From 6103acbedba61c5f732426eac95ca1da36e39229 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Sebastian Raschka Date: Sun, 6 Jul 2025 12:45:42 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Add prerequisite section (#723) --- README.md | 16 +++++++++++++++- 1 file changed, 15 insertions(+), 1 deletion(-) diff --git a/README.md b/README.md index 9edb158..558aa58 100644 --- a/README.md +++ b/README.md @@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ You can alternatively view this and other files on GitHub at [https://github.com

- + > **Tip:** > If you're seeking guidance on installing Python and Python packages and setting up your code environment, I suggest reading the [README.md](setup/README.md) file located in the [setup](setup) directory. @@ -86,9 +86,23 @@ The mental model below summarizes the contents covered in this book. +
  +## Prerequisites +The most important prerequisite is a strong foundation in Python programming. +With this knowledge, you will be well prepared to explore the fascinating world of LLMs +and understand the concepts and code examples presented in this book. + +If you have some experience with deep neural networks, you may find certain concepts more familiar, as LLMs are built upon these architectures. + +This book uses PyTorch to implement the code from scratch without using any external LLM libraries. While proficiency in PyTorch is not a prerequisite, familiarity with PyTorch basics is certainly useful. If you are new to PyTorch, Appendix A provides a concise introduction to PyTorch. Alternatively, you may find my book, [PyTorch in One Hour: From Tensors to Training Neural Networks on Multiple GPUs](https://sebastianraschka.com/teaching/pytorch-1h/), helpful for learning about the essentials. + + + +
+  ## Hardware Requirements The code in the main chapters of this book is designed to run on conventional laptops within a reasonable timeframe and does not require specialized hardware. This approach ensures that a wide audience can engage with the material. Additionally, the code automatically utilizes GPUs if they are available. (Please see the [setup](https://github.com/rasbt/LLMs-from-scratch/blob/main/setup/README.md) doc for additional recommendations.)