diff --git a/paddle/fluid/CMakeLists.txt b/paddle/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
index 6b526f0103ad3c530c06a68757cf89293f4fb84b..595454e90b9cd713fd2baed24538cf5fbc93934a 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/paddle/fluid/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 add_subdirectory(memory)
 add_subdirectory(platform)
 add_subdirectory(framework)
+add_subdirectory(imperative)
 add_subdirectory(operators)
 add_subdirectory(string)
 add_subdirectory(recordio)
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.cc b/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.cc
index 3e9353f5cf67d8de62c5551f12ea786e49190549..6338be75a4b1d3c4caf7a6f7add4d05fec690340 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.cc
+++ b/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ limitations under the License. */
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 #include "glog/logging.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/var_type.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/framework/variable.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/platform/place.h"
 
 namespace paddle {
 namespace framework {
@@ -53,5 +55,12 @@ LoDTensor& GetFetchVariable(const Scope& scope, const std::string& var_name,
   return tensor;
 }
 
+LoDTensor& GetVariableTensor(const Scope& scope, const std::string& var_name) {
+  Variable* var = scope.FindVar(var_name);
+  PADDLE_ENFORCE(var, "%s no in scope", var_name);
+  PADDLE_ENFORCE(var->IsType<LoDTensor>(), "Only support lod tensor now.");
+  return *var->GetMutable<LoDTensor>();
+}
+
 }  // namespace framework
 }  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.h b/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.h
index 7f504bfd232862c014cb59b6e8301eec74e0351f..031f8e01aa6128b803dcbfb990778e87d4fafc13 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.h
+++ b/paddle/fluid/framework/feed_fetch_method.h
@@ -27,5 +27,7 @@ void SetFeedVariable(Scope* scope, const LoDTensor& input,
 LoDTensor& GetFetchVariable(const Scope& scope, const std::string& var_name,
                             size_t index);
 
