--- title: "ai-engineering-from-scratch vs semtools" type: "comparison" canonical_url: "https://www.graphcanon.com/compare/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch-vs-run-llama-semtools" tools: ["rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch", "run-llama-semtools"] --- # ai-engineering-from-scratch vs semtools *GraphCanon updated Jul 11, 2026* ## Verdict Pick ai-engineering-from-scratch when ai-engineering-from-scratch is primarily Python; semtools is Rust; pick semtools when semtools is primarily Rust; ai-engineering-from-scratch is Python. [ai-engineering-from-scratch](https://aiengineeringfromscratch.com) reports 38k GitHub stars, 6.3k forks, and 96 open issues, last pushed Jun 25, 2026. [semtools](https://github.com/run-llama/semtools) has 1.8k stars, 136 forks, and 6 open issues, last pushed Mar 11, 2026. Figures are from public GitHub metadata via [ai-engineering-from-scratch's repository](https://github.com/rohitg00/ai-engineering-from-scratch) and [semtools's repository](https://github.com/run-llama/semtools). | | [ai-engineering-from-scratch](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch.md) | [semtools](/tools/run-llama-semtools.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Tagline | Learn it. Build it. Ship it for others. | Semantic search and document parsing tools for the command line | | Stars | 37,922 | 1,830 | | Forks | 6,329 | 136 | | Open issues | 96 | 6 | | Language | Python | Rust | | Adopt for | Specifically designed for individuals looking to build a comprehensive understanding of AI tools and frameworks from the ground up. | - | | Persona | - | - | | Runtime | - | - | | License | MIT | MIT | | Categories | AI Agents, Computer Vision, Developer Tools, LLM Frameworks | Developer Tools, Vector Databases | ## Trust and health _Sourced signals - not a safety guarantee. No winner column._ | | [ai-engineering-from-scratch](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch.md) | [semtools](/tools/run-llama-semtools.md) | | --- | --- | --- | | Maintenance | Active (82%) | Slowing (36%) | | Days since push | 15d | 121d | | Open issues (now) | 96 | 6 | | Owner type | User | Organization | | Security scan | No MCP manifest | No lockfile | | Full report | [trust report](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch/trust.md) | [trust report](/tools/run-llama-semtools/trust.md) | ## Decision facts: ai-engineering-from-scratch - **Pricing:** freemium - The `ai-engineering-from-scratch` repository is free and open-source under an MIT license, but for full access to additional resources or support, a paid option may be provided. Consult official or up - **Adopt for:** Specifically designed for individuals looking to build a comprehensive understanding of AI tools and frameworks from the ground up. ## Choose when ### Choose ai-engineering-from-scratch if… - ai-engineering-from-scratch is primarily Python; semtools is Rust. - Pricing: The `ai-engineering-from-scratch` repository is free and open-source under an MIT license, but for full access to additional resources or support, a paid option may be provided. Consult official or up. - Tags unique to ai-engineering-from-scratch: agents, ai-engineering, computer-vision, deep-learning. - Also covers AI Agents, Computer Vision, LLM Frameworks. - When you want to start with foundational knowledge and learn the intricacies behind AI systems. ### Choose semtools if… - semtools is primarily Rust; ai-engineering-from-scratch is Python. - Tags unique to semtools: cli, embeddings, parser, rust. - Also covers Vector Databases. ## When NOT to use ai-engineering-from-scratch - If you are looking for a quick setup or ready-to-go solution without diving into the foundational understanding. - When your project requires immediate practical application with less emphasis on self-implemented solutions from scratch. ## When NOT to use semtools - Last GitHub push was 122 days ago (slowing maintenance, Mar 11, 2026). Validate activity before betting a new project on semtools. - Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. - Vector Databases: Don't reach for a dedicated vector DB under ~100k vectors; pgvector on your existing Postgres is simpler to operate. ## Common questions ### What is the difference between ai-engineering-from-scratch and semtools? ai-engineering-from-scratch: Learn it. Build it. Ship it for others.. semtools: Semantic search and document parsing tools for the command line. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories. ### When should I choose ai-engineering-from-scratch over semtools? Choose ai-engineering-from-scratch over semtools when ai-engineering-from-scratch is primarily Python; semtools is Rust; Pricing: The `ai-engineering-from-scratch` repository is free and open-source under an MIT license, but for full access to additional resources or support, a paid option may be provided. Consult official or up; Tags unique to ai-engineering-from-scratch: agents, ai-engineering, computer-vision, deep-learning; Also covers AI Agents, Computer Vision, LLM Frameworks; When you want to start with foundational knowledge and learn the intricacies behind AI systems. ### When should I choose semtools over ai-engineering-from-scratch? Choose semtools over ai-engineering-from-scratch when semtools is primarily Rust; ai-engineering-from-scratch is Python; Tags unique to semtools: cli, embeddings, parser, rust; Also covers Vector Databases. ### When should I avoid ai-engineering-from-scratch? If you are looking for a quick setup or ready-to-go solution without diving into the foundational understanding. When your project requires immediate practical application with less emphasis on self-implemented solutions from scratch. ### When should I avoid semtools? Last GitHub push was 122 days ago (slowing maintenance, Mar 11, 2026). Validate activity before betting a new project on semtools. Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. Vector Databases: Don't reach for a dedicated vector DB under ~100k vectors; pgvector on your existing Postgres is simpler to operate. ### Is ai-engineering-from-scratch or semtools more popular on GitHub? ai-engineering-from-scratch has more GitHub stars (37,922 vs 1,830). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints. ### Are ai-engineering-from-scratch and semtools open source? Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (ai-engineering-from-scratch: MIT, semtools: MIT). ### Where can I find alternatives to ai-engineering-from-scratch or semtools? GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at [ai-engineering-from-scratch alternatives](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch/alternatives) and [semtools alternatives](/tools/run-llama-semtools/alternatives) ([ai-engineering-from-scratch markdown twin](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch/alternatives.md), [semtools markdown twin](/tools/run-llama-semtools/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/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch-vs-run-llama-semtools.md) mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers. ### Which is better maintained, ai-engineering-from-scratch or semtools? ai-engineering-from-scratch: Active. semtools: 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 ai-engineering-from-scratch and semtools? GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: [ai-engineering-from-scratch trust report](/tools/rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch/trust); [semtools trust report](/tools/run-llama-semtools/trust). --- **Machine-readable endpoints** - JSON: [`/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=rohitg00-ai-engineering-from-scratch`](/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=rohitg00-ai-engineering-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/_