About Me - Learning LLMs From Scratch

Hi, I'm Emmanuel Gatwech 👋

Hey, I'm Eman, a software developer from South Sudan who is driven by a passion to change the world and become a polymath Currently combining engineering work with neuroscience studies at Arizona State University.

My Journey Into AI: From Web Performance to LLM Architecture

Like many, I was fascinated by the potential of AI but found myself frustrated by the gap between high-level, "black box" explanations and the actual, hands-on implementation. The challenge wasn't using the tools; it was understanding them.

The turning point came when I started working on systems powered by AI, such as semantic search engines for legal tech and media processing pipelines for video analysis. This practical need forced me to go beyond surface-level APIs and dig into the first principles.

Why This Project Exists

After months of late nights, countless tutorials, and more than a few "aha!" moments, I realized something important:

AHA! Moment
The best way to truly understand AI isn't by just using APIs—it's by building the core concepts yourself. No magic, just architecture.

This project is my attempt to document that learning journey, applying my background in system architecture and debugging to the world of LLMs. We'll dismantle complex topics and show you how to build a working system from the ground up. No PhD required, just curiosity and a willingness to get your hands dirty with code.

My Approach

  • Learn by Building - Every concept is paired with working code you can run.
  • First-Principles Focus - We'll break down complex ideas into the most basic, logical pieces (like breaking down RAG into Retrieval, Augmentation, and Generation).
  • Practical First - Focus on what you can build today with what you learn.
  • Open Source - This is a living document that grows with community contributions.

Let's Connect

I'm always happy to chat about AI, learning resources, or potential collaborations. You can find me on:

Support This Project

If you find this resource helpful, consider:

  • ⭐ Starring the GitHub repo
  • 🐦 Sharing it with others who might benefit
  • 💡 Contributing improvements or suggestions

The Road Ahead

This is just the beginning. As I continue to learn and grow in my AI journey, I'll be adding more content, more examples, and more practical applications. I hope you'll join me in exploring the fascinating world of AI and machine learning.

Remember: Every expert was once a beginner. The key is to start where you are and keep building.