pixeltable 0.1.0__py3-none-any.whl → 0.2.4__py3-none-any.whl

pixeltable/dataframe.py

@@ -1,24 +1,35 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
 import base64
+import copy
+import hashlib
 import io
-import os
-from typing import List, Optional, Any, Dict, Generator, Tuple, Set
+import json
+import logging
+import mimetypes
+import traceback
 from pathlib import Path
-from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from typing import List, Optional, Any, Dict, Generator, Tuple, Set
+
 import pandas as pd
+import pandas.io.formats.style
 import sqlalchemy as sql
 from PIL import Image
-import copy
 
-from pixeltable import catalog
+import pixeltable.catalog as catalog
+import pixeltable.exceptions as excs
+import pixeltable.exprs as exprs
+import pixeltable.type_system as ts
+from pixeltable.catalog import is_valid_identifier
 from pixeltable.env import Env
+from pixeltable.plan import Planner
 from pixeltable.type_system import ColumnType
-from pixeltable import exprs
-from pixeltable import exceptions as exc
 
 __all__ = [
     'DataFrame'
 ]
 
+_logger = logging.getLogger('pixeltable')
 
 def _format_img(img: object) -> str:
     """
@@ -28,360 +39,479 @@ def _format_img(img: object) -> str:
     with io.BytesIO() as buffer:
         img.save(buffer, 'jpeg')
         img_base64 = base64.b64encode(buffer.getvalue()).decode()
-        return f'<img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,{img_base64}">'
-
-def _format_video(video_file_path: str) -> str:
-    # turn absolute video_file_path into relative path, absolute paths don't work
-    p = Path(video_file_path)
-    root = Path(os.getcwd())
-    #print(root)
-    #return f'<video controls><source src="{video_file_path}" type="video/mp4"></video>'
-    try:
-        rel_path = p.relative_to(root)
-        return f'<video controls><source src="{rel_path}" type="video/mp4"></video>'
-    except ValueError:
-        # display path as string
-        return video_file_path
+        return f'<div style="width:200px;"><img src="data:image/jpeg;base64,{img_base64}" width="200" /></div>'
+
+def _create_source_tag(file_path: str) -> str:
+    abs_path = Path(file_path)
+    assert abs_path.is_absolute()
+    src_url = f'{Env.get().http_address}/{abs_path}'
+    mime = mimetypes.guess_type(src_url)[0]
+    # if mime is None, the attribute string would not be valid html.
+    mime_attr = f'type="{mime}"' if mime is not None else ''
+    return f'<source src="{src_url}" {mime_attr} />'
+
+def _format_video(file_path: str) -> str:
+    return f'<video controls>{_create_source_tag(file_path)}</video>'
+
+def _format_audio(file_path: str) -> str:
+    return f'<audio controls>{_create_source_tag(file_path)}</audio>'
 
 class DataFrameResultSet:
-    def __init__(self, rows: List[List], col_names: List[str], col_types: List[ColumnType]):
-        self.rows = rows
-        self.col_names = col_names
-        self.col_types = col_types
+    def __init__(self, rows: List[List[Any]], col_names: List[str], col_types: List[ColumnType]):
+        self._rows = rows
+        self._col_names = col_names
+        self._col_types = col_types
+        self._formatters = {
+            ts.ImageType: _format_img,
+            ts.VideoType: _format_video,
+            ts.AudioType: _format_audio,
+        }
 
     def __len__(self) -> int:
-        return len(self.rows)
+        return len(self._rows)
+
+    def column_names(self) -> List[str]:
+        return self._col_names
+
+    def column_types(self) -> List[ColumnType]:
+        return self._col_types
+
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return self.to_pandas().__repr__()
 
     def _repr_html_(self) -> str:
-        img_col_idxs = [i for i, col_type in enumerate(self.col_types) if col_type.is_image_type()]
-        video_col_idxs = [i for i, col_type in enumerate(self.col_types) if col_type.is_video_type()]
-        formatters = {self.col_names[i]: _format_img for i in img_col_idxs}
-        formatters.update({self.col_names[i]: _format_video for i in video_col_idxs})
-        # escape=False: make sure <img> tags stay intact
+        formatters = {
+            col_name: self._formatters[col_type.__class__]
+            for col_name, col_type in zip(self._col_names, self._col_types)
+            if col_type.__class__ in self._formatters
+        }
+
         # TODO: why does mypy complain about formatters having an incorrect type?
         return self.to_pandas().to_html(formatters=formatters, escape=False, index=False)  # type: ignore[arg-type]
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         return self.to_pandas().to_string()
 
-    def to_pandas(self) -> pd.DataFrame:
-        return pd.DataFrame.from_records(self.rows, columns=self.col_names)
+    def _reverse(self) -> None:
+        """Reverse order of rows"""
+        self._rows.reverse()
 
-    def __getitem__(self, index: Any) -> Any:
-        if isinstance(index, tuple):
-            if len(index) != 2 or not isinstance(index[0], int) or not isinstance(index[1], int):
-                raise exc.OperationalError(f'Bad index: {index}')
-            return self.rows[index[0]][index[1]]
+    def to_pandas(self) -> pd.DataFrame:
+        return pd.DataFrame.from_records(self._rows, columns=self._col_names)
 
+    def _row_to_dict(self, row_idx: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {self._col_names[i]: self._rows[row_idx][i] for i in range(len(self._col_names))}
 
