What Are the Default Settings for output_dir and output_file_path in AutoHedge?

The output_dir parameter defaults to "outputs" and output_file_path defaults to None, causing AutoHedge to automatically create timestamped files inside the outputs folder when results are saved.

The AutoHedge library from The-Swarm-Corporation provides systematic result persistence through configurable output paths. Understanding the default settings for output_dir and output_file_path ensures you know exactly where your analysis results are stored without explicit configuration. These defaults are defined in the core implementation at autohedge/main.py and balance immediate usability with filesystem organization.

Default Values for Output Configuration

output_dir Defaults to "outputs"

The output_dir parameter initializes to the string "outputs", which the library converts to a Path object. According to the source code in autohedge/main.py, if this directory does not exist when AutoHedge attempts to save results, the system creates it automatically.

output_file_path Defaults to None

When output_file_path remains at its default of None, AutoHedge does not use a fixed filename. Instead, the library generates a timestamp-based filename dynamically inside output_dir at save time, ensuring unique filenames for each execution.

Source Code Location and Implementation

These defaults are declared in [autohedge/main.py](https://github.com/The-Swarm-Corporation/AutoHedge/blob/main/autohedge/main.py) at lines 19-20 within the core AutoHedge class constructor. The implementation handles path resolution and directory creation transparently, allowing zero-configuration operation while supporting explicit path overrides through class instantiation.

Practical Code Examples

Using Default Settings

Initialize AutoHedge without arguments to leverage the automatic output handling:

from autohedge import AutoHedge

# Initialize with defaults

hedger = AutoHedge()

# Verify default values

print(f"Output directory: {hedger.output_dir}")  # Path('outputs')

print(f"Output file path: {hedger.output_file_path}")  # None

# Results are saved with auto-generated timestamped filenames

result = hedger.run(task="Analyze Q3 earnings for MSFT")

Overriding Default Paths

Specify custom locations by passing parameters to the constructor:

from autohedge import AutoHedge

# Custom paths override defaults

hedger = AutoHedge(
    output_dir="my_results",
    output_file_path="my_results/analysis.json"
)

print(hedger.output_dir)        # Path('my_results')

print(hedger.output_file_path)  # 'my_results/analysis.json'

Summary

• The output_dir default setting in AutoHedge is "outputs", automatically created if missing.
• The output_file_path default is None, triggering automatic timestamp-based filename generation.
• Both settings are defined in autohedge/main.py at lines 19-20 and can be overridden via constructor arguments.
• When using defaults, results persist to timestamped files within the outputs folder without manual path management.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if the outputs directory doesn't exist?

AutoHedge automatically creates the outputs directory (or any custom output_dir specified) when saving results if it does not already exist on the filesystem. This behavior is handled internally by the library's path management logic.

How does AutoHedge generate filenames when output_file_path is None?

When output_file_path remains at its default None value, AutoHedge generates a timestamp-based filename at runtime and saves the file inside the designated output_dir folder. This prevents file overwrites and maintains execution history.

Can I change the output directory after initialization?

While the defaults are set in the constructor defined in autohedge/main.py, you can modify the output_dir attribute on the instance directly. However, best practice is to set your preferred path during initialization to ensure consistent behavior across the object lifecycle.

Where are these default settings defined in the source code?

The default settings for output_dir and output_file_path are defined in the AutoHedge class __init__ method within the autohedge/main.py file at lines 19-20, according to the repository source code maintained by The-Swarm-Corporation.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instagit": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "instagit@latest"]
    }
  }
}