Complete LLM Engineering Mastery: From Scratch to 124M GPT
A full-stack, zero-to-hero journey through every core component of modern large language models — from Feedforward & Residuals (Dynamic Programming, LayerNorm, Pre-Norm) to Decoder-Only Architecture (autoregressive, KV caching, Mini-GPT), Encoder-Decoder Transformers (cross-attention, seq2seq, Mini-T5), Training Loop & Backpropagation (autograd, gradient descent, TinyShakespeare), Inference & KV Cache (10x faster generation), Beam Search & Sampling (priority queues, top-k, nucleus), Tokenization & Vocabulary (BPE, Tries, Hash Maps), Byte-level BPE (UTF-8, GPT-2 compatible), Scaling Laws & Optimization (Chinchilla, FlashAttention, LoRA), culminating in the Capstone: 124M GPT from Scratch (full model, tokenizer, training, generation — no frameworks), and finally FlashAttention from Scratch (tiling, online softmax, 3x faster, 50% less memory). Build, train, optimize, and deploy GPT-class models with 100% PyTorch, no abstractions, full control — exactly how OpenAI, Meta, and xAI do it.
Transformer Mastery Course: From DSA to Generative AI
A Complete Roadmap with Deep Algorithmic Understanding
Transformer Mastery Course: From DSA to Generative AI
A Complete Roadmap with Deep Algorithmic Understanding
Course Title
"Transformers: The Algorithmic Engine of Modern AI"
Data Structures, Algorithms, and Generative Intelligence
Course Overview
This course transforms Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) students into Transformer experts by teaching the core algorithms behind GPT, BERT, Llama, and beyond — without black-box magic.
Goal: Understand how Transformers work at the algorithmic level, implement them from scratch, and optimize them using DSA principles.
Course Roadmap (12 Weeks)
| Week | Module | Core DSA Focus | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Math & Tensors | Arrays, Matrices, Vector Ops | NumPy → PyTorch |
| 2 | Attention is All You Need | Graphs, Hashing | Build Scaled Dot-Product Attention |
| 3 | Multi-Head & Self-Attention | Parallelism, Divide & Conquer | Multi-Head from Scratch |
| 4 | Positional Encoding | Hash Functions, Signal Processing | Sinusoidal vs Learned PE |
| 5 | Feedforward & Residuals | Dynamic Programming, Memoization | LayerNorm + Residual |
| 6 | Decoder-Only Architecture | Autoregressive DP, Caching | Mini-GPT (64-dim) |
| 7 | Training Loop & Backprop | Gradient Descent, Computation Graph | Train on TinyShakespeare |
| 8 | Inference & KV Cache | Memoization, Space Optimization | 10x Faster Generation |
| 9 | Beam Search & Sampling | Priority Queues, Heaps | Top-k, Nucleus Sampling |
| 10 | Tokenization & Vocabulary | Tries, Hash Maps | BPE from Scratch |
| 11 | Scaling Laws & Optimization | Big-O, Parallelism | FlashAttention, LoRA |
| 12 | Capstone: Build Your GPT | Full Stack | 124M GPT from Scratch |
Core Algorithm: Transformer Step-by-Step (Pseudocode + DSA)
# ========================================
# TRANSFORMER ALGORITHM (Decoder-Only)
# ========================================
def transformer_forward(input_ids, past_kv=None):
"""
DSA: Arrays, Hashing, Graphs, DP (KV Cache)
"""
# 1. Token → Embedding (O(V) → O(d) via Hash Map)
x = embedding_lookup(input_ids) * sqrt(d_model)
# 2. Add Positional Encoding (Deterministic Hash: pos → vector)
x = x + positional_encoding(seq_len)
# 3. For each layer: Attention + FFN
new_kv_cache = []
for layer in transformer_layers:
# === SELF-ATTENTION (Graph Algorithm) ===
Q, K, V = linear_project(x) # O(n * d)
scores = matmul(Q, K.T) / sqrt(d_k) # O(n²) → Adjacency Matrix
mask = causal_triangle_mask() # Lower triangular
probs = softmax(scores + mask)
context = matmul(probs, V) # Weighted sum
x = residual_add(x, context)
x = layer_norm(x)
# === FEEDFORWARD (Dense Array Ops) ===
x = residual_add(x, ffn(x))
x = layer_norm(x)
# Cache K, V for next token (DP Memoization)
new_kv_cache.append((K, V))
# 4. Final LM Head
logits = linear(x, vocab_size)
return logits, new_kv_cache
Key DSA Concepts in Transformers
