# What is the best way to include sample data in Package for CI and precompilation

**URL:** <https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-include-sample-data-in-package-for-ci-and-precompilation/127094>\
**Category:** Package Management\
**Tags:** package, data, geo\
**Created:** [March 18, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-include-sample-data-in-package-for-ci-and-precompilation/127094 "2025-03-18T12:34:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lupemba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@lupemba](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/lupemba)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 12:34pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-include-sample-data-in-package-for-ci-and-precompilation/127094/1 "2025-03-18T12:34:12Z")

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I am working on [MetopDatasets.jl](https://github.com/eumetsat/MetopDatasets.jl) and I want to includes some sample data for CI tests and precompilation. How can I include sample data in packages and still keep the size of the repository down?

I am considering to use lazy artifacts ([8. Artifacts · Pkg.jl](https://pkgdocs.julialang.org/v1/artifacts/)) so they are just downloaded when needed. Is this a good solution and what are acceptable sizes for artifacts like that?

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**Author:** ![henry2004y](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/julialang/user_avatar/discourse.julialang.org/henry2004y/32/9284_2.png) [@henry2004y](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/henry2004y)\
**Post date:** [March 18, 2025, 2:09pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-include-sample-data-in-package-for-ci-and-precompilation/127094/2 "2025-03-18T14:09:55Z")

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In one of my packages, I use lazy artifacts for CI tests [here](https://github.com/henry2004y/Vlasiator.jl/tree/master/test) and a small sample file for precompilation. Not sure if lazy artifacts is a good way for triggering precompilations.

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**Author:** ![lupemba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e5b9ba/32.png) [@lupemba](https://discourse.julialang.org/u/lupemba)\
**Post date:** [March 19, 2025, 2:38pm UTC](https://discourse.julialang.org/t/what-is-the-best-way-to-include-sample-data-in-package-for-ci-and-precompilation/127094/3 "2025-03-19T14:38:46Z")

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Thanks for the input. I will try to use the lazy artifacts.