Config file: make sphinx or mkdocs configuration required for project…

…s using Sphinx or MkDocs (#11852)

- This introduces a breaking change for users overriding the new
(undocumented) jobs (create_environment, install, build.html and
friends). This is, if they have overridden any of those jobs without
explicitly declaring a Sphinx or MkDocs key, we will no longer run the
sphinx/mkdocs commands, not their setup.
- This hardcodes the dates from
readthedocs/website#342 to through an error to
users using the configuration file without an explicit sphinx/mkdocs
configuration.

This allows for users to keep using the new overrides without worrying
about sphinx/mkdocs, while giving enough time to old users to migrate
their projects to give an explicit path.


### Some notes

- We are allowing to use sphinx/mkdocs and probably other keys with
build.commands, even if those keys don't affect the build in anything.
Not really something that "interrupt" users in any way, but it can be
missleading.
- A next step should be to not make python required at all, right now we
still create a virtual environment. We probably want to create a virtual
env only if python was provided in the list of build.tools.

----

- Ref: readthedocs/website#342
- Closes #10637
- Closes #11819
- Closes #11810
- Closes #11216

---------

Co-authored-by: Manuel Kaufmann <[email protected]>

docs/user/config-file/v2.rst

@@ -493,8 +493,7 @@ The ``$READTHEDOCS_OUTPUT/html`` directory will be uploaded and hosted by Read t
 sphinx
 ~~~~~~
 
-Configuration for Sphinx documentation
-(this is the default documentation type).
+Configuration for Sphinx documentation.
 
 .. code-block:: yaml
 
@@ -535,10 +534,7 @@ sphinx.configuration
 The path to the ``conf.py`` file, relative to the root of the project.
 
 :Type: ``path``
-:Default: ``null``
-
-If the value is ``null``,
-Read the Docs will try to find a ``conf.py`` file in your project.
+:Required: ``true``
 
 sphinx.fail_on_warning
 ``````````````````````
@@ -580,10 +576,7 @@ mkdocs.configuration
 The path to the ``mkdocs.yml`` file, relative to the root of the project.
 
 :Type: ``path``
-:Default: ``null``
-
-If the value is ``null``,
-Read the Docs will try to find a ``mkdocs.yml`` file in your project.
+:Required: ``true``
 
