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Picolm

Picolm is a C11 command-line inference runtime that generates text from GGUF language models, including TinyLlama 1.1B and other LLaMA-architecture models. It is designed to keep runtime memory low by memory-mapping the model file and streaming layers as needed, enabling local inference on constrained hardware.

Explore the practical guide ↓

Independent OpenViST project profile, based on linked sources.

Picolm — OpenViST project profile in AI Infrastructure & Serving.
OpenViST project illustration. See the linked sources for product details.
Understand the project

Practical overview

When it fits

Use Picolm when a project needs a small command-line inference component that can run a supported GGUF model locally, particularly where memory constraints or offline operation matter more than generation speed.

Who it is for

  • Developers who need local text generation from a GGUF model on low-memory hardware.
  • Embedded and offline application builders integrating language-model inference.
  • PicoClaw users configuring a local model subprocess.

Documented uses

  • Generate text from a prompt using a local GGUF model.
  • Pipe prompts through standard input or set generation parameters from the command line.
  • Request grammar-constrained JSON output for structured-data workflows.
  • Save and reuse prompt state through the file-based KV cache.
Before you choose

Requirements & limits

The public repository is released under the MIT license.

  • The documented TinyLlama Q4_K_M model file is 638 MB, even though the project reports approximately 45 MB of runtime memory.
  • Throughput varies by hardware; the README reports around 8 tokens per second on a Pi 4 and 2 on a Pi Zero 2W for the documented model.
  • Picolm provides inference; PicoClaw is a separate assistant project that can use it as a subprocess.

Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.

Source-based practical guide

Build Picolm and run a local prompt

Build the command-line runtime, obtain a model, and generate text from a prompt.

Before you start

  • A system with the documented compiler and make-based build tools.
  • A GGUF model file; the documented TinyLlama Q4_K_M download is 638 MB.

Steps

  1. Clone the Picolm repository and change into its picolm directory.

  2. Run the command below to build for the local x86 or ARM machine.

    Documented command
    make native

  3. Run the command below to download the documented model.

    Documented command
    make model

  4. Run ./picolm model.gguf -p "Your prompt" -n 100, substituting the model path and desired prompt.

Expected outcome

Picolm generates up to the requested number of tokens from the supplied prompt.

Guide limitations

  • The documented model file is 638 MB.
  • Generation speed varies by hardware; the README reports about 8 tokens per second on a Pi 4 and 2 on a Pi Zero 2W for TinyLlama 1.1B Q4_K_M.
Documentation 1 ↗
Evidence and transparency

Sources & review

Official repository ↗
Source record details
Source availability
Active
Sources checked
11 October 2026
Original website title
RightNow-AI/picolm · Official homepage title · retained in its source language
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