rename DataChain's create_empty to from_records (#215)

Author: mattseddon

src/datachain/lib/dc.py

@@ -1124,7 +1124,7 @@ def from_values(
         def _func_fr() -> Iterator[tuple_type]:  # type: ignore[valid-type]
             yield from tuples
 
-        chain = DataChain.create_empty(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD, session=session)
+        chain = DataChain.from_records(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD, session=session)
         if object_name:
             output = {object_name: DataChain._dict_to_data_model(object_name, output)}  # type: ignore[arg-type]
         return chain.gen(_func_fr, output=output)
@@ -1441,22 +1441,23 @@ def to_parquet(
         )
 
     @classmethod
-    def create_empty(
+    def from_records(
         cls,
         to_insert: Optional[Union[dict, list[dict]]],
         session: Optional[Session] = None,
     ) -> "DataChain":
-        """Create empty chain. Returns a chain. This method is used for programmatically
-        generating a chains in contrast of reading data from storages or other sources.
+        """Create a DataChain from the provided records. This method can be used for
+        programmatically generating a chain in contrast of reading data from storages
+        or other sources.
 
         Parameters:
             to_insert : records (or a single record) to insert. Each record is
                         a dictionary of signals and theirs values.
 
         Example:
             ```py
-            empty = DataChain.create_empty()
-            single_record = DataChain.create_empty(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
+            empty = DataChain.from_records()
+            single_record = DataChain.from_records(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
             ```
         """
         session = Session.get(session)

tests/unit/lib/test_datachain.py

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ def test_pandas_incorrect_column_names(catalog):
 
 
 def test_from_features_basic(catalog):
-    ds = DataChain.create_empty(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
+    ds = DataChain.from_records(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
     ds = ds.gen(lambda prm: [File(name="")] * 5, params="parent", output={"file": File})
 
     ds_name = "my_ds"
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def test_from_features_basic(catalog):
 
 
 def test_from_features(catalog):
-    ds = DataChain.create_empty(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
+    ds = DataChain.from_records(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
     ds = ds.gen(
         lambda prm: list(zip([File(name="")] * len(features), features)),
         params="parent",
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def test_datasets(catalog):
 
 
 def test_preserve_feature_schema(catalog):
-    ds = DataChain.create_empty(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
+    ds = DataChain.from_records(DataChain.DEFAULT_FILE_RECORD)
     ds = ds.gen(
         lambda prm: list(zip([File(name="")] * len(features), features, features)),
         params="parent",