| Transformer Part | DSA Concept | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
input_ids → embeddings |
Hash Map (Dict) | O(1) token lookup |
QKV Projection |
Matrix Multiplication | O(n²d) bottleneck |
Attention Scores |
Adjacency Matrix (Graph) | Tokens = nodes, attention = edges |
Causal Mask |
Triangular Array | Enforces autoregression |
KV Cache |
Memoization (DP) | Avoid recomputing past |
Beam Search |
Min-Heap (Priority Queue) | Track top-k sequences |
BPE Tokenization |
Trie + Greedy | Subword merging |
LayerNorm |
Statistics on Arrays | Stabilize training |
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Math & Tensors
# Task: Implement matmul from scratch
def matmul(A, B):
return [[sum(a*b for a,b in zip(row, col))
for col in zip(*B)] for row in A]
- Arrays, Broadcasting, Einstein Summation
- PyTorch Tensors →
torch.einsum
Week 2: Attention Mechanism
def scaled_dot_product_attention(Q, K, V, mask=None):
d_k = Q.size(-1)
scores = Q @ K.transpose(-2,-1) / sqrt(d_k) # Graph weights
if mask: scores = scores.masked_fill(mask == 0, -inf)
probs = softmax(scores)
return probs @ V
- Graph Interpretation: Attention = weighted graph
- Time Complexity: O(n²)
Week 3: Multi-Head Attention
# DSA: Parallel Processing (like MapReduce)
heads = [attention_head_i(x) for i in range(h)]
output = concat(heads) @ W_o
- Split → Compute → Merge (Divide & Conquer)
Week 4: Positional Encoding
# Hash Function: position → unique vector
pe[pos, 2i] = sin(pos / 10000^{2i/d})
pe[pos, 2i+1] = cos(pos / 10000^{2i/d})
- No learning needed → deterministic
- Alternative: Learned PE (trainable array)
Week 6: Build Mini-GPT
class MiniGPT(nn.Module):
def __init__(self, vocab=1000, d_model=64, n_layer=4):
self.token_emb = nn.Embedding(vocab, d_model)
self.pos_emb = nn.Parameter(torch.zeros(1, 128, d_model))
self.blocks = nn.ModuleList([Block() for _ in range(n_layer)])
self.ln_f = nn.LayerNorm(d_model)
self.head = nn.Linear(d_model, vocab)
- Train on TinyShakespeare (1MB text)
Week 8: KV Cache (Speed Hack)
# Before: O(n²) per token
# After: O(n) per token → 100x faster!
if past_kv is not None:
past_k, past_v = past_kv
K = torch.cat([past_k, K], dim=1)
V = torch.cat([past_v, V], dim=1)
Week 9: Beam Search with Heap
import heapq
heap = [] # (score, sequence)
heapq.heappush(heap, (-prob, [token]))
best = heapq.nsmallest(k, heap)
Week 10: BPE Tokenization (Trie + Greedy)
def get_stats(ids):
counts = {}
for pair in zip(ids, ids[1:]):
counts[pair] = counts.get(pair, 0) + 1
return counts # Hash Map
Capstone Project: Build Your Own GPT
| Component | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Model | 124M GPT (like GPT-2 small) |
| Tokenizer | BPE from scratch |
| Training | 100K steps on OpenWebText |
| Inference | KV Cache + Beam Search |
| Optimization | FlashAttention, LoRA |
Learning Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Original Paper | Attention is All You Need |
| Annotated | The Illustrated Transformer |
| Code | nanoGPT by Andrej Karpathy |
| Course | Stanford CS224N, MIT 6.S191 |
Assessment & Certification
| Task | Weight |
|---|---|
| Weekly Quizzes (DSA in Transformers) | 20% |
| 3 Coding Assignments | 30% |
| Midterm: Build BERT Tokenizer + Attention | 20% |
| Final Project: Train & Deploy GPT | 30% |
Certificate: Certified Transformer Architect (with GitHub portfolio)
Final Words
"Transformers are not magic — they are algorithms built on arrays, graphs, and heaps."
This course turns DSA students into AI builders.
Bonus: One-Page Cheat Sheet
TRANSFORMER = Embedding
+ Positional Encoding
+ N × (MultiHeadAttention + FFN + Residual + LayerNorm)
+ LM Head
ATTENTION(Q,K,V) = softmax(QK^T / √d_k) × V
GENERATION:
while not EOS:
logits, kv_cache = model(token, kv_cache)
token = sample(logits)
DSA MAP:
Token → Hash Map
Position → Sinusoid Hash
Attention → Graph
KV Cache → DP Memo
Beam → Min-Heap
BPE → Trie + Greedy
Ready to launch?
Let me generate:
- Full syllabus PDF
- Slide deck
- Jupyter notebooks
- C++ version
- Interview prep kit
Just say the word!
