Validation Step for Epoch Clarified

[dulayjm]

🚀 Feature

This simple change would add the num_validation_sanity_steps flag to also include fullEpoch in addition to the synonymous -1 flag, to add clarity to the end-user.

Motivation

I grew frustrated with trying to find a way to easily run an entire validation epoch before using training loops in pytorch-lightning. After finding this parameter (#2246), I still did not like how the -1 flag works. This also confused a colleague of mine, so I decided to submit this change as a means to add clarity to the end-user.

Pitch

Allow -1 and fullEpoch flags to run the validation sanity step on an entire batch prior to training

Alternatives

Additional context

Pull Request

#3166

[github-actions]

Hi! thanks for your contribution!, great first issue!

[Borda]

Thx for your PR 👍

[stale]

This issue has been automatically marked as stale because it hasn't had any recent activity. This issue will be closed in 7 days if no further activity occurs. Thank you for your contributions, Pytorch Lightning Team!