🛠 How to Build the Book Locally

Welcome! 👋 If you’re here, you’re probably trying to build the Machine Learning Systems book locally on your own machine.

This guide will walk you through how to get set up manually, especially if you're not using GitHub Actions or Docker. We'll cover what tools you need, why you need them, and how to test everything is working.

🚀 Quick Start (Recommended)

For most users, the easiest way is using our Book Binder CLI:

# First time setup
./binder setup

# System health check
./binder doctor

# Quick chapter preview (HTML with live reload)
./binder preview intro

# Build specific chapter(s)
./binder build intro                    # Single chapter (HTML)
./binder build intro,ml_systems         # Multiple chapters (HTML)

# Build complete book
./binder build                          # Complete book (HTML)
./binder pdf                            # Complete book (PDF)
./binder epub                           # Complete book (EPUB)

# Get help
./binder help

The binder tool automatically handles all dependencies, configuration, and build processes for you!

🔧 Manual Setup (Advanced)

📚 What Are We Trying to Build?

This project is written using Quarto, which lets us render:

A website (HTML version of the book)
A typeset PDF (for printable reading)

By default, Quarto can build the HTML version pretty easily. But building the PDF version is a bit trickier — it requires LaTeX, Inkscape, and a few other tools to properly render graphics and fonts.

✅ What You'll Need (And Why)

Tool	Why It's Needed	Version
Quarto	The core tool that converts the `.qmd` files into HTML/PDF	1.7.31+
Python	Required for Book Binder CLI and build scripts	3.9+
Python packages	Dependencies (see `tools/dependencies/requirements.txt`)	See below
R	Some chapters include R code chunks and R-based plots	4.0+
R packages	Supporting packages (defined in `tools/dependencies/install_packages.R`)	Latest
TinyTeX + TeX Live	Needed for LaTeX → PDF rendering	Latest
Inkscape	Converts `.svg` diagrams into `.pdf` (especially TikZ)	1.0+
Ghostscript	Compresses large PDF files	Latest
System libraries	Fonts and rendering support (Linux systems)	Various

Don't worry — this guide will walk you through installing all of them, step by step.

Python Dependencies

The project uses a modern Python packaging setup with pyproject.toml. Core dependencies include:

Core Build Dependencies:

jupyterlab-quarto>=0.3.0 - Quarto integration
jupyter>=1.0.0 - Jupyter notebook support
pybtex>=0.24.0 - Bibliography processing
pypandoc>=1.11 - Document conversion
pyyaml>=6.0 - Configuration management
rich>=13.0.0 - CLI formatting and output

Data Processing:

pandas>=2.0.0 - Data manipulation
numpy>=1.24.0 - Numerical computing
Pillow>=9.0.0 - Image processing

Additional Tools:

openai>=1.0.0 - AI-assisted content tools
gradio>=4.0.0 - Interactive interfaces
ghostscript>=0.7 - PDF compression
pre-commit>=3.0.0 - Code quality hooks

For the complete list, see tools/dependencies/requirements.txt and pyproject.toml.

🐧 Setting Things Up on Linux

1. 🔧 Install Quarto

Quarto is what drives the entire build process.

wget https://github.com/quarto-dev/quarto-cli/releases/download/v1.7.31/quarto-1.7.31-linux-amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i quarto-1.7.31-linux-amd64.deb

Test it with:

quarto --version

2. 📊 Install R

If you're using Ubuntu or Debian:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y r-base

Test R:

R --version

3. 📦 Install Required R Packages

Once R is installed, open it by typing R, then run:

install.packages("remotes")
source("tools/dependencies/install_packages.R")

This installs everything the book needs to render code, plots, etc. The R package dependencies are centrally managed in tools/dependencies/install_packages.R.

4. ✒️ Install TinyTeX (LaTeX Distribution)

TinyTeX is a lightweight version of TeX Live, which Quarto uses to generate PDFs.

quarto install tinytex

Then add it to your shell:

echo 'export PATH=$HOME/.TinyTeX/bin/x86_64-linux:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

5. 🧰 Install Additional TeX Live Packages (for diagrams, fonts, etc.)

These give us broader LaTeX support:

sudo apt-get install -y texlive-latex-recommended texlive-fonts-recommended texlive-latex-extra \
  texlive-pictures texlive-luatex

6. 🖼️ Install Inkscape

This is needed to convert .svg images into .pdf (especially for TikZ diagrams).

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:inkscape.dev/stable -y
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y inkscape

Test with:

inkscape --version

7. 📉 Install Ghostscript (for compressing the final PDF)

sudo apt-get install -y ghostscript

8. 🐍 Install Python 3.9+ and Dependencies

sudo apt-get install -y python3 python3-pip python3-venv

Test with:

python3 --version    # Should be 3.9 or higher
pip3 --version

9. 📦 Install Python Dependencies

The project uses modern Python packaging. Install all dependencies with:

# Option 1: Using pip (recommended)
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Option 2: Install in development mode (includes CLI as command)
pip install -e .