+    def __getitem__(self, index: Any) -> Any:
+        if isinstance(index, str):
+            if index not in self._col_names:
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid column name: {index}')
+            col_idx = self._col_names.index(index)
+            return [row[col_idx] for row in self._rows]
+        if isinstance(index, int):
+            return self._row_to_dict(index)
+        if isinstance(index, tuple) and len(index) == 2:
+            if not isinstance(index[0], int) or not (isinstance(index[1], str) or isinstance(index[1], int)):
+                raise excs.Error(f'Bad index, expected [<row idx>, <column name | column index>]: {index}')
+            if isinstance(index[1], str) and index[1] not in self._col_names:
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid column name: {index[1]}')
+            col_idx = self._col_names.index(index[1]) if isinstance(index[1], str) else index[1]
+            return self._rows[index[0]][col_idx]
+        raise excs.Error(f'Bad index: {index}')
+
+    def __iter__(self) -> DataFrameResultSetIterator:
+        return DataFrameResultSetIterator(self)
+
+    def __eq__(self, other):
+        if not isinstance(other, DataFrameResultSet):
+            return False
+        return self.to_pandas().equals(other.to_pandas())
+
+
+class DataFrameResultSetIterator:
+    def __init__(self, result_set: DataFrameResultSet):
+        self._result_set = result_set
+        self._idx = 0
+
+    def __next__(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        if self._idx >= len(self._result_set):
+            raise StopIteration
+        row = self._result_set._row_to_dict(self._idx)
+        self._idx += 1
+        return row
+
+
+# TODO: remove this; it's only here as a reminder that we still need to call release() in the current implementation
 class AnalysisInfo:
-    def __init__(self):
+    def __init__(self, tbl: catalog.TableVersion):
+        self.tbl = tbl
         # output of the SQL scan stage
         self.sql_scan_output_exprs: List[exprs.Expr] = []
         # output of the agg stage
         self.agg_output_exprs: List[exprs.Expr] = []
-        # select list providing the input to the SQL scan stage
-        self.sql_select_list: List[sql.sql.expression.ClauseElement] = []
         # Where clause of the Select stmt of the SQL scan stage
-        self.sql_where_clause: Optional[sql.sql.expression.ClauseElement] = None
+        self.sql_where_clause: Optional[sql.ClauseElement] = None
         # filter predicate applied to input rows of the SQL scan stage
         self.filter: Optional[exprs.Predicate] = None
         self.similarity_clause: Optional[exprs.ImageSimilarityPredicate] = None
         self.agg_fn_calls: List[exprs.FunctionCall] = []  # derived from unique_exprs
+        self.has_frame_col: bool = False  # True if we're referencing the frame col
 
-        self.unique_exprs = exprs.UniqueExprSet()
-        self.next_data_row_idx = 0
+        self.evaluator: Optional[exprs.Evaluator] = None
+        self.sql_scan_eval_ctx: List[exprs.Expr] = []  # needed to materialize output of SQL scan stage
+        self.agg_eval_ctx: List[exprs.Expr] = []  # needed to materialize output of agg stage
+        self.filter_eval_ctx: List[exprs.Expr] = []
+        self.group_by_eval_ctx: List[exprs.Expr] = []
 
-    @property
-    def num_materialized(self) -> int:
-        return self.next_data_row_idx
-
-    def assign_idxs(self, expr_list: List[exprs.Expr]) -> None:
+    def finalize_exec(self) -> None:
         """
-        Assign data/sql_row_idx to exprs in expr_list and all their subcomponents.
-        An expr with to_sql() != None is assumed to be materialized fully via SQL; its components
-        aren't materialized and don't receive idxs.
+        Call release() on all collected Exprs.
         """
-        for e in expr_list:
-            self._assign_idxs_aux(e)
-        self.agg_fn_calls = [e for e in self.unique_exprs if isinstance(e, exprs.FunctionCall) and e.is_agg_fn_call]
-
-    def _assign_idxs_aux(self, expr: exprs.Expr) -> None:
-        if not self.unique_exprs.add(expr):
-            # nothing left to do
-            return
-
-        sql_expr = expr.sql_expr()
-        # if this can be materialized via SQL we don't need to look at its components;
-        # we special-case Literals because we don't want to have to materialize them via SQL
-        if sql_expr is not None and not isinstance(expr, exprs.Literal):
-            assert expr.data_row_idx < 0
-            expr.data_row_idx = self.next_data_row_idx
-            self.next_data_row_idx += 1
-            expr.sql_row_idx = len(self.sql_select_list)
-            self.sql_select_list.append(sql_expr)
-            return
+        exprs.Expr.release_list(self.sql_scan_output_exprs)
+        exprs.Expr.release_list(self.agg_output_exprs)
+        if self.filter is not None:
+            self.filter.release()
 
-        # expr value needs to be computed via Expr.eval()
-        for c in expr.components:
-            self._assign_idxs_aux(c)
-        assert expr.data_row_idx < 0
-        expr.data_row_idx = self.next_data_row_idx
-        self.next_data_row_idx += 1
 
