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Automatically generate function documentation from comments / code #12432
Description
Is your feature request related to a problem or challenge?
When we add a new function to datafusion's library we have to remember to document that function in the documentation, for example in https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/scalar_functions.html
I observed this recently in #12429 (review). This likely means we have forgotten to document some functions or that the documentation has drifted over time
Also this means the help text for various functions can only be found on the DataFusion website, and not, for example within the function itself.
It would be awesome if you could do something like this from SQL:
> DESCRIBE sqrt;
Returns the square root of a number.
sqrt(numeric_expression)
Arguments
* numeric_expression: Numeric expression to operate on. Can be a constant, column, or function, and any combination of arithmetic operators.Describe the solution you'd like
I would like:
- The help text / description of a ScalarUDFImpl (and AggregateUDFImpl) is available programatically (see add examples and description to scalar/aggregate functions? #8366)
- The contents of the SQL reference guide was automatically generated from the source code
DataFusion already does something like this for ConfigOptions
For example, the comments in https://docs.rs/datafusion/latest/datafusion/config/struct.SqlParserOptions.html are automatically added to the documentation programatically:
- Run this script: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/blob/main/dev/update_config_docs.sh
- Which runs this program:
// regarding copyright ownership. The ASF licenses this file - Which updates this file: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/blob/main/docs/source/user-guide/configs.md
Describe alternatives you've considered
I suggest this as a high level approach
- Add methods to the
ScalarUDFImpltrait as proposed by @universalmind303 in add examples and description to scalar/aggregate functions? #8366ScalarUDFImpl::descriptionandScalarUDFImpl::sql_example - Create a script and extraction program, similar to how it is does for
ConfigOptionsto generate the sql reference from those functions.
In terms of implementation order I would personally suggest breaking this project into smaller parts:
A first PR that does:
- Add the methods to the trait
- Move the documentation for one or two of the methods into the traits / code
- A script that creates some of the documentation (perhaps we could start by creating a new temporary page like https://datafusion.apache.org/user-guide/sql/scalar_functions_new.html that has only the auto generated documentation)
Then we can work in multiple PRs to port the remaining documentation over to the code (which will automatically result in the new page getting updated)
And then finally we can remove the old page when all functions are ported.
If we start working on this project, we (I) can file follow tickets to track porting the remaining functions / doing the same thing for aggregate functions, etc.
Additional context
Also, similarly, GlareDB has a way to automatically annotate functions with documentation, and @universalmind303 proposed something similar here #8366
Also, @findepi is considering implementing SHOW FUNCTIONS as part of #12144 that could also likely take advantage of this documentation if it was present
Activity
Omega359 commentedon Sep 17, 2024
I took a quick look at this and I believe we need to add a
doc_categoryfor each udf to be able to slot it into the appropriate section in the documentation. For example, for scalar udf's that could bemath,conditional,string, etcThe
doc_categoryfn could return either be a simple string or more properly an enum, one for each type of UDF (scalar, aggregate, window, ...)I don't like the fn name 'doc_category' but I couldn't come up with something better.
alamb commentedon Sep 17, 2024
How about "doc_description_cateogory" or "doc_type" 🤔
Omega359 commentedon Sep 25, 2024
take
Initial work on apache#12432 to allow for generation of udf docs from…
Omega359 commentedon Sep 29, 2024
A couple of ideas for follow ups to this issue if the PR is merged:
DESCRIBE xyz;where xyz is a function. Ideally this would support not just the core functions in DF but also any added externally (for example those in https://github.com/datafusion-contrib/datafusion-functions-extra) and verify it works in the CLI[-]Automatically generate function documentation from comments / code[/-][+][EPIC] Automatically generate function documentation from comments / code[/+][-][EPIC] Automatically generate function documentation from comments / code[/-][+]Automatically generate function documentation from comments / code[/+]alamb commentedon Oct 3, 2024
Update; #12668 is looking quite nice 👌
I have filed a follow on ticket to track porting the rest of the docs here: #12740
Framework for generating function docs from embedded code documentati…
[logical-types] update working branch (#12812)