Welcome to the guide on implementing ToolFormer using PyTorch! ToolFormer is a groundbreaking language model designed to intelligently call APIs to perform computations and retrieve data. In this article, we’ll walk you through the steps to get started with ToolFormer, including installation, data generation, and adding custom APIs.
Step 1: Installation
The first step to enjoy the amazing features of ToolFormer is to install it. You can either use pip or clone the repository directly from GitHub. Here’s how you do it:
- Install from PyPI:
pip install toolformer
git clone https://github.com/xrsrke/toolformer.git
cd toolformer
pip install -e .
Step 2: Data Generation
Once you have ToolFormer installed, you can start generating data. Think of ToolFormer as a car; it needs fuel to run smoothly. In this case, the fuel is your data. Let’s walk through the process:
- First, you need to import necessary libraries:
from transformers import AutoModelForCausalLM, AutoTokenizer
from toolformer.data_generator import DataGenerator
from toolformer.api import CalculatorAPI
from toolformer.prompt import calculator_prompt
from toolformer.utils import yaml2dict
python
config = yaml2dict(..configs/default.yaml)
calculator_api = CalculatorAPI(
Calculator, calculator_prompt,
sampling_threshold=0.2, filtering_threshold=0.2
)
model = AutoModelForCausalLM.from_pretrained('bigscience/bloom-560m')
tokenizer = AutoTokenizer.from_pretrained('bigscience/bloom-560m')
text = "From this, we have 10 - 5 minutes = 5 minutes."
apis = [calculator_api]
generator = DataGenerator(config, model, tokenizer, apis=apis)
augmented_text_ids = generator.generate(text)
print(tokenizer.decode(augmented_text_ids[0][0], skip_special_tokens=True))
Understanding the Code: An Analogy
Let’s use an analogy to understand the components of this code better. Imagine you’re at a restaurant and your task is to order food for a group of friends. Here’s how the pieces relate:
- Model and Tokenizer: Think of them as the chef and waiter. The chef (model) prepares your order (output), and the waiter (tokenizer) translates it into a readable format for you.
- Calculator API: This works like a calculator on your table that helps you with any computations you might need, just like ordering a side dish when needed.
- Data Generator: This is your overall dining experience—taking your simple order, processing it, and serving it complete with all the necessary elements (augmented text).
Step 3: Adding a Custom API
If you wish to create your own custom API, here’s how you can do that:
from toolformer.api import BaseAPI
class WikiSearchAPI(BaseAPI):
def execute(self, text):
# your custom api endpoint or whatever
output = YourCustomAPIEndPoint(text)
return output
Then create a new prompt template. An example prompt looks like this:
from toolformer.prompt import calculator_prompt
print(calculator_prompt)
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues while implementing ToolFormer, consider the following troubleshooting suggestions:
- Make sure all your dependencies are installed correctly.
- Check for compatibility with your PyTorch version.
- If an API call fails, verify the endpoint you are calling.
- Examine your YAML configuration file for syntax errors.
For more insights, updates, or to collaborate on AI development projects, stay connected with fxis.ai.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve explored how to implement ToolFormer with ease. Just like cooking takes practice, mastering ToolFormer will enhance your AI skills significantly. At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.