 
 class DataFrame:
     def __init__(
-            self, tbl: catalog.Table,
-            select_list: Optional[List[exprs.Expr]] = None,
-            where_clause: Optional[exprs.Predicate] = None):
+            self, tbl: catalog.TableVersionPath,
+            select_list: Optional[List[Tuple[exprs.Expr, Optional[str]]]] = None,
+            where_clause: Optional[exprs.Predicate] = None,
+            group_by_clause: Optional[List[exprs.Expr]] = None,
+            grouping_tbl: Optional[catalog.TableVersion] = None,
+            order_by_clause: Optional[List[Tuple[exprs.Expr, bool]]] = None,  # List[(expr, asc)]
+            limit: Optional[int] = None):
         self.tbl = tbl
-        # self.select_list and self.where_clause contain execution state and therefore cannot be shared
-        self.select_list: Optional[List[exprs.Expr]] = None  # None: implies all cols
-        if select_list is not None:
-            self.select_list = [e.copy() for e in select_list]
-        self.where_clause: Optional[exprs.Predicate] = None
-        if where_clause is not None:
-            self.where_clause = where_clause.copy()
-        self.group_by_clause: Optional[List[exprs.Expr]] = None
-        self.analysis_info: Optional[AnalysisInfo] = None
-
-    def analyze(self) -> None:
-        """
-        Populates self.analysis_info.
-        """
-        info = self.analysis_info = AnalysisInfo()
-        if self.where_clause is not None:
-            info.sql_where_clause, info.filter = self.where_clause.extract_sql_predicate()
-            if info.filter is not None:
-                similarity_clauses, info.filter = info.filter.split_conjuncts(
-                    lambda e: isinstance(e, exprs.ImageSimilarityPredicate))
-                if len(similarity_clauses) > 1:
-                    raise exc.OperationalError(f'More than one nearest() or matches() not supported')
-                if len(similarity_clauses) == 1:
-                    info.similarity_clause = similarity_clauses[0]
-                    img_col = info.similarity_clause.img_col_ref.col
-                    if not img_col.is_indexed:
-                        raise exc.OperationalError(
-                            f'nearest()/matches() not available for unindexed column {img_col.name}')
-
-        if info.filter is not None:
-            info.assign_idxs([info.filter])
-        if len(self.group_by_clause) > 0:
-            info.assign_idxs(self.group_by_clause)
-            for e in self.group_by_clause:
-                self._analyze_group_by(e, True)
-        info.assign_idxs(self.select_list)
-        grouping_expr_idxs = set([e.data_row_idx for e in self.group_by_clause])
-        item_is_agg = [self._analyze_select_list(e, grouping_expr_idxs)[0]  for e in self.select_list]
-
-        if self.is_agg():
-            # this is an aggregation
-            if item_is_agg.count(False) > 0:
-                raise exc.Error(f'Invalid non-aggregate in select list: {self.select_list[item_is_agg.find(False)]}')
-            # the agg stage materializes select list items that haven't already been provided by SQL
-            info.agg_output_exprs = [e for e in self.select_list if e.sql_row_idx == -1]
-            # our sql scan stage needs to materialize: grouping exprs, arguments of agg fn calls
-            info.sql_scan_output_exprs = copy.copy(self.group_by_clause)
-            unique_args: Set[int] = set()
-            for fn_call in info.agg_fn_calls:
-                for c in fn_call.components:
-                    unique_args.add(c.data_row_idx)
-            all_exprs = {e.data_row_idx: e for e in info.unique_exprs}
-            info.sql_scan_output_exprs.extend([all_exprs[idx] for idx in unique_args])
-        else:
-            info.sql_scan_output_exprs = self.select_list
 
