TinyTorch CharTokenizer: Vocab Fixes That Matter

CharTokenizer’s vocab initialization hides subtle but vital details - especially in how it handles unknown and end-of-word tokens. When build_vocab overwrites token mappings from the corpus, it breaks the char-to-index link, yet the system silently rebuilds it. This isn’t a bug, but a design choice rooted in flexibility: letting users inject their own vocab while preserving core token flow. A fix in a fork clarified this, merging repeated code snippets and centralizing constants - like END_OF_WORD and UNKNOWN_TOKEN - so changes ripple cleanly. Repetitions breed fragility; cutting them now prevents future headaches. The real insight? Vocab initialization isn’t just setup - it’s a gateway to predictable, safe tokenization. Is your CharTokenizer ready for reliable behavior? Use these tweaks to keep your pipeline lean and error-free. The bottom line: small token-level fixes shape the big picture - watch how precision turns chaos into clarity.