Xgboost: pip package library is out-of-date

[cinqs]

Environment info

Operating System: CentOS 7

Compiler:

Package used (python/R/jvm/C++): python

xgboost version used: 0.6a2

If you are using python package, please provide

1. The python version and distribution: python 2.7
2. The command to install xgboost if you are not installing from source: pip install xgboost

Steps to reproduce

1. pip install xgboost
2. import xgboost as xgb
3. xgb.plot_importance(bst, max_num_features = 5)

this gives me that

    AttributeError: Unknown property max_num_features

What have you tried?

1. compile from source from github and install from compiled whl file

So, please update the pip library.

[cinqs]

https://pypi.python.org/pypi/xgboost/0.6a2

this package is clearly out-of-date with your api document.

[phunterlau]

A precompiled pip installation is under preparation. It is coming soon.

[cinqs]

thanks and can you please aware that the version of the package should be well documented, and made clear. thanks

[hcho3]

@cinqs The issue is that the API document shows the features of the latest version, not the stable version. I'd propose having multiple versions of documentation (latest, 0.6a2, and so forth) and prominently display the version at the top of the page.
For an example, see the treelite documentation

[hcho3]

@phunterlau Tianqi has added me as a maintainer of PyPI package. I'm thinking of setting up a build script (something similar to this) to build binary wheels for major platforms (Windows, Mac OS X, Linux) and upload them to PyPI.

[cinqs]

@hcho3 that's correct and organizing documentation with version specified is common used today.

and if what you are referring at is a CI process, you could try Jenkins for automating the procedures.

And could you please give a notice anywhere to let use know the PyPI project is updated, and then I could close this issue. Thanks

All the best.

[hcho3]

@cinqs I will make an annoucement when we make a new release on PyPI