-    def is_agg(self) -> bool:
-        return len(self.group_by_clause) > 0 \
-            or (self.analysis_info is not None and len(self.analysis_info.agg_fn_calls) > 0)
-
-    def _is_agg_fn_call(self, e: exprs.Expr) -> bool:
-        return isinstance(e, exprs.FunctionCall) and e.is_agg_fn_call
-
-    def _analyze_group_by(self, e: exprs.Expr, check_sql: bool) -> None:
+        # select list logic
+        DataFrame._select_list_check_rep(select_list) # check select list without expansion
+        # exprs contain execution state and therefore cannot be shared
+        select_list = copy.deepcopy(select_list)
+        select_list_exprs, column_names = DataFrame._normalize_select_list(tbl, select_list)
+        DataFrame._select_list_check_rep(list(zip(select_list_exprs, column_names)))
+        # check select list after expansion to catch early
+        # the following two lists are always non empty, even if select list is None.
+        self._select_list_exprs = select_list_exprs
+        self._column_names = column_names
+        self.select_list = select_list
+
+        self.where_clause = copy.deepcopy(where_clause)
+        assert group_by_clause is None or grouping_tbl is None
+        self.group_by_clause = copy.deepcopy(group_by_clause)
+        self.grouping_tbl = grouping_tbl
+        self.order_by_clause = copy.deepcopy(order_by_clause)
+        self.limit_val = limit
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _select_list_check_rep(cls,
+        select_list: Optional[List[Tuple[exprs.Expr, Optional[str]]]],
+    ) -> None:
+        """Validate basic select list types. 
         """
-        Make sure that group-by exprs don't contain aggregates.
-        """
-        if e.sql_row_idx == -1 and check_sql:
-            raise exc.Error(f'Invalid grouping expr, needs to be expressible in SQL: {e}')
-        if self._is_agg_fn_call(e):
-            raise exc.Error(f'Cannot group by aggregate function: {e}')
-        for c in e.components:
-            self._analyze_group_by(c, False)
-
-    def _analyze_select_list(self, e: exprs.Expr, grouping_exprs: Set[int]) -> Tuple[bool, bool]:
+        if select_list is None: # basic check for valid select list
+            return
+
+        assert len(select_list) > 0
+        for ent in select_list:
+            assert isinstance(ent, tuple)
+            assert len(ent) == 2
+            assert isinstance(ent[0], exprs.Expr)
+            assert ent[1] is None or isinstance(ent[1], str)
+            if isinstance(ent[1], str):
+                assert is_valid_identifier(ent[1])
+
+    @classmethod
+    def _normalize_select_list(cls,
+        tbl: catalog.TableVersionPath,
+        select_list: Optional[List[Tuple[exprs.Expr, Optional[str]]]],
+    ) -> Tuple[List[exprs.Expr], List[str]]:
         """
-        Analyzes select list item. Returns (list item is output of agg stage, item is output of scan stage).
-        Collects agg fn calls in self.analysis_info.
+        Expand select list information with all columns and their names
+        Returns: 
+            a pair composed of the list of expressions and the list of corresponding names
         """
-        if e.data_row_idx in grouping_exprs:
-            return True, True
-        elif self._is_agg_fn_call(e):
-            for c in e.components:
-                _, is_scan_output = self._analyze_select_list(c, grouping_exprs)
-                if not is_scan_output:
-                    raise exc.Error(f'Invalid nested aggregates: {e}')
-            return True, False
-        elif isinstance(e, exprs.Literal):
-            return True, True
-        elif isinstance(e, exprs.ColumnRef):
-            # we already know that this isn't a grouping expr
-            return False, True
+        if select_list is None:
+            expanded_list = [(exprs.ColumnRef(col), None) for col in tbl.columns()]
         else:
-            # an expression such as <grouping expr 1> + <grouping expr 2> can be the output of both
-            # the agg stage and the scan stage
-            component_is_agg: List[bool] = []
-            component_is_scan: List[bool] = []
-            for c in e.components:
-                is_agg, is_scan = self._analyze_select_list(c, grouping_exprs)
-                component_is_agg.append(is_agg)
-                component_is_scan.append(is_scan)
-            is_agg = component_is_agg.count(True) == len(e.components)
-            is_scan = component_is_scan.count(True) == len(e.components)
-            if not is_agg and not is_scan:
-                raise exc.Error(f'Invalid expression, mixes aggregate with non-aggregate: {e}')
-            return is_agg, is_scan
-
-    def exec(self, n: int = 20, select_pk: bool = False) -> Generator[List[Any], None, None]:
-        """
-        Returned value: list of select list values.
-        If select_pk == True, also selects the primary key of the storage table (which is rowid and v_min).
+            expanded_list = select_list
+
+        out_exprs : List[exprs.Expr] = []
+        out_names : List[str] = [] # keep track of order
+        seen_out_names : set[str] = set() # use to check for duplicates in loop, avoid square complexity
+        for i, (expr, name) in enumerate(expanded_list):
+            if name is None:
+                # use default, add suffix if needed so default adds no duplicates
+                default_name = expr.default_column_name()
+                if default_name is not None:
+                    column_name = default_name
+                    if default_name in seen_out_names:
+                        # already used, then add suffix until unique name is found
+                        for j in range(1, len(out_names)+1):
+                            column_name = f'{default_name}_{j}'
+                            if column_name not in seen_out_names:
+                                break
+                else: # no default name, eg some expressions
+                    column_name = f'col_{i}'
+            else: # user provided name, no attempt to rename
+                column_name = name
+
+            out_exprs.append(expr)
+            out_names.append(column_name)
+            seen_out_names.add(column_name)
+        assert len(out_exprs) == len(out_names)
+        assert set(out_names) == seen_out_names
+        return out_exprs, out_names
+
+    def _exec(self) -> Generator[exprs.DataRow, None, None]:
+        """Run the query and return rows as a generator.
+        This function must not modify the state of the DataFrame, otherwise it breaks dataset caching.
         """
-        if self.select_list is None:
-            self.select_list = [exprs.ColumnRef(col) for col in self.tbl.columns]
-        if self.group_by_clause is None:
-            self.group_by_clause = []
-        for item in self.select_list:
+        # construct a group-by clause if we're grouping by a table
+        group_by_clause: List[exprs.Expr] = []
+        if self.grouping_tbl is not None:
+            assert self.group_by_clause is None
+            num_rowid_cols = len(self.grouping_tbl.store_tbl.rowid_columns())
+            # the grouping table must be a base of self.tbl
+            assert num_rowid_cols <= len(self.tbl.tbl_version.store_tbl.rowid_columns())
+            group_by_clause = [exprs.RowidRef(self.tbl.tbl_version, idx) for idx in range(num_rowid_cols)]
+        elif self.group_by_clause is not None:
+            group_by_clause = self.group_by_clause
+
+        for item in self._select_list_exprs:
             item.bind_rel_paths(None)
-        if self.analysis_info is None:
-            self.analyze()
-        if self.analysis_info.similarity_clause is not None and n > 100:
-            raise exc.OperationalError(f'nearest()/matches() requires show(n <= 100): n={n}')
-
-        # determine order_by clause for window functions or grouping, if present
-        window_fn_calls = [
-            e for e in self.analysis_info.unique_exprs
-            if isinstance(e, exprs.FunctionCall) and e.is_window_fn_call
-        ]
-        if len(window_fn_calls) > 0 and self.is_agg():
-            raise exc.Error(f'Cannot combine window functions with non-windowed aggregation')
-        order_by_exprs: List[exprs.Expr] = []
-        # TODO: check compatibility of window clauses
-        if len(window_fn_calls) > 0:
-            order_by_exprs = window_fn_calls[0].get_window_sort_exprs()
-        elif self.is_agg():
-            # TODO: collect aggs with order-by and analyze for compatibility
-            order_by_exprs = self.group_by_clause + self.analysis_info.agg_fn_calls[0].get_agg_order_by()
-        order_by_clause = [e.sql_expr() for e in order_by_exprs]
-        for i in range(len(order_by_exprs)):
-            if order_by_clause[i] is None:
-                raise exc.Error(f'order_by element cannot be expressed in SQL: {order_by_exprs[i]}')
-
-        idx_rowids: List[int] = []  # rowids returned by index lookup
-        if self.analysis_info.similarity_clause is not None:
-            # do index lookup
-            assert self.analysis_info.similarity_clause.img_col_ref.col.idx is not None
-            embed = self.analysis_info.similarity_clause.embedding()
-            idx_rowids = self.analysis_info.similarity_clause.img_col_ref.col.idx.search(embed, n, self.tbl.valid_rowids)
-
-        with Env.get().engine.connect() as conn:
-            stmt = self._create_select_stmt(
-                self.analysis_info.sql_select_list, self.analysis_info.sql_where_clause, idx_rowids, select_pk,
-                order_by_clause)
-            num_rows = 0
-            sql_scan_evaluator = exprs.ExprEvaluator(
-                self.analysis_info.sql_scan_output_exprs, self.analysis_info.filter)
-            agg_evaluator = exprs.ExprEvaluator(self.analysis_info.agg_output_exprs, None)
-
-            current_group: Optional[List[Any]] = None  # for grouping agg, the values of the group-by exprs
-            for row in conn.execute(stmt):
-                sql_row = row._data
-                data_row: List[Any] = [None] * self.analysis_info.num_materialized
-                if not sql_scan_evaluator.eval(sql_row, data_row):
-                    continue
-
-                # copy select list results into contiguous array
-                result_row: Optional[List[Any]] = None
-                if self.is_agg():
-                    group = [data_row[e.data_row_idx] for e in self.group_by_clause]
-                    if current_group is None:
-                        current_group = group
-                    if group != current_group:
-                        # we're entering a new group, emit a row for the last one
-                        agg_evaluator.eval(last_sql_row, last_data_row)
-                        result_row = [last_data_row[e.data_row_idx] for e in self.select_list]
-                        current_group = group
-                        for fn_call in self.analysis_info.agg_fn_calls:
-                            fn_call.reset_agg()
-                    for fn_call in self.analysis_info.agg_fn_calls:
-                        fn_call.update(data_row)
-                else:
-                    result_row = [data_row[e.data_row_idx] for e in self.select_list]
-                    if select_pk:
-                        result_row.extend(sql_row[-2:])
-
-                last_data_row = data_row
-                last_sql_row = row._data
-                if result_row is not None:
-                    yield result_row
-                    num_rows += 1
-                    if n > 0 and num_rows == n:
-                        break
-
-            if self.is_agg():
-                # we need to emit the output row for the current group
-                agg_evaluator.eval(sql_row, data_row)
-                result_row = [data_row[e.data_row_idx] for e in self.select_list]
-                yield result_row
+        plan = Planner.create_query_plan(
+            self.tbl, self._select_list_exprs, where_clause=self.where_clause, group_by_clause=group_by_clause,
+            order_by_clause=self.order_by_clause if self.order_by_clause is not None else [],
+            limit=self.limit_val if self.limit_val is not None else 0)  # limit_val == 0: no limit_val
+
+        with Env.get().engine.begin() as conn:
+            plan.ctx.conn = conn
+            plan.open()
+            try:
+                for row_batch in plan:
+                    for data_row in row_batch:
+                        yield data_row
+            finally:
+                plan.close()
+            return
 
