What is Ell?
Ell treats AI prompts as versioned Python functions. Every call is auto-tracked with inputs and outputs, viewable in the Ell Studio visualization dashboard.
In one sentence: Ell is a Python library that manages prompts as versioned functions with automatic tracing, visualization, and A/B testing — 6k+ GitHub stars.
For: Teams needing prompt version management and analytics. Supports: OpenAI, Anthropic, and compatible APIs.
Core Features
1. Prompts as Functions
Define with the @ell.simple decorator — automatically traced.
2. Ell Studio Visualization
A local dashboard shows version history, call records, and performance metrics.
3. Automatic Versioning
Modifying a prompt function automatically creates a new version.
4. Multimodal Support
Supports mixed text + image inputs.
FAQ
Q: How does it compare to LangChain? A: Ell focuses on prompt engineering (versioning, tracing, iteration); LangChain is a broader framework.
Q: Where is the data stored? A: Local SQLite — nothing is sent externally.