Guidance
Python library for interleaving generation, prompting, and logical control using Handlebars templating.
Pricing
Free tier
Flat rate
Adoption
→StableLicense
Open Source
Data freshness
Verified · Jun 21, 2026Overview
What is Guidance?
Guidance is a Python library from Microsoft that uses Handlebars templating to interleave AI-generated text with prompts and logical control structures. This makes it easier to create complex interactions with language models in a structured way.
Key differentiator
“Guidance stands out by offering a unique way to integrate logical control and prompting within text generation, making it ideal for developers who need structured AI-generated content.”
Capability profile
Capability Radar
Honest assessment
Strengths & Weaknesses
↑ Strengths
↓ Weaknesses
API requires Python-specific patterns, TypeScript SDK is community-maintained
v0.1 to v0.2 migration required rewriting chain definitions
Primary development and maintenance focus is on Python, with no official support for other languages
GitHub repository has few contributors and issues take a long time to be addressed by maintainers
Fit analysis
Who is it for?
✓ Best for
Developers building interactive AI applications who need structured text generation
Teams working on chatbot development requiring dynamic and context-aware responses
Projects that require automated document creation based on variable inputs
✕ Not a fit for
Real-time data processing where low-latency is critical
Applications requiring heavy customization beyond templating capabilities
Cost structure
Pricing
Free Tier
Available
Open source — free to use
Starts at
$0
Model
Flat rate
Enterprise
None
Performance benchmarks
How Fast Is It?
Ecosystem
Relationships
Alternatives
Works well with
Next step
Get Started with Guidance
Step-by-step setup guide with code examples and common gotchas.