+LoDTensor& GetVariableTensor(const Scope& scope, const std::string& var_name);
+
 }  // namespace framework
 }  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/framework/ir/graph.cc b/paddle/fluid/framework/ir/graph.cc
index fc91564bbaecf7b1725908fc1eb8b1e4d2e20d32..8679118fe28b1c68aea30caf711441823b5255c0 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/framework/ir/graph.cc
+++ b/paddle/fluid/framework/ir/graph.cc
@@ -38,9 +38,8 @@ void CheckProgram(const ProgramDesc &program) {
     switch (role_id) {
       case _INT(OpRole::kForward):
         if (visit.find(_INT(OpRole::kBackward)) != visit.end()) {
-          LOG(ERROR)
-              << "Cannot add backward operator before forward operator %s."
-              << op->Type();
+          LOG(ERROR) << "Cannot add backward operator before forward operator "
+                     << op->Type();
         }
         break;
       case _INT(OpRole::kBackward):
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/CMakeLists.txt b/paddle/fluid/imperative/CMakeLists.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..373d292b443b7651b785a52a6986b0a0be58ad61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+cc_library(layer SRCS layer.cc DEPS proto_desc operator)
+cc_library(tracer SRCS tracer.cc DEPS proto_desc)
+cc_library(engine SRCS engine.cc)
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.cc b/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..de7ab0e5918281579728ef48d1517be2cd530af7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.h"
+
+#include <mutex>  // NOLINT
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "glog/logging.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {
+
+static std::once_flag init_engine;
+static Engine* engine;
+
+class DummyEngine : public Engine {
+ public:
+  void Enqueue(Runnable* runnable) override {
+    queued_runnables_.push_back(runnable);
+  }
+
+  size_t Size() const override { return queued_runnables_.size(); }
+
+  void Sync() override {
+    for (Runnable* l : queued_runnables_) {
+      LOG(INFO) << "running " << reinterpret_cast<void*>(l);
+    }
+    queued_runnables_.clear();
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::vector<Runnable*> queued_runnables_;
+};
+
+Engine* GetEngine() {
+  std::call_once(init_engine, []() { engine = new DummyEngine(); });
+  return engine;
+}
+
+}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.h b/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..a1dfa5bda38d0c419aa4ccbea77b32eb7e0d5b23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.h
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <cstddef>
+#include <cstdint>
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {
+
+struct Runnable {};
+
+class Engine {
+ public:
+  virtual ~Engine() {}
+
+  virtual void Enqueue(Runnable* runnable) = 0;
+
+  virtual size_t Size() const = 0;
+
+  virtual void Sync() = 0;
+};
+
+Engine* GetEngine();
+
+}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.cc b/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..612503768079472ba233ee3fcd43a47fdba9a0cc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,221 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h"
+#include <deque>
+#include <limits>
+#include <map>
+#include <random>
+#include <utility>
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/lod_tensor.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/op_registry.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/string/printf.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {
+
+using framework::Variable;
+
+void AddTo(Variable* src, Variable* dst) {
+  framework::LoDTensor* dst_tensor = dst->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+  framework::LoDTensor* src_tensor = src->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+  PADDLE_ENFORCE(dst_tensor->numel() == src_tensor->numel(), "%lld vs %lld",
+                 dst_tensor->numel(), src_tensor->numel());
+  float* dst_data = dst_tensor->mutable_data<float>(platform::CPUPlace());
+  const float* src_data = src_tensor->data<float>();
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < src_tensor->numel(); ++i) {
+    dst_data[i] += src_data[i];
+  }
+}
+
+class Autograd {
+ public:
+  explicit Autograd(framework::Scope* scope) : scope_(scope) {}
+
+  void RunBackward(VarBase* var) {
+    PADDLE_ENFORCE(var->pre_op_->op_desc_);
+    // TODO(panyx0718): Only create for vars that "require_grad"
+    (*var->pre_op_->output_vars_)[var->pre_op_out_idx_]->grads_ = var->grads_;
+
+    std::deque<OpBase*> ready;
+    ready.push_back(var->pre_op_);
+
+    std::map<OpBase*, int> dep_counts = ComputeDepCounts(var->pre_op_);
+
+    while (!ready.empty()) {
+      OpBase* ready_op = ready.front();
+      ready.pop_front();
+      std::vector<Variable*> input_grads = ready_op->ApplyGrad(scope_);
+
+      for (size_t i = 0; i < input_grads.size(); ++i) {
+        if (!input_grads[i]) continue;
+        OpBase* pre_op = ready_op->pre_ops_->at(i);
+        if (!pre_op) continue;
+
+        dep_counts[pre_op] -= 1;
+        PADDLE_ENFORCE(dep_counts[pre_op] >= 0);
+        bool pre_op_ready = dep_counts[pre_op] == 0;
+        if (pre_op_ready) {
+          ready.push_back(pre_op);
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::map<OpBase*, int> ComputeDepCounts(OpBase* op) {
+    std::map<OpBase*, int> ret;
+
+    std::deque<OpBase*> queue;
+    queue.push_back(op);
+    std::unordered_set<OpBase*> visited;
+    visited.insert(op);
+    while (!queue.empty()) {
+      OpBase* candidate = queue.front();
+      queue.pop_front();
+      for (OpBase* pre_op : *(candidate->pre_ops_)) {
+        if (!pre_op) continue;
+        if (visited.find(pre_op) == visited.end()) {
+          visited.insert(pre_op);
+          queue.push_back(pre_op);
+        }
+        ret[pre_op] += 1;
+      }
+    }
+
+    return ret;
+  }
+
+  framework::Scope* scope_;
+};
+
+framework::Variable* CreateVariable(const std::string& name,
+                                    const framework::DDim& dim, float val,
+                                    framework::Scope* scope,
+                                    bool random_name = true) {
+  std::string varname = name;
+  if (random_name) {
+    std::mt19937 rng;
+    rng.seed(std::random_device()());
+    std::uniform_int_distribution<std::mt19937::result_type> dist6(
+        1, std::numeric_limits<int>::max());
+    int id = dist6(rng);
+    varname = string::Sprintf("%s@%d", varname, id);
+  }
+
+  VLOG(3) << "creating var " << varname;
+  framework::Variable* var = scope->Var(varname);
+  framework::LoDTensor* tensor = var->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+
+  float* data = tensor->mutable_data<float>(dim, platform::CPUPlace());
+  std::fill(data, data + tensor->numel(), val);
+  return var;
+}
+
+framework::LoDTensor& VarBase::Grad() {
+  VLOG(3) << "get var grad " << var_desc_->Name();
+  return *grads_->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+}
+
+void VarBase::ApplyGrad(framework::Scope* scope, Variable* grad) {
+  VLOG(3) << "apply var grad " << var_desc_->Name() << " "
+          << grad->Get<framework::LoDTensor>().data<float>()[0];
+  if (!grads_) {
+    grads_ =
+        CreateVariable(string::Sprintf("%s@IGrad", var_desc_->Name()),
+                       var_->Get<framework::LoDTensor>().dims(), 0.0, scope);
+  }
+  AddTo(grad, grads_);
+  VLOG(3) << "grad_ after apply var grad " << var_desc_->Name() << " "
+          << grads_->Get<framework::LoDTensor>().data<float>()[0];
+}
+
