Ecco Project Overview
Ecco is an innovative Python library designed to explore and explain Natural Language Processing (NLP) models through interactive visualizations. Ecco primarily focuses on understanding pre-trained models rather than training or fine-tuning them.
Key Features
- Model Compatibility: Ecco supports a variety of language models including GPT-2, BERT, RoBERTA, T5, and others. Users can also integrate their local models if they are based on Hugging Face's PyTorch models.
- Feature Attribution: This involves understanding which parts of the input data the model considers important for its predictions. Ecco uses methods like Integrated Gradients and Saliency to provide insight into model decisions.
- Neuron Activation Tracking: Ecco can capture and visualize neuron activations in the feedforward network layers of Transformer models. This feature helps users identify and visualize neuron activation patterns.
- Visualization Tools: Ecco offers various visualization options, such as the evolution of token processing across model layers and candidate output tokens with their probabilities.
Installation
Ecco can be installed using either pip or conda:
-
Via pip:
pip install ecco -
Via conda:
conda install -c conda-forge ecco
Practical Examples
Ecco provides practical examples and visualization tools that help align user understanding, some of which include:
- Text Sentiment Analysis: Using a model like T5, Ecco can determine the sentiment of a film review and illustrates the tokens influencing the sentiment classification.
- Knowledge Exploration: Tests if models like GPT-2 know factual information, such as the location of Heathrow Airport.
- Activation Patterns: Visualizes how BERT’s neurons respond to specific text components, like punctuation or pronouns, which can help reveal underlying model logic.
Tutorials and Documentation
Ecco has comprehensive documentation and tutorials available for users seeking detailed guidance. This includes video tutorials and how-to guides for understanding Transformer language models.
Getting Help and Contributing
Users can seek help through Ecco's discussion board or report issues in the project's issue tracker. As an alpha-release research project, Ecco encourages contributions to enhance its capabilities and improve its features.
Ecco stands out as a powerful tool for researchers and developers interested in gaining deeper insights into NLP model behavior and improving model transparency through robust visualizations and analysis tools.