/ggml-org-llama-cpp-vs-meta-llama-codellama.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.

### Which is better maintained, llama.cpp or codellama?

llama.cpp: Very active. codellama: Archived. 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 llama.cpp and codellama?

GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [llama.cpp trust report](/tools/ggml-org-llama-cpp/trust); [codellama trust report](/tools/meta-llama-codellama/trust).

---

**Machine-readable endpoints**

- JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=ggml-org-llama-cpp`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=ggml-org-llama-cpp)
- 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/_