Problem
traker is currently listed in the base requirements.txt. This makes first-time installation much heavier than necessary, because traker pulls in large PyTorch/CUDA wheels even when the user does not plan to run LESS or NICE.
In practice this causes installation failures for new users on slower or unstable networks. For example, uv pip install -r requirements.txt can fail while downloading nvidia-cublas through the traker -> torch -> cuda-toolkit dependency chain.
Why this is a usability issue
LESS and NICE are optional algorithms, not part of the minimal path to try DataFlex.
- New users should be able to install the base package and run lighter selectors/mixers without downloading the full
traker stack.
- Current failures happen during installation, before users even understand which algorithms require extra dependencies.
Proposed minimal fix
- Remove
traker from the base requirements.txt.
- Add optional extras in
pyproject.toml, for example .[traker], .[less], and .[nice].
- Lazy-load
traker inside less_selector.py and nice_selector.py.
- Raise a clear error message when a user selects
LESS or NICE without the optional dependency installed.
- Update both
README.md and README-zh.md to document base installation vs optional LESS/NICE installation, including a timeout hint for uv.
Expected outcome
- Base install becomes lighter and more reliable for first-time users.
- Advanced users can still install
LESS and NICE explicitly.
- Installation errors become actionable instead of failing deep inside the CUDA dependency chain.
I have prepared a small patch for this and will open a PR linked to this issue.
Problem
trakeris currently listed in the baserequirements.txt. This makes first-time installation much heavier than necessary, becausetrakerpulls in large PyTorch/CUDA wheels even when the user does not plan to runLESSorNICE.In practice this causes installation failures for new users on slower or unstable networks. For example,
uv pip install -r requirements.txtcan fail while downloadingnvidia-cublasthrough thetraker -> torch -> cuda-toolkitdependency chain.Why this is a usability issue
LESSandNICEare optional algorithms, not part of the minimal path to try DataFlex.trakerstack.Proposed minimal fix
trakerfrom the baserequirements.txt.pyproject.toml, for example.[traker],.[less], and.[nice].trakerinsideless_selector.pyandnice_selector.py.LESSorNICEwithout the optional dependency installed.README.mdandREADME-zh.mdto document base installation vs optionalLESS/NICEinstallation, including a timeout hint foruv.Expected outcome
LESSandNICEexplicitly.I have prepared a small patch for this and will open a PR linked to this issue.