Practical overview
When it fits
Use it as a self-paced introduction when you want to learn generative AI concepts and work through application-building examples lesson by lesson.
Who it is for
- Learners beginning generative AI application development
- Developers who want structured lessons on generative AI and prompt engineering
Documented uses
- Learn generative AI concepts through topic-based lessons
- Study prompt engineering
- Follow code examples while beginning to build generative AI applications
- Prepare a development environment for course work
Requirements & limits
The repository is public and MIT-licensed. Running course code requires choosing a supported model or service option; the README also says a GitHub account is needed to fork the repository.
- The course code can be run using Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Foundry Models, OpenAI API, or Foundry Local, with specific lesson assignments associated with some options.
- Basic Python or TypeScript knowledge is helpful; the README points absolute beginners to introductory courses.
- The repository includes many translations, and the README provides sparse-checkout commands to avoid downloading translation files when cloning locally.
- Jupyter Notebook is listed as the repository’s primary language; build examples are provided in Python and TypeScript when possible.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Choose a lesson and prepare to run its course code
Select a course lesson and identify the documented prerequisites and setup resource before working through its code.
Before you start
- A GitHub account to fork the repository.
- Basic Python or TypeScript knowledge is helpful.
- Choose one listed option for running code: Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Foundry Models, OpenAI API, or Foundry Local.
Steps
Choose any of the 21 lessons; each lesson covers its own topic.
Use the lesson labels to choose a “Learn” lesson for concepts or a “Build” lesson for concepts and code examples, in Python and TypeScript when possible.
For code lessons, select a listed model service: Azure OpenAI Service, Microsoft Foundry Models, OpenAI API, or Foundry Local.
Use the Course Setup lesson for development-environment setup, then follow the selected lesson.
Expected outcome
A selected lesson, a chosen model-service option if running code, and a link to the course’s setup lesson.
Guide limitations
- Basic Python or TypeScript knowledge is described as helpful, not mandatory.
- Python and TypeScript code examples are available when possible; the README does not promise both for every lesson.
- The README does not provide the setup lesson’s detailed steps here.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 14 October 2026
- Original website title
- microsoft/generative-ai-for-beginners · Official homepage title · retained in its source language