     def show(self, n: int = 20) -> DataFrameResultSet:
-        data_rows = [row for row in self.exec(n)]
-        col_names = [expr.display_name() for expr in self.select_list]
-        # replace ''
-        col_names = [n if n != '' else f'col_{i}' for i, n in enumerate(col_names)]
-        return DataFrameResultSet(data_rows, col_names, [expr.col_type for expr in self.select_list])
+        assert n is not None
+        return self.limit(n).collect()
+
+    def head(self, n: int = 10) -> DataFrameResultSet:
+        if self.order_by_clause is not None:
+            raise excs.Error(f'head() cannot be used with order_by()')
+        num_rowid_cols = len(self.tbl.tbl_version.store_tbl.rowid_columns())
+        order_by_clause = [exprs.RowidRef(self.tbl.tbl_version, idx) for idx in range(num_rowid_cols)]
+        return self.order_by(*order_by_clause, asc=True).limit(n).collect()
+
+    def tail(self, n: int = 10) -> DataFrameResultSet:
+        if self.order_by_clause is not None:
+            raise excs.Error(f'tail() cannot be used with order_by()')
+        num_rowid_cols = len(self.tbl.tbl_version.store_tbl.rowid_columns())
+        order_by_clause = [exprs.RowidRef(self.tbl.tbl_version, idx) for idx in range(num_rowid_cols)]
+        result = self.order_by(*order_by_clause, asc=False).limit(n).collect()
+        result._reverse()
+        return result
+
+    def get_column_names(self) -> List[str]:
+        return self._column_names
+
+    def get_column_types(self) -> List[ColumnType]:
+        return [expr.col_type for expr in self._select_list_exprs]
+
+    def collect(self) -> DataFrameResultSet:
+        try:
+            result_rows = []
+            for data_row in self._exec():
+                result_row = [data_row[e.slot_idx] for e in self._select_list_exprs]
+                result_rows.append(result_row)
+        except excs.ExprEvalError as e:
+            msg = (f'In row {e.row_num} the {e.expr_msg} encountered exception '
+                   f'{type(e.exc).__name__}:\n{str(e.exc)}')
+            if len(e.input_vals) > 0:
+                input_msgs = [
+                    f"'{d}' = {d.col_type.print_value(e.input_vals[i])}"
+                    for i, d in enumerate(e.expr.dependencies())
+                ]
+                msg += f'\nwith {", ".join(input_msgs)}'
+            assert e.exc_tb is not None
+            stack_trace = traceback.format_tb(e.exc_tb)
+            if len(stack_trace) > 2:
+                # append a stack trace if the exception happened in user code
+                # (frame 0 is ExprEvaluator and frame 1 is some expr's eval()
+                nl = '\n'
+                # [-1:0:-1]: leave out entry 0 and reverse order, so that the most recent frame is at the top
+                msg += f'\nStack:\n{nl.join(stack_trace[-1:1:-1])}'
+            raise excs.Error(msg)
+        except sql.exc.DBAPIError as e:
+            raise excs.Error(f'Error during SQL execution:\n{e}')
+
+        col_types = self.get_column_types()
+        return DataFrameResultSet(result_rows, self._column_names, col_types)
 
     def count(self) -> int:
-        """
-        TODO: implement as part of DataFrame.agg()
-        """
-        stmt = sql.select(sql.func.count('*')).select_from(self.tbl.sa_tbl) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_min_col <= self.tbl.version) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_max_col > self.tbl.version)
-        if self.where_clause is not None:
-            sql_where_clause = self.where_clause.sql_expr()
-            assert sql_where_clause is not None
-            stmt = stmt.where(sql_where_clause)
+        from pixeltable.plan import Planner
+        stmt = Planner.create_count_stmt(self.tbl, self.where_clause)
         with Env.get().engine.connect() as conn:
             result: int = conn.execute(stmt).scalar_one()
             assert isinstance(result, int)
             return result
 
-    def categorical_map(self) -> Dict[str, int]:
+    def _description(self) -> pd.DataFrame:
+        """see DataFrame.describe()"""
+        heading_vals: List[str] = []
+        info_vals: List[str] = []
+        if self.select_list is not None:
+            assert len(self.select_list) > 0
+            heading_vals.append('Select')
+            heading_vals.extend([''] * (len(self.select_list) - 1))
+            info_vals.extend(self.get_column_names())
+        if self.where_clause is not None:
+            heading_vals.append('Where')
+            info_vals.append(self.where_clause.display_str(inline=False))
+        if self.group_by_clause is not None:
+            heading_vals.append('Group By')
+            heading_vals.extend([''] * (len(self.group_by_clause) - 1))
+            info_vals.extend([e.display_str(inline=False) for e in self.group_by_clause])
+        if self.order_by_clause is not None:
+            heading_vals.append('Order By')
+            heading_vals.extend([''] * (len(self.order_by_clause) - 1))
+            info_vals.extend([
+                f'{e[0].display_str(inline=False)} {"asc" if e[1] else "desc"}' for e in self.order_by_clause
+            ])
+        if self.limit_val is not None:
+            heading_vals.append('Limit')
+            info_vals.append(str(self.limit_val))
+        assert len(heading_vals) > 0
+        assert len(info_vals) > 0
+        assert len(heading_vals) == len(info_vals)
+        return pd.DataFrame({'Heading': heading_vals, 'Info': info_vals})
+
+    def _description_html(self) -> pandas.io.formats.style.Styler:
+        """Return the description in an ipython-friendly manner."""
+        pd_df = self._description()
+        # white-space: pre-wrap: print \n as newline
+        # th: center-align headings
+        return pd_df.style.set_properties(**{'white-space': 'pre-wrap', 'text-align': 'left'}) \
+            .set_table_styles([dict(selector='th', props=[('text-align', 'center')])]) \
+            .hide(axis='index').hide(axis='columns')
+
+    def describe(self) -> None:
         """
-        Return map of distinct values in string ColumnRef to increasing integers.
-        TODO: implement as part of DataFrame.agg()
+        Prints a tabular description of this DataFrame.
+        The description has two columns, heading and info, which list the contents of each 'component'
+                (select list, where clause, ...) vertically.
         """
-        if self.select_list is None or len(self.select_list) != 1 \
-            or not isinstance(self.select_list[0], exprs.ColumnRef) \
-            or not self.select_list[0].col_type.is_string_type():
-            raise exc.OperationalError(f'categoricals_map() can only be applied to an individual string column')
-        assert isinstance(self.select_list[0], exprs.ColumnRef)
-        col = self.select_list[0].col
-        stmt = sql.select(sql.distinct(col.sa_col)) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_min_col <= self.tbl.version) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_max_col > self.tbl.version) \
-            .order_by(col.sa_col)
-        if self.where_clause is not None:
-            sql_where_clause = self.where_clause.sql_expr()
-            assert sql_where_clause is not None
-            stmt = stmt.where(sql_where_clause)
-        with Env.get().engine.connect() as conn:
-            result = {row._data[0]: i for i, row in enumerate(conn.execute(stmt))}
-            return result
+        try:
+            __IPYTHON__
+            from IPython.display import display
+            display(self._description_html())
+        except NameError:
+            print(self.__repr__())
 
