Stage 0: Orientation¶

0 Build the map before choosing tools.

Goal¶

Understand modern AI engineering as a discipline: product judgment, model behavior, system design, evaluation, and responsible deployment.

Roadmap to Master This Stage¶

Read the stage goal and diagram before opening the parts.
Move through the parts in order unless you can already pass the exit criteria.
Study each sub-part folder: overview, deep dive, and examples/practice.
Build the stage artifact in small slices and measure the listed metrics.
Use the part exam after each part, or open the global Exam tab to test across the roadmap.

Stage Structure Diagram¶

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flowchart LR
  P1["<b>0.1</b><br/>AI Engineering Mental<br/>Model"]
  P2["<b>0.2</b><br/>Tooling and Learning<br/>Environment"]
  P1 --> P2
  P3["<b>0.3</b><br/>Use Case Judgment"]
  P2 --> P3
  P4["<b>0.4</b><br/>Learning Operating<br/>System"]
  P3 --> P4
  P5["<b>0.5</b><br/>First Portfolio Skeleton"]
  P4 --> P5

Parts¶

Part	Simple explanation	Build focus
0.1 AI Engineering Mental Model	Build a mental model of AI products as systems around foundation models, not as isolated prompts.	Draw an AI application stack for a simple assistant.
0.2 Tooling and Learning Environment	Create a reliable local workspace so every later project can be reproduced, debugged, and shared.	Create the roadmap workspace with notes, projects, environment files, and a decision journal.
0.3 Use Case Judgment	Choose AI projects that have clear users, data, success criteria, and acceptable risk.	Write a use-case brief for the first AI application you want to build.
0.4 Learning Operating System	Turn the roadmap into a repeatable loop of learning, building, measuring, and reflection.	Create a 30-day plan with weekly artifacts.
0.5 First Portfolio Skeleton	Start documenting work from day one so every stage leaves behind usable evidence.	Create a public or private portfolio skeleton.

Sub-Part Map¶

Part	Sub-part	Why it matters
0.1	0.1.1 AI Engineering vs ML Engineering	AI Engineering vs ML Engineering is the working skill inside AI Engineering Mental Model that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.1	0.1.2 Foundation Model Product Stack	Foundation Model Product Stack is the working skill inside AI Engineering Mental Model that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.1	0.1.3 Models as Probabilistic Components	Models as Probabilistic Components is the working skill inside AI Engineering Mental Model that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.1	0.1.4 Adaptation Patterns	Adaptation Patterns is the working skill inside AI Engineering Mental Model that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.2	0.2.1 Developer Environment	Developer Environment is the working skill inside Tooling and Learning Environment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.2	0.2.2 Python and Notebook Setup	Python and Notebook Setup is the working skill inside Tooling and Learning Environment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.2	0.2.3 Git Terminal and Shell Workflow	Git Terminal and Shell Workflow is the working skill inside Tooling and Learning Environment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.2	0.2.4 Secrets and Configuration	Secrets and Configuration is the working skill inside Tooling and Learning Environment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.3	0.3.1 Use Case Selection	Use Case Selection is the working skill inside Use Case Judgment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.3	0.3.2 Feasibility and Risk	Feasibility and Risk is the working skill inside Use Case Judgment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.3	0.3.3 Product Metrics and User Value	Product Metrics and User Value is the working skill inside Use Case Judgment that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.4	0.4.1 Stage Project Loop	Stage Project Loop is the working skill inside Learning Operating System that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.4	0.4.2 Evaluation First Habit	Evaluation First Habit is the working skill inside Learning Operating System that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.4	0.4.3 Decision Journal and Failure Log	Decision Journal and Failure Log is the working skill inside Learning Operating System that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.4	0.4.4 Roadmap Navigation	Roadmap Navigation is the working skill inside Learning Operating System that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.5	0.5.1 Portfolio Repository Layout	Portfolio Repository Layout is the working skill inside First Portfolio Skeleton that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.5	0.5.2 README Quality Bar	README Quality Bar is the working skill inside First Portfolio Skeleton that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.
0.5	0.5.3 Evidence Over Certificates	Evidence Over Certificates is the working skill inside First Portfolio Skeleton that helps you build the stage artifact, A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan, while collecting enough evidence to trust the result.

Stage Artifact¶

A learning log, environment checklist, use-case decision memo, and first roadmap plan.

What to Measure¶

weekly learning cadence
one documented use-case decision
tooling installed and tested
first project skeleton

Exit Criteria¶

explain AI engineering versus ML engineering
describe prompting, RAG, agents, fine-tuning, and serving
choose a narrow first project
maintain a decision log

Next: Stage 1: Foundations