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Install and Backends

SLMCortex requires Python 3.11+.

python3 -m venv .venv
. .venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install -e '.[test]'

This installs the CLI and test/demo dependencies without requiring real model backends.

Optional real-model backends​

pip install -e '.[mlx]'   # macOS Apple Silicon
pip install -e '.[gguf]'  # Linux, Windows, macOS Intel, or explicit GGUF use

Backend selection comes from base config:

  • backend: auto uses MLX only on macOS arm64/aarch64.
  • Linux, Windows, and macOS Intel default to GGUF.
  • Explicit backend: mlx is rejected outside macOS Apple Silicon.
  • GGUF configs must point model or default_runtime_model at a .gguf file.
  • GGUF training or import conversion must set gguf_converter.

Use the no-model demo before running real training or inference.