Fix: ImageLoader no longer crashes when directory is missing; loader moved into create_app

warp/data/image_loader.py

@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
-"""Image loader for scraped medical practice images."""
+"""Image loader for scraped medical practice images.
 
+Gracefully handles missing image directory so that applications can start
+without local scraped images present (e.g., in a Hugging Face Space).
+"""
+
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 from PIL import Image
@@ -21,17 +26,27 @@ class ImageLoader:
 
         Args:
             base_path: Root directory containing scraped images.
-                      Defaults to project's scrapedimages folder.
+                       Defaults to ``/app/data/scrapedimages`` or the
+                       path specified in the ``A360_IMAGE_DIR`` environment
+                       variable.
         """
-        if base_path is None:
-            self.base_path = DEFAULT_SCRAPED_IMAGES_DIR
-        else:
-            self.base_path = Path(base_path)
-
-        if not self.base_path.exists():
-            raise ValueError(f"Image directory does not exist: {self.base_path}")
+        # Resolve base path with optional env override, defaulting to the
+        # Hugging Face Space path when running in that environment.
+        default_path = "/app/data/scrapedimages"
+        self.base_path = Path(base_path or os.environ.get("A360_IMAGE_DIR", default_path))
 
+        # Always define practices and images so callers can interact with an
+        # "empty" loader when the directory is missing instead of crashing.
         self._practices: list[str] | None = None
+        self.images: list[Path] = []
+
+        if not self.base_path.exists():
+            print(
+                f"[ImageLoader] WARNING: Missing directory {self.base_path}. "
+                "Continuing with empty image list."
+            )
+            self._practices = []
+            return
 
     @property
     def practices(self) -> list[str]:

warp/gradio_app/model_comparison.py

@@ -21,11 +21,21 @@ from warp.models import list_model_names
 
 # Initialize components
 engine = BackgroundRemovalEngine()
-loader = ImageLoader()
+# ``loader`` is created lazily inside ``create_app`` so that importing this
+# module never fails, even if no local scraped images are present.
+loader: ImageLoader | None = None
 
 
 def load_test_image(practice: str) -> Optional[Image.Image]:
-    """Load a random test image from a practice."""
+    """Load a random test image from a practice.
+
+    When no image directory is configured or available, this simply returns
+    ``None`` instead of raising.
+    """
+    global loader
+    if loader is None:
+        return None
+
     try:
         images = loader.get_random_images(practice, n=1)
         if images:
@@ -164,8 +174,14 @@ def create_comparison_tab():
 
                 # Quick load options
                 with gr.Row():
+                    global loader
+                    practices = (
+                        loader.practices
+                        if loader is not None and hasattr(loader, "practices")
+                        else []
+                    )
                     practice_dropdown = gr.Dropdown(
-                        choices=loader.practices if hasattr(loader, "practices") else [],
+                        choices=practices,
                         label="Load Random Image From",
                         value=None,
                     )
@@ -230,6 +246,12 @@ def create_single_model_tab():
 
 def create_app():
     """Create the full Gradio app."""
+    global loader
+    # Lazily create the ImageLoader so that simply importing this module
+    # does not require the scraped image directory to exist.
+    if loader is None:
+        loader = ImageLoader()
+
     with gr.Blocks(title="WARP Model Comparison", theme=gr.themes.Soft()) as app:
         gr.Markdown(
             """