nb_execution_mode=auto should take into account cells with no expected output

[bsipocz]

Describe the bug

context and expectation When I use nb_execution_mode=auto I would expect that execution is skipped when all the code cells are run.

bug But instead the execution is always run.

problem This is because some of the cells

• produces no output, even though they are run. E.g. see the first code cell here, which contains imports: https://github.com/NASA-NAVO/navo-workshop/blob/main/CS_Catalog_Queries.ipynb
• accidentally remained empty cells
• or maybe cells with commented out code only (especially in the case of tutorial exercise notebooks)

I think none of these cases should trigger the execution.

I'm happy to propose a fix in a PR

Reproduce the bug

Run all the cells in the notebook referenced above, save it. Then run sphinx-build -b html -D nb_execution_mode=auto . _build/html on it

List your environment

No response

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[chrisjsewell]

Heya, yeh happy to see proposals/suggestions thanks 👍

I'd note an alternative solution though, now we have file-level configuration: https://myst-nb.readthedocs.io/en/latest/configuration.html#file-level-configuration

if you want certain notebooks executed and others not, you could set globally nb_execution_mode="force", then set per-notebook:

{
  "metadata": {
    "mystnb": {
      "execution_mode": "off"
    }
  }
}

or visa-versa

[bsipocz]

Yes, I think that will be a good solution for some of the projects I maintain (e.g. where I definitely want to keep the outputs as they are, e.g. when they are a product of cells with a long run time), but the auto option promises such a nice, low maintenance middle-ground.