Automate Build-docs Check On File Changes In .mergify.yml

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Automate `build-docs` Check on File Changes in `.mergify.yml`

Hey everyone! It's super important to make sure our documentation stays up-to-date, right? This article dives into how we can automate the build-docs check in our .mergify.yml file. Specifically, we're focusing on making sure this check runs whenever the files that generate our documentation are modified. These files are defined in .github/workflows/sphinx.yml. Let's get started!

Why Automate build-docs?

Keeping documentation in sync with code is a perpetual challenge in software development. Outdated or incorrect documentation can lead to confusion, wasted time, and even errors when users or developers rely on it. By automating the build-docs check, we ensure that our documentation is rebuilt and validated whenever relevant files change, thereby maintaining its accuracy and relevance.

Automating the build-docs process offers several key benefits:

  • Consistency: Ensures that documentation is always up-to-date with the latest code changes.
  • Efficiency: Reduces the manual effort required to rebuild and validate documentation.
  • Reliability: Minimizes the risk of outdated or incorrect documentation.
  • Collaboration: Improves collaboration by providing a single source of truth for users and developers.

In short, automating build-docs is a pro-active approach to documentation management that ultimately saves time, reduces errors, and improves the overall quality of our project. Let's explore how to make it happen.

Understanding the Current Setup

Before diving into the automation, let's take a quick look at the existing setup. We have two key files:

  1. .mergify.yml: This file defines the Mergify configuration, which automates our pull request workflows.
  2. .github/workflows/sphinx.yml: This file specifies the workflow for building our documentation using Sphinx.

The .mergify.yml file is the heart of our automation. It tells Mergify how to handle pull requests based on certain conditions. We want to modify this file to trigger the build-docs check whenever specific files are changed.

The .github/workflows/sphinx.yml file lists the files that, when changed, should trigger a documentation rebuild. These files are crucial for generating our documentation, so any changes to them warrant a rebuild and validation.

Anatomy of .mergify.yml

.mergify.yml uses a declarative syntax to define rules and actions for pull requests. A typical rule includes conditions that must be met for the rule to be executed and actions to be performed when the conditions are met. For example, a rule might specify that a pull request must pass certain checks before it can be merged.

Here’s a basic structure of a .mergify.yml file:

pull_request_rules:
  - name: Check documentation build
    match:
      base: main
      changes:
        - include: # List of files to watch
    actions:
      check:
        name: build-docs

In this example, the changes section is where we'll specify the files that, when modified, should trigger the build-docs check.

Anatomy of .github/workflows/sphinx.yml

.github/workflows/sphinx.yml defines a GitHub Actions workflow that automates the process of building our documentation using Sphinx. It specifies the steps required to set up the environment, install dependencies, and build the documentation.

Here’s a snippet from a typical .github/workflows/sphinx.yml file:

name: Sphinx Documentation

on:
  push:
    branches: [main]
  pull_request:
    branches: [main]
    paths:
      - 'docs/**'
      - 'conf.py'
      - 'requirements.txt'

jobs:
  build:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v3
      - name: Set up Python 3.x
        uses: actions/setup-python@v4
        with:
          python-version: '3.x'
      - name: Install dependencies
        run: |
          python -m pip install --upgrade pip
          pip install -r requirements.txt
      - name: Build documentation
        run: |
          make html
      - name: Upload documentation
        uses: actions/upload-pages@v2
        if: github.ref == 'refs/heads/main'
        with:
          path: ./_build/html

In this file, the paths section under pull_request lists the files that, when changed, should trigger the workflow. We'll use this information to configure our .mergify.yml file.

Configuring .mergify.yml to Watch for File Changes

The goal is to modify the .mergify.yml file so that the build-docs check is automatically triggered when specific documentation-related files are changed. To do this, we need to add a changes section to our Mergify rule that includes the relevant file paths.

