Merge pull request #159 from UiPath/feat/output-args-memory-optimization

eduard-dumitru · web-flow · commit 78808b7e0f9b · 2026-08-12T14:41:52.000+02:00
feat: optionally split output arguments into their own file [ROBO-5900]
diff --git a/.github/scripts/force-runtime-override.py b/.github/scripts/force-runtime-override.py
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ def _add_override(pyproject_path: Path, override: str) -> None:
         body,
     )
     if override_match:
-        items = override_match.group("items").strip()
+        # A trailing comma must not survive the join below, or it yields `[..,, ..]`
+        items = override_match.group("items").strip().rstrip(",").strip()
         if quoted_override in items:
             return
 
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [project]
 name = "uipath-runtime"
-version = "0.13.0"
+version = "0.13.1"
 description = "Runtime abstractions and interfaces for building agents and automation scripts in the UiPath ecosystem"
 readme = { file = "README.md", content-type = "text/markdown" }
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
diff --git a/src/uipath/runtime/context.py b/src/uipath/runtime/context.py
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
+OUTPUT_ARGUMENTS_SUFFIX = ".args"
+
 _EXECUTION_SOURCE_BY_COMMAND: dict[str, str] = {
     "run": "runtime",
     "debug": "playground",
@@ -87,6 +89,14 @@ class UiPathRuntimeContext(BaseModel):
             "If not specified, path is constructed from runtime_dir and result_file."
         ),
     )
+    split_output_arguments: bool = Field(
+        False,
+        description=(
+            "Write the output arguments to their own file alongside the result file, "
+            "and carry an 'outputArgumentsFilePath' pointer in the result file "
+            "instead of the inline 'output' value."
+        ),
+    )
     state_file: str = Field("state.db", description="Filename for the state database")
     state_file_path: str | None = Field(
         None,
@@ -275,6 +285,21 @@ def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
 
             content = self.result.to_dict()
 
+            # Read, not popped: output_file needs the arguments even when the split
+            # does not run, and popping to re-insert would move "output" after
+            # "status" in the envelope
+            output_payload = content.get("output", {})
+
+            # Gated on job_id like the envelope write below: the pointer only has a
+            # reader when there is a job, so without one there is nothing to point at it
+            if self.split_output_arguments and self.job_id:
+                output_arguments_path = self.resolved_output_arguments_file_path
+                os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(output_arguments_path), exist_ok=True)
+                with open(output_arguments_path, "w") as f:
+                    json.dump(output_payload, f, default=str)
+                content.pop("output", None)
+                content["outputArgumentsFilePath"] = output_arguments_path
+
             # Always write output file at runtime, except for inner runtimes
             # Inner runtimes have execution_id
             if self.job_id:
@@ -283,7 +308,6 @@ def __exit__(self, exc_type, exc_val, exc_tb):
 
             # Write the execution output to file if requested
             if self.output_file:
-                output_payload = content.get("output", {})
                 with open(self.output_file, "w") as f:
                     json.dump(output_payload, f, default=str)
 
@@ -343,6 +367,21 @@ def resolved_result_file_path(self) -> str:
             return os.path.join(self.runtime_dir, self.result_file)
         return os.path.join("__uipath", "output.json")
 
+    @cached_property
+    def resolved_output_arguments_file_path(self) -> str:
+        """Get the full path to the output arguments file.
+
+        Derived from the result file, not configured: the host cannot put the two
+        in different places, and inserting the suffix before the extension keeps
+        them distinct whatever the result file is called.
+        """
+        result_path = Path(os.path.abspath(self.resolved_result_file_path))
+        return str(
+            result_path.with_name(
+                f"{result_path.stem}{OUTPUT_ARGUMENTS_SUFFIX}{result_path.suffix}"
+            )
+        )
+
     @cached_property
     def resolved_state_file_path(self) -> str:
         """Get the full path to the state file."""
@@ -406,6 +445,7 @@ def from_config(
         mapping = {
             "dir": "runtime_dir",
             "outputFile": "result_file",  # we need this to maintain back-compat with serverless runtime
+            "splitOutputArguments": "split_output_arguments",
             "stateFile": "state_file",
             "logsFile": "logs_file",
         }
diff --git a/tests/test_context.py b/tests/test_context.py
@@ -1,9 +1,11 @@
 import json
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any
 