+std::vector<Variable*> OpBase::ApplyGrad(framework::Scope* scope) {
+  VLOG(3) << "op grad " << grad_op_desc_->Type();
+
+  for (const std::string& grad_invar : grad_op_desc_->InputArgumentNames()) {
+    if (grad_to_var_->find(grad_invar) == grad_to_var_->end()) {
+      // grad op inputs can be forward inputs, so not in grad_to_var.
+      continue;
+    }
+    VLOG(3) << "op grad in var " << grad_invar;
+    block_->FindRecursiveOrCreateVar(grad_invar);
+    framework::Variable* var = scope->Var(grad_invar);
+    const std::string& invar = grad_to_var_->at(grad_invar);
+    for (VarBase* varbase : *output_vars_) {
+      // Use the accumulated grads_ by sharing the input with grads_.
+      if (varbase->var_desc_->Name() == invar) {
+        var->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>()->ShareDataWith(
+            varbase->grads_->Get<framework::LoDTensor>());
+        break;
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  for (const std::string& outvar : grad_op_desc_->OutputArgumentNames()) {
+    VLOG(3) << "grad outvar " << outvar;
+    block_->FindRecursiveOrCreateVar(outvar);
+    framework::Variable* var = scope->Var(outvar);
+    if (!var->IsInitialized()) {
+      framework::VarDesc* var_desc = block_->FindVar(outvar);
+      if (var_desc->GetType() == framework::proto::VarType::LOD_TENSOR) {
+        var->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+      } else {
+        LOG(ERROR) << "tracer doesn't support yet";
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  grad_op_desc_->InferShape(*block_);
+  grad_op_desc_->InferVarType(block_);
+  std::unique_ptr<framework::OperatorBase> opbase =
+      framework::OpRegistry::CreateOp(*grad_op_desc_);
+
+  opbase->Run(*scope, platform::CPUPlace());
+
+  // `ret` matches exactly with `input_vars_` of forward op.
+  std::vector<Variable*> ret;
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < input_vars_->size(); ++i) {
+    bool found = false;
+    for (const std::string& outvar : grad_op_desc_->OutputArgumentNames()) {
+      Variable* var = scope->FindVar(outvar);
+      VarBase* origin_var = (*input_vars_)[i];
+      std::string orig_var = grad_to_var_->at(outvar);
+      PADDLE_ENFORCE(origin_var->var_desc_->Name() == orig_var);
+      VLOG(3) << "apply grad " << outvar << " with origin " << orig_var;
+      origin_var->ApplyGrad(scope, var);
+      found = true;
+      ret.push_back(var);
+      // TODO(panyx0718): There might be another outvar with the same name.
+      // In that case, it doesn't matter the first one or the second one is
+      // used.
+      break;
+    }
+    if (!found) {
+      ret.push_back(nullptr);
+    }
+  }
+  return ret;
+}
+
+void VarBase::RunBackward(framework::Scope* scope) {
+  grads_ = CreateVariable(framework::GradVarName(var_desc_->Name()),
+                          var_->Get<framework::LoDTensor>().dims(), 1.0, scope,
+                          false);
+  if (!pre_op_) return;
+  Autograd(scope).RunBackward(this);
+}
+
+}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h b/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..85a71ca83d21ed2595ddbe684300a46c05fed3af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,102 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/op_desc.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/operator.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/scope.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/var_desc.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/platform/enforce.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {
+
+class OpBase;
+
+class VarBase {
+ public:
+  VarBase()
+      : pre_op_(nullptr),
+        pre_op_out_idx_(-1),
+        var_desc_(nullptr),
+        var_(nullptr),
+        grads_(nullptr) {}
+
+  virtual ~VarBase() {}
+
+  void ApplyGrad(framework::Scope* scope, framework::Variable* grad);
+
+  void RunBackward(framework::Scope* scope);
+
+  framework::LoDTensor& Grad();
+
+  OpBase* pre_op_;
+  int pre_op_out_idx_;
+
+  framework::VarDesc* var_desc_;
+  framework::Variable* var_;
+  framework::Variable* grads_;
+};
+
+class OpBase {
+ public:
+  OpBase()
+      : input_vars_(new std::vector<VarBase*>()),
+        output_vars_(new std::vector<VarBase*>()),
+        pre_ops_(new std::vector<OpBase*>()),
+        pre_ops_out_idx_(new std::vector<int>()),
+        op_desc_(nullptr),
+        grad_op_desc_(nullptr) {}
+
+  virtual ~OpBase() {
+    delete input_vars_;
+    delete output_vars_;
+
+    delete pre_ops_;
+    delete pre_ops_out_idx_;
+
+    if (grad_op_desc_) delete grad_op_desc_;
+    if (grad_to_var_) delete grad_to_var_;
+  }
+
+  std::vector<framework::Variable*> ApplyGrad(framework::Scope* scope);
+
+  std::vector<VarBase*>* input_vars_;
+  std::vector<VarBase*>* output_vars_;
+  std::vector<OpBase*>* pre_ops_;
+  std::vector<int>* pre_ops_out_idx_;
+  framework::OpDesc* op_desc_;
+
+  framework::OpDesc* grad_op_desc_;
+  std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>* grad_to_var_;
+  framework::BlockDesc* block_;
+};
+
+class Layer {
+ public:
+  virtual ~Layer() {}
+
+  virtual std::vector<VarBase> Forward(const std::vector<VarBase>& inputs) {
+    std::vector<VarBase> vars;
+    return vars;
+  }
+
+  virtual void Backward() { LOG(ERROR) << "To support customize"; }
+};
+
+}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.cc b/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..f64f9e72c4a23528948183b909d65e90783a4463
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.h b/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..433d07c0e5aa0986ab1e9fe349ef865d2851c0c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.h
@@ -0,0 +1,128 @@
+// Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+//
+// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+// You may obtain a copy of the License at
+//
+//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+//
+// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+// limitations under the License.
+
+#pragma once
+
+#include <map>
+#include <string>
+#include <vector>
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/op_desc.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/op_registry.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/scope.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/engine.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace imperative {
+
+void CreateGradOp(const framework::OpDesc& op_desc,
+                  const std::unordered_set<std::string>& no_grad_set,
+                  const std::vector<framework::BlockDesc*>& grad_sub_block,
+                  framework::OpDesc** grad_op_desc,
+                  std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>* grad_to_var) {
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<framework::OpDesc>> grad_op_descs =
+      framework::OpInfoMap::Instance()
+          .Get(op_desc.Type())
+          .GradOpMaker()(op_desc, no_grad_set, grad_to_var, grad_sub_block);
+  PADDLE_ENFORCE(grad_op_descs.size() == 1, "Only support 1 grad op now.");
+  // TODO(panyx0718): Leak?
+  *grad_op_desc = grad_op_descs[0].release();
+}
+
+class Tracer {
+ public:
+  explicit Tracer(framework::BlockDesc* root_block) : root_block_(root_block) {
+    root_scope_ = new framework::Scope();
+    scopes_[root_block_] = root_scope_;
+  }
+
+  virtual ~Tracer() { delete root_scope_; }
+
+  void Trace(OpBase* op, const std::vector<VarBase*>& inputs,
+             const std::vector<VarBase*>& outputs,
+             framework::BlockDesc* block) {
