Update spacy.load() helper functions

spacy/util.py

@@ -99,28 +99,46 @@ def load_model(name, **overrides):
     if not data_path or not data_path.exists():
         raise IOError("Can't find spaCy data path: %s" % path2str(data_path))
     if isinstance(name, basestring_):
-        if (data_path / name).exists(): # in data dir or shortcut
-            spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('model', data_path / name)
-            cls = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
-            spec.loader.exec_module(cls)
-            return cls.load(**overrides)
+        if name in set([d.name for d in data_path.iterdir()]): # in data dir / shortcut
+            return load_model_from_link(name, **overrides)
         if is_package(name): # installed as package
-            cls = importlib.import_module(name)
-            return cls.load(**overrides)
+            return load_model_from_package(name, **overrides)
         if Path(name).exists(): # path to model data directory
-            model_path = Path(name)
-            meta = get_package_meta(model_path)
-            cls = get_lang_class(meta['lang'])
-            nlp = cls(pipeline=meta.get('pipeline', True), meta=meta)
-            return nlp.from_disk(model_path, **overrides)
+            return load_model_from_path(Path(name), **overrides)
     elif hasattr(name, 'exists'): # Path or Path-like to model data
-        meta = get_package_meta(name)
-        cls = get_lang_class(meta['lang'])
-        nlp = cls(pipeline=meta.get('pipeline', True), meta=meta)
-        return nlp.from_disk(name, **overrides)
+        return load_model_from_path(name, **overrides)
     raise IOError("Can't find model '%s'" % name)
 
 
+def load_model_from_link(name, **overrides):
+    """Load a model from a shortcut link, or directory in spaCy data path."""
+    spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location('model', get_data_path() / name)
+    try:
+        cls = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
+    except AttributeError:
+        raise IOError(
+            "Cant' load '%s'. If you're using a shortcut link, make sure it "
+            "points to a valid model package (not just a data directory)." % name)
+    spec.loader.exec_module(cls)
+    return cls.load(**overrides)
+
+
+def load_model_from_package(name, **overrides):
+    """Load a model from an installed package."""
+    cls = importlib.import_module(name)
+    return cls.load(**overrides)
+
+
+def load_model_from_path(model_path, meta=False, **overrides):
+    """Load a model from a data directory path. Creates Language class with
+    pipeline from meta.json and then calls from_disk() with path."""
+    if not meta:
+        meta = get_model_meta(model_path)
+    cls = get_lang_class(meta['lang'])
+    nlp = cls(pipeline=meta.get('pipeline', True), meta=meta, **overrides)
+    return nlp.from_disk(model_path)
+
+
 def load_model_from_init_py(init_file, **overrides):
     """Helper function to use in the `load()` method of a model package's
     __init__.py.
@@ -135,9 +153,7 @@ def load_model_from_init_py(init_file, **overrides):
     data_path = model_path / data_dir
     if not model_path.exists():
         raise ValueError("Can't find model directory: %s" % path2str(data_path))
-    cls = get_lang_class(meta['lang'])
-    nlp = cls(pipeline=meta.get('pipeline', True), meta=meta)
-    return nlp.from_disk(data_path, **overrides)
+    return load_model_from_path(data_path, meta, **overrides)
 
 
 def get_model_meta(path):