Improve docstrings for sphinx.

1 files changed, 32 insertions, 22 deletions

diff --git a/thread_utils.py b/thread_utils.py
index 5903782..c4a2937 100644
--- a/thread_utils.py
+++ b/thread_utils.py
@@ -17,10 +17,12 @@ logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 def current_thread_id() -> str:
-    """Returns a string composed of the parent process' id, the current
-    process' id and the current thread identifier.  The former two are
-    numbers (pids) whereas the latter is a thread id passed during thread
-    creation time.
+    """
+    Returns:
+        a string composed of the parent process' id, the current
+        process' id and the current thread identifier.  The former two are
+        numbers (pids) whereas the latter is a thread id passed during thread
+        creation time.
 
     >>> ret = current_thread_id()
     >>> (ppid, pid, tid) = ret.split('/')
@@ -37,8 +39,10 @@ def current_thread_id() -> str:
 
 
 def is_current_thread_main_thread() -> bool:
-    """Returns True is the current (calling) thread is the process' main
-    thread and False otherwise.
+    """
+    Returns:
+        True is the current (calling) thread is the process' main
+        thread and False otherwise.
 
     >>> is_current_thread_main_thread()
     True
@@ -68,10 +72,6 @@ def background_thread(
 ) -> Callable[..., Tuple[threading.Thread, threading.Event]]:
     """A function decorator to create a background thread.
 
-    *** Please note: the decorated function must take an shutdown ***
-    *** event as an input parameter and should periodically check ***
-    *** it and stop if the event is set.                          ***
-
     Usage::
 
         @background_thread
@@ -89,10 +89,12 @@ def background_thread(
             event.set()
             thread.join()
 
-    Note: in addition to any other arguments the function has, it must
-    take a stop_event as the last unnamed argument which it should
-    periodically check.  If the event is set, it means the thread has
-    been requested to terminate ASAP.
+    .. warning::
+
+        In addition to any other arguments the function has, it must
+        take a stop_event as the last unnamed argument which it should
+        periodically check.  If the event is set, it means the thread has
+        been requested to terminate ASAP.
     """
 
     def wrapper(funct: Callable):
@@ -123,14 +125,23 @@ def periodically_invoke(
     stop_after: Optional[int],
 ):
     """
-    Periodically invoke a decorated function.  Stop after N invocations
-    (or, if stop_after is None, call forever).  Delay period_sec between
-    invocations.
+    Periodically invoke the decorated function.
+
+    Args:
+        period_sec: the delay period in seconds between invocations
+        stop_after: total number of invocations to make or, if None,
+            call forever
 
-    Returns a Thread object and an Event that, when signaled, will stop
-    the invocations.  Note that it is possible to be invoked one time
-    after the Event is set.  This event can be used to stop infinite
-    invocation style or finite invocation style decorations.::
+    Returns:
+        a :class:Thread object and an :class:Event that, when
+        signaled, will stop the invocations.
+
+    .. note::
+        It is possible to be invoked one time after the :class:Event
+        is set.  This event can be used to stop infinite
+        invocation style or finite invocation style decorations.
+
+    Usage::
 
         @periodically_invoke(period_sec=0.5, stop_after=None)
         def there(name: str, age: int) -> None:
@@ -139,7 +150,6 @@ def periodically_invoke(
         @periodically_invoke(period_sec=1.0, stop_after=3)
         def hello(name: str) -> None:
             print(f"Hello, {name}")
-
     """
 
     def decorator_repeat(func):