+    framework::Scope* scope = GetScope(block);
+    framework::OpDesc* op_desc = op->op_desc_;
+    VLOG(3) << "tracer tracing " << op_desc->Type();
+    op_desc->InferShape(*block);
+    op_desc->InferVarType(block);
+    std::unique_ptr<framework::OperatorBase> op_base =
+        framework::OpRegistry::CreateOp(*op_desc);
+
+    *op->input_vars_ = inputs;
+    for (VarBase* input : inputs) {
+      const std::string vname = input->var_desc_->Name();
+      framework::Variable* var = scope->Var(vname);
+      input->var_ = var;
+      if (!var->IsInitialized()) {
+        framework::VarDesc* var_desc = block->FindVar(vname);
+        if (var_desc->GetType() == framework::proto::VarType::LOD_TENSOR) {
+          var->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+        } else {
+          LOG(ERROR) << "tracer doesn't support yet";
+        }
+      }
+      if (input->pre_op_) {
+        op->pre_ops_->push_back(input->pre_op_);
+        op->pre_ops_out_idx_->push_back(input->pre_op_out_idx_);
+      } else {
+        op->pre_ops_->push_back(nullptr);
+      }
+    }
+
+    *op->output_vars_ = outputs;
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < outputs.size(); ++i) {
+      const std::string vname = outputs[i]->var_desc_->Name();
+      framework::Variable* var = scope->Var(vname);
+      if (!var->IsInitialized()) {
+        framework::VarDesc* var_desc = block->FindVar(vname);
+        if (var_desc->GetType() == framework::proto::VarType::LOD_TENSOR) {
+          var->GetMutable<framework::LoDTensor>();
+        } else {
+          LOG(ERROR) << "tracer doesn't support yet";
+        }
+      }
+      outputs[i]->var_ = var;
+      outputs[i]->pre_op_ = op;
+      outputs[i]->pre_op_out_idx_ = i;
+    }
+    op_base->Run(*scope, platform::CPUPlace());
+    framework::OpDesc* grad_op_desc;
+    auto grad_to_var = new std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>();
+    CreateGradOp(*op_desc, {}, {block}, &grad_op_desc, grad_to_var);
+    op->grad_op_desc_ = grad_op_desc;
+    op->grad_to_var_ = grad_to_var;
+    op->block_ = block;
+  }
+
+  framework::Scope* GetScope(framework::BlockDesc* block) {
+    if (scopes_.find(block) != scopes_.end()) {
+      return scopes_.at(block);
+    }
+    framework::BlockDesc* parent_block = block->ParentBlock();
+    PADDLE_ENFORCE(scopes_.find(parent_block) != scopes_.end());
+    framework::Scope* scope = &scopes_[parent_block]->NewScope();
+    scopes_[block] = scope;
+    return scope;
+  }
+
+ private:
+  std::map<framework::BlockDesc*, framework::Scope*> scopes_;
+  framework::BlockDesc* root_block_;
+  framework::Scope* root_scope_;
+};
+
+}  // namespace imperative
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/pybind/CMakeLists.txt b/paddle/fluid/pybind/CMakeLists.txt
index d602613fc82223e14f48830a87533880696eb550..b8954cb12628d1f4f333956e0213ddf9c01e592c 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/pybind/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/paddle/fluid/pybind/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 
-set(PYBIND_DEPS pybind python proto_desc memory executor async_executor prune feed_fetch_method pass_builder parallel_executor profiler)
-set(PYBIND_SRCS pybind.cc exception.cc protobuf.cc const_value.cc recordio.cc async_executor_py.cc)
+set(PYBIND_DEPS pybind python proto_desc memory executor async_executor prune feed_fetch_method pass_builder parallel_executor profiler layer)
+set(PYBIND_SRCS pybind.cc exception.cc protobuf.cc const_value.cc recordio.cc async_executor_py.cc imperative.cc)
+
 if(WITH_PYTHON)
   if(WITH_AMD_GPU)
     hip_library(paddle_pybind SHARED
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.cc b/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.cc
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..34e9c897d9e95feb185083b7c0a6a824d8dc809c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.cc
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+/* Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License. */
+
+#include "paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/block_desc.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/framework/scope.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/tracer.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace pybind {
+
+// Bind Methods
+void BindTracer(pybind11::module *m) {
+  pybind11::class_<imperative::Tracer>(*m, "Tracer", "")
+      .def("__init__",
+           [](imperative::Tracer &self, framework::BlockDesc *root_block) {
+             new (&self) imperative::Tracer(root_block);
+           })
+      .def("trace", &imperative::Tracer::Trace)
+      .def("get_scope", &imperative::Tracer::GetScope,
+           pybind11::return_value_policy::reference);
+}
+
+}  // namespace pybind
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.h b/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..7a9d3a01ea81f11ac85000c3d0153f20e108789a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.h
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+/* Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License. */
+#pragma once
+
+#include <Python.h>
+#include <vector>
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h"
+#include "pybind11/pybind11.h"
+#include "pybind11/stl.h"
+
+namespace paddle {
+namespace pybind {
+
+class PyLayer : public imperative::Layer {
+ public:
+  using imperative::Layer::Layer;  // Inherit constructors
+
+  std::vector<imperative::VarBase> Forward(
+      const std::vector<imperative::VarBase>& inputs) override {
+    PYBIND11_OVERLOAD(std::vector<imperative::VarBase>, Layer, Forward,
+                      inputs);  // NOLINT
+  }
+
+  void Backward() override {
+    PYBIND11_OVERLOAD(void, Layer, Backward, );  // NOLINT
+  }
+};
+
+class PyOpBase : public imperative::OpBase {
+ public:
+  using imperative::OpBase::OpBase;  // Inherit constructors
+};
+
+class PyVarBase : public imperative::VarBase {
+ public:
+  using imperative::VarBase::VarBase;  // Inherit constructors
+};
+
+void BindTracer(pybind11::module* m);
+
+}  // namespace pybind
+}  // namespace paddle
diff --git a/paddle/fluid/pybind/pybind.cc b/paddle/fluid/pybind/pybind.cc
index 58ef3da0b2312d2286ec2f92fdd7fa1f82ca4027..dca0c01ab229ce8c1f8578ad489ef927e15a1068 100644
--- a/paddle/fluid/pybind/pybind.cc
+++ b/paddle/fluid/pybind/pybind.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ limitations under the License. */
 #include "paddle/fluid/framework/reader.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/framework/selected_rows.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/framework/version.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/imperative/layer.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/memory/allocation/allocator_strategy.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/operators/activation_op.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/operators/reader/lod_tensor_blocking_queue.h"
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ limitations under the License. */
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/async_executor_py.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/const_value.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/exception.h"
+#include "paddle/fluid/pybind/imperative.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/protobuf.h"
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/pybind.h"  // NOLINT
 #include "paddle/fluid/pybind/recordio.h"
@@ -100,6 +102,42 @@ PYBIND11_MODULE(core, m) {
 
   BindException(&m);
 
+  py::class_<imperative::VarBase, PyVarBase>(m, "VarBase", R"DOC()DOC")
+      .def(py::init<>())
+      .def("_run_backward",
+           [](imperative::VarBase &self, framework::Scope *scope) {
+             self.RunBackward(scope);
+           })
+      .def("_grad", &imperative::VarBase::Grad)
+      .def_property(
+          "desc",
+          [](const imperative::VarBase &self) { return self.var_desc_; },
+          [](imperative::VarBase &self, framework::VarDesc *var_desc) {
+            self.var_desc_ = var_desc;
+          },
+          py::return_value_policy::reference);
+
+  py::class_<imperative::OpBase, PyOpBase>(m, "OpBase", R"DOC()DOC")
+      .def(py::init<>())
+      .def_property(
+          "desc", [](const imperative::OpBase &self) { return self.op_desc_; },
+          [](imperative::OpBase &self, framework::OpDesc *op_desc) {
+            if (op_desc) {
+              self.op_desc_ = op_desc;
+            }
+          },
+          py::return_value_policy::reference);
+
+  py::class_<imperative::Layer, PyLayer /* <--- trampoline*/> layer(m, "Layer");
+  layer.def(py::init<>())
+      .def("forward",
+           [](imperative::Layer &self,
+              const std::vector<imperative::VarBase> &inputs) {
+             return self.Forward(inputs);
+           })
+      .def("backward", &imperative::Layer::Backward);
+  BindTracer(&m);
+
   py::class_<Tensor>(m, "Tensor", py::buffer_protocol())
       .def_buffer(
           [](Tensor &self) -> py::buffer_info { return CastToPyBuffer(self); })
@@ -601,6 +639,7 @@ All parameter, weight, gradient are variables in Paddle.
 
