Lesson 1 of 8 · Build a RAG Pipeline from Scratch
In this lesson. Ingest, chunk, embed, store, retrieve, generate, cite.
What you will learn
- Seven boxes
- Data between them
- Cite
Walkthrough
You will draw the seven boxes and the data that moves between them. RAG from scratch means you can name every box. This is the map.
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
Draw the pipeline and label the data at each arrow.
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 “Seven boxes” 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.