Installing Azure ML Estimator Dependencies from Remote GitHub Branches
Tags: machinelearning, python, azure, ai
Published: 2020-01-09 17:01:21

---
title: Installing Azure ML Estimator Dependencies from Remote GitHub Branches
published: true
date: 2020-01-08 11:28:14 UTC
tags: machinelearning, python, azure, ai
canonical_url: https://medium.com/microsoftazure/installing-azure-ml-estimator-dependencies-from-remote-github-branches-276e13b447d4
---

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/1024/1*mrMYpVE62e5_a-Uy1I389g.png)

TLDR; The Azure ML (AML) Service Estimators make it easy to train distributed machine learning models at scale. This post outlines how configure external AML estimator dependencies from GitHub.

### What is Azure ML and Why Should I Care?

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/529/1*BcdOo5tf7hT0GQgnAarYHQ.png)

The [Azure Machine Learning Service](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst) provides several ways to train machine learning models, from code first solutions using the SDK to low code solutions such as [AutoML](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/concept-automated-ml/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)and the [Visual Designer](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/visual-interface-for-azure-machine-learning-service/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst).

To learn more check out the documentation.

[Azure Machine Learning documentation](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)

If you don’t have an [Azure Subscription](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst) you can get a free one using the link below.

[Create your Azure free account today | Microsoft Azure](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/free/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)

With the subscription you can get started learning the ins and outs of the Azure Machine Learning service with the following [Microsoft Learn ](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)Path.

[Build AI solutions with Azure Machine Learning service - Learn](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/learn/paths/build-ai-solutions-with-azure-ml-service/?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)

### What is an Azure ML Estimator?

![](https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/max/321/1*Nye-D71hnUrIZobiilFQjA.png)

[Azure ML Estimators](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/how-to-train-ml-models?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst) **make it easy to train models based on popular machine learning frameworks**. There are estimator classes for **Scikit-learn** , **PyTorch** , **TensorFlow** , and more. There is also a generic estimator that can be used with frameworks that do not already have a dedicated estimator class. You don’t have to worry about defining a run configuration when using estimators.

To get started with the default Azure ML Estimators check out the link below.

[Train ML models with estimators - Azure Machine Learning](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/machine-learning/how-to-train-ml-models?WT.mc_id=blog-medium-abornst)

### How to Configure Estimator Dependencies from GitHub?

Estimators provide the ability to add package dependencies from **PyPI** and **Conda** however not all the software dependencies are available in these repositories and sometimes ML engineers might want to install from source.

The following code shows how to install from a remote github package using the [nlp-architect](https://github.com/NervanaSystems/nlp-architect)and the absa branch as an example.

{% gist https://gist.github.com/aribornstein/8eb7f49fc39d139e7038d8b9dd8997b7 %}

Now you can get started creating custom Azure ML estimators for your open source GitHub projects without the need to write a custom run configuration or create a docker environment.

### Next Steps

Now that you know how to configure dependencies from [GitHub](https://github.com/)check out my previous post on 9 Advanced Tips for Production machine learning and how to get started with Azure Notebook VMs.

- [9 Advanced Tips for Production Machine Learning](https://dev.to/azure/9-advanced-tips-for-production-machine-learning-4ccg)
- [Getting Started With AzureML Notebook VMs](https://dev.to/azure/getting-started-with-azureml-notebook-vms-26l0)

If AI/ML interests you check out these amazing open source best practice repos as well.

- [microsoft/nlp-recipes](https://github.com/microsoft/nlp-recipes)
- [microsoft/computervision-recipes](https://github.com/microsoft/ComputerVision)
- [microsoft/recommenders](https://github.com/Microsoft/Recommenders)

### About the Author

[**Aaron (Ari) Bornstein**](https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-ari-bornstein-22aa7a77/) is an avid AI enthusiast with a passion for history, engaging with new technologies and computational medicine. As an Open Source Engineer at Microsoft’s Cloud Developer Advocacy team, he collaborates with Israeli Hi-Tech Community, to solve real world problems with game changing technologies that are then documented, open sourced, and shared with the rest of the world.

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