Development Environment Setup
Keras is the open-source, free-to-download framework used by the course examples.
The Setup Decision
Before working through the course's deep-learning examples, check two parts of your development environment: the framework used by the examples and the operating-system environment available to you. The framework is Keras, and the course expects access to a UNIX machine. Windows is also possible, but it is not recommended.
The main setup question is not simply whether you have a computer. It is whether you have access to the framework used by the examples and to the operating-system environment expected by the course.
The Two Requirements
- Identify the framework used by the course code examples: Keras.
- Check whether you have access to a UNIX machine.
- If you plan to use Windows, recognize that it is possible but not recommended.
- Consult Appendix A for the complete setup instructions.
These checks answer different questions. Keras identifies the deep-learning framework that the course examples use. The UNIX requirement identifies the operating-system environment expected for working through those examples. Treating both as setup requirements helps you find a mismatch before beginning the practical material.
Choosing the Operating Environment
| Environment | Course guidance | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| UNIX | Required access and recommended | This is the environment expected by the course. |
| Windows | Possible but not recommended | It can be used, but it is not the preferred option for the course. |
The distinction is important: Windows is not described as impossible. It is described as possible but not recommended. UNIX is the environment the course expects you to have access to, so it is the preferred choice when preparing to follow the examples.
A Setup Check in Practice
Evaluating two learner setups
A learner wants to begin the course's deep-learning examples. Learner A has access to a UNIX machine. Learner B has Windows and wants to know whether the course is impossible to follow. How should each learner interpret the setup guidance?
Identify the framework: Both learners should know that the course code examples use Keras.
Check the operating system: Learner A has access to the UNIX environment expected by the course.
Interpret the Windows option: Learner B can use Windows because it is possible, but Windows is not the recommended environment.
Find the full instructions: Both learners should consult Appendix A for the complete setup instructions.
Learner A has the recommended operating-system access. Learner B is not automatically blocked, but is using an option the course does not recommend.
Mistakes to Avoid
Assuming the course uses an unspecified or interchangeable deep-learning framework.
The course code examples use Keras.
Fix:
Record Keras as the framework used by the course examples.Treating Windows as the recommended environment.
Windows is possible, but it is not recommended.
Fix:
Prefer access to a UNIX machine when preparing for the course.Interpreting the Windows guidance as a complete prohibition.
The source says Windows is possible, while also saying it is not recommended.
Fix:
Describe Windows accurately as possible but not recommended.Skipping the complete setup instructions.
Appendix A contains the complete setup instructions.
Fix:
Use Appendix A before working through the deep-learning examples.
Your Environment Check
Write a two-line setup decision for yourself. In the first line, name the framework used by the course examples. In the second line, state whether your available operating-system environment is the recommended UNIX option or the possible but not recommended Windows option. Then identify where you would find the complete setup instructions.
Hints
- The framework name begins with K.
- The recommended environment is a UNIX machine.
- The complete instructions are in Appendix A.
What do you think happens?
A learner has Windows rather than UNIX. Based on the course guidance, should the learner describe the course as impossible to use?
Reveal answer
Answer: No, because Windows is possible, although not recommended.
The course expects access to a UNIX machine, but the source explicitly states that Windows can also be used. The recommendation and the possibility are different points.
Setup Checklist
- Keras is the open-source, free-to-download framework used by the course examples.
- The course requires access to a UNIX machine, which is the recommended environment.
- Windows is possible but not recommended.
- Appendix A contains the complete setup instructions.
- Check both the framework and the operating-system environment before beginning the deep-learning examples.
Key Takeaways
- The course examples use Keras, an open-source, free-to-download framework.
- The expected operating-system access is a UNIX machine.
- Windows can be used, but it is not recommended.
- Appendix A provides the complete setup instructions.
- A correct setup check considers both the framework and the operating-system environment.