GitHub gives you several ways to work with Nvitop source code: download an archive, clone the repository, or let pip install from the Git URL. Those options are useful, but they are not identical to a versioned package release.
What the main-branch ZIP contains
A ZIP of the main branch is a source snapshot of the repository state at the time you download it. It is convenient for inspection and manual source workflows.
Why a branch archive differs from a release
A branch can move as commits are added. A versioned release such as a PyPI package is intended to identify a specific published version, making reproducibility easier.
# Git install pip3 install --upgrade pip setuptools pip3 install git+https://github.com/XuehaiPan/nvitop.git # Clone and install git clone --depth=1 https://github.com/XuehaiPan/nvitop.git cd nvitop pip3 install .
Install directly from Git
The official project documents pip3 install git+https://github.com/XuehaiPan/nvitop.git for installing the latest repository source through pip.
Clone when you need source control
Cloning is useful if you want to inspect history, track changes, create a branch or update with Git instead of repeatedly downloading archives.
Choose based on reproducibility
Use a versioned package when you need stable repeatable environments. Use the main branch when you intentionally want current repository source and can accept change over time.
Next steps
Use the official project documentation and your own environment records as the final authority for commands that can change after this guide was published. If you are downloading source through this site, the homepage explains exactly which archive the main button uses.