ref: exp init improvements

content/docs/command-reference/exp/index.md

@@ -26,19 +26,19 @@ usage: dvc exp [-h] [-q | -v]
 
 positional arguments:
   COMMAND
+    init                Quickly setup any project to use DVC Experiments.
+    run                 Reproduce complete or partial experiment pipelines.
     show                Print experiments.
-    apply               Apply the changes from an experiment to your
-                        workspace.
     diff                Show changes between experiments in the DVC
                         repository.
-    run                 Reproduce complete or partial experiment pipelines.
-    gc                  Garbage collect unneeded experiments.
-    branch              Promote an experiment to a Git branch.
     list                List local and remote experiments.
+    apply               Apply the changes from an experiment to your
+                        workspace.
+    branch              Promote an experiment to a Git branch.
+    remove              Remove local experiments.
+    gc                  Garbage collect unneeded experiments.
     push                Push a local experiment to a Git remote.
     pull                Pull an experiment from a Git remote.
-    remove              Remove local experiments.
-    init                Codify project using DVC metafiles to run experiments.
 ```
 
 ## Description

content/docs/command-reference/exp/init.md

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 # exp init
 
-Codify project using [DVC metafiles](/doc/user-guide/project-structure) to run
-[experiments](/doc/user-guide/experiment-management).
+Quickly setup any project to use [DVC Experiments].
 
 > Requires a <abbr>DVC repository</abbr>, created with `git init` and
 > `dvc init`.
@@ -19,43 +18,60 @@ usage: dvc exp init [-h] [-q | -v] [--run] [--interactive] [-f]
 
 ## Description
 
-`dvc exp init` helps you quickly get started with experiments. It reduces
-boilerplate for initializing [pipeline](/doc/command-reference/dag) stages in a
-`dvc.yaml` file by assuming defaults about the location of your data,
-[parameters](/doc/command-reference/params), source code, models,
-[metrics](/doc/command-reference/metrics) and
-[plots](/doc/command-reference/plots), which can be customized through config.
+`dvc exp init` helps you get started with DVC Experiments quickly. It reduces
+boilerplate DVC procedures by creating a `dvc.yaml` file that assumes standard
+locations of your input data, <abbr>parameters</abbr>, source code, models,
+<abbr>metrics</abbr> and [plots](/doc/command-reference/plots). These locations
+can be customized through the [options](#options) below or via
+[configuration](/doc/command-reference/config#exp).
 
-It also offers guided `--interactive` mode for creating a stage to be
-[`exp run`](/doc/command-reference/exp/run) later. `dvc exp init` supports
-creating different types of stages, eg: `dl` if you are doing deep learning,
-which uses [dvclive](/doc/dvclive) to monitor and checkpoint progress during
-training of machine learning models.
+Repository structure assumed by default:
 
-This command is intended to be a quick way to start running experiments. To
-create more complex stages and pipelines, use `dvc stage add`.
+```
+├── data/
+├── metrics.json
+├── models/
+├── params.yaml  # required
+├── plots/
+└── src/
+```
+
+> Note that `dvc exp init` expects at least a `params.yaml` file present. DVC
+> reads it to find parameters to include in the [stage definition]. It can
+> however be omitted when using the `--explicit` and/or `-i` flags.
 
-> 📖 More context in [Experiments Overview].
+You must always provide a command that runs your experiment(s). It can be given
+either directly [as an argument](#the-command-argument), or by using the
+`--interactive` (`-i`) mode which will prompt you for it. This command will be
+wrapped as a <abbr>stage</abbr> that `dvc exp run` can execute.
 
-[experiments overview]:
-  /doc/user-guide/experiment-management/experiments-overview
+Different types of stages are supported, such as `dl` (deep learning) which uses
+[DVCLive](/doc/dvclive) to monitor [checkpoints] during training of ML models.
+
+> `dvc exp init` is intended as a quick way to start running [DVC Experiments].
+> See the `dvc.yaml` specification for complex data pipelines.
+
+[stage definition]:
+  /doc/user-guide/project-structure/pipelines-files#stage-entries
+[checkpoints]: /doc/user-guide/experiment-management/checkpoints
+[dvc experiments]: /doc/user-guide/experiment-management/experiments-overview
 
 ### The `command` argument
 
-The `command` argument is optional, if you are using `--interactive` mode. The
-`command` sent to `dvc exp init` can be anything your terminal would accept and
-run directly, for example a shell built-in, expression, or binary found in
-`PATH`. Please remember that any flags sent after the `command` are interpreted
-by the command itself, not by `dvc exp init`.
+The command given to `dvc exp init` can be anything your system terminal would
+accept and run directly, for example a shell built-in, an expression, or a
+binary found in `PATH`. Please note that any flags sent after the `command`
+argument will normally become part of that command itself and ignored by
+`dvc exp init` (so provide it last).
 
-⚠️ While DVC is platform-agnostic, the commands defined in your
-[pipeline](/doc/command-reference/dag) stages may only work on some operating
-systems and require certain software packages to be installed.
+⚠️ While DVC is platform-agnostic, commands defined in `dvc.yaml` (`cmd` field)
+may only work on some operating systems and require certain software packages or
+libraries in the environment.
 
-Wrap the command with double quotes `"` if there are special characters in it
-like `|` (pipe) or `<`, `>` (redirection), otherwise they would apply to
-`dvc exp init` itself. Use single quotes `'` instead if there are environment
-variables in it that should be evaluated dynamically. Examples:
+Surround the command with double quotes `"` if it includes special characters
+like `|` or `<`, `>` -- otherwise they would apply to `dvc exp init` itself. Use
+single quotes `'` instead if there are environment variables in it that should
+be evaluated dynamically.
 
 ```dvc
 $ dvc exp init "./a_script.sh > /dev/null 2>&1"
@@ -64,71 +80,132 @@ $ dvc exp init './another_script.sh $MYENVVAR'
 
 ## Options
 
-- `-i`, `--interactive` - prompts user for the command to execute and different
-  paths for tracking outputs and dependencies, unless they are provided through
-  arguments explicitly. Interactive mode allows users to set those locations
-  from default values or omit them.
+- `-i`, `--interactive` - prompts user for a command that runs your
+  experiment(s) (see [details](#the-command-argument)) and to confirm or define
+  the paths that conform your repo's structure.
 
-- `--explicit` - `dvc exp init` assumes default location of your outputs and
-  dependencies (which can be overriden from the config). By using `--explicit`,
-  it will not use those default values while initializing experiments. In
-  `--interactive` mode, prompt won't set default value and all the values for
-  the prompt needs to be explicitly provided, or omitted.
+- `-n <stage>`, `--name <stage>` - specify a custom name for the stage generated
+  by this command. The default is `train`. It can only contain letters, numbers,
+  dash `-` and underscore `_` (same as `dvc stage add --name`).
 
-- `--code` - override the a path to your source file or directory which your
-  experiment depends on. The default is `src` directory for your code.
+- `--run` - automatically run the experiment after creating the stage (same as
+  `dvc exp run`).
 
-- `--data` - override the path to your data file or directory to track, which
-  your experiment depends on. The default is `data` directory.
+- `--type` - selects the type of the stage to create. Currently it provides two
+  alternatives: `dl` and `default` (no need to specify this one).
 
-- `--params` - override the path to
-  [parameter dependencies](/doc/command-reference/params) which your experiment
-  depends on. The default parameters file name is `params.yaml`. Note that
-  `dvc exp init` may fail if the parameters file does not exist at the time of
-  the invocation, as DVC reads the file to find parameters to track for the
-  stage.
+  `dl` stages are intended for use in deep-learning scenarios, where metrics and
+  plots are tracked with [DVCLive](/doc/dvclive). This also supports logging
+  [checkpoints](/doc/command-reference/exp/run#checkpoints) during the training
+  of DL models.
 
-- `--model` - override the path to your models file or directory to track, which
-  your experiment produces. `dvc exp init` assumes `models` directory by
-  default.
+- `--code` - set the path to the file or directory where the source code that
+  your experiment depends on can be found (if any). Overrides other
+  configuration and default value (`src/`).
 
-- `--metrics` - override the path to metrics file to track, which your
-  experiment produces. Default is `metrics.json` file.
+- `--params` - set the path to the file or directory where the
+  </abbr>parameters</abbr> that your experiment depends on can be found.
+  Overrides other configuration and default value (`params.yaml`).
 
-- `--plots` - override the path to plots file or directory, which your
-  experiment produces. The default is `plots`.
+  > Note that `dvc exp init` will fail if the params file does not exist. This
+  > is because DVC reads it to find params to include in the [stage definition].
 
-- `--live` - override the directory `path` for [DVCLive](/doc/dvclive), which
-  your experiment will write logs to. The default is `dvclive` directory, which
-  only comes to effect when used with `--type=dl`.
+- `--data` - set the path to the data file or directory that your experiment
+  depends on can be found (if any). Overrides other configuration and default
+  value (`data/`).
 
-- `--type` - selects the type of the stage to create. Currently it provides two
-  different kinds of stages: `default` and `dl`. If unspecified, `default` stage
-  is created.
+- `--model` - set the path to the file or directory where the model(s) produced
+  by your experiment can be found (if any). Overrides other configuration and
+  default value (`models/`).
 
-  `default` stage creates a stage with `metrics` and `plots` tracked by DVC
-  itself, and does not track live-created artifacts (unless explicitly
-  specified).
+  > 💡 This could be used for any artifacts produced by your experiment.
 
-  `dl` stage is intended for use in deep-learning scenarios, where metrics and
-  plots are tracked by [dvclive](/doc/dvclive) and supports tracking progress
-  while training a deep-learning model with
-  [checkpoints](/doc/command-reference/exp/run#checkpoints).
+- `--metrics` - set the path to the file or directory where the metrics produced
+  by your experiment can be found (if any). Overrides other configuration and
+  default value (`metrics.json`).
 
