--- title: "caveman vs just-eval" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/juliusbrussee-caveman-vs-re-align-just-eval" tools: ["juliusbrussee-caveman", "re-align-just-eval"] --- # caveman vs just-eval *GraphCanon updated Jul 15, 2026* ## Verdict Pick caveman when caveman is primarily JavaScript; just-eval is Python; pick just-eval when just-eval is primarily Python; caveman is JavaScript. [caveman](https://caveman.so/) reports 88k GitHub stars, 5.1k forks, and 392 open issues, last pushed Jul 3, 2026. [just-eval](https://allenai.github.io/re-align/) has 90 stars, 7 forks, and 2 open issues, last pushed Jan 29, 2024. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [caveman's repository](https://github.com/JuliusBrussee/caveman) and [just-eval's repository](https://github.com/Re-Align/just-eval). | | [caveman](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman.md) | [just-eval](/tools/re-align-just-eval.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Reduce token usage with concise 'caveman'-style prompts. | A simple GPT-based evaluation tool for multi-aspect, interpretable assessment of LLMs. | | Stars | 87,950 | 90 | | Forks | 5,052 | 7 | | Open issues | 392 | 2 | | Language | JavaScript | Python | | Adopt for | The **caveman** tool is designed for developers and AI users who aim to optimize their token usage through the generation of more concise prompts, thereby potentially reducing costs and improving efficiency. However, it犺 | - | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT | | Categories | Developer Tools, LLM Frameworks | Developer Tools, Evaluation & Observability, LLM Frameworks | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [caveman](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman.md) | [just-eval](/tools/re-align-just-eval.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Active (82%) | Dormant (18%) | | Days since push | 7d | 897d | | Open issues (now) | 392 | 2 | | Owner type | User | Organization | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/re-align-just-eval/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: caveman - **Adopt for:** The **caveman** tool is designed for developers and AI users who aim to optimize their token usage through the generation of more concise prompts, thereby potentially reducing costs and improving efficiency. However, it犺 ## Choose when ### Choose caveman if… - caveman is primarily JavaScript; just-eval is Python. - Tags unique to caveman: ai, anthropic, caveman, claude code. - When you need to significantly cut down on token usage in AI interactions, up to 65%, without losing essential information content. ### Choose just-eval if… - just-eval is primarily Python; caveman is JavaScript. - Tags unique to just-eval: evaluation, gpt4, llm, llm-eval. - Also covers Evaluation & Observability. ## When NOT to use caveman - When requiring complex and detailed prompts that necessitate more nuanced expression beyond simple, 'caveman'-style sentences. - For situations where adherence to formal or specific linguistic structures is mandatory for the task's success. ## When NOT to use just-eval - Last GitHub push was 897 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jan 29, 2024). Validate activity before betting a new project on just-eval. - Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. - Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers. - LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between caveman and just-eval? caveman: Reduce token usage with concise 'caveman'-style prompts.. just-eval: A simple GPT-based evaluation tool for multi-aspect, interpretable assessment of LLMs.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose caveman over just-eval? Choose caveman over just-eval when caveman is primarily JavaScript; just-eval is Python; Tags unique to caveman: ai, anthropic, caveman, claude code; When you need to significantly cut down on token usage in AI interactions, up to 65%, without losing essential information content. ### When should I choose just-eval over caveman? Choose just-eval over caveman when just-eval is primarily Python; caveman is JavaScript; Tags unique to just-eval: evaluation, gpt4, llm, llm-eval; Also covers Evaluation & Observability. ### When should I avoid caveman? When requiring complex and detailed prompts that necessitate more nuanced expression beyond simple, 'caveman'-style sentences. For situations where adherence to formal or specific linguistic structures is mandatory for the task's success. ### When should I avoid just-eval? Last GitHub push was 897 days ago (dormant maintenance, Jan 29, 2024). Validate activity before betting a new project on just-eval. Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers. LLM Frameworks: Avoid a framework for a single prompt-and-retrieve call; the abstraction can cost more than it saves. ### Is caveman or just-eval more popular on GitHub? caveman has more GitHub stars (87,950 vs 90). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are caveman and just-eval open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (caveman: MIT, just-eval: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to caveman or just-eval? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [caveman alternatives](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman/alternatives) and [just-eval alternatives](/tools/re-align-just-eval/alternatives) ([caveman markdown twin](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman/alternatives.md), [just-eval markdown twin](/tools/re-align-just-eval/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/juliusbrussee-caveman-vs-re-align-just-eval.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, caveman or just-eval? caveman: Active. just-eval: 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 caveman and just-eval? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [caveman trust report](/tools/juliusbrussee-caveman/trust); [just-eval trust report](/tools/re-align-just-eval/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=juliusbrussee-caveman`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=juliusbrussee-caveman) - 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/_