$ cajundata --focus retrieval

Evidence-driven retrieval and knowledge systems.

Cajun Data is an independent applied research and engineering studio. We design, build, and evaluate systems that help machine-learning models find, organize, and use external information, without hyperscale infrastructure.

KNOWLEDGE_PIPELINE · FULL-SYSTEM SCOPE
01ingest · sources, parsing, freshnessDATA
02represent · chunks, embeddings, structureKNOWLEDGE
03index · lexical, vector, hybridSEARCH
04retrieve · candidate generationSEARCH
05rerank · precision orderingRANKING
06assemble · context constructionCONTEXT
07generate · grounded outputsOUTPUT
08evaluate · benchmarks, observabilityEVIDENCE
we work across the whole pipeline, not one box

Capable knowledge systems should not require data-center-scale infrastructure, and claims about their performance should be supported by reproducible evidence.

Retrieval & ranking

Search architectures and precision ordering, from lexical baselines to learned rerankers.

Knowledge representation

How information is chunked, embedded, and structured so systems can actually use it.

Ingestion & preparation

Turning messy documents and changing sources into clean, fresh, indexable data.

Context engineering

Constructing the context a model sees deliberately, instead of hoping for the best.

Grounded generation

Outputs tied to inspectable sources, with the seams showing on purpose.

Evaluation & observability

Benchmarks, failure diagnosis, and instrumentation for complete system behavior.

Resource-aware deployment

Architectures that run on workstations, modest servers, and ordinary cloud services.

Open tools & reproducibility

Reference implementations and templates published so results can be checked.

What the studio is investigating right now. Questions move to the Lab as they produce results.

ACTIVEStanding up the Lab: a reproducible environment for retrieval experimentsBuilding the harness that future retrieval and ranking experiments will run on, starting from ml-lab-template.
SHIPPEDml-lab-template: a reproducible structure for ML experimentsOne repo layout for configs, runs, and results. The evidence-driven method, made concrete.

Building a retrieval or knowledge system?We take on a small number of design, build, and evaluation engagements.

CONTACT CAJUN DATA