   m.def("set_feed_variable", framework::SetFeedVariable);
   m.def("get_fetch_variable", framework::GetFetchVariable);
+  m.def("get_variable_tensor", framework::GetVariableTensor);
 
   m.def("_is_program_version_supported", IsProgramVersionSupported);
 
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/__init__.py b/python/paddle/fluid/__init__.py
index 2a53519188e7454b54424cfdd4a713ae37a2326b..52417a1eaf74658b4d87394404eafd5343a3c5fe 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/__init__.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/__init__.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ from . import io
 from . import evaluator
 from . import initializer
 from . import layers
+from . import imperative
 from . import contrib
 from . import nets
 from . import optimizer
@@ -67,6 +68,7 @@ __all__ = framework.__all__ + executor.__all__ + \
         'initializer',
         'layers',
         'contrib',
+        'imperative',
         'transpiler',
         'nets',
         'optimizer',
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/framework.py b/python/paddle/fluid/framework.py
index a40826168dc21e3eec0050c2be7afc1dc74e8e5b..1511eea68cbb2c4df655bdb6ae13c6be5c6412a9 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/framework.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/framework.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import collections
 import contextlib
 import re
 import six
+import sys
 
 import numpy as np
 
@@ -49,6 +50,16 @@ GRAD_VAR_SUFFIX = core.kGradVarSuffix()
 ZERO_VAR_SUFFIX = core.kZeroVarSuffix()
 CONTROL_DEP_VAR_PREFIX = core.kControlDepVarName()
 
+_imperative_tracer_ = None
+
+
+def _in_imperative_mode():
+    return _imperative_tracer_ is not None
+
+
+def _imperative_tracer():
+    return _imperative_tracer_
+
 
 class NameScope(object):
     def __init__(self, name="", parent=None):
@@ -202,7 +213,7 @@ def _debug_string_(proto, throw_on_error=True):
     return proto.__str__()
 
 
-class Variable(object):
+class Variable(core.VarBase):
     """
     In Fluid, every input and output of an operator is a variable. In most
     cases, variables are used for holding different kinds of data or training
@@ -266,6 +277,7 @@ class Variable(object):
                  stop_gradient=False,
                  is_data=False,
                  **kwargs):
+        core.VarBase.__init__(self)
         self.block = block
         self.error_clip = error_clip
 
@@ -346,6 +358,18 @@ class Variable(object):
         self.stop_gradient = stop_gradient
         self.is_data = is_data
 
+    def _numpy(self):
+        scope = _imperative_tracer().get_scope(self.block.desc)
+        tensor = core.get_variable_tensor(scope, self.desc.name())
+        return np.array(tensor)
+
+    def _backward(self):
+        scope = _imperative_tracer().get_scope(self.block.desc)
+        self._run_backward(scope)
+
+    def _gradient(self):
+        return np.array(self._grad())
+
     def __str__(self):
         return self.to_string(True)
 
@@ -492,7 +516,7 @@ class OpProtoHolder(object):
         }
 
 
-class Operator(object):
+class Operator(core.OpBase):
     """
     In Fluid, all the operation are represented by Operator, and Operator
     is regarded as a build in an instruction of a Block. Users can use the
@@ -548,6 +572,7 @@ class Operator(object):
                  inputs=None,
                  outputs=None,
                  attrs=None):
+        core.OpBase.__init__(self)
         self.block = block
         self.desc = desc
         # note: not add self.attrs here:
@@ -587,6 +612,7 @@ class Operator(object):
                     return True
             return False
 
+        self.inputs = []
         if inputs is not None:
             for in_proto in proto.inputs:
                 found = find_name(inputs, in_proto.name)
@@ -613,6 +639,13 @@ class Operator(object):
                 else:
                     self.desc.set_input(in_proto.name, [])
 
