Learning roadmap· 100% match

Prompt vs RAG vs Fine-tune

The decision matrix. When each one wins, the cost-quality-latency triangle, the no-regret defaults.

5 stages~8 h
That leaves 5 stages, ~8 hours of focused work. You can clear it in any order, but the stages compound — try them top-to-bottom your first time.
  1. Concepts
    simple-defaultfeasibility-test80-20-rulecost-of-complexity
    Lab task

    Take 5 features your team wants. For each, write the smallest prompt that ships 80% of the value.

    Checkpoint

    You have a written rule for "when prompting is good enough". You enforce it for a week.

What you'll be able to do
  • Pick the right approach for any new AI feature in <60 seconds.
  • Defend the decision with a rough cost + quality estimate.
  • Migrate from prompt → RAG → fine-tune as the data and the budget allow.