BLD: Attempt 7 to add a github pre-commit hook

.github/workflows/update_protocol_docstrings.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+name: Update protocol docstrings
+
+# Run this workflow on every push or pull request to the main branch
+on:
+  pull_request:
+    branches:
+      - develop
+
+permissions:
+    contents: write  
+
+jobs:
+  run-python-script:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+
+    steps:
+      # Checkout the repository
+      - name: Checkout repository
+        uses: actions/checkout@v3
+
+      # Set up Python
+      - name: Set up Python
+        uses: actions/setup-python@v4
+        with:
+          python-version: '3.12.7'
+
+      # Run the Python script
+      - name: Run Python script
+        run: python build_tools/protocol_docstrings_script.py
+
+      # Configure Git to commit and push the changes
+      - name: Set up Git user info
+        run: |
+            git config --global user.name 'GitHub Action'
+            git config --global user.email '[email protected]'
+
+      # Check if there are any changes and commit them
+      - name: Commit and push changes
+        run: |
+          touch test.txt
+          git add .
+          git commit -m "Update files via Python script" || echo "No changes to commit"
+          git push origin HEAD:${{ github.ref }}

build_tools/protocol_docstrings_script.py

@@ -147,15 +147,15 @@ def update_protocol_docstrings(protocols_path: Path):
     )
 
     # Write the updated file
-    with open(protocols_path, "w", encoding="utf8") as f:
-        f.write("\n".join(updated_lines))
-    print(f"Updated docstrings in {protocols_path}.")
+    if len(autodoc_functions) > 0:
+        with open(protocols_path, "w", encoding="utf8") as f:
+            f.write("\n".join(updated_lines))
+        print(f"Updated docstrings in {protocols_path}.")
 
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     try:
         protocols_path = sys.argv[1]
     except IndexError:
-        print(f"Assuming protocols path: {PROTOCOLS_DEFAULT_PATH}.")
         protocols_path = PROTOCOLS_DEFAULT_PATH
     update_protocol_docstrings(protocols_path)