feat: add client.exists() or client.has_model() method to check if a model is available locally
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Description
Feature Request
Currently there is no clean way to check whether a model is already pulled locally without either:
- Calling
ollama.show(model)and catching the exception - Calling
ollama.list()and iterating through all models
Proposed API
import ollama
if not ollama.exists("llama3.1:8b"):
ollama.pull("llama3.1:8b")
Or on the client:
client = ollama.Client()
if not client.exists("llama3.1:8b"):
client.pull("llama3.1:8b")
Use Case
When building applications that need to ensure a model is available before running inference (e.g., CI pipelines, first-run setup scripts, or tools like factory floor AI systems that need to work offline), a simple boolean check is much cleaner than exception-based flow control.
Current Workaround
try:
ollama.show("llama3.1:8b")
except ollama.ResponseError:
ollama.pull("llama3.1:8b")
This works but is not discoverable and uses exceptions for control flow, which is an anti-pattern in Python.
Contributor guide
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First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by tracing the existing show(), list(), pull(), and Client entry points to understand how local model availability is currently determined. Define the chosen module-level and client API consistently, then add coverage showing that an available model and a missing model produce the intended boolean result.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- ollama, python
- Domain
- api
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Quiet
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 55/100