Examples and Practice: Triton and Custom Kernels

Worked Practice

1. Write one paragraph explaining Triton and Custom Kernels to a beginner.
2. Draw the smallest diagram that shows input, transformation, output, and failure mode.
3. Build or outline a tiny artifact connected to: Profile a simple GPU workload.
4. Measure it with: Track occupancy, bandwidth, memory transfers, and kernel time.
5. Add one failure case to your learning log.

Mini Project Drill

Create a file named notes/triton-and-custom-kernels.md in your project workspace. Include:

• the problem Triton and Custom Kernels solves
• the simplest implementation or design
• the measurement you used
• one example input
• one expected output
• one failure case
• one decision you would make from the result

Check Your Understanding

Question	What a strong answer includes
Why does Triton and Custom Kernels matter?	It connects to an inference benchmark and optimization report for an open-weight or hosted model workload. and names a practical risk.
How would you test it?	It uses a small repeatable case and a measurable expected result.
What breaks first?	It names a specific failure mode, not only "the model is bad".
When should you move on?	When the artifact works on a realistic case and one edge case.

Stretch Exercise

Revisit the same drill after finishing the next part. Update the note with what changed. This is how isolated concepts become connected system judgment.

Return to 8.6.4 Triton and Custom Kernels.