When not using -a option with sphinx-build, it will still modify all the html file.

[revati-naik]

Describe the bug

When I use sphinx without the -a option, it will sill modify all the .html files in the output directory.

How to Reproduce

Run the sphinx-build command without the -a option. Verify the output files written to the output directory.

Environment Information

Using sphinx version from this commit (https://github.com/sphinx-doc/sphinx/commit/ba7408209e84ee413f240afc20f3c6b484a81f8f)

Sphinx extensions

No response

Additional context

No response

[picnixz]

All files that are changed will be written again. The way that files are decided to be rebuilt is according to whether there are dependencies or not that are involved.

[revati-naik]

All files that are changed will be written again. The way that files are decided to be rebuilt is according to whether there are dependencies or not that are involved.

Thanks for the reply. Another follow-up question is how it knows about the changed files. If I am running this in a new environment every time, then I believe there will be no reference for it to compare and get the changed files.

[picnixz]

I've explained a bit on how changed files are detected in #11556 (comment).

If I am running this in a new environment every time, then I believe there will be no reference for it to compare and get the changed files

I don't understand your point. If you are in a new environment, then it's as if you're building for the very first time so it's correct to assume that you will rewrite everything.

[picnixz]

Closing as the initial issue is no more an issue. For questions, please ask them on Stackoverflow (this repository is only for core development).