Does LUIS keep previous training after importing a new app?

Question

I have a Luis app “Webapp1”. I do experimental development and testing.

So, imagine the following scenario. I do a lot of development with that app, so it has been through an extensive number of training cycles, let’s say 1000 (is that referred to as “epochs” in Luis as well?).

I export the app by “Export -> export as JSON”. According to Microsoft ( https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/luis/luis-concept-version) “The exported file does not contain machine-learned information because the app is retrained after it is imported.”.

1. If I create a new app with the exported file does that mean, I lose all the training and start from cycle 0?
2. If I add a couple of utterances and I do “import version” does that mean that I start from cycle 0 or 1001?

thank you

Answer 1

1. Well the model, yes, you lose it. But it's not a big issue, as you can rebuild it again if you have the exported JSON file. So for example if a production app is using that model, it will stop working. But if it's not used, you can recreate it any time (model = training data + computation power).
2. If you import another JSON (even if it's a completely different JSON that the previous), it will go alongside existing ones. Just name it different (I usually go with versions - 0.1, 0.2, 1.10...). Make sure each stage is assigned to the correct version (Active - currently editing in the console, Staging - a published version for tests, Production - the actual version in production)