Agent Conversation: openai/gpt-5.4
Task: ml-ensemble-boosting
Ensemble Boosting Strategy Design
Research Question
Design a novel sample weighting and update strategy for gradient boosting that improves over standard methods (AdaBoost, gradient boosting, XGBoost-style Newton step) across classification and regression tasks.
Background
Gradient boosting builds ensembles of weak learners (decision trees) sequentially, where each new learner corrects errors made by the ensemble so far. The key design choices that differentiate boosting algorithms are:
- Pseudo-target computation: What does each new weak learner try to predict? Options include the original labels (AdaBoost), negative gradients of the loss (gradient boosting), or Newton-step targets using second-order information (XGBoost).
- Learner weighting: How much influence does each weak learner get? Computed from weighted error (AdaBoost), fixed at 1.0 with learning rate shrinkage (gradient boosting), or via line search / Newton optimization (XGBoost).
- Sample reweighting: How does the distribution over training samples shift between rounds? Exponential reweighting of misclassified samples (AdaBoost) vs. uniform weights with pseudo-residual fitting (gradient methods).
These design choices interact with each other and with the loss landscape. There is room for novel strategies that combine ideas from different approaches, use adaptive schedules, or exploit problem structure.
What You Can Modify
The BoostingStrategy class (lines 147-256) in custom_boosting.py. This class has four methods:
init_weights(n_samples)-- Initialize sample weights (should sum to 1)compute_targets(y, current_predictions, sample_weights, round_idx)-- Compute pseudo-targets for the next weak learnercompute_learner_weight(learner, X, y, pseudo_targets, sample_weights, round_idx)-- Compute alpha for the just-fitted learnerupdate_weights(sample_weights, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets, alpha, round_idx)-- Update sample weights for the next round
You have access to: true labels, current ensemble predictions, sample weights, the fitted learner (can call learner.predict(X)), round index, and the config dict with dataset metadata.
Available imports in the FIXED section: numpy, sklearn.tree, sklearn.metrics, sklearn.datasets, sklearn.model_selection.
Evaluation
- Metrics:
- Classification (breast_cancer):
test_accuracy(higher is better) - Regression (diabetes, california_housing):
test_rmse(lower is better)
- Classification (breast_cancer):
- Benchmarks (3 datasets):
- Breast Cancer Wisconsin (classification, 569 samples, 30 features)
- Diabetes (regression, 442 samples, 10 features)
- California Housing (regression, 20640 samples, 8 features)
- Training: 200 boosting rounds, max_depth=3 trees, learning_rate=0.1, 80/20 train-test split
- Base learner: Decision tree (fixed, not editable)
scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py [EDITABLE — lines 147–256 only]
1: """ML Ensemble BoosTool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py",
4 "content": "class BoostingStrategy:\n \"\"\"Scale-adaptive bandpass Newton boosting.\n\n Core idea:\n 1. Use trust-region pseudo-targets instead of raw residuals/Newton steps.\n This keeps updates stable on outliers and confident mistakes.\n 2. Reweight samples by *informative difficulty*: emphasize examples that are\n still wrong/uncertain, but avoid exponential focus on extreme outliers.\n 3. Compute learner weights with a regularized weighted line search.\n\n This gives a unified strategy for classification and regression that mixes\n fast gradient/Newton-style correction with robust sample selection.\n \"\"\"\n\n def __init__(self, config):\n self.config = config\n self.task_type = config[\"task_type\"]\n self.n_rounds = config[\"n_rounds\"]\n self.learning_rate = config[\"learning_rate\"]\n\n # Hard-coded algorithmic constants.