A minimal, well-tested library for training and using feedforward artificial neural networks in ANSI C.
Genann is a minimal, well-tested library for training and using feedforward artificial neural networks in C. It solves the problem of needing a lightweight, dependency-free neural network implementation for embedded systems, educational projects, or applications where simplicity and performance are critical. It provides essential functions for network creation, backpropagation training, and evaluation while maintaining a small code footprint.
C developers working on embedded systems, educational tools, or projects requiring a lightweight neural network library without external dependencies. It's also suitable for researchers and hobbyists experimenting with custom training algorithms.
Developers choose Genann for its simplicity, speed, and hackability—it's entirely self-contained in two files, making it easy to integrate and modify. Unlike heavier alternatives, it focuses on providing only the necessary functionality while remaining compatible with various optimization methods.
simple neural network library in ANSI C
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Entirely self-contained in two files (genann.c and genann.h), making it trivial to integrate into any C project without external libraries or complex build systems.
Stores all network weights in a single contiguous memory block, enabling easy experimentation with custom training methods like genetic algorithms or hill climbing, as demonstrated in example2.c.
Optimized for performance with a minimal codebase that ensures thread safety, suitable for real-time applications and embedded systems where efficiency is critical.
Includes practical example programs for XOR training, random search, and real-world datasets like IRIS, providing clear guidance on usage and extension.
Only supports basic feedforward networks with a single hidden layer structure; lacks capabilities for convolutional, recurrent, or deeper architectures common in modern deep learning.
Implements only standard backpropagation with a fixed learning rate; missing advanced optimizers like Adam or adaptive methods, which can hinder performance on complex tasks.
Requires manual management of data preprocessing, loading, and splitting, as seen in the examples where users must handle input/output arrays separately, adding overhead for real-world applications.
Genann is an open-source alternative to the following products:
Lightweight Neural Network refers to neural network architectures designed for efficiency, often optimized for deployment on resource-constrained devices like mobile phones or embedded systems.
Fast Artificial Neural Network Library, a cross-platform open-source neural network library written in C for machine learning applications.