Add cell builder utility functions

.github/workflows/ci.yml

@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         python -m pip install --upgrade pip
         pip install -r requirements-dev.txt
-        pip install pytest
         pip install .
 
     - name: List packages so far
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@ jobs:
 
     - name: Run tests
       run: |
-        pytest --cov=pyneuroml .
         pynml -h
 
         ./test-ghactions.sh -neuron

.travis.yml

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ install:
     #- pip install git+https://github.com/NeuralEnsemble/pyelectro.git
 
     - pip install --upgrade pip
-    - pip install flake8
+    - pip install flake8 pytest
     - pip install .
 
 script:

docs/source/pyneuroml.rst

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ Subpackages
    pyneuroml.swc
    pyneuroml.tune
    pyneuroml.neuron
+   pyneuroml.utils
 
 
 pyneuroml.pynml module

docs/source/pyneuroml.utils.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+pyneuroml.utils package
+==========================
+
+.. automodule:: pyneuroml.utils
+   :members:
+   :undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+
+pyneuroml.utils.CellBuilder module
+---------------------------------------------
+
+.. automodule:: pyneuroml.utils.CellBuilder
+   :members:
+   :undoc-members:
+   :show-inheritance:
+

pyneuroml/pynml.py

@@ -10,7 +10,6 @@
 """
 
 from __future__ import absolute_import
-from __future__ import print_function
 from __future__ import unicode_literals
 
 # py3.7, 3.8 require this to use standard collections as generics
@@ -1094,7 +1093,7 @@ def write_neuroml2_file(
     writers.NeuroMLWriter.write(nml2_doc, nml2_file_name)
 
     if validate:
-        validate_neuroml2(nml2_file_name, verbose_validate)
+        return validate_neuroml2(nml2_file_name, verbose_validate)
 
 
 def read_lems_file(