+            for inp in inputs.values():
+                if isinstance(inp, Variable):
+                    self.inputs.append(inp)
+                elif isinstance(inp, list) or isinstance(inp, tuple):
+                    self.inputs.extend(inp[:])
+
+        self.outputs = []
         if outputs is not None:
             given = set()
             need = set()
@@ -641,6 +674,12 @@ class Operator(object):
                     arg.op = self
                 self.desc.set_output(out_proto.name, out_arg_names)
 
+            for out in outputs.values():
+                if isinstance(out, Variable):
+                    self.outputs.append(out)
+                elif isinstance(out, list) or isinstance(out, tuple):
+                    self.outputs.extend(out[:])
+
         if op_attrs is not None:
             if not isinstance(op_attrs, dict):
                 raise TypeError("'attrs' should be a dict.")
@@ -1206,6 +1245,8 @@ class Block(object):
         """
         op_desc = self.desc.append_op()
         op = Operator(block=self, desc=op_desc, *args, **kwargs)
+        if _in_imperative_mode():
+            _imperative_tracer().trace(op, op.inputs, op.outputs, self.desc)
         self.ops.append(op)
         return op
 
@@ -2210,3 +2251,12 @@ def _get_var(name, program=None):
     assert isinstance(program, Program)
 
     return program.global_block().var(name)
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def _imperative_guard(tracer):
+    global _imperative_tracer_
+    tmp_trace = _imperative_tracer_
+    _imperative_tracer_ = tracer
+    yield
+    _imperative_tracer_ = tmp_trace
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/__init__.py b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..922308b6b18b335535d41f24d544cde04991b794
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+#   Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+from . import base
+from .base import *
+
+from . import layers
+from .layers import *
+
+__all__ = []
+__all__ += layers.__all__
+__all__ += base.__all__
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/base.py b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..15d38ddb56c71ef7de67f79cf52cd26070f470cb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+import contextlib
+import numpy as np
+
+from paddle.fluid import core
+from paddle.fluid import framework
+
+__all__ = ['enabled', 'guard', 'to_variable']
+
+
+def enabled():
+    return framework._in_imperative_mode()
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def guard():
+    train = framework.Program()
+    startup = framework.Program()
+    tracer = core.Tracer(train.current_block().desc)
+    with framework.program_guard(train, startup):
+        with framework.unique_name.guard():
+            with framework._imperative_guard(tracer):
+                yield
+
+
+def to_variable(value, block=None):
+    if isinstance(value, np.ndarray):
+        if not block:
+            block = framework.default_main_program().current_block()
+        py_var = framework.Variable(
+            block,
+            type=core.VarDesc.VarType.LOD_TENSOR,
+            name=None,
+            shape=value.shape,
+            dtype=value.dtype)
+        scope = framework._imperative_tracer().get_scope(block.desc)
+        var = scope.var(py_var.name)
+        tensor = var.get_tensor()
+        tensor.set(value, core.CPUPlace())
+        return py_var
+    elif isinstance(value, framework.Variable):
+        return value
+    else:
+        raise ValueError("Unsupported type %s" % type(value))
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..1a28f7f4ae35295394b560d79e3dc0cdd5f2beab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/imperative/layers.py
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import contextlib
+import sys
+import numpy as np
+
+from paddle.fluid import core
+from paddle.fluid import framework
+from paddle.fluid.imperative import base
+
+__all__ = ['PyLayer']
+
+
+class PyLayer(core.Layer):
+    def __init__(self):
+        pass
+
+    def __call__(self, inputs):
+        # TODO(panyx0718): Support declarative mode as well.
+        assert base.enabled()
+        if not isinstance(inputs, list) and not isinstance(inputs, tuple):
+            inputs = [inputs]
+
+        var_inputs = []
+        for x in inputs:
+            py_var = base.to_variable(x)
+            var_inputs.append(py_var)
+        outputs = self.forward(var_inputs)
+        return outputs
+
+    def forward(self, inputs):
+        return []
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/layer_helper.py b/python/paddle/fluid/layer_helper.py
index dc317de9abbd06f4021e64b87ea88ba6af8809c9..74b4a977db6b69d4d256e1f7b36eb53524269bb1 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/layer_helper.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/layer_helper.py
@@ -17,10 +17,13 @@ from __future__ import print_function
 import copy
 import itertools
 import six
+import sys
+import numpy as np
 
 from .framework import Variable, Parameter, default_main_program, default_startup_program, dtype_is_floating
 from . import unique_name
 from paddle.fluid.initializer import Constant, Xavier
+from paddle.fluid.imperative import base
 from .param_attr import ParamAttr, WeightNormParamAttr
 from . import core
 from six.moves import zip
@@ -46,23 +49,21 @@ class LayerHelper(object):
     def startup_program(self):
         return default_startup_program()
 