-    def __getitem__(self, index: object) -> 'DataFrame':
+    def __repr__(self) -> str:
+        return self._description().to_string(header=False, index=False)
+
+    def _repr_html_(self) -> str:
+        return self._description_html()._repr_html_()
+
+    def select(self, *items: Any, **named_items : Any) -> DataFrame:
+        if self.select_list is not None:
+            raise excs.Error(f'Select list already specified')
+        for (name, _) in named_items.items():
+            if not isinstance(name, str) or not is_valid_identifier(name):
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid name: {name}')
+        base_list = [(expr, None) for expr in items] + [(expr, k) for (k, expr) in named_items.items()]
+        if len(base_list) == 0:
+            raise excs.Error(f'Empty select list')
+        
+        # analyze select list; wrap literals with the corresponding expressions
+        select_list = []
+        for raw_expr, name in base_list:
+            if isinstance(raw_expr, exprs.Expr):
+                select_list.append((raw_expr, name))
+            elif isinstance(raw_expr, dict):
+                select_list.append((exprs.InlineDict(raw_expr), name))
+            elif isinstance(raw_expr, list):
+                select_list.append((exprs.InlineArray(raw_expr), name))
+            else:
+                select_list.append((exprs.Literal(raw_expr), name))
+            expr = select_list[-1][0]
+            if expr.col_type.is_invalid_type():
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid type: {raw_expr}')
+            # TODO: check that ColumnRefs in expr refer to self.tbl
+
+        # check user provided names do not conflict among themselves
+        # or with auto-generated ones
+        seen: Set[str] = set()
+        _, names = DataFrame._normalize_select_list(self.tbl, select_list)
+        for name in names:
+            if name in seen:
+                repeated_names = [j for j, x in enumerate(names) if x == name]
+                pretty = ', '.join(map(str, repeated_names))
+                raise excs.Error(f'Repeated column name "{name}" in select() at positions: {pretty}')
+            seen.add(name)
+
+        return DataFrame(
+            self.tbl, select_list=select_list, where_clause=self.where_clause, group_by_clause=self.group_by_clause,
+            grouping_tbl=self.grouping_tbl, order_by_clause=self.order_by_clause, limit=self.limit_val)
+
+    def where(self, pred: exprs.Predicate) -> DataFrame:
+        return DataFrame(
+            self.tbl, select_list=self.select_list, where_clause=pred, group_by_clause=self.group_by_clause,
+            grouping_tbl=self.grouping_tbl, order_by_clause=self.order_by_clause, limit=self.limit_val)
+
+    def group_by(self, *grouping_items: Any) -> DataFrame:
+        """Add a group-by clause to this DataFrame.
+        Variants:
+        - group_by(<base table>): group a component view by their respective base table rows
+        - group_by(<expr>, ...): group by the given expressions
+        """
+        if self.group_by_clause is not None:
+            raise excs.Error(f'Group-by already specified')
+        grouping_tbl: Optional[catalog.TableVersion] = None
+        group_by_clause: Optional[List[exprs.Expr]] = None
+        for item in grouping_items:
+            if isinstance(item, catalog.Table):
+                if len(grouping_items) > 1:
+                    raise excs.Error(f'group_by(): only one table can be specified')
+                # we need to make sure that the grouping table is a base of self.tbl
+                base = self.tbl.find_tbl_version(item.tbl_version_path.tbl_id())
+                if base is None or base.id == self.tbl.tbl_id():
+                    raise excs.Error(f'group_by(): {item.name} is not a base table of {self.tbl.tbl_name()}')
+                grouping_tbl = item.tbl_version_path.tbl_version
+                break
+            if not isinstance(item, exprs.Expr):
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid expression in group_by(): {item}')
+        if grouping_tbl is None:
+            group_by_clause = list(grouping_items)
+        return DataFrame(
+            self.tbl, select_list=self.select_list, where_clause=self.where_clause, group_by_clause=group_by_clause,
+            grouping_tbl=grouping_tbl, order_by_clause=self.order_by_clause, limit=self.limit_val)
+
+    def order_by(self, *expr_list: exprs.Expr, asc: bool = True) -> DataFrame:
+        for e in expr_list:
+            if not isinstance(e, exprs.Expr):
+                raise excs.Error(f'Invalid expression in order_by(): {e}')
+        order_by_clause = self.order_by_clause if self.order_by_clause is not None else []
+        order_by_clause.extend([(e.copy(), asc) for e in expr_list])
+        return DataFrame(
+            self.tbl, select_list=self.select_list, where_clause=self.where_clause,
+            group_by_clause=self.group_by_clause, grouping_tbl=self.grouping_tbl, order_by_clause=order_by_clause,
+            limit=self.limit_val)
+
+    def limit(self, n: int) -> DataFrame:
+        assert n is not None and isinstance(n, int)
+        return DataFrame(
+            self.tbl, select_list=self.select_list, where_clause=self.where_clause,
+            group_by_clause=self.group_by_clause, grouping_tbl=self.grouping_tbl, order_by_clause=self.order_by_clause,
+            limit=n)
+
+    def __getitem__(self, index: object) -> DataFrame:
         """
         Allowed:
         - [<Predicate>]: filter operation
@@ -389,52 +519,113 @@ class DataFrame:
         - [Expr]: setting a single-col select list
         """
         if isinstance(index, exprs.Predicate):
-            return DataFrame(self.tbl, select_list=self.select_list, where_clause=index)
+            return self.where(index)
         if isinstance(index, tuple):
             index = list(index)
         if isinstance(index, exprs.Expr):
             index = [index]
         if isinstance(index, list):
-            if self.select_list is not None:
-                raise exc.OperationalError(f'[] for column selection is only allowed once')
-            # analyze select list; wrap literals with the corresponding expressions and update it in place
-            for i in range(len(index)):
-                expr = index[i]
-                if isinstance(expr, dict):
-                    index[i] = expr = exprs.InlineDict(expr)
-                if isinstance(expr, list):
-                    index[i] = expr = exprs.InlineArray(tuple(expr))
-                if not isinstance(expr, exprs.Expr):
-                    raise exc.OperationalError(f'Invalid expression in []: {expr}')
-                if expr.col_type.is_invalid_type():
-                    raise exc.OperationalError(f'Invalid type: {expr}')
-                # TODO: check that ColumnRefs in expr refer to self.tbl
-            return DataFrame(self.tbl, select_list=index, where_clause=self.where_clause)
+            return self.select(*index)
         raise TypeError(f'Invalid index type: {type(index)}')
+    
+    def _as_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        """ 
+            Returns:
+                Dictionary representing this dataframe.
+        """
+        tbl_versions = self.tbl.get_tbl_versions()
+        d = {
+            '_classname': 'DataFrame',
+            'tbl_ids': [str(t.id) for t in tbl_versions],
+            'tbl_versions': [t.version for t in tbl_versions],
+            'select_list':
+                [(e.as_dict(), name) for (e, name) in self.select_list] if self.select_list is not None else None,
+            'where_clause': self.where_clause.as_dict() if self.where_clause is not None else None,
+            'group_by_clause':
+                [e.as_dict() for e in self.group_by_clause] if self.group_by_clause is not None else None,
+            'order_by_clause':
+                [(e.as_dict(), asc) for (e,asc) in self.order_by_clause] if self.order_by_clause is not None else None,
+            'limit_val': self.limit_val,
+        }
+        return d
+
+    def to_coco_dataset(self) -> Path:
+        """Convert the dataframe to a COCO dataset.
+        This dataframe must return a single json-typed output column in the following format:
+        {
+            'image': PIL.Image.Image,
+            'annotations': [
+                {
+                    'bbox': [x: int, y: int, w: int, h: int],
+                    'category': str | int,
+                },
+                ...
+            ],
+        }
+
+        Returns:
+            Path to the COCO dataset file.
+        """
+        from pixeltable.utils.coco import write_coco_dataset
+
+        summary_string = json.dumps(self._as_dict())
+        cache_key = hashlib.sha256(summary_string.encode()).hexdigest()
+
+        dest_path = (Env.get().dataset_cache_dir / f'coco_{cache_key}')
+        if dest_path.exists():
+            assert dest_path.is_dir()
+            data_file_path = dest_path / 'data.json'
+            assert data_file_path.exists()
+            assert data_file_path.is_file()
+            return data_file_path
+        else:
+            return write_coco_dataset(self, dest_path)
 
