Ollama simplifies downloading and running open large language models on local hardware. It provides a command-line interface and a REST API for local model inference, text prompt processing, and text response generation.
Project overview
The project reduces the setup complexity of local models by offering a one-line installation script and a direct run command for open models.
Project type
AI Agent · Model Runtime
Use cases
Chat Assistants · Coding & Development
Deployment
Binary / CLI
License
MIT
Best for
Developers or general users who want to run open-source text models locally via a CLI, API, or libraries.
Users looking to connect local models to coding assistants like Claude Code, Codex, and Copilot CLI.
Key capabilities
Run and chat with large language models locally via CLI or REST API.
Provides a REST API for running and managing models.
Launch specific integrations for coding assistants like Claude Code, Codex, and Copilot CLI.
Limitations and risks
GPU and minimum hardware specifications are not documented.
Telemetry practices are not documented.
Operation requires downloading and running open models such as Gemma 4 or Llama.
Getting started
Installation is rated easy via a one-line script for macOS, Windows, and Linux, an official Docker image, or direct binary downloads. Users can achieve a first success path by installing via script or Docker and running a model command.
Evidence and sources
GitHub project description: Get up and running with Kimi-K2.6, GLM-5.1, MiniMax, DeepSeek, gpt-oss, Qwen, Gemma and other models.
README: Start building with open models.
README: curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh
README: irm https://ollama.com/install.ps1 | iex
README: curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh