Training APIs#
YDF is available in different programming languages / APIs both for model training and model serving. Model and training configurations are cross-compatible in between APIs. For example, it is common to develop a model with one API (e.g., Python API) and then to deploy it with another API (e.g., C++ API).
The following APIs available for model training. The list of APIs available for model serving is available on this page.
Model training#
CLI API: This is the most complete and efficient API. A model can be trained, evaluated, analyzed, and benchmarked in only a few lines. However, the CLI API does not support data preprocessing i.e., data preprocessing should be applied before calling the CLI API.
Python API / TensorFlow Decision Forests: This API is the most user-friendly. This API is especially suited for small datasets with data preprocessing. TF-DF models are compatible both with the rest of the TensorFlow ecosystem (e.g., TF-Hub, TF Serving) and with the other YDF APIs. However, TF-DF does not support YDF model evaluation (instead, models are evaluated with TensorFlow) and can be slower than the other APIs.
C++ API: This API is equivalent to the CLI API. Each CLI binary has a corresponding function in C++ API making the conversion from CLI API to C++ API easy during productionisation.