chdb-core
chDB is an in-process OLAP SQL Engine powered by ClickHouse
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes, if you need serverless SQL analytics in Python. chdb-core is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers genuine value for data exploration and batch processing. Install friction is moderate due to compiled bindings, but pre-built wheels for common platforms mitigate this. The Apache-2.0 license is permissive. Consider it a strong fit for embedded analytics; if you need a higher-level pandas-like API, install the chDB package instead.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.9+ on Linux (x86_64 or ARM64) or macOS; no Windows support.
- Medium install friction due to compiled C++ bindings (wheels provided for Python 3.9+ on Linux and macOS x86_64/ARM64).
- Package is actively maintained with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute chdb-core freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
last release 2026-08-12 (2 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-12 · 2,868 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 217,468 downloads/mo, #9,357 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install chdb-core
import chdb
result = chdb.query("SELECT 1, 'hello'")
print(result)
# Query a Parquet file
df = chdb.query('SELECT * FROM file("data.parquet", Parquet)', "DataFrame")- Whether chdb-core's performance characteristics and query optimization strategies match your workload requirements.
- Compatibility and integration patterns with existing pandas and pyarrow workflows in your codebase.
- Memory overhead and scalability limits for large datasets in in-process execution.
What it is and what it does
chdb-core is the foundational C++ engine of the chDB ecosystem, bringing ClickHouse's OLAP capabilities into Python as an embedded library. It executes SQL queries directly in your process without running a separate database server, making it suitable for analytics, data exploration, and batch processing workflows. The package supports stateless one-shot queries, stateful sessions with connection management, streaming for constant-memory processing, and Python DB-API 2.0 compliance.
It depends on pandas and pyarrow for data interchange and integrates with multiple formats—Parquet, CSV, JSON, Arrow, ORC, and 60+ others—allowing you to query files or in-memory data structures directly. The engine minimizes data copying between C++ and Python using memory views, and provides features like parameterized queries, user-defined functions, and query statistics. Wheels are pre-built for Python 3.9+ on Linux and macOS (both x86_64 and ARM64), reducing compile-time friction.
Use it for
- Query Parquet, CSV, or JSON files directly with SQL without loading them into a DataFrame first.
- Join and aggregate multiple pandas DataFrames using SQL syntax within a Python script.
- Stream large datasets through a query in chunks to maintain constant memory usage.
- Run parameterized SQL queries with variable substitution for dynamic analytics.
- Build analytics pipelines that need fast OLAP-style aggregations without external database infrastructure.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes, if you need serverless SQL analytics in Python.
chdb-core is actively maintained, has no known vulnerabilities, and offers genuine value for data exploration and batch processing. Install friction is moderate due to compiled bindings, but pre-built wheels for common platforms mitigate this. The Apache-2.0 license is permissive. Consider it a strong fit for embedded analytics; if you need a higher-level pandas-like API, install the chDB package instead.
Install
chdb-core on PyPI
Before you install
Medium install friction due to compiled C++ bindings (wheels provided for Python 3.9+ on Linux and macOS x86_64/ARM64). Package is actively maintained with recent releases and no known vulnerabilities.
Requires Python 3.9+ on Linux (x86_64 or ARM64) or macOS; no Windows support.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 is permissive; you can use, modify, and distribute chdb-core freely in commercial and private projects with minimal restrictions.
Quickstart
pip install chdb-core
import chdb
result = chdb.query("SELECT 1, 'hello'")
print(result)
# Query a Parquet file
df = chdb.query('SELECT * FROM file("data.parquet", Parquet)', "DataFrame")Verify before relying
- Whether chdb-core's performance characteristics and query optimization strategies match your workload requirements.
- Compatibility and integration patterns with existing pandas and pyarrow workflows in your codebase.
- Memory overhead and scalability limits for large datasets in in-process execution.
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.9 |
| Install friction | Medium. Platform-specific wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 2 packagespandaspyarrow |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 2 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 217,468 / month, #9,357 on PyPI 30-day window, as of 2026-08-14 |
| Known vulnerabilities | None known OSV.dev, checked 2026-08-14 |
| Classifiers | Development Status :: 5 - Production/StableEnvironment :: PluginsIntended Audience :: DevelopersLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: MacOS :: MacOS XOperating System :: POSIX :: LinuxProgramming Language :: C++Programming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3.10Programming Language :: Python :: 3.11Programming Language :: Python :: 3.12Programming Language :: Python :: 3.13Programming Language :: Python :: 3.14Programming Language :: Python :: 3.9Topic :: DatabaseTopic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software Development :: Libraries |
Evidence: chdb_core-26.7.0-cp39-abi3-macosx_10_15_x86_64.whl; chdb_core-26.7.0-cp39-abi3-macosx_11_0_arm64.whl; chdb_core-26.7.0-cp39-abi3-manylinux2014_aarch64.manylinux_2_17_aarch64.whl; chdb_core-26.7.0-cp39-abi3-manylinux2014_x86_64.manylinux_2_17_x86_64.whl
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See also chdb · duckdb · mcp-clickhouse · clickhouse-connect · clickhouse-driver · clickhouse-migrations · dbt-duckdb · airflow-clickhouse-plugin · ibis-framework · kylinpy