Setup TensorFlow environment

[tabergma]

In #5266 we discussed when and how to call tf_env.setup_tf_environment(). We should find a solution for users that call the train methods directly.

[tabergma]

@dakshvar22 Is this still relevant?

[dakshvar22]

Probably yes, we haven't changed it since then.

[samsucik]

@dakshvar22 sorry, I'm struggling to find the context for this one, could you perhaps briefly summarise? And what kind of users does this affect?

[dakshvar22]

@samsucik tf_env.setup_tf_environment() is used to initialize CPU/GPU related environment variables of TF. We currently call this inside rasa/__main_.py. Hence, it works well when rasa open source is being invoked as a framework through the CLI or HTTP API. If a user tries to use it as a library where they try to write custom python code and pick bits and pieces of Rasa in their custom code, e.g. training an NLU model in a jupyter code, then depending on their code tensorflow environment may not configured correctly. So, this issue was about finding a more appropriate place inside the code to place it. I think it never got tackled because no one from the community really brought up an issue like that indicating that this may not be even needed.

[samsucik]

@TyDunn what's your take on this? Do we wanna support use cases like those described by Daksh? cc @koaning because when I hear "training an NLU model in a jupyter code" I think of you 🧇

[TyDunn]

@samsucik Similar to what Daksh said above, I have not come across users who have brought this up. Does the research team find it to be valuable?

[sync-by-unito]

➤ Maxime Verger commented:

💡 Heads up! We're moving issues to Jira: https://rasa-open-source.atlassian.net/browse/OSS.

From now on, this Jira board is the place where you can browse (without an account) and create issues (you'll need a free Jira account for that). This GitHub issue has already been migrated to Jira and will be closed on January 9th, 2023. Do not forget to subscribe to the corresponding Jira issue!

➡️ More information in the forum: https://forum.rasa.com/t/migration-of-rasa-oss-issues-to-jira/56569.