Retrieve Augment Generate — Build Your First RAG Pipeline in Python | Episode 16

The complete RAG pipeline in one function. Retrieve relevant documents from ChromaDB. Augment the prompt with context. Generate an accurate answer with Claude. Three steps, one pattern — the foundation of every AI document Q&A app. We build a programming language knowledge base (Python, JavaScript, Rust, Go, TypeScript), then ask three questions. Each time, ChromaDB finds the right documents, the prompt gets augmented with context, and Claude answers accurately from YOUR data — not from memory. Student code: https://github.com/GoCelesteAI/build-ai-apps-python/tree/main/episode16 Every keystroke is shown on screen with 3-second pauses so you can follow along at your own pace. What You'll Learn: • The 3-step RAG pattern: Retrieve, Augment, Generate • ChromaDB for document retrieval • Building augmented prompts with f-string templates • System prompt: "answer from context only" • Claude + ChromaDB working together • 3 questions proving RAG accuracy • Why retrieved context prevents hallucination • Running Python scripts with :!python % Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction 0:12 - What is the RAG Pipeline? (Preview) 0:46 - Creating rag_pipeline.py 1:02 - Imports: Anthropic + ChromaDB 2:02 - Knowledge base: 5 programming languages 3:55 - Add documents to collection 4:35 - Save progress 4:48 - The ask function — the RAG pipeline 5:18 - Step 1: RETRIEVE — query the vector store 6:18 - Step 2: AUGMENT — build prompt with context 7:28 - Step 3: GENERATE — Claude answers from context 9:08 - Three questions: Python, Rust, Go 9:48 - Save and run 10:15 - Python: Guido van Rossum, 1991. Accurate! 10:25 - Rust: systems programming, web assembly. From the document! 10:35 - Go: made by Google. Context-based answer! 11:18 - Code review 11:38 - Recap: 3 Key Takeaways 12:10 - End Screen Key Takeaways: 1. Retrieve finds relevant documents from the vector store using the question 2. Augment builds a prompt with the retrieved context and the question together 3. Generate sends the augmented prompt to Claude — context plus question equals accurate answer This is Episode 16 of Build AI Apps with Python in Neovim — Phase 3 (RAG). Taught by CelesteAI. Like & subscribe for more tutorials! #python #ai #rag #ragpipeline #retrievalaugmentedgeneration #chromadb #claudeapi #anthropic #neovim #programming #tutorial #machinelearning #artificialintelligence #coding #pythontutorial #buildaiapps #llm #genai