From Zero to a RAG System: Successes and Failures

From Zero to a RAG System: Successes and Failures

From Zero to a RAG System: Successes and Failures

Original URL: https://en.andros.dev/blog/aa31d744/from-zero-to-a-rag-system-successes-and-failures/

Article Written: October 1, 2023

Added: May 19, 2026

Type: project

Summary

The article details the author's journey in building a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) system using a local language model for internal company use. It outlines the challenges faced, including selecting the right technology stack, managing chaotic document sources, and optimizing the indexing process. The author shares insights on overcoming memory issues, utilizing a dedicated vector database, and ensuring a smooth user experience through a well-designed API and frontend. Ultimately, the project culminated in a functional system that meets the company's needs for fast, relevant information retrieval.

💭 Your Thoughts

Good sharing story, but for me, what is the business value of this project? what kind of questions will be asked, and how people use the answer? Suprise to see some project questions need to scan 400GB of text ?!!

Technologies Referenced