Toptal Engineering Blog

The Toptal Engineering Blog is a hub for in-depth development tutorials and new technology announcements created by professional software engineers in the Toptal network.

authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

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authors are vetted experts in their fields and write on topics in which they have demonstrated experience. All of our content is peer reviewed and validated by Toptal experts in the same field.

Fine-tuning LLMs for Your Industry: Optimal Data Labeling Strategies

LLMs have a vast knowledge base, but training them with domain-specific data can extend their capabilities to specialized industries and tasks. This article delves into data labeling for fine-tuning and includes a step-by-step tutorial for training GPT-4o.

18-minute readContinue Reading

Jedrzej Kardach

Jedrzej is a machine learning engineer who specializes in AI and data science. He has delivered several NLP-based classification algorithms and reinforcement learning solutions to clients, and has worked alongside researchers at Princeton University developing ML and data analytics tools. Jedrzej has partnered with clients in multiple industries, including service, finance, and insurance.

Advanced Data Labeling Methods: From Hybrid Approaches to LLMs

It’s crucial to balance accuracy and efficiency when labeling datasets for machine learning—especially when LLMs are involved. In this article we explore a variety of techniques and assess the optimal labeling methods for different projects.

15-minute readContinue Reading

Neven Pičuljan

Neven is an artificial intelligence engineer with extensive experience in machine learning, computer vision, algorithms, and a range of AI-related technologies. Prior to founding an AI R&D consulting company, Neven helped create and train cutting-edge computer vision models used by healthcare, e-commerce, real estate, and financial services companies across the globe.

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Architecting Effective Data Labeling Systems for Machine Learning Pipelines

Machine learning models are trained on massive datasets in which each data point is labeled to give it context and meaning. This deep dive describes how to build a data labeling architecture from scratch, with a focus on workflow, security, and data quality.

16-minute readContinue Reading

Reza Fazeli

Reza is a machine learning engineer specializing in natural language processing and computer vision. At IBM, he developed machine learning algorithms designed to improve text classification and automate model training, innovations that resulted in six patents. Reza has a master’s degree in engineering from the University of Toronto.

Theory, Tools, and Business Applications: An In-depth Look at Quantum Computing

Quantum computing is challenging the realities of technology, security, and industry as we know them. Here, we investigate the nuances of quantum mechanics and how to enter the world of quantum software development with tools such as Cirq and TensorFlow Quantum.

22-minute readContinue Reading

Joao Diogo de Oliveira

Joao is an AI developer who holds a Quantum Excellence Certificate from IBM. He specializes in machine learning and deep learning and has partnered with Fortune 100 companies like Procter & Gamble and Hearst. Joao has more than 14 years of experience and holds a master’s degree in computer engineering from the University of Porto.

Increase Developer Productivity With Generative AI: Tips From Leading Software Engineers

Generative AI is revolutionizing how software developers write code. In this article, three Toptal developers share how they’re using Gen AI in their daily work and offer actionable advice for others who want to utilize this nascent technology.

13-minute readContinue Reading

Sam Sycamore

Sam Sycamore is a Senior Editor of Engineering at Toptal and an open-source web developer. He has more than a decade of experience as a writer and editor across several industries, and has worked with international tech startups and digital product agencies to provide software documentation, educational resources, and multimedia marketing content.

Using an LLM API As an Intelligent Virtual Assistant for Python Development

With proper instruction, LLMs can be highly effective coding assistants. This step-by-step guide shows you how to generate a call to an external API using Python and the OpenAI API.

16-minute readContinue Reading

Tarek Mohamed Mehrez

Tarek is a software and data engineer specializing in machine learning, software architecture, DevOps, and back-end development. He has served as CTO of Thndr, a company backed by Y Combinator, and has published several research papers on machine learning. Tarek has a master’s degree in computational linguistics from the University of Stuttgart.

Ask a Security Engineer: From DevSecOps to Cloud Security

Security engineering is a fast-moving field, and getting left behind is not an option. This ask-me-anything-style Q&A covers compliance frameworks, security checks, and the importance of a DevSecOps approach.

8-minute readContinue Reading

Gökay Pekşen

Gökay is a security developer and advisor. He built Turkey’s first DevSecOps CI/CD pipeline, and designed and constructed a world-class cybersecurity infrastructure to safeguard $8 billion in annual local payment transactions while serving as Information Security Vice President at Interbank. He is the founder and CEO of Prime Threat, a security consultancy that helps businesses navigate GDPR compliance and risk management.

Toptal Engineering Expert

Gabriel Courtemanche

Gabriel is a highly efficient and reliable professional who possesses a broad skill set for web application development. He's been working on a range of products and clients—from working on scalability problems in production engineering teams at Shopify and Autodesk to launching new applications for startups. Most of his work consists of leading technical teams, by creating an easy development environment, fixing technical debts, providing best practices code examples, and mentoring devs.