OpenNN
OpenNN is an open-source neural network library written in C++, maintained by the Spanish company Artelnics.
Profile
OpenNN provides an open-source C++ library for building and deploying neural networks, primarily for predictive analytics and machine learning tasks.
OpenNN is an open-source neural network library written in C++, maintained by the Spanish company Artelnics. First released in 2013, the project has accumulated over 1,200 GitHub stars and more than 360 forks, with 9,443 commits as of April 2026. The library is designed for predictive analytics and machine learning, offering a range of algorithms for classification, regression, and time-series forecasting.
It is distributed under the GNU LGPL license and is intended for developers who need a lightweight, embeddable neural network framework without the overhead of larger platforms like TensorFlow or PyTorch. The most recent release, OpenNN 8.0.0 RC-2, was tagged in April 2026, indicating ongoing maintenance. Artelnics also offers a commercial product called Neural Designer, a GUI-based tool that wraps OpenNN for users who prefer a visual interface.
The project's GitHub repository shows moderate community engagement, with 17 tags and 5 branches. OpenNN is used in academic research and by small-to-medium enterprises for custom machine learning deployments, particularly in fields where C++ performance is critical. The company has not disclosed funding rounds, revenue, or headcount; its business model appears to rely on commercial licenses and consulting services for Neural Designer.
No major customer names or partnerships are publicly listed. The project competes with other open-source C++ ML libraries like dlib and Shark, but lacks the ecosystem and community size of Python-based alternatives.
Products by OpenNN
Who buys this
- Academic researchers in machine learning and computational science
- Small-to-medium enterprises needing embedded or high-performance neural network inference
- Developers building custom predictive models in C++ environments
- Industrial and engineering teams requiring deterministic, low-latency ML solutions
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Lightweight C++ library with no external dependencies beyond Eigen, making it suitable for embedded and resource-constrained environments
- Active development with 9,443 commits and a recent 8.0.0 release candidate as of April 2026
- Dual licensing model (open-source LGPL and commercial) allows flexibility for both academic and proprietary use
Watch for
- Very small community compared to major ML frameworks: 1,200 stars and 363 forks on GitHub, with limited third-party contributions or plugins
- No disclosed revenue, funding, or headcount; business viability of Artelnics is unclear from public sources
- Limited documentation and examples beyond basic tutorials; may be a barrier for new users compared to well-documented alternatives
Recent moves
Key Information
- Industry
- AI Frameworks, Tools & Libraries
- Founded
- 1986
Frequently Asked Questions
What is OpenNN and what is it used for?
OpenNN is an open-source C++ library for building and deploying neural networks, focused on predictive analytics and machine learning tasks like classification, regression, and time-series forecasting. It is maintained by the Spanish company Artelnics and released under the GNU LGPL license.
How does OpenNN compare to TensorFlow or PyTorch?
OpenNN is a lightweight C++ library without the overhead of larger platforms like TensorFlow or PyTorch. It is designed for developers needing an embeddable neural network framework in resource-constrained environments, but it lacks the extensive ecosystem, community size, and Python integration of those major frameworks.
Is OpenNN suitable for embedded systems or low-latency applications?
Yes, OpenNN is lightweight and has no external dependencies beyond Eigen, making it suitable for embedded and resource-constrained environments. It is used by industrial and engineering teams requiring deterministic, low-latency machine learning solutions where C++ performance is critical.
What is the licensing model for OpenNN?
OpenNN is distributed under the GNU LGPL license, allowing both academic and commercial use. Artelnics also offers a commercial product called Neural Designer, a GUI-based tool that wraps OpenNN, and likely provides commercial licenses and consulting services for proprietary deployments.
How large is the OpenNN community and how active is development?
OpenNN has a moderate community with over 1,200 GitHub stars and 363 forks. Development is active with 9,443 commits and a recent 8.0.0 RC-2 release in April 2026, but the community is small compared to major ML frameworks, with limited third-party contributions or plugins.
What are the main limitations of OpenNN for new users?
OpenNN has limited documentation and examples beyond basic tutorials, which can be a barrier for new users. Its small community and lack of extensive third-party resources mean users may need to rely on the GitHub repository and official materials for support and learning.
Sources
- github.com — GitHub repository metadata: stars, forks, commits, branches, tags, recent release date
- investors.digitalocean.com — DigitalOcean Q1 2026 financial results (not directly about OpenNN but included in dossier)
- nvidianews.nvidia.com — NVIDIA fiscal 2026 financial results (not directly about OpenNN but included in dossier)
- investor.servicenow.com — ServiceNow Q1 2026 financial results (not directly about OpenNN but included in dossier)
- www.reuters.com — Yahoo sells TechCrunch to Regent (not directly about OpenNN but included in dossier)