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LLVM Project — shared IR, optimizer, and backends for modern compiler toolchains

OSS scale score 333.0OSS health 96Update pace 4,409 commits/30d
About these scores

OSS scale score is an unbounded metric that log-compresses and weights Stars, Watchers, Forks, and Contributors. Discovery score is the current OSS scale score minus the score at discovery. Update pace is commits in the last 30 days, growth momentum is the OSS scale score difference within the recent observation window, and OSS health is a 0–100 rating based on available recency, Community Health, and release data.

Stars
40,558
Primary language
LLVM
License
Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
Repository last updated
Sep 20, 2026

Overview

LLVM Project is a modular collection of technologies for building highly optimized compilers, optimizers, runtimes, and toolchains. LLVM IR and backend infrastructure sit at the center, with Clang, LLD, LLDB, libc++, and other projects developed in the same monorepo.

Features and best fit

Based on official documentation; not hands-on tested · Content checked:

Share optimization and code generation through LLVM IR

Frontends lower programs into LLVM IR, optimization passes transform that IR, and reusable backends generate machine code for multiple architectures.

Sources: [2][4]

Combine Clang, LLD, LLDB, libc++, and related components

The project develops language frontends, linkers, debuggers, standard libraries, and runtime components as a coordinated toolchain ecosystem.

Sources: [2]

For building compilers, runtimes, analyzers, JITs, and toolchains

LLVM fits language implementations, new architecture backends, optimizers, static-analysis systems, JIT compilers, and debugger/tooling projects that need reusable compiler infrastructure.

Sources: [2][4]

Account for monorepo build cost and subtree-specific licenses

Building the full source tree is resource intensive, so packaged releases are often simpler for users. Core code uses Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception, while third-party subtrees can have separate licenses.

Sources: [3][4]

Official sources

  1. [1]llvm/llvm-project repository(2026-09-20)
  2. [2]LLVM Project README(2026-09-20)
  3. [3]LLVM Apache-2.0 with LLVM Exceptions license(2026-09-20)
  4. [4]Getting Started with LLVM(2026-09-20)
Supplemental curator note

LLVM is compiler infrastructure rather than a single compiler: common IR, optimization, and code-generation layers support multiple frontends and tools. Clang is one major frontend on top of that stack. Core LLVM code is Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception, while third-party subtrees can carry different licenses.

Try it in 3 steps

  1. 1

    Install LLVM/Clang

    Use an operating-system package or official release and confirm the clang command is available.

    https://llvm.org/docs/GettingStarted.html
  2. 2

    Compile a C program with Clang

    Verify the basic path from the Clang frontend to a native executable.

    printf '#include <stdio.h>\nint main(void){puts("hello");return 0;}\n' > hello.c && clang hello.c -o hello && ./hello
  3. 3

    Emit LLVM IR

    Generate textual LLVM IR from the same source to inspect the boundary between the frontend and LLVM infrastructure.

    clang -S -emit-llvm hello.c -o hello.ll && head -n 20 hello.ll
Check the official README

Growth

Growth trends · Last 30 days

40,558 Stars

Trend data is still being collected.

Development activity

Last 90 days · weekly

Commits (last 30 days)
4,409
Open PRs
9,851
Issues opened
3,117
Issues closed
2,649
PRs opened
16,289
PRs merged
12,947

Issues

3,117 / 2,649

Jun 23Sep 20
Issues openedIssues closed

Pull requests

16,289 / 12,947

Jun 23Sep 20
PRs openedPRs merged

Maintenance

Median first response
6.4 hr
Issue response rate
2.6% (2/77)

Based on up to the 100 newest issues opened by external users in the last 90 days. A first comment from an OWNER, MEMBER, or COLLABORATOR counts as a response; issues whose full comment history cannot be checked are excluded. The median and response rate update weekly.

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GitHub data

GitHub dataView detailed GitHub data
View on GitHub
Stars
40,558
Forks
18,723
Watchers
567
Open issues
29,421
Contributors
365
Primary language
LLVM
Repository last updated
Sep 20, 2026
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