Configure compilation behavior

Use compilation settings to control how PyRel validates your model and query during the build step. This guide shows how to set strict mode and soft error mode in raiconfig.yaml or Python code and how to confirm the loaded values in Model.config. These settings affect compilation only. They do not change connection setup or later job execution.

Before you start, make sure that:

• You have access to a Snowflake account with the RelationalAI Native App installed. If you are unsure, contact your Snowflake administrator.
• You have a working PyRel installation. See Set Up Your Environment for instructions.

What compilation configuration covers

This guide applies to the Build model and query step in the PyRel execution workflow:

When you run PyRel, it first compiles the model and query you wrote in Python. This includes your model definitions, any materialization requirements, and the query you want to run. During this step, PyRel translates that code into a form the backend can execute and can catch validation problems early, including type errors.

Use this table to choose which setting to change:

Setting	Use it when
Strict mode	You want earlier, stricter validation during compilation.
Soft error mode	You want some type issues treated more leniently while you iterate.

Note

Most users can leave both settings at their defaults. If you’re unsure, leave both settings unchanged and change them only when your workflow clearly needs it.

Enable or disable strict mode

Strict mode makes the PyRel compiler validate more aggressively during compilation. It is disabled by default. Enable it when you want earlier validation during compilation, such as in CI, tests, or production jobs.

Caution

Strict mode can surface issues that previously compiled, so you may need to fix types or definitions after you turn it on.

When you enable strict mode, PyRel catches certain declaration and schema problems earlier:

• References to relationships that have not been declared yet raise immediately instead of relying on implicit relationship creation.
• Strict relationship field validation runs when relationships are defined.

raiconfig.yaml

Follow these steps:

1. Set compiler.strict in raiconfig.yaml

   connections:
     # ...
   
   compiler:
     strict: true

2. Inspect the parsed config

   Note

   This check assumes your existing raiconfig.yaml already includes a valid connection configuration. If you define more than one connection, set default_connection so Model uses the intended config. See Configure Snowflake authentication for details on connection configuration.

   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   m = Model("MyModel")
   
   print(m.config.compiler.strict)

   A printed value of True confirms that PyRel loaded the strict-mode setting from your config.

Programmatic

Set compiler.strict using CompilerConfig or a plain Python dict. These examples assume file discovery already provides a valid connection configuration. Use one of the following approaches:

1. Set the value with a typed config class

   from relationalai.config import CompilerConfig, create_config
   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   cfg = create_config(compiler=CompilerConfig(strict=True))
   m = Model("MyModel", config=cfg)
   
   print(m.config.compiler.strict)

2. Set the value with a dict

   from relationalai.config import create_config
   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   cfg = create_config(compiler={"strict": True})
   m = Model("MyModel", config=cfg)
   
   print(m.config.compiler.strict)

Related resources:

• Create configuration in code
• CompilerConfig API reference

Enable or disable soft error mode

Soft error mode treats compiler type errors as warnings instead of failures. It is disabled by default, so type errors fail compilation unless you turn it on. Enable it when you’re iterating quickly in notebooks or exploratory work and want compilation to continue while you fix types.

Caution

Soft error mode can hide real problems until later, so use it intentionally and consider disabling it in CI and production jobs.

raiconfig.yaml

Do the following:

1. Set compiler.soft_type_errors in raiconfig.yaml

   connections:
     # ...
   
   compiler:
     soft_type_errors: true

2. Inspect the parsed config

   Note

   This check assumes your existing raiconfig.yaml already includes a valid connection configuration. If you define more than one connection, set default_connection so Model uses the intended config. See Configure Snowflake authentication for details on connection configuration.

   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   m = Model("MyModel")
   
   print(m.config.compiler.soft_type_errors)

   A printed value of True confirms that PyRel loaded the soft error mode setting from your config.

Programmatic

Set compiler.soft_type_errors using CompilerConfig or a plain Python dict. These examples assume file discovery already provides a valid connection configuration. Use one of the following approaches:

1. Set the value with a typed config class

   from relationalai.config import CompilerConfig, create_config
   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   cfg = create_config(compiler=CompilerConfig(soft_type_errors=True))
   m = Model("MyModel", config=cfg)
   
   print(m.config.compiler.soft_type_errors)

2. Set the value with a dict

   from relationalai.config import create_config
   from relationalai.semantics import Model
   
   cfg = create_config(compiler={"soft_type_errors": True})
   m = Model("MyModel", config=cfg)
   
   print(m.config.compiler.soft_type_errors)

Related resources:

• Create configuration in code
• CompilerConfig API reference