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https://github.com/mlane/llm-getting-started

Practical, beginner-friendly LLM projects using Python, LangChain, and LangSmith. Modular, reusable, and easy to run.
https://github.com/mlane/llm-getting-started

agent agents ai-examples ai-getting-started ai-projects beginner-friendly chatgpt gpt langchain langchain-examples llm llm-apps llm-examples ollama openai prompt-engineering python python-llm python3 text-generation

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Practical, beginner-friendly LLM projects using Python, LangChain, and LangSmith. Modular, reusable, and easy to run.

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README

          

# LLM Getting Started

A growing collection of practical, beginner-friendly projects using **Python**, **LangChain**, and **LangSmith** to explore modern LLM patterns.

> Inspired by the [LLM Engineering Cheatsheet](https://github.com/mlane/llm-engineering-cheatsheet)

---

## Quick Start

```bash
git clone https://github.com/mlane/llm-getting-started.git
cd llm-getting-started

python3.11 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

cp .env.sample .env
# Fill in your OpenAI / LangSmith API keys

# Run an example project
python3.11 projects/debate_agent.py

# Set up pre-commit hooks
pre-commit install # (run once per machine)
```

---

## Python Standards

- **Python version**: 3.11+
- **Formatter**: [`black`](https://github.com/psf/black)
- **Linter**: [`ruff`](https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff)

```bash
# Format code
black .

# Lint code
ruff check .
```

---

## Project Roadmap & Learning Path

This repo will grow over time. Projects are grouped by complexity to help you build intuition as LLM concepts evolve from simple to advanced.

✅ = Implemented & ready to run
💡 = Planned or conceptual for now

| Level | Project | Concepts Practiced | Status |
| --------------- | ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------ |
| 🟢 Beginner | Simple ChatBot with Memory | Interactive session, short-term memory | ✅ |
| 🟢 Beginner | Zero/Few-Shot Prompt Playground | Prompt patterns, zero-shot thinking | 💡 |
| 🟡 Intermediate | LLM Agent Debate | System prompts, disagreement modeling | ✅ |
| 🟡 Intermediate | Role-Based Support Assistant | Formatting, role control | 💡 |
| 🔴 Advanced | Retrieval QA from Local Docs | Vectorstores, retrieval chain | 💡 |
| 🔴 Advanced | Multi-Agent Task Planner | LangGraph, agent chaining | 💡 |

---

## Concept Glossary

Each script lists one or more of the following **concepts** it demonstrates:

### LLM Behaviors (Descriptive)

| Behavior | Concept |
| ------------------------------------ | --------------------------------------- |
| No examples given | zero-shot reasoning |
| Examples in prompt | few-shot prompting |
| Explicit persona or tone | persona control, system prompts |
| Responds to previous turns | conversation history, short-term memory |
| Simulates disagreement or debate | agent disagreement |
| Builds on previous answers | turn-based dialogue |
| Explains steps | chain of thought |
| Uses external data for context | RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) |
| Uses retrieved data to augment model | document retrieval, model augmentation |

### Interaction Patterns

| Structure/Flow | Concept |
| ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Live user input loop | interactive session |
| Two or more agents taking turns | multi-agent interaction |
| Message-based prompt passing | conversational flow |
| Uses tools or actions | tool execution |
| Semantic search for relevant context | document retrieval, semantic search, vectorization |

Use these as a reference when reading or extending scripts.

---

## Philosophy

We believe the best way to learn LLMs is by **doing** — each script is small, focused, and teaches a core idea.

This repo is built to be:

- Modular
- Beginner-friendly
- Focused on **thinking**, not just syntax
- Updated as the LLM ecosystem evolves

---

## License

[MIT](./LICENSE)

PRs welcome. Please keep things clean, consistent, and low-dependency.