{"data":{"slug":"louisfb01-start-llms","name":"start-llms","tagline":"A comprehensive guide for beginners to advance in LLM skills and stay current with industry developments.","github_url":"https://github.com/louisfb01/start-llms","owner":"louisfb01","repo":"start-llms","owner_avatar_url":"https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/70274208?v=4","primary_language":null,"stars":979,"forks":127,"topics":["ai","fine-tuning","gpt","gpt-4","language-model","large-language-models","llama","llm","llms","rag","retrieval-augmented-generation"],"archived":false,"github_pushed_at":"2026-01-23T19:50:52+00:00","maintenance_label":"Slowing","stars_delta_30d":0,"url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/tools/louisfb01-start-llms","markdown_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/tools/louisfb01-start-llms.md","api_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/api/graphcanon/tools/louisfb01-start-llms","graph_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/api/graphcanon/graph?tool=louisfb01-start-llms","description":"A complete guide to start and improve your LLM skills in 2026 with little background in the field and stay up-to-date with the latest news and state-of-the-art techniques!","homepage_url":"https://www.louisbouchard.ai/from-zero-to-hero-with-llms/","license":"MIT","open_issues":2,"watchers":22,"ai_summary":"louisfb01/start-llms offers a detailed introduction and progression pathway for developing and improving Large Language Model (LLM) skills, tailored for those with limited background knowledge. It covers essential topics including fine-tuning methods, state-of-the-art models like GPT and LLaMA, and latest industry practices such as retrieval-augmented generation.","readme_excerpt":"# Start with Large Language Models (LLMs) - Become an expert for free!\n\n## A complete guide to start and improve your LLM skills in 2026 without an advanced background in the field and stay up-to-date with the latest news and state-of-the-art techniques!\n\n[<img src=\"https://imgur.com/la4Sfu4.png\" width=\"512\"/>](https://www.louisbouchard.ai/from-zero-to-hero-with-llms/)\n\nFirst, if you have 0 programming or AI knowledge, please follow [this guide](https://github.com/louisfb01/start-machine-learning) I made for this exact purpose and come back here!\n\nThis guide is intended for anyone with a small background in programming and machine learning. There is no specific order to follow, but a classic path would be from top to bottom. If you don't like reading books, skip them. If you don't want to follow an online course, you can also skip it. There is not a single way to become a machine learning expert, and with motivation, you can absolutely achieve it.\n\nAll resources listed here are free, except some online courses and books, which are certainly recommended for a better understanding, but it is definitely possible to become an expert without them, with a little more time spent on online readings, videos, and practice. When it comes to paying courses, the links in this guide are affiliated links. Please use them if you feel like following a course, as it will support me. Thank you, and have fun learning! Remember, this is completely up to you and not necessary. I felt like it was useful to me and maybe useful to others as well.\n\nDon't be afraid to repeat videos or learn from multiple sources. Repetition is the key of success to learning!\n\nMaintainer: [louisfb01](https://github.com/louisfb01), also active on [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@whatsai) and as a [Podcaster](https://open.spotify.com/show/4rKRJXaXlClkDyInjHkxq3) if you want to see/hear more about AI & LLMs! You can also learn more twice a week in [my personal newsletter](https://louisbouchard.substack.com/)!\n\n\n\nFeel free to submit an issue for any great resources to add to this repository.\n\n\n***Tag me on Twitter [@Whats_AI](https://twitter.com/Whats_AI) or LinkedIn [@Louis Bouchard](https://www.linkedin.com/in/whats-ai/)  if you share the list!