static-code-cells.md

Static Code Cells Reference

Static code cells provide manual execution control for cells with side effects or expensive operations.

Quick Reference

Enabling Static Mode

1. Edit a code cell (enter edit mode)
2. Check "Static mode (manual execution only)" below the editor
3. Apply changes - cell shows orange border

Key Behaviors

• ✅ Manual execution only - won't run automatically
• ✅ Can read reactive variables - access variables from other cells
• ✅ Can export variables - other cells can use their exports
• ✅ Skips initialization - won't run when notebook loads
• ✅ Orange visual styling - distinct border and background

When to Use Static Cells

// ✅ Database operations
await db.query('UPDATE users SET last_login = NOW()');

// ✅ File operations  
fs.writeFileSync('report.json', JSON.stringify(data));

// ✅ Network requests with side effects
await api.sendNotification(message);

// ✅ Expensive computations
const result = await trainMLModel(dataset); // Takes 10 minutes

// ✅ Debug logging
console.log('Detailed debug info:', debugData);

When to Keep Reactive

// ✅ Data transformations
exports.cleanedData = rawData.filter(item => item.valid);

// ✅ Calculations
exports.total = items.reduce((sum, item) => sum + item.price, 0);

// ✅ Real-time updates
exports.currentTime = new Date().toISOString();

Switching Modes

From → To	Behavior
Reactive → Static	Stops auto-execution, keeps current state
Static → Reactive	Remains dormant until manually executed

Important: When switching from static to reactive, manually execute the cell once to rejoin the reactive chain.

Visual Indicators

• Orange border: Static cells have orange borders
• Orange background: Subtle orange tint
• Static badge: Appears when toggle is enabled
• Edit mode only: Toggle only visible when editing

For detailed examples and advanced usage, see the Code Cells Guide.