Understanding generalization, overfitting, and the techniques used in model regularization and optimization requires a consistent and functional Python environment. This setup enables running code examples, experimenting with different regularization and optimization methods, and completing hands-on practical sessions.We recommend using a recent version of Python, ideally Python 3.8 or later. Managing dependencies is important for reproducibility, and we suggest using either Conda (specifically Miniconda or Anaconda) or Python's built-in venv module combined with pip.Core LibrariesThe primary libraries we will rely on are:PyTorch: Our main deep learning framework. It provides the necessary tools for building, training, and evaluating neural networks, including implementations of regularization layers and optimization algorithms.NumPy: The fundamental package for numerical computation in Python. PyTorch integrates well with NumPy, and we'll use it for various data manipulations.Matplotlib (and optionally Seaborn): Essential for plotting and visualizing data, including learning curves, weight distributions, and model predictions, which are indispensable for diagnosing model behavior.Scikit-learn: Useful for supplementary tools like data splitting, performance metrics, and potentially simple baseline models.Installation using CondaIf you're using Conda, you can create a dedicated environment and install the required packages. Open your terminal or Anaconda Prompt and run:# Create a new environment (e.g., named 'dl-regopt') with Python 3.9 conda create -n dl-regopt python=3.9 # Activate the environment conda activate dl-regopt # Install PyTorch, torchvision, torchaudio (adjust for your OS/CUDA version if needed) # Check the official PyTorch website (pytorch.org) for the latest command # Example for CPU-only on Linux/macOS: conda install pytorch torchvision torchaudio cpuonly -c pytorch # Install other libraries conda install numpy matplotlib scikit-learn seaborn jupyterlab Note: For GPU support (highly recommended for faster training), visit the official PyTorch website (https://pytorch.org/) and select the appropriate installation command based on your operating system and CUDA version.Installation using pip and venvIf you prefer using pip with a virtual environment:# Create a directory for your project (if you haven't already) mkdir deeplearning-course cd deeplearning-course # Create a virtual environment (e.g., named '.venv') python -m venv .venv # Activate the environment # On macOS/Linux: source .venv/bin/activate # On Windows: # .\.venv\Scripts\activate # Upgrade pip python -m pip install --upgrade pip # Install PyTorch (adjust for your OS/CUDA version if needed) # Check the official PyTorch website (pytorch.org) for the latest command # Example for CPU-only: pip install torch torchvision torchaudio # Install other libraries pip install numpy matplotlib scikit-learn seaborn jupyterlabVerifying the InstallationOnce the installation is complete, you can quickly verify that the core components are working. Start a Python interpreter or a Jupyter Notebook and try importing the libraries:import torch import numpy as np import matplotlib.pyplot as plt import sklearn print(f"PyTorch Version: {torch.__version__}") print(f"NumPy Version: {np.__version__}") print(f"Scikit-learn Version: {sklearn.__version__}") # Check if CUDA (GPU support) is available for PyTorch if torch.cuda.is_available(): print(f"CUDA available: {torch.cuda.is_available()}") print(f"CUDA version: {torch.version.cuda}") print(f"Device name: {torch.cuda.get_device_name(0)}") else: print("CUDA not available. Running on CPU.") # Test a simple PyTorch tensor operation x = torch.rand(5, 3) print("\nSample PyTorch Tensor:") print(x)If these commands execute without errors and display the versions and tensor output, your environment is ready. You now have the tools needed to follow along with the practical examples, starting with visualizing the effects of overfitting. Having this consistent setup ensures that the code behaves as expected as we explore different techniques to improve model generalization.