There is a package I want to use that is implemented based on fairseq toolkit. The package requirement says:
Please use an earlier commit of Apex - NVIDIA/apex@4a8c4ac
Even though I know how to install Apex, I'm not sure if I understand what it means to use an earlier commit of a package and how exactly I can use the commit (e.g., how can I install a commit of a package)? Does it just mean a specific version of that package? And if so, how can I find that specific version from a commit?
Well, I figured out how to install a specific commit! Here is how in case anyone else is wondering:
$ git clone https://github.com/nvidia/apex
$ cd apex
$ git checkout <commit hash>
$ pip install ... # whatever install command
So for example, if there is a specific commit for a GitHub repo like the following (in my case, I was trying to use an earlier commit of Apex):
https://github.com/NVIDIA/apex/commit/4a8c4ac088b6f84a10569ee89db3a938b48922b4
After cloning the repo, you run:
git checkout 4a8c4ac088b6f84a10569ee89db3a938b48922b4
Using this command, you in fact change the HEAD to a specific commit. Then, you install your package using whatever command you have.