-    def group_by(self, *expr_list: Tuple[exprs.Expr]) -> 'DataFrame':
-        for e in expr_list:
-            if not isinstance(e, exprs.Expr):
-                raise exc.Error(f'Invalid expr in group_by(): {e}')
-        self.group_by_clause = [e.copy() for e in expr_list]
-        return self
-
-    def _create_select_stmt(
-            self, select_list: List[sql.sql.expression.ClauseElement],
-            where_clause: Optional[sql.sql.expression.ClauseElement],
-            valid_rowids: List[int],
-            select_pk: bool,
-            order_by_exprs: List[sql.sql.expression.ClauseElement]
-    ) -> sql.sql.expression.Select:
-        pk_cols = [self.tbl.rowid_col, self.tbl.v_min_col] if select_pk else []
-        # we add pk_cols at the end so that the already-computed sql row indices remain correct
-        stmt = sql.select(*select_list, *pk_cols) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_min_col <= self.tbl.version) \
-            .where(self.tbl.v_max_col > self.tbl.version)
-        if where_clause is not None:
-            stmt = stmt.where(where_clause)
-        if len(valid_rowids) > 0:
-            stmt = stmt.where(self.tbl.rowid_col.in_(valid_rowids))
-        if len(order_by_exprs) > 0:
-            stmt = stmt.order_by(*order_by_exprs)
-        return stmt
+    # TODO Factor this out into a separate module.
+    # The return type is unresolvable, but torch can't be imported since it's an optional dependency.
+    def to_pytorch_dataset(self, image_format: str = 'pt') -> 'torch.utils.data.IterableDataset':
+        """
+        Convert the dataframe to a pytorch IterableDataset suitable for parallel loading
+        with torch.utils.data.DataLoader.
+
+        This method requires pyarrow >= 13, torch and torchvision to work.
+
+        This method serializes data so it can be read from disk efficiently and repeatedly without
+        re-executing the query. This data is cached to disk for future re-use.
+
+        Args:
+            image_format: format of the images. Can be 'pt' (pytorch tensor) or 'np' (numpy array).
+                    'np' means image columns return as an RGB uint8 array of shape HxWxC.
+                    'pt' means image columns return as a CxHxW tensor with values in [0,1] and type torch.float32.
+                        (the format output by torchvision.transforms.ToTensor())
+
+        Returns:
+            A pytorch IterableDataset: Columns become fields of the dataset, where rows are returned as a dictionary
+                compatible with torch.utils.data.DataLoader default collation.
+
+        Constraints:
+            The default collate_fn for torch.data.util.DataLoader cannot represent null values as part of a
+            pytorch tensor when forming batches. These values will raise an exception while running the dataloader.
+
+            If you have them, you can work around None values by providing your custom collate_fn to the DataLoader
+            (and have your model handle it). Or, if these are not meaningful values within a minibtach, you can
+            modify or remove any such values through selections and filters prior to calling to_pytorch_dataset().
+        """
+        # check dependencies
+        Env.get().require_package('pyarrow', [13])
+        Env.get().require_package('torch')
+        Env.get().require_package('torchvision')
+
+        from pixeltable.utils.parquet import save_parquet # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+        from pixeltable.utils.pytorch import PixeltablePytorchDataset # pylint: disable=import-outside-toplevel
+
+        summary_string = json.dumps(self._as_dict()) 
+        cache_key = hashlib.sha256(summary_string.encode()).hexdigest()
+    
+        dest_path = (Env.get().dataset_cache_dir / f'df_{cache_key}').with_suffix('.parquet') # pylint: disable = protected-access
+        if dest_path.exists(): # fast path: use cache
+            assert dest_path.is_dir()
+        else:
+            save_parquet(self, dest_path)
+
+        return PixeltablePytorchDataset(path=dest_path, image_format=image_format)