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Learning Paths

Track-specific roadmaps for progressing from Explorer to Senior Contributor. Each path is organized by month with concrete goals.

Python Track

Prerequisites: 1+ year Python, familiarity with NumPy

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Understand project structure, run tests Build from source, run ctest, run Python test suite
2 Fix a documentation or typo bug Submit a PR updating docstrings or README
3 Write a Python test Add test coverage for an existing feature
4 Add a simple CLI flag or option Modify CLI tool, update docs, write test
5 Implement a new Python binding Wrap a C function in bindings/python/
6 Own a Python module Take responsibility for one module in bindings/python/SneppX_ALG/
7+ Review Python PRs Provide code reviews as a Senior contributor

Key Resources

  • docs/STYLE_GUIDE.md — Python section (PEP 8, Black, Google-style docstrings)
  • bindings/python/ — existing bindings as reference
  • tests/python/ — test patterns and fixtures
  • docs/API.md — full API reference

C/C++ Core Track

Prerequisites: 2+ years C, familiarity with CMake, memory management

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Build from source, read ARCHITECTURE.md Understand kernel/ layout, build all targets
2 Fix a kernel bug with a test Identify bug in kernel/, write reproduction test, submit fix
3 Implement a new tensor operation Add function to kernel/tensor/, expose in header, test in C and Python
4 Document a kernel module Write developer docs for kernel/autodiff/ or kernel/memory/
5 Optimize an existing kernel Profile, optimize, measure speedup, document approach
6 Own a kernel module Take ownership of kernel/tensor/ or kernel/optimizer/
7+ Review C PRs, mentor Provide thorough code reviews emphasizing memory safety

Key Resources

  • docs/ARCHITECTURE.md — full system design
  • docs/STYLE_GUIDE.md — C style rules
  • docs/DEVELOPMENT.md — build and testing workflow
  • include/neural_core/kernel/ — public API headers
  • kernel/ — existing implementations

Security Track

Prerequisites: 3+ years in cryptography/security engineering

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Build from source, read security/ READMEs Understand S0-S9 layer architecture, run crypto tests
2 Implement test vectors for an existing cipher Add Known Answer Tests (KATs) for Kyber, Dilithium, or SPHINCS+
3 Audit a security module Review a module for constant-time correctness, submit findings
4 Add a new cipher wrapper Wrap a standard algorithm, implement interface in security/crypto/
5 Conduct a full threat model Write STRIDE analysis for a subsystem
6 Own an S-layer Take responsibility for one security layer (S0–S9)
7+ Mentor security contributors Guide contributors through crypto-audit process

Key Resources

  • docs/ARCHITECTURE.md (Security Layers section)
  • docs/security.md — security overview
  • SECURITY.md — vulnerability reporting
  • security/ — all S-layer implementations
  • tests/security/ — test suites

CUDA Track

Prerequisites: 2+ years CUDA C++, GPU architecture knowledge

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Build CUDA backend, read CUDA kernels cmake -B build -G Ninja -DSNEPPX_BUILD_CUDA=ON, run cudatestsuite
2 Optimize an existing CUDA kernel Profile with ncu, optimize occupancy/memory, measure speedup
3 Implement a new CUDA kernel Write a fused kernel (e.g., bias+activation+GEMM), benchmark
4 Add CUDA kernel documentation Document kernel strategy, grid/block sizing, shared mem usage
5 Extend test coverage for CUDA Add edge-case tests (empty tensors, alignment edge cases)
6 Own a CUDA module Take ownership of kernel/cuda/attention_cuda.cu or similar
7+ Review CUDA PRs, mentor Provide reviews focused on warp divergence, memory coalescing

Key Resources

  • docs/ARCHITECTURE.md (CUDA Accelerated Optimization section)
  • kernel/cuda/ — existing CUDA kernel implementations
  • tests/cuda_test_suite.cu — CUDA test patterns
  • NVIDIA CUDA Best Practices Guide

Algorithms Track

Prerequisites: ML theory, linear algebra, probability, statistics

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Understand algorithm pipeline Read docs/ARCHITECTURE.md (HSS, SER, ARC, NPE, FM sections)
2 Run algorithm tests Execute all algorithm tests, understand failure modes
3 Implement a new feature for an algorithm Add a new routing strategy to SER or a new defense to ARC
4 Write algorithm documentation Document mathematical formulation, parameter choices, trade-offs
5 Benchmark algorithm performance Create benchmark scripts, compare against baselines
6 Own an algorithm module Take ownership of HSS, SER, ARC, NPE, or FM
7+ Propose new algorithm extensions Write design docs for new algorithm variants

Key Resources

  • docs/ARCHITECTURE.md — full algorithm descriptions
  • algorithms/ — source code for each component
  • docs/DESIGN.md — design decisions and trade-offs
  • docs/GLOSSARY.md — terminology reference

Documentation Track

Prerequisites: Technical writing ability, English proficiency

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Read all existing documentation Identify gaps, outdated sections, missing examples
2 Fix documentation issues Submit PRs fixing typos, broken links, unclear explanations
3 Write API documentation Document a module's API with examples
4 Create a tutorial Write a step-by-step guide for a common workflow
5 Revise architecture docs Update docs/ARCHITECTURE.md with new components
6 Own documentation quality Maintain docs/ index, review doc PRs, enforce standards

Key Resources

  • Existing docs in docs/ directory
  • docs/STYLE_GUIDE.md (Documentation Style section)
  • Python source files (docstrings)
  • C header files (API comments)

Infrastructure Track

Prerequisites: Build systems (CMake), packaging experience

Month Goal Deliverable
1 Understand build system Read CMakeLists.txt, understand presets and targets
2 Optimize build times Profile build, identify bottlenecks, implement ccache/distcc
3 Containerize the project Write Dockerfile for development and testing
4 Automate release process Script the release workflow (version bump, changelog, publish)
5 Improve test infrastructure Expand ctest suite, add sanitizer targets
6 Own infrastructure Take ownership of build system, packaging, scripts

Key Resources

  • CMakeLists.txt — build configuration
  • scripts/ — build and development scripts
  • cmake/ — CMake modules