+    def to_variable(self, x):
+        return base.to_variable(x, self.main_program.current_block())
+
     def append_op(self, *args, **kwargs):
         return self.main_program.current_block().append_op(*args, **kwargs)
 
     def multiple_input(self, input_param_name='input'):
         inputs = self.kwargs.get(input_param_name, [])
-        type_error = TypeError(
-            "Input of {0} layer should be Variable or sequence of Variable".
-            format(self.layer_type))
-        if isinstance(inputs, Variable):
-            inputs = [inputs]
-        elif not isinstance(inputs, list) and not isinstance(inputs, tuple):
-            raise type_error
+        ret = []
+        if isinstance(inputs, list) or isinstance(inputs, tuple):
+            for inp in inputs:
+                ret.append(self.to_variable(inp))
         else:
-            for each in inputs:
-                if not isinstance(each, Variable):
-                    raise type_error
-        return inputs
+            ret.append(self.to_variable(inputs))
+        return ret
 
     def input(self, input_param_name='input'):
         inputs = self.multiple_input(input_param_name)
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/layers/nn.py b/python/paddle/fluid/layers/nn.py
index 4833212d311e4792dd14709cf3e5843e297e810d..fac7538a6ada56e3722e2540519df863bf7cac71 100644
--- a/python/paddle/fluid/layers/nn.py
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/layers/nn.py
@@ -6623,7 +6623,8 @@ def relu(x, name=None):
     helper = LayerHelper('relu', **locals())
     dtype = helper.input_dtype(input_param_name='x')
     out = helper.create_variable_for_type_inference(dtype)
-    helper.append_op(type="relu", inputs={"X": x}, outputs={"Out": out})
+    helper.append_op(
+        type="relu", inputs={"X": helper.input('x')}, outputs={"Out": out})
     return out
 
 
diff --git a/python/paddle/fluid/tests/unittests/test_imperative.py b/python/paddle/fluid/tests/unittests/test_imperative.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b5b6305155d1ef3dcf6ce590c221664754c5bdc8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/paddle/fluid/tests/unittests/test_imperative.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 PaddlePaddle Authors. All Rights Reserved.
+#
+# Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+# you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+# You may obtain a copy of the License at
+#
+#     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+#
+# Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+# distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+# WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+# See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+# limitations under the License.
+
+import unittest
+import sys
+import numpy as np
+
+import paddle.fluid as fluid
+from paddle.fluid import core
+
+
+class MyLayer(fluid.imperative.PyLayer):
+    def __init__(self):
+        super(MyLayer, self).__init__()
+
+    def forward(self, inputs):
+        x = fluid.layers.relu(inputs[0])
+        self._x_for_debug = x
+        return [fluid.layers.elementwise_mul(x, x)]
+
+
+class TestImperative(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_layer(self):
+        with fluid.imperative.guard():
+            cl = core.Layer()
+            cl.forward([])
+            l = fluid.imperative.PyLayer()
+            l.forward([])
+
+    def test_layer_in_out(self):
+        with fluid.imperative.guard():
+            l = MyLayer()
+            x = l(np.array([1.0, 2.0, -1.0], dtype=np.float32))[0]
+            self.assertIsNotNone(x)
+            sys.stderr.write("%s output: %s\n" % (x, x._numpy()))
+            x._backward()
+            sys.stderr.write("grad %s\n" % l._x_for_debug._gradient())
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    unittest.main()
diff --git a/python/setup.py.in b/python/setup.py.in
index 5aee26b63832889272cde09c553b4615efb8872a..0eb69cdb5c7d140527dba7a648728750bfb404f7 100644
--- a/python/setup.py.in
+++ b/python/setup.py.in
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ packages=['paddle',
           'paddle.dataset',
           'paddle.reader',
           'paddle.fluid',
+          'paddle.fluid.imperative',
           'paddle.fluid.proto',
           'paddle.fluid.proto.profiler',
           'paddle.fluid.layers',
diff --git a/tools/print_signatures.py b/tools/print_signatures.py
index 5c5266f904f5dcf74dd1d4ee7e98081f74a79907..7e61dde0a446cf5bfe656105ffd2472f03576f05 100644
--- a/tools/print_signatures.py
+++ b/tools/print_signatures.py
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ import pydoc
 
 member_dict = collections.OrderedDict()
 
+experimental_namespace = {"paddle.fluid.imperative"}
+
 
 def visit_member(parent_name, member):
     cur_name = ".".join([parent_name, member.__name__])
@@ -51,6 +53,8 @@ def visit_member(parent_name, member):
 
 
 def visit_all_module(mod):
+    if (mod.__name__ in experimental_namespace):
+        return
     for member_name in (
             name
             for name in (mod.__all__ if hasattr(mod, "__all__") else dir(mod))