[Bug]: Error handling in nwb.py masks true error

[rly]

What happened?

NWBZarrIO is wrapped in a giant try/except that masks exceptions: https://github.com/hdmf-dev/hdmf-zarr/blob/dev/src/hdmf_zarr/nwb.py#L12

pynwb 2.8.2 is not compatible with the dev version of HDMF. When using pynwb < 2.8.3 (just released) with the dev version of HDMF (which will soon be released), and trying to import NWBZarrIO, you get:

ImportError while importing test module '/home/runner/work/hdmf-zarr/hdmf-zarr/tests/unit/test_fsspec_streaming.py'.
Hint: make sure your test modules/packages have valid Python names.
Traceback:
/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.13.0/x64/lib/python3.13/importlib/__init__.py:88: in import_module
    return _bootstrap._gcd_import(name[level:], package, level)
tests/unit/test_fsspec_streaming.py:2: in <module>
    from hdmf_zarr import NWBZarrIO
/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.13.0/x64/lib/python3.13/site-packages/hdmf_zarr/__init__.py:3: in <module>
    from .nwb import NWBZarrIO
E   ImportError: cannot import name 'NWBZarrIO' from 'hdmf_zarr.nwb' (/opt/hostedtoolcache/Python/3.13.0/x64/lib/python3.13/site-packages/hdmf_zarr/nwb.py)

The warning doesn't even show up for some reason, and the error hides the true error.

This shows up in the HDMF dev compatibility tests currently, until the pynwb requirement in hdmf-zarr is updated to 2.8.3.

The error should be more informative, and the import should perhaps be refactored.

Steps to Reproduce

from .nwb import NWBZarrIO

Traceback

See above

Operating System

macOS

Python Executable

Conda

Python Version

3.12

Package Versions

No response

Code of Conduct

• I agree to follow this project's Code of Conduct
• Have you checked the Contributing document?
• Have you ensured this bug was not already reported?

[rly]

I propose something like:

def _raise_pynwb_import_error():
    raise ImportError("pynwb is not installed. Please install pynwb to use NWBZarrIO.")

try:
    from pynwb import ...

    class NWBZarrIO(ZarrIO):
        # copy here
        pass

except ImportError:
    NWBZarrIO = _raise_pynwb_import_error

Related: NeurodataWithoutBorders/pynwb#1977

[rly]

pynwb is currently a requirement of hdmf-zarr so this try/except is not even needed