 import pytest
 from uipath.core.errors import ErrorCategory, UiPathFaultedTriggerError
+from uipath.core.triggers import UiPathResumeTrigger
 
 from uipath.runtime.context import UiPathRuntimeContext
 from uipath.runtime.errors import (
@@ -427,3 +429,274 @@ def test_from_config_accepts_maestro_flow_voice_mode(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
     ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext.from_config(str(config_path))
 
     assert ctx.voice_mode == "maestro_flow"
+
+
+def test_from_config_maps_split_output_arguments(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """runtime.splitOutputArguments should map onto the knob."""
+    cfg = {"runtime": {"splitOutputArguments": True}}
+    config_path = tmp_path / "uipath.json"
+    config_path.write_text(json.dumps(cfg))
+
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext.from_config(config_path=str(config_path))
+
+    assert ctx.split_output_arguments is True
+
+
+def test_split_output_arguments_defaults_off_when_config_key_absent(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """The split stays off when the config omits the key."""
+    cfg = {"runtime": {"outputFile": "my_output.json"}}
+    config_path = tmp_path / "uipath.json"
+    config_path.write_text(json.dumps(cfg))
+
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext.from_config(config_path=str(config_path))
+
+    assert ctx.split_output_arguments is False
+
+
+def test_output_arguments_file_is_a_sibling_of_the_result_file(
+    tmp_path: Path, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
+) -> None:
+    """The arguments file lands next to the result file, never in the process CWD.
+
+    The host names the directory once, through runtime_dir, and both files follow
+    it. The filename is not configurable, so the knob has exactly one encoding and
+    the two files cannot be pointed at different directories.
+    """
+    cwd = tmp_path / "cwd"
+    cwd.mkdir()
+    monkeypatch.chdir(cwd)
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-sibling",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    arguments_path = Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path)
+    assert arguments_path.parent == Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).parent
+    assert arguments_path.parent == runtime_dir
+    assert arguments_path.name == "result.args.json"
+    assert arguments_path.is_absolute()
+    assert cwd not in arguments_path.parents
+
+
+def test_output_arguments_file_cannot_collide_with_the_result_file(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """The suffix goes before the extension, so the two names can never converge.
+
+    Naming the result file after the arguments file used to produce one path for
+    both: the envelope overwrote the arguments and then pointed at itself.
+    """
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-collide",
+        runtime_dir=str(tmp_path / "runtime"),
+        result_file="output.args.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    assert Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path).name == "output.args.args.json"
+    assert ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path != os.path.abspath(
+        ctx.resolved_result_file_path
+    )
+
+
+def test_output_arguments_file_not_written_without_a_job(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """No job means no envelope, so the pointer would have no reader and no file.
+
+    A local `uipath run` has no UIPATH_JOB_KEY; writing the payload there would
+    leave a full copy on disk that nothing references.
+    """
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    with ctx:
+        ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+            status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL,
+            output={"foo": "bar"},
+        )
+
+    assert not Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path).exists()
+    assert not Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).exists()
+
+
+def test_result_file_keeps_output_inline_when_split_disabled(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """Without the knob, the result file is byte-identical to the legacy envelope."""
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-inline",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+    )
+
+    with ctx:
+        ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+            status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL,
+            output={"foo": "bar"},
+        )
+
+    result_path = Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path)
+    # The envelope is written in text mode, so json's newline reaches disk as os.linesep
+    expected = json.dumps(
+        {"output": {"foo": "bar"}, "status": "successful"}, indent=2
+    ).replace("\n", os.linesep)
+    assert result_path.read_bytes() == expected.encode()
+
+    content = json.loads(result_path.read_bytes())
+    assert "outputArgumentsFilePath" not in content
+    assert not Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path).exists()
+
+
+def test_output_arguments_written_to_separate_file(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """With the knob, the arguments move out and the envelope carries the path."""
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "nested" / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-split",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    with ctx:
+        ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+            status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL,
