Feature Proposal: Enhanced Single-File Execution in Any Directory Structure

[anubrag]

Current State

• nextpy's run command requires a predefined directory structure for execution.

Objective

• Enable users to execute individual files with nextpy run, regardless of the directory structure, similar to tools like Streamlit .

Proposal Details

1. Command Enhancement:

• Modify nextpy run to primarily accept a file path:
  • -f or --file: Path to the target file (relative or absolute).
  • -t or --theme: Optional theme (defaults to standard if not provided).

2. Operational Logic:

• Ensure the file's existence at the given path.
• Determine the file type (e.g., .mdx, .py) and execute accordingly.
• For .mdx files, use the default MDX viewer, or apply the specified theme.
• For .py files, execute the script in an isolated or appropriate environment.
• Provide error messages and graceful exits for unsupported file types or execution errors.

3. Environment Independence:

• Eliminate dependency on a specific project structure.
• Set up the necessary minimal environment based on the file type.
• Allow environment variables or configurations to be specified via command line or external config files for flexibility.

4. Theme Integration and Default Viewer:

• Same as previously proposed.

Sample Usage:

Run a File in Any Directory:

$ nextpy run -f /path/to/file.mdx
$ nextpy run -f ./relative/path/to/script.py

With Custom Theme:

$ nextpy run -f /path/to/file.mdx -t bespoke_theme

Resultant Execution:

• Executing this command will focus on the specified file only, setting up a minimal environment as required.
• The command will be independent of the directory structure, allowing flexibility in file organization.

Advantages:

• Streamlines the process of running individual files, making it more accessible and flexible.
• Reduces the necessity for a comprehensive initial setup, facilitating quick testing and prototyping.
• Enhances the user experience, particularly beneficial for new users and in educational contexts.

Implementation Considerations:

• Robust error handling and informative messaging for user guidance.
• Extensive testing with various file locations and types to ensure reliability.
• Documentation updates to guide users on new command usage and capabilities.

Potential Directory Structure Post-Execution:

.any_directory
├── executed_file.mdx (or .py, etc.)
├── .web (if necessary for execution)
└── other_files_or_directories (unrelated to nextpy execution)

TODO

Step 1: Requirements Analysis

• Analyze the current functionality of the nextpy run command.
• Identify the limitations with respect to directory structure dependence.

Step 2: Design Command Enhancements

• Design the new command line interface to accept a file path (-f or --file) and an optional theme (-t or --theme).
• Plan how the command will handle different file types (e.g., .mdx, .py).

Step 3: Update Command Line Interface

• Modify the run command in Typer to accept the file path as a primary argument.
• Implement the logic to parse and handle the optional theme argument.

Step 4: Implement File Detection and Execution Logic

• Develop a function to validate the existence of the specified file.
• Create a function to determine the file type based on the file extension or content.
• Implement the execution logic for .mdx files, including using the default MDX viewer or the specified theme.
• Implement the execution logic for .py files, ensuring they run correctly irrespective of the directory structure.

Step 5: Environment Setup

• Establish a minimal environment setup required for the execution of the specified file.
• Ensure environment variable or configuration can be set externally if required.

Step 6: Testing and Quality Assurance

• Conduct unit testing for new functionalities.
• Perform integration testing to ensure the new command works seamlessly with existing features.
• Test the command with various file types and in different directory structures.

Step 7: Error Handling and User Feedback

• Implement robust error handling for unsupported file types, missing files, and execution errors.
• Develop user-friendly error messages and guidance for troubleshooting.

Step 8: Documentation and Examples

• Update the project documentation to include the new command usage.
• Provide example use cases and command line inputs in the documentation.