\n self.reg_lambda = 0.5\n self.weight_floor = 0.15\n self.weight_memory = 0.25\n self.class_step_clip = 2.5\n self.reg_alpha_clip = 2.5\n self.cls_alpha_clip = 3.0\n\n self._last_predictions = None\n\n def init_weights(self, n_samples):\n return np.ones(n_samples) / n_samples\n\n def _sigmoid(self, x):\n return 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(-np.clip(x, -30.0, 30.0)))\n\n def _uniform_weights(self, n_samples):\n return np.ones(n_samples) / n_samples\n\n def _progress(self, round_idx):\n return round_idx / max(1, self.n_rounds - 1)\n\n def compute_targets(self, y, current_predictions, sample_weights, round_idx):\n self._last_predictions = np.asarray(current_predictions).copy()\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n\n if self.task_type == \"regression\":\n residual = y - current_predictions\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=sample_weights)) + 1e-8\n\n # Pseudo-Huber style target: behaves like residuals near zero but\n # smoothly clips very large residuals. The trust region widens over\n # rounds so early updates are conservative and later updates refine.\n delta = scale * (1.25 + 1.25 * progress)\n return residual / np.sqrt(1.0 + (residual / delta) ** 2)\n\n probs = self._sigmoid(current_predictions)\n grad = y - probs\n hess = probs * (1.0 - probs)\n\n # Blend first-order and moderated Newton targets. Early rounds use more\n # gradient signal; later rounds lean more on curvature for refinement.\n newton_mix = 0.2 + 0.6 * progress\n newton_step = grad / np.sqrt(hess + 0.05)\n newton_step = np.clip(newton_step, -self.class_step_clip, self.class_step_clip)\n targets = (1.0 - newton_mix) * grad + newton_mix * newton_step\n\n # Mild focal amplification for samples with larger probability error.\n targets *= (0.75 + 0.5 * np.sqrt(np.abs(grad) + 1e-12))\n return targets\n\n def compute_learner_weight(self, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n sample_weights, round_idx):\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n\n if self.task_type == \"regression\":\n numerator = np.sum(sample_weights * pseudo_targets * preds)\n denominator = np.sum(sample_weights * preds ** 2) + self.reg_lambda\n alpha = numerator / (denominator + 1e-12)\n return float(np.clip(alpha, 0.0, self.reg_alpha_clip))\n\n probs = self._sigmoid(self._last_predictions)\n hess = probs * (1.0 - probs)\n\n numerator = np.sum(sample_weights * pseudo_targets * preds)\n denominator = np.sum(sample_weights * (hess + 0.05) * preds ** 2) + self.reg_lambda\n alpha = numerator / (denominator + 1e-12)\n return float(np.clip(alpha, 0.0, self.cls_alpha_clip))\n\n def update_weights(self, sample_weights, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n alpha, round_idx):\n n_samples = len(sample_weights)\n uniform = self._uniform_weights(n_samples)\n old_weights = sample_weights / (sample_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n\n if self.task_type == \"regression\":\n new_predictions = self._last_predictions + self.learning_rate * alpha * preds\n residual = y - new_predictions\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=old_weights)) + 1e-8\n z = np.abs(residual) / scale\n\n # Informative-difficulty weighting: emphasize unresolved errors, but\n # exponentially temper extremely large residuals to avoid chasing\n # outliers. This is the bandpass component of the method.\n informative = (z / (1.0 + z)) * np.exp(-0.15 * z)\n proposal = self.weight_floor + informative\n else:\n new_scores = self._last_predictions + self.learning_rate * alpha * preds\n y_signed = 2.0 * y - 1.0\n margin = y_signed * new_scores\n probs = self._sigmoid(new_scores)\n\n entropy = 4.0 * probs * (1.0 - probs) # high near the decision boundary\n hard = 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(np.clip(margin, -10.0, 10.0)))\n proposal = self.weight_floor + 0.6 * entropy + 0.4 * np.sqrt(hard)\n\n proposal = proposal / (proposal.sum() + 1e-12)\n\n # Curriculum schedule: start close to uniform, then gradually trust the\n # learned informative-difficulty weights more strongly.\n focus = 0.2 + 0.6 * progress\n new_weights = (1.0 - focus) * uniform + focus * proposal\n new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights\n return new_weights\n",
5 "after_line": 0,
6 "start_line": 147,
7 "end_line": 255
8}OK: Replaced lines 147..255 with 126 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py. Editable range: 147–273.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py | editable: 147–273 | total: 466 lines]
147 class BoostingStrategy:
148 """Scale-adaptive bandpass Newton boosting.
149
... (121 more lines) ...