# Option 3: Using a virtual environment (best practice)
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

What gets installed:

Book Binder CLI and all build tools
Jupyter and Quarto integration packages
Data processing libraries (pandas, numpy)
AI/ML tools for content assistance
Pre-commit hooks for code quality

The requirements.txt file points to tools/dependencies/requirements.txt, which contains all production and development dependencies.

10. 🧪 Test That It All Works

Once you've installed everything, run the health check:

./binder doctor

This will verify:

✅ Quarto installation
✅ Python and dependencies
✅ R and required packages
✅ LaTeX and TinyTeX
✅ Inkscape and Ghostscript
✅ Configuration files
✅ Build directory structure

If everything passes, you're ready to build the book!

🧱 How to Build the Book

Navigate to the root folder of the project:

cd path/to/MLSysBook

🚀 Dual-Configuration System

The book uses a dual-configuration approach that automatically switches between optimized settings for different output formats:

quarto/config/_quarto-html.yml → Optimized for interactive website (clean navigation, TikZ→SVG, cross-references)
quarto/config/_quarto-pdf.yml → Optimized for academic PDF (full citations, LaTeX rendering, book structure)
quarto/config/_quarto-epub.yml → Optimized for EPUB (e-reader format, reflowable content)

The Binder CLI automatically handles configuration switching using symlinks — no manual file management needed!

🔹 Build Commands (Book Binder CLI)

The recommended way to build the book is using the Book Binder CLI:

Build Complete Book

./binder build                  # Complete website (HTML)
./binder pdf                    # Complete book (PDF)
./binder epub                   # Complete e-book (EPUB)

Build Specific Chapter(s)

./binder build intro                    # Single chapter (HTML)
./binder build intro,ml_systems         # Multiple chapters (HTML)
./binder pdf intro                      # Single chapter (PDF, selective build)

Preview Mode (Live Reload)

./binder preview                        # Preview complete book
./binder preview intro                  # Preview specific chapter
./binder preview intro,ml_systems       # Preview multiple chapters

Management Commands

./binder clean                  # Clean build artifacts
./binder status                 # Show current status
./binder list                   # List all available chapters
./binder doctor                 # Run comprehensive health check
./binder help                   # Show all commands

Output Locations:

HTML: build/html/
PDF: build/pdf/
EPUB: build/epub/

🔹 Advanced: Direct Quarto Commands

If you need direct control without the Binder CLI:

Website (HTML) version:

cd quarto
ln -sf config/_quarto-html.yml _quarto.yml
quarto render --to html

PDF version:

cd quarto
ln -sf config/_quarto-pdf.yml _quarto.yml
quarto render --to=titlepage-pdf

EPUB version:

cd quarto
ln -sf config/_quarto-epub.yml _quarto.yml
quarto render --to epub

Important: The Binder CLI is strongly recommended as it:

✅ Handles configuration switching automatically
✅ Manages build artifacts and cleanup
✅ Provides progress indicators
✅ Validates system health
✅ Supports fast/selective builds

🪟 Setup on Windows

Prerequisites

Windows 10 or later
Administrator access for some installations

1. Install Quarto

Download and install from quarto.org

2. Install Python 3.9+

Download from python.org or use Windows Store.

Important: Check "Add Python to PATH" during installation.

3. Install R

Download from CRAN

4. Install R Packages

Open R and run:

install.packages("remotes")
source("tools/dependencies/install_packages.R")

5. Install TinyTeX

From R console:

install.packages("tinytex")
tinytex::install_tinytex()

6. Install Inkscape, Ghostscript (Using Chocolatey)

Open PowerShell (as Administrator):

# Install Chocolatey if not already installed
Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
[System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072
iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

# Install tools
choco install inkscape ghostscript -y

7. Install Python Dependencies

Open Command Prompt or PowerShell in the project directory:

# Create virtual environment (recommended)
python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

8. Test Everything Works

Run the health check:

python binder doctor

Or test building:

python binder build intro
python binder pdf

💡 Troubleshooting Tips

Common Installation Issues

Quarto not found?

# Verify installation
quarto --version

# Check PATH (Linux/macOS)
echo $PATH | grep quarto

# Reinstall if needed
# Linux: sudo dpkg -i quarto-*.deb
# macOS: brew install --cask quarto
# Windows: Download from quarto.org

Python version issues?

# Check Python version (must be 3.9+)
python --version
python3 --version

# Use specific version if multiple installed
python3.9 --version

Dependencies not installing?

# Upgrade pip first
pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel

# Try with verbose output
pip install -r requirements.txt -v

# If SSL errors occur
pip install --trusted-host pypi.org --trusted-host files.pythonhosted.org -r requirements.txt

Build Issues

PDF build fails?

Verify LaTeX is installed: pdflatex --version
Verify Inkscape is installed: inkscape --version
Check TinyTeX path: tinytex::tinytex_root() in R
Try rebuilding from scratch:
```
./binder clean
./binder pdf
```

Chapter not found?

