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Deep Learning Academy · Lesson

Assemble a CNN Image Classifier

Conv-ReLU-pool blocks into a working model.

Assemble a CNN Image Classifier is a free Deep Learning Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Deep Learning Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.

The CNN Recipe

A classic image classifier stacks conv-ReLU-pool blocks to extract features, then ends with dense layers that predict the class.

One Building Block

Each block follows the same rhythm: a conv layer, a ReLU activation, then a pool. This is the basic conv block you repeat.

block = nn.Sequential(
    nn.Conv2d(3, 16, 3, padding=1),
    nn.ReLU(),
    nn.MaxPool2d(2),
)

ReLU Adds Nonlinearity

Without an activation, stacked convolutions collapse into one linear step. ReLU after each conv lets the network learn complex shapes.

Stack Blocks to Go Deeper

Repeat the block, growing the channels each time. More blocks mean a wider receptive field and richer learned features.

Flatten Before the Head

After the conv blocks you have a stack of small maps. Flatten them into one vector so a dense layer can read them.

x = torch.flatten(x, start_dim=1)

The Classifier Head

A Linear layer maps the flattened features to one score per class. For ten classes, it outputs ten numbers.

head = nn.Linear(64, 10)

Define the Model

Wrap the features and head in an nn.Module. The forward method runs the convs, flattens, then the classifier.

class CNN(nn.Module):
    def __init__(self):
        super().__init__()
        self.features = block
        self.head = head

Write the Forward Pass

In forward, pass the image through features, flatten, and feed the head. The output is one raw score per class.

def forward(self, x):
    x = self.features(x)
    x = torch.flatten(x, 1)
    return self.head(x)

Outputs Are Logits

The head returns raw scores called logits, not probabilities. Cross-entropy loss expects exactly these raw values during training.

Pick the Loss

For multiclass images, use CrossEntropyLoss. It applies softmax internally and compares against the true label index.

loss_fn = nn.CrossEntropyLoss()

Predict a Class

At inference, take the index of the largest logit. That argmax is the model's predicted class for the image. 🖼️

pred = logits.argmax(dim=1)

Quick Check

Let us check the order of a CNN classifier's pieces.

Recap: A Working CNN

You assembled a CNN: conv-ReLU-pool blocks extract features, flatten feeds a Linear head, and argmax over logits gives the predicted class. 🎉

Frequently asked questions

Is the “Assemble a CNN Image Classifier” lesson free?

Yes — the full text of “Assemble a CNN Image Classifier” is free to read here on the web, and the Deep Learning Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Deep Learning Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.

What will I learn in “Assemble a CNN Image Classifier”?

Conv-ReLU-pool blocks into a working model. You practise Deep Learning Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.

Do I need any experience to start Deep Learning Academy?

No prior experience is required. Deep Learning Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.

How long does the “Assemble a CNN Image Classifier” lesson take?

Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.

Can I write and run code in this Deep Learning Academy lesson?

Yes. Every Deep Learning Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.

All lessons in this course

  1. Convolution: Kernels Slide Over Pixels
  2. Stride, Padding & Pooling
  3. Channels, Feature Maps & Receptive Fields
  4. Assemble a CNN Image Classifier
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