Components of a training pipeline
An LLM training pipeline consists of several interconnected steps, each playing a role in the model’s development. We’ll present a basic pipeline here and explore many of these components in further depth as we progress through the chapter:
- Dataset creation: Builds preprocessed data into a format suitable for training, often involving shuffling and batching.
- Model architecture: Defines the structure of the LLM, including the number of layers, attention mechanisms, and other architectural choices.
- Training loop: The core of the pipeline where the model learns from the data through forward and backward passes.
- Optimization: Handles parameter updates based on calculated gradients and chosen optimization strategies.
- Evaluation: Regularly assesses model performance on validation data to track progress and prevent overfitting. We will cover this topic in more detail in Chapter 14.
- Checkpointing: Periodically saves...