***\n\n### Want to know what this guide is about? Watch this video:\n\n[<img src=\"https://imgur.com/rS1d89V.png\" width=\"512\"/>](https://youtu.be/58XmJxb1x_o)\n\n\n## Table of Contents\n- [Prerequesites](#prerequesites)\n- [Start with short YouTube video introductions as a first step](#youtubevideos)\n- [LLM Books and articles (for readers)](#readers)\n- [Follow online courses](#courses)\n- [Practice, practice, and practice!](#practice)\n- [Prompting](#prompting)\n- [Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG)](#rag)\n- [More resources (Communities, cheat sheets, news, and more!)](#moreresources)\n- [How to find a machine learning job](#findajob)\n- [AI Ethics](#aiethics)\n- [Learn more and do more... with LLMs](#domore)\n\n## Prerequesites<a name=\"prerequesites\"></a>\n\nIf you have 0 programming or AI knowledge, please follow [this guide](https://github.com/louisfb01/start-machine-learning) I made for this exact purpose. Check out the python section mostly and then you will have a strong enough background to come back here!\n\nIf you are somewhat familiar with Python and AI, then I wish you happy learning!\n\n[<img src=\"https://imgur.com/hLr2aQF.png\" width=\"512\"/>](https://academy.towardsai.net/courses/beginner-to-advanced-llm-dev?ref=1f9b29)\n\n## Start with short YouTube video introductions as a first step<a name=\"youtubevideos\"></a>\n### Start with short YouTube videos introductions\nThis is the best way to start from nothing. Here, I list a few of the best videos I found that will give you a great first introduction to the terms you need to know to get started in the LLM field.\n    \n* Understanding the terminology\n    * [Mastering AI Jargon - Your Guide to OpenAI & LLM Terms - Louis Bouchard](https://youtu.be/q4G6X09NEu4) - A quick introduction to the most used te","github_created_at":"2023-11-07T21:47:06+00:00","created_at":"2026-07-11T11:39:33.177596+00:00","updated_at":"2026-08-24T06:00:52.472929+00:00","categories":[{"slug":"evaluation-observability","name":"Evaluation & Observability","url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/categories/evaluation-observability","markdown_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/categories/evaluation-observability.md","api_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/api/graphcanon/categories/evaluation-observability"},{"slug":"model-training","name":"Model Training","url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/categories/model-training","markdown_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/categories/model-training.md","api_url":"https://www.graphcanon.com/api/graphcanon/categories/model-training"}],"tags":[{"slug":"ai","name":"ai"},{"slug":"fine-tuning","name":"fine-tuning"},{"slug":"gpt","name":"gpt"},{"slug":"language-model","name":"language-model"},{"slug":"large-language-models","name":"large language models"},{"slug":"llama","name":"llama"},{"slug":"rag","name":"rag"},{"slug":"retrieval-augmented-generation","name":"retrieval-augmented-generation"}],"trust":{"provenance":{"is_fork":false,"github_id":715806751,"owner_type":"User","methodology":"github_public_v1","parent_repo":null,"near_duplicate_slugs":[]},"computed_at":"2026-08-24T06:00:51.555Z","maintenance":{"label":"Slowing","score":36,"methodology":"github_public_v1","releases_90d":0,"days_since_push":212,"last_release_at":null,"stars_delta_30d":0,"open_issues_delta_30d":0},"security_summary":{"status":"no_lockfile","scanner":null,"low_count":0,"high_count":0,"last_scan_at":"2026-07-11T11:39:34.357Z","medium_count":0,"scan_profile":"none","critical_count":0}},"capability_facts":{"scan":{"source":"repo_scan","observed_at":"2026-08-24T06:00:52.195Z"},"license_spdx":{"value":"MIT","source":"github.license","observed_at":"2026-08-24T06:00:52.195Z"}},"decision_facts":{"hosting":null,"pricing":null,"requirements":null,"constraints":null,"when_to_use":["You are a newcomer to LLMs looking for an accessible introductory pathway.","Your focus is on gaining knowledge about state-of-the-art models, such as GPT and LLaMA, which ‘start-llms’ emphasizes in its curriculum."],"when_not_to_use":["You already have advanced expertise or are a seasoned professional who prefers to dive deep into specialized areas immediately.","Your primary objective is real-time collaboration features for model development teams, as the repository does not highlight these aspects."],"source":"enrich:decision_facts","observed_at":"2026-07-12T05:21:50.404Z"},"constraint_facets":null,"decision_summary":[{"label":"Adopt for","value":"A comprehensive beginner-friendly guide oriented towards developing Large Language Model (LLM) skills through the latest methods and industry practices."}]}}