ibis-framework
The portable Python dataframe library
Decision gist · record as of 2026-08-14
Yes. Ibis is actively maintained, production-stable, has no known vulnerabilities, and solves a real problem: backend portability. The low install friction and permissive Apache-2.0 license make it a safe choice. Install it if you work with multiple data backends or want to avoid vendor lock-in; skip it if you're committed to a single backend and don't need portability.AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page — verify before relying
Before you install
- Requires Python 3.10 or later.
- Optional backend packages must be installed separately for non-default execution.
- Low friction: pure Python wheel with 7 lightweight runtime dependencies.
License · maintenance · safety
Apache-2.0 (permissive) — Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial use, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects.
last release 2026-02-07 (188 days) · last repo commit 2026-08-14 · 6,624 stars
0 known vulnerabilities (OSV.dev, 2026-08-14) · 3,248,910 downloads/mo, #2,685 on PyPI
Alternatives
Verify before relying
pip install 'ibis-framework[duckdb]'
import ibis
ibis.options.interactive = True
t = ibis.examples.penguins.fetch()
result = t.group_by('species').agg(count=t.count())- Performance characteristics and query optimization strategies compared to direct backend usage.
- Completeness of SQL feature coverage across all supported backends.
- Memory overhead of lazy expression compilation and deferred execution.
What it is and what it does
Ibis provides a unified Python API for dataframe operations that compiles to SQL or native backend code, letting you write once and run against multiple execution engines. The library supports both interactive mode for exploration and lazy evaluation for performance, and lets you mix Python and SQL code seamlessly. You can iterate locally, then deploy the same code against different backends by changing a single line.
Runtime dependencies are minimal—parsy, sqlglot, toolz, python-dateutil, typing-extensions, tzdata, and atpublic—and the package itself is pure Python with no compiled dependencies. The library has been actively maintained since its first release in 2015.
Use it for
- Develop data pipelines locally, then deploy to different backends without rewriting logic.
- Build exploratory data analysis notebooks that work across multiple backends without backend-specific code.
- Compose complex SQL queries programmatically using Python expressions instead of string concatenation.
- Migrate data workloads between backends by changing backend configuration.
- Mix SQL subqueries with Python dataframe operations for hybrid workflows.
Worth the install?
AI-flagged interpretation of the facts on this page. Verify before relying on it.
Yes.
Ibis is actively maintained, production-stable, has no known vulnerabilities, and solves a real problem: backend portability. The low install friction and permissive Apache-2.0 license make it a safe choice. Install it if you work with multiple data backends or want to avoid vendor lock-in; skip it if you're committed to a single backend and don't need portability.
Install
ibis-framework on PyPI
Before you install
Low friction: pure Python wheel with 7 lightweight runtime dependencies. Actively maintained with recent commits and 6624 GitHub stars. Requires Python 3.10 or later.
Requires Python 3.10 or later. Optional backend packages must be installed separately for non-default execution.
License in practice
Apache-2.0 permissive license allows commercial use, modification, and redistribution with minimal restrictions—suitable for most projects.
Quickstart
pip install 'ibis-framework[duckdb]'
import ibis
ibis.options.interactive = True
t = ibis.examples.penguins.fetch()
result = t.group_by('species').agg(count=t.count())Verify before relying
- Performance characteristics and query optimization strategies compared to direct backend usage.
- Completeness of SQL feature coverage across all supported backends.
- Memory overhead of lazy expression compilation and deferred execution.
Package facts
| License | Apache-2.0 permissive |
| Python support | Supports the current Python release >=3.10 |
| Install friction | Low. Pure-Python wheel |
| Runtime dependencies | 7 packagesatpublicparsypython-dateutilsqlglottoolztyping-extensionstzdata |
| Maintenance | Actively maintained 188 days since the last release |
| Last repo commit | |
| First released | |
| Downloads | 3,248,910 / month, #2,685 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/StableIntended Audience :: DevelopersIntended Audience :: Science/ResearchLicense :: OSI Approved :: Apache Software LicenseOperating System :: OS IndependentProgramming Language :: PythonProgramming Language :: Python :: 3Programming Language :: Python :: 3 :: OnlyProgramming Language :: SQLTopic :: Database :: Front-EndsTopic :: Scientific/EngineeringTopic :: Software Development :: Code GeneratorsTopic :: Software Development :: User Interfaces |
Evidence: ibis_framework-12.0.0-py3-none-any.whl
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