# Sebastian Raschka: My Workflow for Understanding LLM Architectures

> How Sebastian Raschka actually learns new LLM architectures — the config-first method.

- Org: Sebastian Raschka
- Date: 2026-04-18
- Category: article
- Source: https://magazine.sebastianraschka.com/p/workflow-for-understanding-llms
- Canonical page: https://ai-tldr.dev/releases/sebastian-raschka-llm-architecture-workflow-apr18/

## In short

Raschka shares his systematic method for reverse-engineering open-weight LLM architectures: start with the paper, then read config files and reference implementations on HuggingFace to build genuine understanding rather than surface-level summaries.

## What it is

A practical methodology from Sebastian Raschka (Lightning AI researcher) for building deep understanding of new LLM architectures by combining paper reading with hands-on config and code inspection.

## How it works

Start with the technical paper for the conceptual frame, then examine the config.json and reference implementation on HuggingFace to understand how design choices manifest in actual model parameters and code.

## Why it matters

With dozens of new architectures released monthly, having a repeatable workflow for quickly and deeply understanding them is a high-leverage skill for any AI practitioner.

## Who it's for

ML researchers, AI engineers, and anyone trying to keep up with the pace of new LLM architecture releases.

## Links

- [Read on Substack](https://magazine.sebastianraschka.com/p/workflow-for-understanding-llms)
- [Sebastian Raschka's Newsletter](https://magazine.sebastianraschka.com/)