Add parameter autostart to Dispatcher() service

Signed-off-by: Mathias L. Baumann <[email protected]>

Author: Marenz

RELEASE_NOTES.md

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ This release introduces a more flexible and powerful mechanism for managing disp
 
 ## Upgrading
 
+* `Dispatcher.__init__` has a new optional parameter `autostart`, which defaults to `True`. If set to `False`, the dispatcher will not start automatically.
 * `Dispatcher.start` is no longer `async`. Remove `await` when calling it.
 * Two properties have been replaced by methods that require a type as parameter.
     * `Dispatcher.lifecycle_events` has been replaced by the method `Dispatcher.new_lifecycle_events_receiver(self, dispatch_type: str)`.

src/frequenz/dispatch/_dispatcher.py

@@ -176,13 +176,15 @@ def __init__(
         microgrid_id: int,
         server_url: str,
         key: str,
+        autostart: bool = True,
     ):
         """Initialize the dispatcher.
 
         Args:
             microgrid_id: The microgrid id.
             server_url: The URL of the dispatch service.
             key: The key to access the service.
+            autostart: Whether to start the dispatcher service immediately.
         """
         super().__init__()
 
@@ -195,6 +197,9 @@ def __init__(
         self._empty_event = Event()
         self._empty_event.set()
 
+        if autostart:
+            self.start()
+
     @override
     def start(self) -> None:
         """Start the local dispatch service."""