Lesson 5 of 8 · Build a RAG Pipeline from Scratch
In this lesson. Pack chunks, instruct, cite, refuse.
What you will learn
- Packing
- Ids
- Refuse
Walkthrough
You will pack retrieved chunks with ids and a refuse rule. Context packing is an engineering job. This is the generate stage done properly.
Work through the ideas in order. After each point, pause and connect it to a task you already do — a document, a workflow, or a feature you own. The goal of Build a RAG Pipeline from Scratch is usable skill, not a pile of notes.
If something is unclear, rewrite it in your own words before you continue. Teaching the step back to yourself is the fastest way to see gaps.
Practice
Write the generate prompt template with placeholders for chunks.
Keep the first attempt small. A finished example you can reuse beats a perfect plan you never run.
Check your understanding
- Can you explain the goal of this lesson in one sentence to a teammate?
- Where would you apply “Packing” in your own work this week?
- What would you change on a second pass of the practice?
Next. Continue to the following lesson when the practice has a real artifact, even a rough one.