Complete LLM Engineering Mastery: From Scratch to 124M GPT
A full-stack, zero-to-hero journey through every core component of modern large language models — from Feedforward & Residuals (Dynamic Programming, LayerNorm, Pre-Norm) to Decoder-Only Architecture (autoregressive, KV caching, Mini-GPT), Encoder-Decoder Transformers (cross-attention, seq2seq, Mini-T5), Training Loop & Backpropagation (autograd, gradient descent, TinyShakespeare), Inference & KV Cache (10x faster generation), Beam Search & Sampling (priority queues, top-k, nucleus), Tokenization & Vocabulary (BPE, Tries, Hash Maps), Byte-level BPE (UTF-8, GPT-2 compatible), Scaling Laws & Optimization (Chinchilla, FlashAttention, LoRA), culminating in the Capstone: 124M GPT from Scratch (full model, tokenizer, training, generation — no frameworks), and finally FlashAttention from Scratch (tiling, online softmax, 3x faster, 50% less memory). Build, train, optimize, and deploy GPT-class models with 100% PyTorch, no abstractions, full control — exactly how OpenAI, Meta, and xAI do it.
Transformer Mastery Course: From DSA to Generative AI
A Complete Roadmap with Deep Algorithmic Understanding
Transformer Mastery Course: From DSA to Generative AI
A Complete Roadmap with Deep Algorithmic Understanding
Course Title
"Transformers: The Algorithmic Engine of Modern AI"
Data Structures, Algorithms, and Generative Intelligence
Course Overview
This course transforms Data Structures & Algorithms (DSA) students into Transformer experts by teaching the core algorithms behind GPT, BERT, Llama, and beyond — without black-box magic.
Goal: Understand how Transformers work at the algorithmic level, implement them from scratch, and optimize them using DSA principles.
Course Roadmap (12 Weeks)
| Week | Module | Core DSA Focus | Project |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Math & Tensors | Arrays, Matrices, Vector Ops | NumPy → PyTorch |
| 2 | Attention is All You Need | Graphs, Hashing | Build Scaled Dot-Product Attention |
| 3 | Multi-Head & Self-Attention | Parallelism, Divide & Conquer | Multi-Head from Scratch |
| 4 | Positional Encoding | Hash Functions, Signal Processing | Sinusoidal vs Learned PE |
| 5 | Feedforward & Residuals | Dynamic Programming, Memoization | LayerNorm + Residual |
| 6 | Decoder-Only Architecture | Autoregressive DP, Caching | Mini-GPT (64-dim) |
| 7 | Training Loop & Backprop | Gradient Descent, Computation Graph | Train on TinyShakespeare |
| 8 | Inference & KV Cache | Memoization, Space Optimization | 10x Faster Generation |
| 9 | Beam Search & Sampling | Priority Queues, Heaps | Top-k, Nucleus Sampling |
| 10 | Tokenization & Vocabulary | Tries, Hash Maps | BPE from Scratch |
| 11 | Scaling Laws & Optimization | Big-O, Parallelism | FlashAttention, LoRA |
| 12 | Capstone: Build Your GPT | Full Stack | 124M GPT from Scratch |
Core Algorithm: Transformer Step-by-Step (Pseudocode + DSA)
# ========================================
# TRANSFORMER ALGORITHM (Decoder-Only)
# ========================================
def transformer_forward(input_ids, past_kv=None):
"""
DSA: Arrays, Hashing, Graphs, DP (KV Cache)
"""
# 1. Token → Embedding (O(V) → O(d) via Hash Map)
x = embedding_lookup(input_ids) * sqrt(d_model)
# 2. Add Positional Encoding (Deterministic Hash: pos → vector)
x = x + positional_encoding(seq_len)
# 3. For each layer: Attention + FFN
new_kv_cache = []
for layer in transformer_layers:
# === SELF-ATTENTION (Graph Algorithm) ===
Q, K, V = linear_project(x) # O(n * d)
scores = matmul(Q, K.T) / sqrt(d_k) # O(n²) → Adjacency Matrix
mask = causal_triangle_mask() # Lower triangular
probs = softmax(scores + mask)
context = matmul(probs, V) # Weighted sum
x = residual_add(x, context)
x = layer_norm(x)
# === FEEDFORWARD (Dense Array Ops) ===
x = residual_add(x, ffn(x))
x = layer_norm(x)
# Cache K, V for next token (DP Memoization)
new_kv_cache.append((K, V))
# 4. Final LM Head
logits = linear(x, vocab_size)
return logits, new_kv_cache