Here’s how we can modify the .mergify.yml file:

pull_request_rules:
  - name: Check documentation build
    match:
      base: main
      changes:
        - include:
          - 'docs/**'
          - 'conf.py'
          - 'requirements.txt'
    actions:
      check:
        name: build-docs

In this configuration:

  • name: Specifies the name of the rule (e.g., "Check documentation build").
  • match: Defines the conditions that must be met for the rule to be executed.
    • base: Specifies the target branch (e.g., main).
    • changes: Lists the files that, when changed, should trigger the rule.
      • include: Specifies the file paths to watch.
  • actions: Defines the actions to be performed when the conditions are met.
    • check: Specifies the check to be performed (e.g., build-docs).

This configuration tells Mergify to trigger the build-docs check whenever a pull request targets the main branch and includes changes to files in the docs/ directory, the conf.py file, or the requirements.txt file.

Expanding the File List

You can add more files to the include list as needed. For example, if you have other configuration files or scripts that affect the documentation build, you can add them to the list.

Here’s an example of an expanded file list:

pull_request_rules:
  - name: Check documentation build
    match:
      base: main
      changes:
        - include:
          - 'docs/**'
          - 'conf.py'
          - 'requirements.txt'
          - 'scripts/build_docs.sh'

In this example, we've added scripts/build_docs.sh to the list of files that trigger the build-docs check.

Ensuring the build-docs Check is Defined

Make sure that the build-docs check is properly defined in your Mergify configuration. This check should correspond to a GitHub Actions workflow that builds and validates your documentation.

Here’s an example of how the build-docs check might be defined:

pull_request_rules:
  - name: Check documentation build
    match:
      base: main
      changes:
        - include:
          - 'docs/**'
          - 'conf.py'
          - 'requirements.txt'
    actions:
      check:
        name: build-docs
        if: 
          - 'check-success=my-documentation-build'

In this example, check-success=my-documentation-build ensures that the build-docs check is only triggered if the my-documentation-build workflow has completed successfully.

Testing the Configuration

After configuring the .mergify.yml file, it’s essential to test the configuration to ensure that it works as expected. Here are the steps to test the configuration:

  1. Create a Pull Request: Create a pull request that includes changes to one of the files specified in the include list.
  2. Verify the Check: Verify that the build-docs check is automatically triggered when the pull request is created.
  3. Monitor the Workflow: Monitor the GitHub Actions workflow associated with the build-docs check to ensure that it runs successfully.

If the check fails to trigger or the workflow fails to run, review your .mergify.yml configuration and the .github/workflows/sphinx.yml file to identify any errors.

Example Scenario

Let’s consider an example scenario where we modify the conf.py file. After committing the changes and creating a pull request, we should see the build-docs check automatically triggered. We can then monitor the GitHub Actions workflow to ensure that the documentation is rebuilt and validated.

Best Practices and Considerations

When automating the build-docs check, consider the following best practices:

  • Keep the File List Up-to-Date: Ensure that the include list in the .mergify.yml file is always up-to-date with the files that affect the documentation build.
  • Optimize Workflow Performance: Optimize the GitHub Actions workflow to minimize the time required to build and validate the documentation.
  • Monitor Workflow Execution: Regularly monitor the execution of the GitHub Actions workflow to identify and address any issues.
  • Provide Clear Feedback: Provide clear feedback to developers when the build-docs check fails, including instructions on how to resolve the issue.

Common Pitfalls

Avoid these common pitfalls when automating the build-docs check:

  • Incorrect File Paths: Ensure that the file paths in the include list are correct and that they match the actual file paths in your repository.
  • Missing Dependencies: Ensure that all dependencies required to build and validate the documentation are installed in the GitHub Actions workflow.
  • Workflow Errors: Address any errors in the GitHub Actions workflow that prevent the documentation from being built and validated.

Conclusion

Automating the build-docs check in your .mergify.yml file is a proactive way to ensure that your documentation remains up-to-date and accurate. By watching for changes to specific documentation-related files, you can automatically trigger the documentation rebuild process, thereby minimizing the risk of outdated or incorrect documentation. By following the steps and best practices outlined in this guide, you can streamline your documentation workflow and improve the overall quality of your project. Happy documenting, folks!