 mkdocs.fail_on_warning
 ``````````````````````

readthedocs/config/config.py

@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
 """Build configuration for rtd."""
-
 import copy
+import datetime
 import os
 import re
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from functools import lru_cache
 
+import pytz
 from django.conf import settings
 from pydantic import BaseModel
 
@@ -87,7 +88,13 @@ class BuildConfigBase:
 
     version = None
 
-    def __init__(self, raw_config, source_file, base_path=None):
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        raw_config,
+        source_file,
+        base_path=None,
+        deprecate_implicit_keys=None,
+    ):
         self._raw_config = copy.deepcopy(raw_config)
         self.source_config = copy.deepcopy(raw_config)
         self.source_file = source_file
@@ -102,6 +109,25 @@ def __init__(self, raw_config, source_file, base_path=None):
 
         self._config = {}
 
+        if deprecate_implicit_keys is not None:
+            self.deprecate_implicit_keys = deprecate_implicit_keys
+        elif settings.RTD_ENFORCE_BROWNOUTS_FOR_DEPRECATIONS:
+            tzinfo = pytz.timezone("America/Los_Angeles")
+            now = datetime.datetime.now(tz=tzinfo)
+            # Dates as per https://about.readthedocs.com/blog/2024/12/deprecate-config-files-without-sphinx-or-mkdocs-config/
+            # fmt: off
+            self.deprecate_implicit_keys = (
+                # 12 hours brownout.
+                datetime.datetime(2025, 1, 6, 0, 0, 0, tzinfo=tzinfo) < now < datetime.datetime(2025, 1, 6, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=tzinfo)
+                # 24 hours brownout.
+                or datetime.datetime(2025, 1, 13, 0, 0, 0, tzinfo=tzinfo) < now < datetime.datetime(2025, 1, 14, 0, 0, 0, tzinfo=tzinfo)
+                # Permanent removal.
+                or datetime.datetime(2025, 1, 20, 0, 0, 0, tzinfo=tzinfo) < now
+            )
+            # fmt: on
+        else:
+            self.deprecate_implicit_keys = False
+
     @contextmanager
     def catch_validation_error(self, key):
         """Catch a ``ConfigValidationError`` and raises a ``ConfigError`` error."""
@@ -219,7 +245,6 @@ def __getattr__(self, name):
 
 
 class BuildConfigV2(BuildConfigBase):
-
     """Version 2 of the configuration file."""
 
     version = "2"
@@ -251,6 +276,8 @@ def validate(self):
         self._config["sphinx"] = self.validate_sphinx()
         self._config["submodules"] = self.validate_submodules()
         self._config["search"] = self.validate_search()
+        if self.deprecate_implicit_keys:
+            self.validate_deprecated_implicit_keys()
         self.validate_keys()
 
     def validate_formats(self):
@@ -722,6 +749,50 @@ def validate_search(self):
 
         return search
 
+    def validate_deprecated_implicit_keys(self):
+        """
+        Check for deprecated usages and raise an exception if found.
+
+        - If the sphinx key is used, a path to the configuration file is required.
+        - If the mkdocs key is used, a path to the configuration file is required.
+        - If none of the sphinx or mkdocs keys are used,
+          and the user isn't overriding the new build jobs,
+          the sphinx key is explicitly required.
+        """
+        has_sphinx_key = "sphinx" in self.source_config
+        has_mkdocs_key = "mkdocs" in self.source_config
+        if has_sphinx_key and not self.sphinx.configuration:
+            raise ConfigError(
+                message_id=ConfigError.SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING,
+            )
+
+        if has_mkdocs_key and not self.mkdocs.configuration:
+            raise ConfigError(
+                message_id=ConfigError.MKDOCS_CONFIG_MISSING,
+            )
+
+        if not self.new_jobs_overriden and not has_sphinx_key and not has_mkdocs_key:
+            raise ConfigError(
+                message_id=ConfigError.SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING,
+            )
+
+    @property
+    def new_jobs_overriden(self):
+        """Check if any of the new (undocumented) build jobs are overridden."""
+        build_jobs = self.build.jobs
+        new_jobs = (
+            build_jobs.create_environment,
+            build_jobs.install,
+            build_jobs.build.html,
+            build_jobs.build.pdf,
+            build_jobs.build.epub,
+            build_jobs.build.htmlzip,
+        )
+        for job in new_jobs:
+            if job is not None:
+                return True
+        return False
+
     def validate_keys(self):
         """
         Checks that we don't have extra keys (invalid ones).
@@ -812,6 +883,11 @@ def doctype(self):
         if "commands" in self._config["build"] and self._config["build"]["commands"]:
             return GENERIC
 
+        has_sphinx_key = "sphinx" in self.source_config
+        has_mkdocs_key = "mkdocs" in self.source_config
+        if self.new_jobs_overriden and not has_sphinx_key and not has_mkdocs_key:
+            return GENERIC
+
         if self.mkdocs:
             return "mkdocs"
         return self.sphinx.builder

readthedocs/config/exceptions.py

@@ -26,6 +26,9 @@ class ConfigError(BuildUserError):
     SYNTAX_INVALID = "config:base:invalid-syntax"
     CONDA_KEY_REQUIRED = "config:conda:required"
 
+    SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING = "config:sphinx:missing-config"
+    MKDOCS_CONFIG_MISSING = "config:mkdocs:missing-config"
+
 
 # TODO: improve these error messages shown to the user
 # See https://github.com/readthedocs/readthedocs.org/issues/10502

readthedocs/config/notifications.py

@@ -361,5 +361,31 @@
         ),
         type=ERROR,
     ),
+    Message(
+        id=ConfigError.SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING,
+        header=_("Missing Sphinx configuration key"),
+        body=_(
+            textwrap.dedent(
+                """
+                The <code>sphinx.configuration</code> key is missing.
+                This key is now required, see our <a href="https://about.readthedocs.com/blog/2024/12/deprecate-config-files-without-sphinx-or-mkdocs-config/">blog post</a> for more information.
+                """
+            ).strip(),
+        ),
+        type=ERROR,
+    ),
+    Message(
+        id=ConfigError.MKDOCS_CONFIG_MISSING,
+        header=_("Missing MkDocs configuration key"),
+        body=_(
+            textwrap.dedent(
+                """