271 new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights
272 return new_weights
273 [Test #1] (2 tests remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final) ### breast_cancer (scripts/breast_cancer.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 Final metrics (breast_cancer): test_accuracy_breast_cancer=0.9561 ### diabetes (scripts/diabetes.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_rmse=33.5326 test_rmse=54.0254 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_rmse=31.2102 test_rmse=54.1023 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_rmse=28.6705 test_rmse=54.0456 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_rmse=26.3593 test_rmse=54.3989 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_rmse=24.3765 test_rmse=54.4652 Final metrics (diabetes): test_rmse_diabetes=54.465
Tool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py",
4 "content": "class BoostingStrategy:\n \"\"\"Curriculum bandpass boosting.\n\n Classification:\n - Fit discrete label trees (strong on shallow trees).\n - Update weights using post-round margins, emphasizing misclassified and\n near-boundary samples without AdaBoost's exponential blow-up.\n\n Regression:\n - Fit a blend of raw residuals and robust pseudo-Huber residuals.\n - Use informative-difficulty reweighting: focus on unresolved errors while\n tempering extreme residuals that behave like outliers.\n \"\"\"\n\n def __init__(self, config):\n self.config = config\n self.task_type = config[\"task_type\"]\n self.n_rounds = config[\"n_rounds\"]\n self.learning_rate = config[\"learning_rate\"]\n self.n_samples = config[\"n_samples\"]\n\n self.reg_lambda = 0.5\n self.weight_floor = 0.15\n self.weight_memory = 0.30\n self._last_predictions = None\n\n def init_weights(self, n_samples):\n return np.ones(n_samples) / n_samples\n\n def _sigmoid(self, x):\n return 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(-np.clip(x, -30.0, 30.0)))\n\n def _uniform_weights(self, n_samples):\n return np.ones(n_samples) / n_samples\n\n def _progress(self, round_idx):\n return round_idx / max(1, self.n_rounds - 1)\n\n def compute_targets(self, y, current_predictions, sample_weights, round_idx):\n self._last_predictions = np.asarray(current_predictions).copy()\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n # Use discrete trees for classification, and place the novelty in the\n # margin-aware alpha/weight update rather than residual fitting.\n return y.astype(int)\n\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n residual = y - current_predictions\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=sample_weights)) + 1e-8\n\n # Robust residual with a widening trust region.\n delta = scale * (1.5 + progress)\n robust = residual / np.sqrt(1.0 + (residual / delta) ** 2)\n\n # Large datasets benefit from staying closer to raw residual fitting,\n # while smaller datasets benefit more from robustness.\n raw_mix = 0.35 + 0.35 * progress + (0.20 if self.n_samples > 5000 else 0.0)\n raw_mix = min(raw_mix, 0.95)\n return raw_mix * residual + (1.0 - raw_mix) * robust\n\n def compute_learner_weight(self, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n sample_weights, round_idx):\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n incorrect = (preds != y).astype(float)\n weighted_err = np.sum(sample_weights * incorrect) / (sample_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n weighted_err = np.clip(weighted_err, 1e-6, 1.0 - 1e-6)\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n\n # Slightly stronger than the reference AdaBoost step, but still\n # shrinked because the ensemble runs for many rounds.\n alpha = (0.75 + 0.50 * progress) * self.learning_rate\n alpha *= 0.5 * np.log((1.0 - weighted_err) / weighted_err)\n return float(max(alpha, 0.0))\n\n numerator = np.sum(sample_weights * pseudo_targets * preds)\n denominator = np.sum(sample_weights * preds ** 2) + self.reg_lambda\n alpha = numerator / (denominator + 1e-12)\n alpha_cap = 4.0 if self.n_samples > 5000 else 3.0\n return float(np.clip(alpha, 0.0, alpha_cap))\n\n def update_weights(self, sample_weights, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n alpha, round_idx):\n n_samples = len(sample_weights)\n uniform = self._uniform_weights(n_samples)\n old_weights = sample_weights / (sample_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n vote = 2.0 * preds - 1.0\n new_scores = self._last_predictions + alpha * vote\n y_signed = 2.0 * y - 1.0\n margin = y_signed * new_scores\n incorrect = (preds != y).astype(float)\n\n hard = 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(np.clip(margin, -10.0, 10.0)))\n boundary = np.exp(-np.abs(margin))\n proposal = self.weight_floor + 0.55 * hard + 0.35 * boundary + 0.10 * incorrect\n\n proposal = proposal / (proposal.sum() + 1e-12)\n focus = 0.35 + 0.35 * progress\n new_weights = (1.0 - focus) * uniform + focus * proposal\n else:\n new_predictions = self._last_predictions + self.learning_rate * alpha * preds\n residual = y - new_predictions\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=old_weights)) + 1e-8\n z = np.abs(residual) / scale\n\n temper = 0.08 if self.n_samples > 5000 else 0.15\n informative = (z / (1.0 + z)) * np.exp(-temper * z)\n proposal = self.weight_floor + informative\n proposal = proposal / (proposal.sum() + 1e-12)\n\n focus = 0.12 + 0.38 * progress\n if self.n_samples > 5000:\n focus *= 0.35\n new_weights = (1.0 - focus) * uniform + focus * proposal\n\n new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights\n return new_weights\n",
5 "after_line": 0,
6 "start_line": 147,
7 "end_line": 272
8}OK: Replaced lines 147..272 with 122 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py. Editable range: 147–269.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py | editable: 147–269 | total: 462 lines]
147 class BoostingStrategy:
148 """Curriculum bandpass boosting.
149
... (117 more lines) ...
267 new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights
268 return new_weights
269 [Test #2] (1 test remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final) ### breast_cancer (scripts/breast_cancer.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 Final metrics (breast_cancer): test_accuracy_breast_cancer=0.9561 ### diabetes (scripts/diabetes.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_rmse=30.3892 test_rmse=54.5071 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_rmse=28.0631 test_rmse=54.8994 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_rmse=25.7457 test_rmse=55.0719 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_rmse=23.7389 test_rmse=55.4500 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_rmse=21.7786 test_rmse=56.1452 Final metrics (diabetes): test_rmse_diabetes=56.1452
Tool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py",
4 "content": "class BoostingStrategy:\n \"\"\"Task-adaptive bandpass boosting.\n\n - Classification: AdaBoost-style voting with a margin-bandpass reweighting\n that keeps attention on mistakes and low-margin samples.\n - Regression (small data): robust trust-region residual boosting with\n informative-difficulty sample reweighting.\n - Regression (large data): fall back to stable Newton-style residual\n boosting to avoid underfitting from aggressive reweighting.\n \"\"\"\n\n def __init__(self, config):\n self.config = config\n self.task_type = config[\"task_type\"]\n self.n_rounds = config[\"n_rounds\"]\n self.learning_rate = config[\"learning_rate\"]\n self.n_samples = config[\"n_samples\"]\n\n self.reg_lambda = 1.0\n self.weight_floor = 0.15\n self.weight_memory = 0.25\n self.reg_alpha_clip = 2.5\n self._last_predictions = None\n\n def init_weights(self, n_samples):\n return np.ones(n_samples) / n_samples\n\n def _progress(self, round_idx):\n return round_idx / max(1, self.n_rounds - 1)\n\n def _sigmoid(self, x):\n return 1.0 / (1.0 + np.exp(-np.clip(x, -30.0, 30.0)))\n\n def _is_large_regression(self):\n return self.task_type == \"regression\" and self.n_samples > 5000\n\n def compute_targets(self, y, current_predictions, sample_weights, round_idx):\n self._last_predictions = np.asarray(current_predictions).copy()\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n return y\n\n residual = y - current_predictions\n if self._is_large_regression():\n # Stable residual boosting on large datasets.