Create a sphinx-thebelab extension?

[choldgraf]

A few projects now have used Thebelab in Sphinx (e.g., jupyter-sphinx, sphinx-gallery, and now myst-nb). Each one has slightly different approaches to config etc, and in some cases the thebelab logic is a bit complex under the hood (e.g. jupyter-sphinx has its own thebelab nodes that replace regular cell nodes).

I wonder if it would be beneficial to have a single sphinx-thebelab extension that others could use. This extension could be used either

• as a user-facing tool. e.g. provide a .. thebelab-button:: directive along with letting users configure the class used to mark a thebelab-ready cell (similar to how sphinx-copybutton works).
• as a dev-facing tool. e.g., a theme developer could use thebelab buttons in their theme that are provided by this extension

I think for the most basic Thebelab functionality, this may be overkill, but as features are added we could benefit from a single thebelab package (e.g. if somebody wanted a spinning or a loading widget while waiting for the kernel).

What do folks think? Would it be useful? Unnecessary?

cc @akhmerov who may not be pinged by these issues

[akhmerov]

I think it's a good idea. I imagine this extension would have both configuration with respect to:

• How to run thebelab
• Which elements in the AST should become thebelab inputs and outputs.

[choldgraf]

this now exists!