+                The <code>mkdocs.configuration</code> key is missing.
+                This key is now required, see our <a href="https://about.readthedocs.com/blog/2024/12/deprecate-config-files-without-sphinx-or-mkdocs-config/">blog post</a> for more information.
+                """
+            ).strip(),
+        ),
+        type=ERROR,
+    ),
 ]
 registry.add(messages)

readthedocs/config/tests/test_config.py

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from .utils import apply_fs
 
 
-def get_build_config(config, source_file="readthedocs.yml", validate=False):
+def get_build_config(config, source_file="readthedocs.yml", validate=False, **kwargs):
     # I'm adding these defaults here to avoid modifying all the config file from all the tests
     final_config = {
         "version": "2",
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ def get_build_config(config, source_file="readthedocs.yml", validate=False):
     build_config = BuildConfigV2(
         final_config,
         source_file=source_file,
+        **kwargs,
     )
     if validate:
         build_config.validate()
@@ -1805,6 +1806,64 @@ def test_pop_config_raise_exception(self):
         assert excinfo.value.format_values.get("value") == "invalid"
         assert excinfo.value.message_id == ConfigValidationError.VALUE_NOT_FOUND
 
+    def test_sphinx_without_explicit_configuration(self):
+        data = {
+            "sphinx": {},
+        }
+        get_build_config(data, validate=True)
+
+        with raises(ConfigError) as excinfo:
+            get_build_config(data, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+        assert excinfo.value.message_id == ConfigError.SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING
+
+        data["sphinx"]["configuration"] = "conf.py"
+        get_build_config(data, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+    def test_mkdocs_without_explicit_configuration(self):
+        data = {
+            "mkdocs": {},
+        }
+        get_build_config(data, validate=True)
+
+        with raises(ConfigError) as excinfo:
+            get_build_config(data, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+        assert excinfo.value.message_id == ConfigError.MKDOCS_CONFIG_MISSING
+
+        data["mkdocs"]["configuration"] = "mkdocs.yml"
+        get_build_config(data, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+    def test_config_without_sphinx_key(self):
+        data = {
+            "build": {
+                "os": "ubuntu-22.04",
+                "tools": {
+                    "python": "3",
+                },
+                "jobs": {},
+            },
+        }
+        get_build_config(data, validate=True)
+
+        with raises(ConfigError) as excinfo:
+            get_build_config(data, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+        assert excinfo.value.message_id == ConfigError.SPHINX_CONFIG_MISSING
+
+        # No exception should be raised when overriding any of the the new jobs.
+        data_copy = data.copy()
+        data_copy["build"]["jobs"]["create_environment"] = ["echo 'Hello World'"]
+        get_build_config(data_copy, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+        data_copy = data.copy()
+        data_copy["build"]["jobs"]["install"] = ["echo 'Hello World'"]
+        get_build_config(data_copy, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
+        data_copy = data.copy()
+        data_copy["build"]["jobs"]["build"] = {"html": ["echo 'Hello World'"]}
+        get_build_config(data_copy, validate=True, deprecate_implicit_keys=True)
+
     def test_as_dict_new_build_config(self, tmpdir):
         build = get_build_config(
             {

readthedocs/doc_builder/director.py

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 from readthedocs.doc_builder.exceptions import BuildUserError
 from readthedocs.doc_builder.loader import get_builder_class
 from readthedocs.doc_builder.python_environments import Conda, Virtualenv
-from readthedocs.projects.constants import BUILD_COMMANDS_OUTPUT_PATH_HTML
+from readthedocs.projects.constants import BUILD_COMMANDS_OUTPUT_PATH_HTML, GENERIC
 from readthedocs.projects.exceptions import RepositoryError
 from readthedocs.projects.signals import after_build, before_build, before_vcs
 from readthedocs.storage import build_tools_storage
@@ -301,6 +301,12 @@ def create_environment(self):
         if self.data.config.build.jobs.create_environment is not None:
             self.run_build_job("create_environment")
             return
+
+        # If the builder is generic, we have nothing to do here,
+        # as the commnads are provided by the user.
+        if self.data.config.doctype == GENERIC:
+            return
+
         self.language_environment.setup_base()
 
     # Install
@@ -309,6 +315,11 @@ def install(self):
             self.run_build_job("install")
             return
 
+        # If the builder is generic, we have nothing to do here,
+        # as the commnads are provided by the user.
+        if self.data.config.doctype == GENERIC:
+            return
+
         self.language_environment.install_core_requirements()
         self.language_environment.install_requirements()
 
@@ -642,6 +653,11 @@ def build_docs_class(self, builder_class):
         only raise a warning exception here. A hard error will halt the build
         process.
         """
+        # If the builder is generic, we have nothing to do here,
+        # as the commnads are provided by the user.
+        if builder_class == GENERIC:
+            return
+
         builder = get_builder_class(builder_class)(
             build_env=self.build_environment,
             python_env=self.language_environment,

readthedocs/doc_builder/python_environments.py

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
 from readthedocs.config.models import PythonInstall, PythonInstallRequirements
 from readthedocs.core.utils.filesystem import safe_open
 from readthedocs.doc_builder.config import load_yaml_config
+from readthedocs.projects.constants import GENERIC
 from readthedocs.projects.exceptions import UserFileNotFound
 from readthedocs.projects.models import Feature
 
@@ -168,6 +169,10 @@ def _install_latest_requirements(self, pip_install_cmd):
             cwd=self.checkout_path,
         )
 
+        # Nothing else to install for generic projects.
+        if self.config.doctype == GENERIC:
+            return
+
         # Second, install all the latest core requirements
         requirements = []