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https://gwern.net/holy-war https://gwern.net/holy-war Anyone who's been burned by LangChain, especially now that it has VC funding, has to be worried that Lang

by gwern 3y ago

https://gwern.net/holy-war https://gwern.net/holy-war Anyone who's been burned by LangChain, especially now that it has VC funding, has to be worried that LangChain will become the cross-LLM standard library™, and they'll be dealing with it and endless patches to it for the rest of their lives. (Think systemd or NPM or Python packaging.) If it's as bad as described, the time to stop LangChain is to strangle it in the cradle, before it can get too far or risks finding a killer-app/niche which will immortalize it no matter how bad it is.

deleted 3y ago
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catgary 3y ago
I’m a bit confused about why it’s a Python library and where its value proposition lies. If LLMs are going to be ubiquitous in app development, wouldn’t you expect Apple to release a Swift library that blows LangChain out of the water (similarly with Jetbrains/Kotlin, or Microsoft/C#).
- maleldil 3y ago
  Microsoft has Semantic Kernel: https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel > The SK extensible programming model combines natural language semantic functions, traditional code native functions, and embeddings-based memory unlocking new potential and adding value to applications with AI. > SK supports prompt templating, function chaining, vectorized memory, and intelligent planning capabilities out of the box. I can't speak from experience whether it's better than LangChain, however.
- b33j0r 3y ago
  You could chain python anything with itertools… airflow, multiprocessing, jenkins, graph redis, celery… pick your poison. I’d probably spend 15% too many manhours making it bespoke… But The Creator of whatever just solved a problem before I did. Of course I’m going to use that until a better solution is practical.
treprinum 3y ago
There is MS Guidance for GPT-3.5 and 4 so I expect most devs will migrate there and LangChain will die out.
BoorishBears 3y ago
It has an insane amount of traction and Harrison Chase is totally overplaying in a self-serving way. I've seen the guy IRL an annoying amount of times now considering his claim to fame is raising VC money for a code dumping ground. People are taking it personally because there's shared a realization that he represents the Crypto-ization of raising for AI based startups: going full hype leader over substance.

by gwern 3y ago

deleted 3y ago

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catgary 3y ago

I’m a bit confused about why it’s a Python library and where its value proposition lies. If LLMs are going to be ubiquitous in app development, wouldn’t you expect Apple to release a Swift library that blows LangChain out of the water (similarly with Jetbrains/Kotlin, or Microsoft/C#).

maleldil 3y ago
Microsoft has Semantic Kernel: https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel https://github.com/microsoft/semantic-kernel > The SK extensible programming model combines natural language semantic functions, traditional code native functions, and embeddings-based memory unlocking new potential and adding value to applications with AI. > SK supports prompt templating, function chaining, vectorized memory, and intelligent planning capabilities out of the box. I can't speak from experience whether it's better than LangChain, however.
b33j0r 3y ago
You could chain python anything with itertools… airflow, multiprocessing, jenkins, graph redis, celery… pick your poison. I’d probably spend 15% too many manhours making it bespoke… But The Creator of whatever just solved a problem before I did. Of course I’m going to use that until a better solution is practical.

treprinum 3y ago

There is MS Guidance for GPT-3.5 and 4 so I expect most devs will migrate there and LangChain will die out.

BoorishBears 3y ago

It has an insane amount of traction and Harrison Chase is totally overplaying in a self-serving way. I've seen the guy IRL an annoying amount of times now considering his claim to fame is raising VC money for a code dumping ground. People are taking it personally because there's shared a realization that he represents the Crypto-ization of raising for AI based startups: going full hype leader over substance.