Training a model with getitune

getitune is a low-code transfer-learning library. Training is driven by an Engine created with create_engine(...), which pairs a model/recipe with a dataset and returns a runnable engine. Recipes (YAML under libraries/getitune/src/getitune/recipe/<task>/) bundle model + data pipeline + training config, so a model name alone gives a strong baseline.

There are two equal entry points that share the same objects and recipes:

• Python API — from getitune.engine import create_engine, then engine.train() / engine.test(). Preferred for notebooks, scripts, tests, and library integration. See libraries/getitune/README.md ("Quick Start") and the getitune documentation.
• CLI — getitune train --data_root <path> --model <name|recipe.yaml>. Preferred for reproducible experiments and shell workflows. See getitune train --help and the getitune documentation.

Run everything from libraries/getitune/. Install with the extra that matches your hardware: uv sync (cpu), uv sync --extra xpu, or uv sync --extra cuda.

Python API workflow

from getitune.engine import create_engine

engine = create_engine(
    model="efficientnet_b0",          # model name, recipe .yaml path, or model class
    data="/path/to/dataset_root",     # dataset root (COCO/YOLO/VOC/native), auto-detected
    work_dir="./my_workspace",        # checkpoints + logs; defaults to ./getitune-workspace
    device="auto",                    # "auto", "cpu", "gpu", "xpu", "cuda", "0", ...
)
engine.train(max_epochs=50)
engine.test()

1. Pick the model/recipe. Pass a model name ("efficientnet_b0"), a recipe path ("src/getitune/recipe/detection/yolox_s.yaml"), or a model class. If a name matches recipes under several tasks, pass task= (e.g. task="DETECTION") to disambiguate. Use the getitune-discovering-models skill to list options.
   • Done when: create_engine(...) returns without a ValueError/FileNotFoundError.
2. Point data= at the dataset root. Format is auto-detected by Datumaro; see the getitune-preparing-datasets skill.
   • Done when: the engine builds a datamodule without a format/feature error.
3. Smoke-test the wiring first with a tiny run (engine.train(max_epochs=1) or a small subset) before a long run.
   • Done when: one train + one validation pass complete without shape errors.
4. Train, overriding hyperparameters as needed (engine.train(max_epochs=50)).
   • Done when: checkpoints appear under work_dir.
5. Evaluate with engine.test() and confirm the task metric moves, not just loss. Record the model + work_dir that produced it.

Warm-start from existing weights with create_engine(..., checkpoint="/path/to/weights.pt").

CLI workflow

# from libraries/getitune/
# 1. Simplest: data only — getitune picks a default model for the task
getitune train --data_root /path/to/dataset

# 2. Choose a model or recipe
getitune train --data_root /path/to/dataset --model yolox_s

# 3. Override hyperparameters
getitune train --data_root /path/to/dataset --model yolox_s \
  --max_epochs 200 --checkpoint /path/to/weights.pt

# 4. Run a full, resolved config file
getitune train --data_root /path/to/dataset --config src/getitune/recipe/detection/yolox_s.yaml

getitune test and getitune predict share the same --model / --data_root shape. Use getitune <cmd> --help -v (and -vv) for the full overridable argument list.

Choosing a device

• device="auto" selects an available accelerator; force with "cpu", "gpu", "xpu", "cuda", or an index like "0".
• The device must match the installed extra — --extra xpu for Intel GPUs, --extra cuda for NVIDIA. Guard nothing yourself; the library handles capability checks.

Debugging a run

• Run one epoch on a small dataset first to isolate construction vs. dataloading vs. training failures.
• Shape/feature mismatches usually mean the dataset's labels or task disagree with the model — recheck task= and the dataset format (getitune-preparing-datasets).
• Dataset auto-detection failures: confirm the folder matches one supported layout (COCO/YOLO/VOC/native).

Verify

# from libraries/getitune/
just lint
just test-unit -- -k engine        # when you changed engine/training code

For API-facing work, add or run a short Python smoke test that calls create_engine(...) + engine.train(max_epochs=1) on a tiny fixture rather than a long real run.

Related skills

• getitune-discovering-models — list models/recipes and disambiguate by task.
• getitune-preparing-datasets — the data= half of the engine.
• getitune-exporting-a-model — export a trained checkpoint to OpenVINO/ONNX.
• getitune-running-inference — run predictions with a trained or exported model.
• geti-library-dev — when the libraries/getitune/model code itself needs changes.