Add NullableReceiver for handling unset receivers

Add a new NullableReceiver class that wraps an optional underlying receiver,
allowing for indefinite waiting when no receiver is set. This eliminates the
need for explicit if-else branches to check if receiver is None.

Signed-off-by: Elzbieta Kotulska <[email protected]>

Author: ela-kotulska-frequenz

RELEASE_NOTES.md

@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 
 ## New Features
 
-<!-- Here goes the main new features and examples or instructions on how to use them -->
+* Add a new `NullableReceiver` class that wraps an optional underlying receiver, allowing for indefinite waiting when no receiver is set.
 
 ## Bug Fixes
 

src/frequenz/channels/experimental/__init__.py

@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
     removal, even in minor updates.
 """
 
+from ._nullable_receiver import NullableReceiver
 from ._pipe import Pipe
 from ._relay_sender import RelaySender
 from ._with_previous import WithPrevious
 
 __all__ = [
+    "NullableReceiver",
     "WithPrevious",
     "Pipe",
     "RelaySender",

src/frequenz/channels/experimental/_nullable_receiver.py

@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+# License: MIT
+# Copyright © 2025 Frequenz Energy-as-a-Service GmbH
+
+"""A receiver that will wait indefinitely if there is no underlying receiver.
+
+The `NullableReceiver` is useful when the underlying receiver is not set initially.
+Instead of making `if-else` branches to check if the receiver is set, you can use
+this receiver to wait indefinitely if it is not set.
+"""
+
+import asyncio
+from typing import override
+
+from frequenz.channels import Receiver, ReceiverError, ReceiverMessageT_co
+
+
+class NullableReceiver(Receiver[ReceiverMessageT_co]):
+    """A receiver that will wait indefinitely if there is no underlying receiver.
+
+    This receiver is useful when the underlying receiver is not set initially.
+    Instead of making `if-else` branches to check if the receiver is set, you can use
+    this receiver to wait indefinitely if it is not set.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, receiver: Receiver[ReceiverMessageT_co] | None):
+        """Initialize this instance.
+
+        Args:
+            receiver: The underlying receiver, or `None` if there is no receiver.
+        """
+        self._receiver: Receiver[ReceiverMessageT_co] | None = receiver
+
+    @override
+    async def ready(self) -> bool:
+        """Wait until the receiver is ready with a message or an error.
+
+        Once a call to `ready()` has finished, the message should be read with
+        a call to `consume()` (`receive()` or iterated over). The receiver will
+        remain ready (this method will return immediately) until it is
+        consumed.
+
+        Returns:
+            Whether the receiver is still active.
+        """
+        if self._receiver is not None:
+            return await self._receiver.ready()
+
+        # If there's no receiver, wait forever
+        await asyncio.Event().wait()
+        return False
+
+    @override
+    def consume(self) -> ReceiverMessageT_co:  # noqa: DOC503 (raised indirectly)
+        """Return the latest from the underlying receiver message once `ready()` is complete.
+
+        `ready()` must be called before each call to `consume()`.
+
+        Returns:
+            The next message received.
+
+        Raises:
+            ReceiverStoppedError: If the receiver stopped producing messages.
+            ReceiverError: If there is some problem with the underlying receiver.
+        """
+        if self._receiver is None:
+            raise ReceiverError(
+                "`consume()` must be preceded by a call to `ready()`", self
+            )
+        return self._receiver.consume()
+
+    def close(self) -> None:
+        """Stop the receiver."""
+        if self._receiver is not None:
+            self._receiver.close()

tests/experimental/test_nullable_receiver.py

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# License: MIT
+# Copyright © 2025 Frequenz Energy-as-a-Service GmbH
+
+"""Tests for the NullableReceiver class."""
+
+import asyncio
+from contextlib import aclosing, closing
+
+import pytest
+
+from frequenz.channels import Broadcast, ReceiverError, ReceiverStoppedError
+from frequenz.channels.experimental import NullableReceiver
+
+
+async def test_receiver_with_none_does_not_end() -> None:
+    """Test that the receiver with None does not end."""
+    with closing(NullableReceiver[int](None)) as receiver:
+        with pytest.raises(TimeoutError):
+            await asyncio.wait_for(receiver.ready(), timeout=0.3)
+
+
+async def test_receiver_with_none_raises_error_when_consuming() -> None:
+    """Test that the receiver with None raises an error when consuming."""
+    with closing(NullableReceiver[int](None)) as receiver:
+        with pytest.raises(ReceiverError):
+            receiver.consume()
+
+
+async def test_receiver_with_underlying_receiver_forwards_messages() -> None:
+    """Test that the receiver forwards messages."""
+    async with aclosing(Broadcast[int](name="test")) as channel:
+        with closing(NullableReceiver[int](channel.new_receiver())) as receiver:
+            sender = channel.new_sender()
+
+            await sender.send(5)
+            value = await asyncio.wait_for(receiver.receive(), timeout=0.1)
+            assert value == 5
+
+            await sender.send(100)
+            value = await asyncio.wait_for(receiver.receive(), timeout=0.1)
+            assert value == 100
+
+
+async def test_receiver_ends_when_underlying_receiver_ends() -> None:
+    """Test that the receiver ends when the underlying receiver ends."""
+    async with aclosing(Broadcast[int](name="test")) as channel:
+        with (
+            closing(channel.new_receiver()) as receiver,
+            closing(NullableReceiver[int](receiver)) as nullable_receiver,
+        ):
+            receiver.close()
+            # First check if ready method returns False
+            is_active = await nullable_receiver.ready()
+            assert is_active is False
+
+            # Then check if `receive` method raises ReceiverStoppedError
+            with pytest.raises(ReceiverStoppedError):
+                await nullable_receiver.receive()