A Discussion on Dates

[technopahadi]

The way some of the dates are portrayed in the UI and used in the code (like in Timetables) seems a bit confusing. It could possibly be a bit more simpler? Let me explain.

Confusion 1

In the Grid View, the top right of the page has a Next Run label that shows a date. This is the logical date of the next scheduled run, or the start of the next DAG Run's data interval. When hovered, it shows a tooltip with Run After which denotes the actual "execution time" of the upcoming run.

Possible Improvement

I think if the label simply showed the execution time of the next run instead, i.e., the Next Run actually depicted the value from Run After, that'd be more intuitive. The label itself (Next Run) can be renamed to something else (like Next Scheduled Execution) if it conflicts with some internal terminologies.

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Confusion 2

The Run label next to the DAG ID (inside the #react-container) depicts the:

1. Logical date for a scheduled run
2. Logical date of the last scheduled run for a manual run
3. Execution time for a manual run where schedule=None.

Possible Improvement

If it always represents the execution time like (3), then that'd be more intuitive imho.

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Confusion 3

Run Id in the DAG Run details depicts:

1. The logical date (start of data interval) for a scheduled run
2. Execution time (or maybe dagrun object creation time) for a manual run.

Possible Improvement

The behaviour for manual run makes sense, but if the same could happen for scheduled run as well, that'd probably make more sense. With Timetables, this is customizable since 2.4. Maybe it can be made the default behaviour instead?

[potiuk]

I think if you attempt to make a PR and show it before/and after on examples - then the discussion might be better (and having a PR you will see how difficult/easy it is).

BTW. I have no opinion on the subject this is just a comment that might move the discussion in the right direction