microsoft/qlib · error · TypeError

update expected at most 1 arguments, got {len(args)}

Error message

update expected at most 1 arguments, got {len(args)}

What it means

Raised by FileInstrumentStorage.update (qlib/data/storage/file_storage.py), which mirrors dict.update semantics: it accepts at most one positional argument (plus keyword updates). Passing two or more positional args (update(d1, d2)) exceeds the supported signature and raises TypeError, matching dict.update's own 'expected at most 1 argument' behavior.

Source

Thrown at qlib/data/storage/file_storage.py:263

    def __setitem__(self, k: InstKT, v: InstVT) -> None:
        inst = self._read_instrument()
        inst[k] = v
        self._write_instrument(inst)

    def __delitem__(self, k: InstKT) -> None:
        self.check()
        inst = self._read_instrument()
        del inst[k]
        self._write_instrument(inst)

    def __getitem__(self, k: InstKT) -> InstVT:
        self.check()
        return self._read_instrument()[k]

    def update(self, *args, **kwargs) -> None:
        if len(args) > 1:
            raise TypeError(f"update expected at most 1 arguments, got {len(args)}")
        inst = self._read_instrument()
        if args:
            other = args[0]  # type: dict
            if isinstance(other, Mapping):
                for key in other:
                    inst[key] = other[key]
            elif hasattr(other, "keys"):
                for key in other.keys():
                    inst[key] = other[key]
            else:
                for key, value in other:
                    inst[key] = value
        for key, value in kwargs.items():
            inst[key] = value

        self._write_instrument(inst)

    def __len__(self) -> int:

View on GitHub (pinned to 79633dd950)

Solutions

1. Call update once per mapping: update(a); update(b), or pre-merge with {**a, **b} and pass one dict.
2. Use keyword form where appropriate: update(SH600000=(start, end)).
3. Audit wrapper code that forwards *args into update and pass a single dict positionally.

Example fix

# before
inst_storage.update(dict_a, dict_b)  # TypeError

# after
inst_storage.update({**dict_a, **dict_b})
# or
inst_storage.update(dict_a)
inst_storage.update(dict_b)

if len(args) > 1:
    merged = {}
    for d in args:
        merged.update(d)
    args = (merged,)

When it happens

Trigger: Calling instruments_storage.update(other_dict, another_dict); delegating to update(*args) from wrapper code that forwards multiple positional dicts; porting code that assumed a merge(expected, actual) style signature.

Common situations: Generic dict-like wrapper code forwarding *args into update; scripts that merged multiple instrument files by calling update(a, b) in one call.

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AI-assisted analysis of microsoft/qlib@79633dd950 (2026-08-15). Data as JSON: /api/errors/b61423c42402440b. Report an issue: GitHub.