+            output={"foo": "bar"},
+        )
+
+    arguments_path = Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path)
+    # Parent directory is created on demand
+    assert json.loads(arguments_path.read_text()) == {"foo": "bar"}
+
+    content = json.loads(Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).read_text())
+    assert "output" not in content
+    assert content["status"] == UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL.value
+    assert content["outputArgumentsFilePath"] == str(arguments_path)
+    assert Path(content["outputArgumentsFilePath"]).is_absolute()
+
+
+def test_output_file_receives_bare_arguments_when_split_enabled(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """--output-file keeps receiving the bare arguments when both are set."""
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    output_path = tmp_path / "output.json"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-both",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        output_file=str(output_path),
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    with ctx:
+        ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+            status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL,
+            output={"foo": "bar"},
+        )
+
+    assert json.loads(output_path.read_text()) == {"foo": "bar"}
+    arguments_path = Path(ctx.resolved_output_arguments_file_path)
+    assert json.loads(arguments_path.read_text()) == {"foo": "bar"}
+
+
+def test_faulted_run_keeps_status_and_error_inline_when_split_enabled(
+    tmp_path: Path,
+) -> None:
+    """status and error stay in the envelope when the arguments are split out."""
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-faulted-split",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Stream blew up"):
+        with ctx:
+            raise RuntimeError("Stream blew up")
+
+    content = json.loads(Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).read_text())
+    assert content["status"] == UiPathRuntimeStatus.FAULTED.value
+    assert content["error"]["code"] == "ERROR_RuntimeError"
+    assert "Stream blew up" in content["error"]["detail"]
+    assert "output" not in content
+
+    # The pointer must never advertise a file that was not actually written
+    arguments_path = Path(content["outputArgumentsFilePath"])
+    assert arguments_path.exists()
+    assert json.loads(arguments_path.read_text()) == {}
+
+
+def test_resume_triggers_stay_inline_when_split_enabled(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """resume and resumeTriggers must never be moved out of the envelope.
+
+    They are what makes a suspended job resumable, so a split that swept them
+    into the arguments file would strand the job.
+    """
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-suspended-split",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    trigger = UiPathResumeTrigger(item_key="k")
+    with ctx:
+        ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+            status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUSPENDED,
+            output={"foo": "bar"},
+            trigger=trigger,
+            triggers=[trigger],
+        )
+
+    content = json.loads(Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).read_text())
+    assert content["status"] == UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUSPENDED.value
+    assert content["resume"]["itemKey"] == "k"
+    assert len(content["resumeTriggers"]) == 1
+    assert content["resumeTriggers"][0]["itemKey"] == "k"
+    # Only the output moved out
+    assert "output" not in content
+    arguments_path = Path(content["outputArgumentsFilePath"])
+    assert json.loads(arguments_path.read_text()) == {"foo": "bar"}
+
+
+def test_failed_arguments_write_faults_the_run(tmp_path: Path) -> None:
+    """A failing arguments write faults the run, like every other write in __exit__.
+
+    Falling back to the inline value would write the same bytes to the same volume,
+    so it cannot rescue the failure that actually matters, and it would hand the
+    consumer the payload the split exists to keep out of its heap.
+    """
+    runtime_dir = tmp_path / "runtime"
+    runtime_dir.mkdir()
+    # A directory cannot be opened for writing, so the split write fails
+    (runtime_dir / "result.args.json").mkdir()
+    ctx = UiPathRuntimeContext(
+        job_id="job-failed-write",
+        runtime_dir=str(runtime_dir),
+        result_file="result.json",
+        split_output_arguments=True,
+    )
+
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError) as excinfo:
+        with ctx:
+            ctx.result = UiPathRuntimeResult(
+                status=UiPathRuntimeStatus.SUCCESSFUL,
+                output={"foo": "bar"},
+            )
+
+    assert "RUNTIME_SHUTDOWN_ERROR" in str(excinfo.value)
+
+    content = json.loads(Path(ctx.resolved_result_file_path).read_text())
+    assert content["status"] == UiPathRuntimeStatus.FAULTED.value
+    assert content["error"]["code"] == "RUNTIME_SHUTDOWN_ERROR"
diff --git a/uv.lock b/uv.lock

Original file line number	Diff line number	Diff line change
`@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ def _add_override(pyproject_path: Path, override: str) -> None:`
`37`	`37`	`body,`
`38`	`38`	`)`
`39`	`39`	`if override_match:`
`40`		`- items = override_match.group("items").strip()`
	`40`	+ # A trailing comma must not survive the join below, or it yields `[..,, ..]`
	`41`	`+ items = override_match.group("items").strip().rstrip(",").strip()`
`41`	`42`	`if quoted_override in items:`
`42`	`43`	`return`
`43`	`44`