- Create the models directory on demand

- Fallback to tmp if permission issues
- Keep models out of version control
- Handle both local and HF Space environments
- Prevent accidental model commits

.gitignore

@@ -1,4 +1,23 @@
+# Model cache directories
+models/
+.cache/
+
+# Python
+__pycache__/
+*.py[cod]
+*$py.class
+.Python
+*.so
+.env
+.venv
+env/
 venv/
-.venv/
-__pycache__
-.cache/
+.python-version
+
+# IDE
+.vscode/
+.idea/
+
+# OS
+.DS_Store
+Thumbs.db

src/app.py

@@ -87,9 +87,22 @@ from typing import Optional
 def ensure_model(model_name: Optional[str] = None, repo_id: Optional[str] = None) -> str:
     """Ensures model is available, downloading only if needed."""
     
-    # Use HF Spaces cache directory
-    cache_dir = "/home/user/.cache/models"
-    os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    # Determine environment and set cache directory
+    if os.path.exists("/home/user"):
+        # HF Space environment
+        cache_dir = "/home/user/.cache/models"
+    else:
+        # Local development environment
+        cache_dir = os.path.join(BASE_DIR, "models")
+    
+    # Create cache directory if it doesn't exist
+    try:
+        os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
+    except Exception as e:
+        print(f"Warning: Could not create cache directory {cache_dir}: {e}")
+        # Fall back to temporary directory if needed
+        cache_dir = os.path.join("/tmp", "models")
+        os.makedirs(cache_dir, exist_ok=True)
     
     # Get model details
     if not model_name or not repo_id: