Practical overview
When it fits
Use Keras when a project needs a high-level modeling interface with a choice of JAX, TensorFlow or PyTorch backends, or when OpenVINO inference is required.
Who it is for
- Python developers building deep-learning models
- Machine-learning teams working with multiple supported backends
- Developers creating computer-vision, natural-language, audio, forecasting or recommendation models
Documented uses
- Build and train neural-network models
- Develop models across JAX, TensorFlow and PyTorch
- Create inference applications with OpenVINO
- Reuse Keras models and components in framework-specific workflows
- Adapt existing tf.keras projects to Keras 3
Requirements & limits
The public repository identifies Keras as open source under the Apache-2.0 license. The documented installation uses Python package management and requires a separately installed backend.
- Choose JAX, TensorFlow or PyTorch for model development and training; OpenVINO is inference-only.
- Configure the backend before importing Keras because it cannot be changed afterward.
- GPU workflows require a pre-installed NVIDIA driver and backend-specific CUDA dependencies.
- The documented local installation is compatible with Linux and macOS; Windows users are directed toward WSL2.
- Existing tf.keras projects may require updates to save models in
.kerasformat.
Check current requirements in the official documentation. Source-based guidance does not mean OpenViST has run or independently tested this project.
Install Keras and configure a backend
Set up a local Keras installation with a selected supported backend.
Before you start
- Python environment
- Keras 3 package
- One backend package: TensorFlow, JAX or PyTorch
- Linux or macOS; Windows development is recommended through WSL2
Steps
Install the
keraspackage with pip.Install the selected backend package.
Set
KERAS_BACKENDor edit the local Keras configuration file.Configure the backend before importing
keras.
Expected outcome
A local Keras installation configured to use the selected backend.
Guide limitations
- OpenVINO is available for inference-only workflows.
- The backend cannot be changed after Keras has been imported.
- The documented minimum backend versions vary by latest stable Keras 3 release.
Sources & review
Source record details
- Source availability
- Active
- Sources checked
- 1 October 2026
- Original website title
- keras-team/keras · Official homepage title · retained in its source language

