# How to Navigate the Subdirectories of the AI For Beginners Repository > Easily navigate the AI For Beginners subdirectories. Access curriculum, Python examples, and quizzes using the command line, VS Code, or GitHub. - Repository: [Microsoft/AI-For-Beginners](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners) - Tags: how-to-guide - Published: 2026-08-19 --- **You can navigate the AI For Beginners subdirectories using command-line navigation, VS Code's Explorer pane, or GitHub's web interface to access the 12-week curriculum, runnable Python examples, and the Vue-based quiz application.** The Microsoft AI For Beginners repository organizes a comprehensive artificial intelligence curriculum into a hierarchical folder structure. Understanding how to navigate its subdirectories—from the `lessons/` folder containing weekly coursework to the `examples/` directory with executable scripts—is essential for locating and executing course materials. This guide provides the exact file paths and navigation methods for exploring the repository both locally and online. ## Understanding the Top-Level Structure The repository root contains eight primary directories and configuration files that organize the learning path: - **`lessons/`** – Contains the complete 12-week curriculum organized by topic: `0-course-setup`, `1-Intro`, `2-Symbolic`, `3-NeuralNetworks`, `4-ComputerVision`, `5-NLP`, and subsequent weeks. - **`examples/`** – Houses runnable Python scripts including [`01-hello-ai-world.py`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/01-hello-ai-world.py), simple neural networks, image classifiers, and text-sentiment analyzers. - **`etc/quiz-app/`** – Stores the Vue 2.x quiz application with [`package.json`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/package.json) and build scripts for testing your knowledge. - **`translations/`** – Contains multi-language translations of lesson README files and lab instructions, such as `translations/zh-CN/lessons/5-NLP/15-LanguageModeling`. - **`binder/`** – Configuration files for Binder online Jupyter environments, including [`postBuild.sh`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/postBuild.sh) scripts that run after environment setup. - **[`environment.yml`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/environment.yml)** – Conda environment definition specifying TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, and OpenCV dependencies. - **`.github/workflows/`** – CI/CD automation including Scorecard and CodeQL workflows. ## Navigating via Command Line Local navigation requires cloning the repository and using standard terminal commands to traverse the directory tree. Clone the repository and enter the root directory: ```bash git clone https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners.git cd AI-For-Beginners ``` List the top-level directories to view the structure: ```bash ls -F # Output: lessons/ examples/ etc/ translations/ binder/ environment.yml README.md ``` Access specific lesson content by navigating the numbered subdirectories. For example, to reach the Computer Vision lesson on Convolutional Neural Networks located at `lessons/4-ComputerVision/07-ConvNets`: ```bash cd lessons/4-ComputerVision/07-ConvNets ``` Execute lesson materials using Python or Jupyter: ```bash # Run a Python script directly python pytorchcv.py # Or launch the Jupyter notebook jupyter notebook 07-ConvNets.ipynb ``` Run standalone examples from the `examples/` directory: ```bash cd examples python 01-hello-ai-world.py ``` ## Navigating with VS Code VS Code provides graphical navigation through the repository hierarchy without requiring terminal commands. 1. **Open the repository:** Select `File → Open Folder… → AI-For-Beginners` to load the project root. 2. **Use the Explorer pane:** The left sidebar displays the full directory tree, allowing you to expand `lessons/` and click through weekly folders like `3-NeuralNetworks` or `5-NLP`. 3. **Quick file search:** Press `Ctrl+P` (or `Cmd+P` on macOS) and type file paths directly, such as `lessons/3-NeuralNetworks/03-Perceptron/Perceptron.ipynb`, to jump immediately to specific notebooks. ## Navigating on GitHub (Browser) You can explore all subdirectories without cloning by using GitHub's web interface. Access the root repository view at: ``` https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/tree/main ``` Navigate directly to specific folders: - **Lessons root:** `https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/tree/main/lessons/4-ComputerVision` - **Specific notebook:** `https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/lessons/4-ComputerVision/07-ConvNets/07-ConvNets.ipynb` This method allows