-- `-n <stage>`, `--name <stage>` - specify a custom name for the stage generated
-  by this command (e.g. `-n train`). The default is `train`.
+- `--plots` - set the path to the file or directory where the plots produced by
+  your experiment can be found (if any). Overrides other configuration and
+  default value (`plots/`).
 
-  Note that the stage name can only contain letters, numbers, dash `-` and
-  underscore `_`.
+- `--live` - configure the `path` directory for [DVCLive](/doc/dvclive). This is
+  where experiment logs will be written. Overrides other configuration and
+  default value (`dvclive/`).
 
-- `-f`, `--force` - overwrite an existing stage in `dvc.yaml` file without
-  asking for confirmation.
+  > This only has an effect when used with `--type=dl`.
 
-- `--run` - runs the experiment after initializing it.
+- `--explicit` - do not assume default locations of project dependencies and
+  outputs. You'll have to provide specific locations via other options or
+  `dvc config exp`. In `--interactive` this removes default values from prompts.
+
+- `-f`, `--force` - overwrite an existing stage in `dvc.yaml` file without
+  asking for confirmation (same as `dvc stage add --force`).
 
 - `-h`, `--help` - prints the usage/help message, and exit.
 
 - `-q`, `--quiet` - do not write anything to standard output. Exit with 0 if no
   problems arise, otherwise 1.
 
 - `-v`, `--verbose` - displays detailed tracing information.
+
+## Example: interactive mode
+
+Let's prepare an ML model training script to start running experiments on it.
+The easiest route is using interactive mode and answering a few questions:
+
+```dvc
+$ dvc exp init --interactive
+This command will guide you to set up a train stage in dvc.yaml...
+
+Command to execute: python src/train.py
+
+Enter the paths for dependencies and outputs of the command.
+DVC assumes the following workspace structure:
+├── data
+├── metrics.json
+├── models
+├── params.yaml
+├── plots
+└── src
+
+Path to a code file/directory [src, n to omit]: src/train.py
+Path to a data file/directory [data, n to omit]: data/features
+Path to a model file/directory [models, n to omit]: models/predict.h5
+Path to a parameters file [params.yaml, n to omit]:
+Path to a metrics file [metrics.json, n to omit]:
+Path to a plots file/directory [plots, n to omit]: n
+...
+```
+
+In this example the code, data, and model locations were specified above to
+avoid using the defaults (which are too broad). `params.yaml` and `metrics.json`
+are accepted (pressed Enter) for <abbr>parameters</abbr> and
+<abbr>metrics</abbr>. Plots are omitted (entered `n`) as none will be written.
+
+The resulting `dvc.yaml` file codifies the meta-information you provided in
+DVC's format:
+
+```yaml
+train:
+  cmd: python src/train.py
+  deps:
+    - data/features
+    - src/train.py
+  params:
+    - epochs
+  outs:
+    - models/predict.h5
+  metrics:
+    - metrics.json:
+        cache: false
+```
+
+> Notes:
+>
+> - `train` is the default stage name unless you provide one with the `--name`
+>   option.
+> - The `epochs` param was obtained from the `params.yaml` file. Any other param
+>   keys found there would all be listed under `params:` automatically.
+
+The next step would be to tune `params.yaml` or improve `src/train.py` directly,
+and start [running experiments](/doc/command-reference/exp/run).

content/docs/sidebar.json

@@ -254,6 +254,10 @@
         "slug": "exp",
         "source": "exp/index.md",
         "children": [
+          {
+            "label": "exp init",
+            "slug": "init"
+          },
           {
             "label": "exp run",
             "slug": "run"
@@ -262,14 +266,14 @@
             "label": "exp show",
             "slug": "show"
           },
-          {
-            "label": "exp init",
-            "slug": "init"
-          },
           {
             "label": "exp diff",
             "slug": "diff"
           },
+          {
+            "label": "exp list",
+            "slug": "list"
+          },
           {
             "label": "exp apply",
             "slug": "apply"
@@ -293,10 +297,6 @@
           {
             "label": "exp pull",
             "slug": "pull"
-          },
-          {
-            "label": "exp list",
-            "slug": "list"
           }
         ]
       },

content/docs/user-guide/project-structure/pipelines-files.md

@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ so you may modify, write, or generate stages and pipelines on your own.
 
 ## Stages
 
-The `stages` list contains a list of user-defined stages. Here's a simple one
-named `transpose`:
+The list of `stages` contains one or more user-defined stages. Here's a simple
+one named `transpose`:
 
 ```yaml
 stages:
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ stages:
       - columns.txt
 ```
 
+> See also `dvc stage add`, a helper command to write stages in `dvc.yaml`.
+
 The most important part of a stage it's the terminal command(s) it executes
 (`cmd` field). This is what DVC runs when the stage is reproduced (see
 `dvc repro`).