Key DSA Concepts in Transformers
| Transformer Part | DSA Concept | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
input_ids → embeddings |
Hash Map (Dict) | O(1) token lookup |
QKV Projection |
Matrix Multiplication | O(n²d) bottleneck |
Attention Scores |
Adjacency Matrix (Graph) | Tokens = nodes, attention = edges |
Causal Mask |
Triangular Array | Enforces autoregression |
KV Cache |
Memoization (DP) | Avoid recomputing past |
Beam Search |
Min-Heap (Priority Queue) | Track top-k sequences |
BPE Tokenization |
Trie + Greedy | Subword merging |
LayerNorm |
Statistics on Arrays | Stabilize training |
Week-by-Week Breakdown
Week 1: Math & Tensors
# Task: Implement matmul from scratch
def matmul(A, B):
return [[sum(a*b for a,b in zip(row, col))
for col in zip(*B)] for row in A]
- Arrays, Broadcasting, Einstein Summation
- PyTorch Tensors →
torch.einsum
Week 2: Attention Mechanism
def scaled_dot_product_attention(Q, K, V, mask=None):
d_k = Q.size(-1)
scores = Q @ K.transpose(-2,-1) / sqrt(d_k) # Graph weights
if mask: scores = scores.masked_fill(mask == 0, -inf)
probs = softmax(scores)
return probs @ V
- Graph Interpretation: Attention = weighted graph
- Time Complexity: O(n²)
Week 3: Multi-Head Attention
# DSA: Parallel Processing (like MapReduce)
heads = [attention_head_i(x) for i in range(h)]
output = concat(heads) @ W_o
- Split → Compute → Merge (Divide & Conquer)
Week 4: Positional Encoding
# Hash Function: position → unique vector
pe[pos, 2i] = sin(pos / 10000^{2i/d})
pe[pos, 2i+1] = cos(pos / 10000^{2i/d})
- No learning needed → deterministic
- Alternative: Learned PE (trainable array)
Week 6: Build Mini-GPT
class MiniGPT(nn.Module):
def __init__(self, vocab=1000, d_model=64, n_layer=4):
self.token_emb = nn.Embedding(vocab, d_model)
self.pos_emb = nn.Parameter(torch.zeros(1, 128, d_model))
self.blocks = nn.ModuleList([Block() for _ in range(n_layer)])
self.ln_f = nn.LayerNorm(d_model)
self.head = nn.Linear(d_model, vocab)
- Train on TinyShakespeare (1MB text)
Week 8: KV Cache (Speed Hack)
# Before: O(n²) per token
# After: O(n) per token → 100x faster!
if past_kv is not None:
past_k, past_v = past_kv
K = torch.cat([past_k, K], dim=1)
V = torch.cat([past_v, V], dim=1)
Week 9: Beam Search with Heap
import heapq
heap = [] # (score, sequence)
heapq.heappush(heap, (-prob, [token]))
best = heapq.nsmallest(k, heap)
Week 10: BPE Tokenization (Trie + Greedy)
def get_stats(ids):
counts = {}
for pair in zip(ids, ids[1:]):
counts[pair] = counts.get(pair, 0) + 1
return counts # Hash Map
Capstone Project: Build Your Own GPT
| Component | Implementation |
|---|---|
| Model | 124M GPT (like GPT-2 small) |
| Tokenizer | BPE from scratch |
| Training | 100K steps on OpenWebText |
| Inference | KV Cache + Beam Search |
| Optimization | FlashAttention, LoRA |
Learning Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Original Paper | Attention is All You Need |
| Annotated | The Illustrated Transformer |
| Code | nanoGPT by Andrej Karpathy |
| Course | Stanford CS224N, MIT 6.S191 |
Assessment & Certification
| Task | Weight |
|---|---|
| Weekly Quizzes (DSA in Transformers) | 20% |
| 3 Coding Assignments | 30% |
| Midterm: Build BERT Tokenizer + Attention | 20% |
| Final Project: Train & Deploy GPT | 30% |
Certificate: Certified Transformer Architect (with GitHub portfolio)
Final Words
"Transformers are not magic — they are algorithms built on arrays, graphs, and heaps."
This course turns DSA students into AI builders.
Bonus: One-Page Cheat Sheet
TRANSFORMER = Embedding
+ Positional Encoding
+ N × (MultiHeadAttention + FFN + Residual + LayerNorm)
+ LM Head
ATTENTION(Q,K,V) = softmax(QK^T / √d_k) × V
GENERATION:
while not EOS:
logits, kv_cache = model(token, kv_cache)
token = sample(logits)
DSA MAP:
Token → Hash Map
Position → Sinusoid Hash
Attention → Graph
KV Cache → DP Memo
Beam → Min-Heap
BPE → Trie + Greedy
Ready to launch?
Let me generate:
- Full syllabus PDF
- Slide deck
- Jupyter notebooks
- C++ version
- Interview prep kit
Just say the word!