# List all available chapters
./binder list

# Use exact chapter names (case-sensitive)
./binder build intro    # ✓ correct
./binder build Intro    # ✗ wrong

Build artifacts detected?

# Clean all build artifacts
./binder clean

# Check status
./binder status

# Run health check
./binder doctor

Configuration issues?

# Check current configuration
ls -la quarto/_quarto.yml

# Should be a symlink to config/_quarto-html.yml or config/_quarto-pdf.yml
# If not, recreate:
cd quarto
ln -sf config/_quarto-html.yml _quarto.yml

System-Specific Issues

macOS: Inkscape not in PATH?

# Add Inkscape to PATH
echo 'export PATH="/Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/MacOS:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
source ~/.zshrc

Linux: Missing system libraries?

# Install common missing libraries
sudo apt-get install -y libcairo2-dev libharfbuzz-dev libfribidi-dev \
  libfreetype6-dev libpng-dev libtiff5-dev libjpeg-dev

Windows: Permission errors?

# Run PowerShell as Administrator
# Disable execution policy temporarily
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy RemoteSigned -Scope Process

Getting Help

If you're still having issues:

Run the health check: ./binder doctor
Check the logs: Look for detailed error messages
Consult documentation:
- BINDER.md - Binder CLI guide
- DEVELOPMENT.md - Development setup
Ask for help:
- GitHub Discussions: https://github.com/harvard-edge/cs249r_book/discussions
- GitHub Issues: https://github.com/harvard-edge/cs249r_book/issues

📦 Modern Python Packaging

The project uses modern Python packaging standards with pyproject.toml:

Project Structure

MLSysBook/
├── pyproject.toml              # Python project configuration
├── requirements.txt            # Points to tools/dependencies/requirements.txt
├── tools/
│   └── dependencies/
│       ├── requirements.txt    # Actual dependencies
│       └── install_packages.R  # R dependencies
└── cli/                        # Modular CLI package
    ├── main.py                 # CLI entry point
    ├── commands/               # Command implementations
    ├── core/                   # Core functionality
    └── utils/                  # Utilities

Installation Options

Standard Installation (Recommended):

pip install -r requirements.txt

Development Installation:

# Installs package in editable mode with CLI as command
pip install -e .

# Now you can use:
binder build
mlsysbook build  # Alternative command name

With Optional Dependencies:

# Install with AI features
pip install -e ".[ai]"

# Install with development tools
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Install everything
pip install -e ".[ai,dev]"

Key Features

The pyproject.toml defines:

Minimum Python version: 3.9+
Core dependencies: Listed in dependencies section
Optional dependencies: AI tools, dev tools, build tools
Entry points: binder and mlsysbook commands
Code quality tools: Black, isort, pylint, mypy configurations
Testing setup: Pytest with coverage

Benefits

✅ Standards-compliant packaging
✅ Proper dependency management
✅ CLI installed as system command
✅ Supports pip, poetry, and other tools
✅ Easy distribution and installation

🎉 That's It!

Once everything is set up, you'll be able to:

Development Workflow

🚀 Preview changes locally with live reload: ./binder preview intro
🔨 Build individual chapters for fast iteration: ./binder build intro
📚 Build complete book in multiple formats: ./binder build, ./binder pdf, ./binder epub
🔍 Validate your setup anytime: ./binder doctor
🧹 Clean up artifacts: ./binder clean

Contributing

📝 Make edits to chapter content in quarto/contents/
✅ Test locally before committing
🤝 Follow best practices with pre-commit hooks
💪 Contribute like a pro to the open-source book

Next Steps

Read BINDER.md for complete CLI reference
Check DEVELOPMENT.md for development workflow
Review contribute.md for contribution guidelines
Join discussions at GitHub Discussions

📖 Additional Resources

Documentation

BINDER.md - Complete Book Binder CLI reference
DEVELOPMENT.md - Development guidelines and workflow
contribute.md - Contribution guidelines
PUBLISH_LIVE_WORKFLOW.md - Publishing workflow

Community

GitHub Discussions - Ask questions and share knowledge
GitHub Issues - Report bugs and request features
MLSysBook.ai - Main website and learning platform

Tools and Scripts

The tools/scripts/ directory contains various utilities:

content/ - Content management tools
cross_refs/ - Cross-reference management
genai/ - AI-assisted content tools
glossary/ - Glossary management
maintenance/ - System maintenance scripts
publish/ - Publishing and deployment tools

Run ./binder help to see all available commands and their descriptions.

🙏 Contributing

We welcome contributions! The easiest way to get started:

Fork and clone the repository
Set up your environment: ./binder setup
Make your changes to content or code
Test locally: ./binder preview <chapter>
Submit a pull request

For detailed contribution guidelines, see contribute.md.

Last Updated: October 2025 Project: Machine Learning Systems - Principles and Practices Website: https://mlsysbook.ai

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