Introduction to SKOPS
SKOPS is a Python library designed to facilitate the sharing and deployment of machine learning models built with scikit-learn, a popular machine learning library. This toolset is particularly focused on integrating these models into the Hugging Face Hub - a platform that makes models easily shareable, discoverable, and usable. By utilizing the Hub's API inference capabilities, users can obtain model outputs without the need to download or load the models themselves.
Core Features of SKOPS
SKOPS provides several functionalities to aid in managing and sharing machine learning models:
-
skops.hub_utils: This module is geared towards creating and managing model repositories on the Hugging Face Hub. It includes functions like
skops.hub_utils.init
andskops.hub_utils.push
, which help in initiating and uploading a model repository. Users can view all models uploaded via SKOPS on the Hugging Face Hub. Additional details about using this feature are available in the online documentation. -
skops.card: With this tool, users can create a model card — a document explaining the functionality and recommended usage of a model. This model card serves as a
README.md
file on the Hugging Face Hub, enhanced with metadata to better describe the model. Resources for creating effective model cards can be accessed online. -
skops.io: This functionality offers the secure storage of scikit-learn models and other objects without resorting to
pickle
, a common but less secure Python serialization tool. The documentation provides comprehensive guidance on using skops.io for model persistence.
Using SKOPS
The SKOPS library is built to cater both to regular users and contributors. Users can explore a detailed set of guides and examples in the official documentation to make the most of SKOPS' features.
For those interested in contributing to SKOPS' development, the project has a structured set of contributing guidelines to follow.
Installation
Getting started with SKOPS is straightforward. Install the library via Python's package manager with the following command:
python -m pip install skops
Community and Support
SKOPS values community input and encourages users to report bugs or ask questions. Engagement is facilitated through the project's issue tracker on GitHub. Before submitting a new issue, it's a good practice to search for existing issues that might address your concerns.
In summary, SKOPS is pivotal for users who need to efficiently share and operationalize their scikit-learn models, leveraging the robust infrastructure of the Hugging Face Hub. It wraps powerful functionalities into an accessible package, ensuring both ease of use and community involvement.