[DataCatalog]: Disable catalog.load() logging

[ElenaKhaustova]

Description

catalog.load() produces extensive logging information when loading multiple datasets in the same notebook cell. These logger messages annoy users and cannot be disabled with the current implementation.

Context

"It’s very convenient to load my dataset when debugging locally. The only annoying thing is the multiple logger.info messages I get when I load multiple datasets in the same notebook cell."

Possible Implementation

1. Add a boolean argument to catalog.load() to disable logging prints for cleaner outputs.
2. Consider configuring this at logger level and suggest an approach.
3. Explore if the amount of logging information during the catalog.load() can be reduced.

[astrojuanlu]

Relaying internal discussion:

@astrojuanlu: Rather than a boolean argument, could this be configured at the logger level instead?
@ElenaKhaustova: I think the problem is that users want to silent this particular method rather that disable logging at all.

[merelcht]

I’m not sure we should have a custom approach for dealing with logging for dataset loading compared to other log messages.

[ElenaKhaustova]

The amount of logging information during the catalog.load() does not look extensive and should not be changed IMO. However, I can imagine cases with tens of datasets where this INFO output will pollute a cell.

I also agree that adding a custom flag just for one method - catalog.load() is not the best solution.

Based on the above we can consider the following:

1. Suggest using a custom logging config and setting a desired logging level. The drawback is that it changes global logger settings.
2. Suggest changing a logger level at runtime and then resetting it to ensure it doesn't affect other modules. This might look a little bit complicated from the user's perspective.

import logging

# Change logging level
logger_level = logging.getLogger("kedro").level
logging.getLogger("kedro").setLevel(logging.WARNING)

for ds in catalog.list():
    _ = catalog.load(ds)

# Reset the level
logging.getLogger("kedro").setLevel(logger_level)

3. Make the _logger property public so that users can modify it and set the desired logging level just for the catalog component rather than globally. In that case they would not need to reset it.
   

   kedro/kedro/io/data_catalog.py

   Line 201 in 413dbca

   @property

[astrojuanlu]

kedro/kedro/io/data_catalog.py

Lines 201 to 203 in 413dbca

	@property
	def _logger(self) -> logging.Logger:
	return logging.getLogger(__name__)

This is a pattern I've never seen. And yet, can't the user do

logging.getLogger("kedro.io.data_catalog").setLevel(logging.WARNING)

? (Haven't tested this, unsure if it works)

[ElenaKhaustova]

@astrojuanlu

Yes, that works and doesn't affect the top-level loggers! So I believe that should be the solution and no changes are required as all of them lead to the same amount of effort from the user side.

Closing the issue.

[datajoely]

So I still think we should make this easier for the user:

• Docs at the very least
• logging.yml setting?

[ElenaKhaustova]

So I still think we should make this easier for the user:

• Docs at the very least
• logging.yml setting?

Good point, I will extend the section on how to customise logging then. But I would not change the default logging.yml as having INFO level seems reasonable at the start.

[merelcht]

Completed in #3968