Is python.enableAutoReload supposed to handle global configuration updates?

[JosephBARBIERDARNAL]

Hi! I'm not sure if it's a bug so I first ask about it here.

I've been using python.enableAutoReload recently and it's really great. The thing is, since you don't restart the Python kernel anymore, it does not take into account global configuration that have changed. I think the easiest example to understand is with matplotlib. Assuming I have this:

pkg/
└── pkg/
    ├── __init__.py
    └── __main__.py

Inside __init__.py:

from .__main__ import foo
import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

__all__ = ["foo"]

# update global matplotlib config
plt.rcParams["axes.spines.left"] = False

Inside __main__.py:

import matplotlib.pyplot as plt

def foo():
    fig, ax = plt.subplots()
    ax.plot([1, 2, 3], lw=5)
    ax.plot([3, 2, 1], lw=5)

If I try my pkg like this, everything works fine:

from pkg import foo

foo()

But if I remove the plt.rcParams["axes.spines.left"] = False line in the __init__.py, I assumed that this shouldn't have the global config still updated (but maybe I misunderstood what python.enableAutoReload does):

from pkg import foo

foo()

Expected:

Actual:

If I restart my kernel, everything works as expected, but to me the point of this feature is to not having to restart it.

While writing this I realized that the "issue" (if one) likely comes from the autoreload extension and not positron directly. Feel free to close this and redirects me if so.

[samclark2015]

Hi, @JosephBARBIERDARNAL! Thanks for using Positron and for the question.

Positron uses IPython's autoreload feature. This only reloads files that you've changed; it doesn't reload packages that you use but don't change. So, even though you removed plt.rcParams["axes.spines.left"] = False from you code, matplotlib doesn't reload its default value for axes.spines.left.

Instead of removing that line, can you try replacing it with plt.rcParams["axes.spines.left"] = True to see if you get the behavior you are looking for? Your __init__.py file should be re-executed, and set the value to True in that case.

[JosephBARBIERDARNAL]

Hi,
Thanks for the answer, yes this would fix the issue. My question was more about is this behavior expected or not.

[samclark2015]

Ah - yes! That is the expected behavior for this feature.