\n return residual\n\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=sample_weights)) + 1e-8\n delta = scale * (1.25 + 1.25 * progress)\n return residual / np.sqrt(1.0 + (residual / delta) ** 2)\n\n def compute_learner_weight(self, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n sample_weights, round_idx):\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n incorrect = (preds != y).astype(float)\n weighted_err = np.dot(sample_weights, incorrect) / (sample_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n weighted_err = np.clip(weighted_err, 1e-10, 1.0 - 1e-10)\n alpha = self.learning_rate * 0.5 * np.log((1.0 - weighted_err) / weighted_err)\n return float(max(alpha, 0.0))\n\n numerator = np.sum(sample_weights * pseudo_targets * preds)\n denominator = np.sum(sample_weights * preds ** 2) + self.reg_lambda\n alpha = numerator / (denominator + 1e-12)\n if self._is_large_regression():\n return float(np.clip(alpha, 0.0, 4.0))\n return float(np.clip(alpha, 0.0, self.reg_alpha_clip))\n\n def update_weights(self, sample_weights, learner, X, y, pseudo_targets,\n alpha, round_idx):\n preds = learner.predict(X)\n\n if self.task_type == \"classification\":\n incorrect = (preds != y).astype(float)\n new_weights = sample_weights * np.exp(alpha * incorrect)\n\n # Margin-bandpass refinement: give a mild bonus to low-margin points\n # without overwhelming the classic AdaBoost update.\n new_scores = self._last_predictions + alpha * (2.0 * preds - 1.0)\n margin = (2.0 * y - 1.0) * new_scores\n bandpass = 0.85 + 0.15 * np.exp(-np.abs(margin))\n new_weights = new_weights * bandpass\n return new_weights / (new_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n\n if self._is_large_regression():\n # Keep large-scale regression stable and close to Newton boosting.\n return sample_weights\n\n old_weights = sample_weights / (sample_weights.sum() + 1e-12)\n new_predictions = self._last_predictions + self.learning_rate * alpha * preds\n residual = y - new_predictions\n scale = np.sqrt(np.average(residual ** 2, weights=old_weights)) + 1e-8\n z = np.abs(residual) / scale\n\n informative = (z / (1.0 + z)) * np.exp(-0.15 * z)\n proposal = self.weight_floor + informative\n proposal = proposal / (proposal.sum() + 1e-12)\n\n progress = self._progress(round_idx)\n focus = 0.2 + 0.6 * progress\n uniform = np.ones_like(old_weights) / len(old_weights)\n new_weights = (1.0 - focus) * uniform + focus * proposal\n new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights\n return new_weights\n",
5 "after_line": 0,
6 "start_line": 147,
7 "end_line": 268
8}OK: Replaced lines 147..268 with 106 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py. Editable range: 147–253.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_boosting.py | editable: 147–253 | total: 446 lines]
147 class BoostingStrategy:
148 """Task-adaptive bandpass boosting.
149
... (101 more lines) ...
251 new_weights = (1.0 - self.weight_memory) * new_weights + self.weight_memory * old_weights
252 return new_weights
253 [Test #3] (0 tests remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final) [NOTE] This was your last test. You MUST now call submit(n=X) to choose which test result to submit as your final answer. ### breast_cancer (scripts/breast_cancer.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_acc=1.0000 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_acc=1.0000 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_acc=1.0000 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_acc=1.0000 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_acc=1.0000 test_acc=0.9561 Final metrics (breast_cancer): test_accuracy_breast_cancer=0.9561 ### diabetes (scripts/diabetes.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_rmse=33.5816 test_rmse=54.5358 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_rmse=30.7149 test_rmse=55.0656 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_rmse=29.3861 test_rmse=55.5000 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_rmse=27.3769 test_rmse=56
Tool Input
1{
2 "n": 2
3}[submit] Submitting result from test #2 as final. ### breast_cancer (scripts/breast_cancer.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_acc=0.9934 test_acc=0.9561 Final metrics (breast_cancer): test_accuracy_breast_cancer=0.9561 ### diabetes (scripts/diabetes.sh) Training progress (last rounds): TRAIN_METRICS: round=120/200 train_rmse=30.3892 test_rmse=54.5071 TRAIN_METRICS: round=140/200 train_rmse=28.0631 test_rmse=54.8994 TRAIN_METRICS: round=160/200 train_rmse=25.7457 test_rmse=55.0719 TRAIN_METRICS: round=180/200 train_rmse=23.7389 test_rmse=55.4500 TRAIN_METRICS: round=200/200 train_rmse=21.7786 test_rmse=56.1452 Final metrics (diabetes): test_rmse_diabetes=56.1452 ### california_housing (scripts/california