This error arises when a Python script attempts to utilize the `cached_download` function from the `huggingface_hub` library, but the function cannot be located. This typically indicates a problem with the installed version of the library, a typo in the import statement, or an incompatibility between the code and the library version. For instance, code written expecting a specific version of `huggingface_hub` might fail if an older or newer version lacking the `cached_download` function is installed.
The `cached_download` function is crucial for efficiently managing downloads of large files, such as pre-trained models, from the Hugging Face Hub. It avoids redundant downloads by caching files locally, significantly speeding up subsequent usage of those files. Historically, managing model downloads required manual implementation, often leading to duplicated effort and storage inefficiencies. The introduction of functions like `cached_download` streamlined this process, improving the developer experience and reducing resource consumption.
