Neural network code that refuses to leave Python 2 or Theano 0.6
Code samples written to accompany the online book *Neural Networks and Deep Learning*.

What it does
This repository contains the code samples for Michael Nielsen’s book Neural Networks and Deep Learning. The scripts translate the book’s explanations into runnable Python 2.6/2.7, including a Theano-based implementation in src/network3.py. It is exposition software, not a standalone framework.
The interesting bit
The author has explicitly frozen the repository. He will not update for Python 3 or modernize src/network3.py for newer Theano versions, so the code remains exactly what readers of the original text would have typed. That makes it a rigid but faithful reference implementation.
Key highlights
- Directly tied to the free online book Neural Networks and Deep Learning.
- Written for Python 2.6 or 2.7 with no migration planned.
src/network3.pytargets Theano 0.6 or 0.7 and will not be updated for later releases.- MIT licensed; bug reports are welcome, but new features will not be added.
- 17,750 stars indicate it is a widely bookmarked learning resource.
Caveats
- Requires Python 2.6 or 2.7; the author will not add Python 3 support.
src/network3.pyneeds modification to work with later versions of Theano.- No new features are planned; it is strictly companion material, not a maintained library.
Verdict Use this if you are working through Nielsen’s book and want the exact code it references. Avoid it if you need a modern, maintained deep-learning library; this is pedagogy frozen in time.
Frequently asked
- What is mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning?
- Code samples written to accompany the online book *Neural Networks and Deep Learning*.
- Is neural-networks-and-deep-learning open source?
- Yes — mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning is an open-source project tracked on heatdrop.
- What language is neural-networks-and-deep-learning written in?
- mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning is primarily written in Python.
- How popular is neural-networks-and-deep-learning?
- mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning has 17.8k stars on GitHub.
- Where can I find neural-networks-and-deep-learning?
- mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning is on GitHub at https://github.com/mnielsen/neural-networks-and-deep-learning.