2.4.Key Concepts
What is a .whl (Wheel) File?
Wheel is Python's pre-compiled package format, equivalent to a "pre-compiled installer".
vs Source Package (tar.gz):
- Source Package (tar.gz) : Contains source code, compiled during installation (slow, requires compiler)
- Wheel Package (.whl) : Pre-compiled, direct installation (fast, no compiler needed)
Why Use Wheels:
- Arm64 compilation environment is complex
- GPU-related compilation prone to errors
- Pre-compilation ensures compatibility
rsync vs scp
| Tool | Features | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| rsync | Incremental sync, supports --delete | Large files/directories, requires full sync |
| scp | Simple and direct | Small single file transfer |
| sftp | Interactive | File management needed |