Update add_bounds kwarg default value to True

tests/test_dataset.py

@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ def test_non_cf_compliant_time_is_decoded(self):
         ds = generate_dataset(cf_compliant=False, has_bounds=False)
         ds.to_netcdf(self.file_path)
 
-        result = open_dataset(self.file_path, data_var="ts", add_bounds=True)
+        result = open_dataset(self.file_path, data_var="ts")
 
         # Generate an expected dataset with decoded non-CF compliant time units.
         expected = generate_dataset(cf_compliant=True, has_bounds=True)
@@ -173,7 +173,8 @@ def test_non_cf_compliant_time_is_decoded(self):
         ds2.to_netcdf(self.file_path2)
 
         result = open_mfdataset(
-            [self.file_path1, self.file_path2], data_var="ts", add_bounds=True
+            [self.file_path1, self.file_path2],
+            data_var="ts",
         )
 
         # Generate an expected dataset, which is a combination of both datasets

xcdat/dataset.py

@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ def open_dataset(
     data_var: Optional[str] = None,
     decode_times: bool = True,
     center_times: bool = False,
-    add_bounds: bool = False,
+    add_bounds: bool = True,
     lon_orient: Optional[Tuple[float, float]] = None,
     **kwargs: Dict[str, Any],
 ) -> xr.Dataset:
@@ -44,8 +44,9 @@ def open_dataset(
         and lower bounds. Otherwise, use the provided time coordinates, by
         default False.
     add_bounds: bool, optional
-        If True, add bounds for supported axes (T, X, Y) if they are missing in
-        the Dataset, by default False.
+        If True, add bounds for supported axes (X, Y, T) if they are missing in
+        the Dataset, by default True. Bounds are required for many xCDAT
+        features.
     lon_orient: Optional[Tuple[float, float]], optional
         The orientation to use for the Dataset's longitude axis (if it exists),
         by default None.
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ def open_mfdataset(
     data_var: Optional[str] = None,
     decode_times: bool = True,
     center_times: bool = False,
-    add_bounds: bool = False,
+    add_bounds: bool = True,
     lon_orient: Optional[Tuple[float, float]] = None,
     data_vars: Union[Literal["minimal", "different", "all"], List[str]] = "minimal",
     preprocess: Optional[Callable] = None,
@@ -133,8 +134,9 @@ def open_mfdataset(
         and lower bounds. Otherwise, use the provided time coordinates, by
         default False.
     add_bounds: bool, optional
-        If True, add bounds for supported axes (T, X, Y) if they are missing in
-        the Dataset, by default False.
+        If True, add bounds for supported axes (X, Y, T) if they are missing in
+        the Dataset, by default True. Bounds are required for many xCDAT
+        features.
     lon_orient: Optional[Tuple[float, float]], optional
         The orientation to use for the Dataset's longitude axis (if it exists),
         by default None.
@@ -426,7 +428,7 @@ def _postprocess_dataset(
         and lower bounds. Otherwise, use the provided time coordinates, by
         default False.
     add_bounds: bool, optional
-        If True, add bounds for supported axes (T, X, Y) if they are missing in
+        If True, add bounds for supported axes (X, Y, T) if they are missing in
         the Dataset, by default False.
     lon_orient: Optional[Tuple[float, float]], optional
         The orientation to use for the Dataset's longitude axis (if it exists),