Add attribute tracking functionality

cf_xarray/__init__.py

@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+from . import tracking  # noqa
 from .accessor import CFAccessor  # noqa
 from .helpers import bounds_to_vertices, vertices_to_bounds  # noqa
 from .options import set_options  # noqa
+from .tracking import track_cf_attributes  # noqa
 from .utils import _get_version
 
 __version__ = _get_version()

cf_xarray/tracking.py

@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# This module provides functions for adding CF attribtues
+# and tracking history, provenance using xarray's keep_attrs
+# functionality
+
+import copy
+import functools
+
+CELL_METHODS = {
+    "sum": "sum",
+    "max": "maximum",
+    "min": "minimum",
+    "median": "median",
+    "mean": "mean",
+    "std": "standard_deviation",
+    "var": "variance",
+}
+
+
+def add_cell_methods(attrs, context):
+    """Add appropriate cell_methods attribute."""
+    assert len(attrs) == 1
+    cell_methods = attrs[0].get("cell_methods", "")
+    # TODO: get dim_name from context
+    return {"cell_methods": f"dim_name: {CELL_METHODS[context.func]} {cell_methods}"}
+
+
+def add_history(attrs, context):
+    return {"history": None}
+
+
+def _tracker(
+    attrs,
+    context,
+    strict: bool = False,
+    cell_methods: bool = True,
+    history: bool = True,
+):
+
+    # can only handle single variable attrs for now
+    assert len(attrs) == 1
+    attrs_out = copy.deepcopy(attrs[0])
+
+    if context.func in CELL_METHODS:
+        attrs_out.update(add_cell_methods(attrs, context))
+    if history:
+        attrs_out.update(add_history(attrs, context))
+        pass
+    return attrs_out
+
+
+def track_cf_attributes(
+    *, strict: bool = False, cell_methods: bool = True, history: bool = True
+):
+    """Top-level user-facing function.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    strict: bool
+        Controls if an error is raised when an appropriate attribute cannot
+        be added because of lack of information.
+    cell_methods: bool
+        Add cell_methods attribute when possible
+    history: bool
+        Adds a history attribute like NCO and follows the NUG convention.
+    """
+    return functools.partial(
+        _tracker, strict=strict, cell_methods=cell_methods, history=history
+    )