viewing Markdown files and notebook previews immediately, though you cannot execute code without launching Binder or GitHub Codespaces. ## Locating Key Components ### Lesson Materials The `lessons/` directory follows a numbered prefix system where `0-course-setup` contains environment instructions and `1-Intro` through the later weeks map to specific topics. Each lesson folder typically contains Jupyter notebooks (`.ipynb`), `images/` assets, and `lab/` subdirectories with hands-on exercises. ### Example Scripts Located in `examples/`, these standalone Python files demonstrate core concepts without full lesson context. The entry point [`01-hello-ai-world.py`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/01-hello-ai-world.py) provides a minimal first execution test to verify your environment. ### Quiz Application The Vue 2.x application resides in `etc/quiz-app/`. To launch it locally: ```bash cd etc/quiz-app npm install npm run serve ``` The `npm install` command reads dependencies from [`etc/quiz-app/package.json`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/etc/quiz-app/package.json), while `npm run serve` starts the development server. ### Translations Multi-language content follows the pattern `translations/[language-code]/lessons/[topic]/`. For instance, Chinese simplified NLP materials appear at `translations/zh-CN/lessons/5-NLP/15-LanguageModeling/`, containing localized README files and lab instructions. ### Environment Configuration The [`environment.yml`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/environment.yml) file in the root defines the Conda environment. Create your local environment with: ```bash conda env create -f environment.yml ``` This installs TensorFlow, PyTorch, Keras, OpenCV, and other dependencies required by the curriculum examples. ## Summary - The **AI For Beginners** repository organizes content into `lessons/` (curriculum), `examples/` (runnable scripts), `etc/quiz-app/` (Vue application), and `translations/` (localized content). - Use `cd lessons/4-ComputerVision/07-ConvNets` to access specific weekly materials, or `cd examples` for standalone scripts like [`01-hello-ai-world.py`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/01-hello-ai-world.py). - VS Code's `Ctrl+P` search and Explorer pane provide graphical navigation without terminal commands. - GitHub's web interface allows immediate viewing of all files at `github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/tree/main`. - The [`environment.yml`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/environment.yml) file configures the necessary Python environment, while [`etc/quiz-app/package.json`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/etc/quiz-app/package.json) manages the quiz application's Node.js dependencies. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Where are the weekly lesson materials stored in the repository? The weekly curriculum resides in the `lessons/` directory, organized by topic with numbered prefixes such as `1-Intro`, `2-Symbolic`, `3-NeuralNetworks`, `4-ComputerVision`, and `5-NLP`. Each folder contains Jupyter notebooks, lab exercises in subdirectories like `lab/`, and supporting media specific to that week's artificial intelligence concepts. ### How do I access translated content in AI For Beginners? Translated materials are located in the `translations/` subdirectory, organized by language code (e.g., `zh-CN` for Chinese simplified, `es` for Spanish). Navigate to `translations/[language-code]/lessons/` to find localized versions of the README files and lab instructions, mirroring the structure of the main `lessons/` folder. ### What command launches the interactive quiz application? Navigate to `etc/quiz-app/` and execute `npm install` followed by `npm run serve`. This installs the Vue 2.x dependencies defined in [`etc/quiz-app/package.json`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/etc/quiz-app/package.json) and starts the development server, typically accessible at `localhost:8080`. The quiz app tests your knowledge of AI concepts covered in the curriculum. ### Can I run the examples without cloning the repository? While you can view the source code for examples like [`01-hello-ai-world.py`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/01-hello-ai-world.py) directly on GitHub, you must clone the repository locally and install the dependencies specified in [`environment.yml`](https://github.com/microsoft/AI-For-Beginners/blob/main/environment.yml) (or use GitHub Codespaces/Binder) to execute the Python scripts. The `binder/` directory contains configuration for launching the entire repository in an online Jupyter environment without local installation.