Define a retriever in Python

Oct 13, 2025 by wbrum.org 58 views

Problem Description

The Dev UI, a crucial component of the development process, has been observed to make assumptions about the schema for editors, leading to issues when working with Go and Python. This problem arises from the differences in schema provided by the runtime and the format expected by the Dev UI. As a result, certain features, such as the retriever-runner, may not function as expected, causing frustration for developers.

Describe the Bug

The issue at hand is rooted in the implicit assumptions made by the Dev UI regarding the schema format. The schema provided by the runtime appears to differ from what is expected by the Dev UI, particularly in cases where the schema is incomplete or invalid. This discrepancy can lead to errors and failures in the development process.

One of the primary concerns is the retriever-runner, which has separate inputs for query and options. This setup causes trouble due to the differences in schema format. The generic action runner, on the other hand, is relatively safe from this issue, as it utilizes the entire schema object for validation.

Another aspect of this problem is the Model runner, which seems to work despite having even more special handling. This suggests that the issue is not solely related to the schema format but also to the specific implementation of the Model runner.

To Reproduce

To replicate this issue, follow these steps:

Define a retriever in Python: Create a retriever in Python and define its schema.
Try the retriever runner: Attempt to run the retriever runner with the defined schema.
Observe the failure: Note that the invocation fails, and the editor does not load a default value.

Expected Behavior

The expected behavior is for the Dev UI to handle the schema from Go and Python smoothly, without making assumptions about the format. Additionally, the system should be able to handle broken or invalid schema gracefully, preventing errors and failures in the development process.

Screenshots

Impact on Development

The Dev UI's assumption about the schema format has a significant impact on the development process. It can lead to:

Frustration: Developers may become frustrated when they encounter errors and failures due to the schema format differences.
Delays: The development process may be delayed as developers spend time troubleshooting and resolving issues related to the schema format.
Inefficiency: The inefficiency caused by the schema format differences can lead to a decrease in productivity and an increase in development costs.

Solution

To resolve this issue, the Dev UI should be modified to handle the schema format differences more robustly. This can be achieved by:

Improving schema validation: Enhance the schema validation process to accommodate different schema formats.
Providing more flexible schema handling: Allow the Dev UI to handle broken or invalid schema more gracefully, preventing errors and failures.
Implementing schema format detection: Develop a mechanism to detect the schema format and adjust the Dev UI's behavior accordingly.

By implementing these changes, the Dev UI can provide a more seamless and efficient development experience, reducing the impact of schema format differences on the development process.

Conclusion

The Dev UI's assumption about the schema format has significant implications for the development process. By understanding the root cause of the issue and implementing changes to improve schema handling, developers can create a more robust and efficient development environment. The proposed solutions aim to address the problem and provide a more seamless experience for developers working with Go and Python.

Future Work

To further improve the Dev UI, the following areas can be explored:

Enhancing schema validation: Develop more advanced schema validation techniques to accommodate different schema formats.
Implementing schema format detection: Create a mechanism to detect the schema format and adjust the Dev UI's behavior accordingly.
Providing more flexible schema handling: Allow the Dev UI to handle broken or invalid schema more gracefully, preventing errors and failures.

Q: What is the Dev UI, and why is it important for development?

A: The Dev UI is a crucial component of the development process, providing a user-friendly interface for developers to interact with their code. It is essential for efficient development, as it allows developers to focus on writing code rather than navigating complex command-line interfaces.

Q: What is the issue with the Dev UI's schema handling?

A: The Dev UI makes assumptions about the schema format, which can lead to errors and failures when working with Go and Python. This is because the schema provided by the runtime differs from what is expected by the Dev UI, particularly in cases where the schema is incomplete or invalid.

Q: How does this issue affect developers?

A: The issue can lead to frustration, delays, and inefficiency in the development process. Developers may spend time troubleshooting and resolving issues related to the schema format, which can decrease productivity and increase development costs.

Q: What are the specific problems with the retriever-runner?

A: The retriever-runner has separate inputs for query and options, which causes trouble due to the differences in schema format. This setup can lead to errors and failures when attempting to run the retriever-runner.

Q: Why does the Model runner seem to work despite having special handling?

A: The Model runner appears to work because it has even more special handling, which allows it to accommodate the differences in schema format. However, this is not a reliable solution, as it may not work for all cases.

Q: How can developers reproduce the issue?

A: To replicate the issue, developers can follow these steps:

Define a retriever in Python.
Try the retriever runner with the defined schema.
Observe the failure and note that the invocation fails, and the editor does not load a default value.

Q: What is the expected behavior for the Dev UI?

A: The expected behavior is for the Dev UI to handle the schema from Go and Python smoothly, without making assumptions about the format. Additionally, the system should be able to handle broken or invalid schema gracefully, preventing errors and failures in the development process.

Q: What are the proposed solutions to address the issue?

A: The proposed solutions include:

Improving schema validation to accommodate different schema formats.
Providing more flexible schema handling to allow the Dev UI to handle broken or invalid schema more gracefully.
Implementing schema format detection to adjust the Dev UI's behavior accordingly.

Q: How can developers contribute to resolving the issue?

A: Developers can contribute by:

Reporting issues and providing feedback on the Dev UI's behavior.
Participating in discussions and proposing solutions to address the issue.
Contributing to the development of the Dev UI by implementing the proposed solutions.

Q: What are the future work areas for improving the Dev UI?

A: The future work areas include:

Enhancing schema validation to accommodate different schema formats.
Implementing schema format detection to adjust the Dev UI's behavior accordingly.
Providing more flexible schema handling to allow the Dev UI to handle broken or invalid schema more gracefully.

By addressing these areas, the Dev UI can become an even more powerful tool for developers, providing a more efficient and seamless development experience.