Question - Origins of the Name "papermill"

[5h4un]

I've searched around the docs and can't seem to find anything about how this project was named "papermill." Is it a play on how you create a lot of "notebooks" so you need a papermill to create all the paper? Was this created for an actual papermill's production processes? I'm not sure so if anyone could help out, please let me know! TIA! Me below:

[MSeal]

@rgbkrk Has the clearest knowledge of the origin story, but it's a play on needing a papermill to create all the paper for your notebooks.

Also great meme use :)

[5h4un]

I think that answers my question! Thanks @MSeal!

[rgbkrk]

Our original intent with papermill was primarily focused on the parametrization cases. Since this tool was creating many notebooks in automation, we thought a mill name was appropriate. For the classic definition, check out papermill on wikipedia.

As @mpacer pointed out to us ~2 years ago (?), after we had the name + logo, there's also the negative connotation within academia referred to as an essay mill or a papermill in which students pay for essays, requesting a particular topic as well as essay length and other parameters. Just like papermill, it's parameters in, paper out. All tools can be used for good and evil, we hope our users tend on the side of good. 😄