datafusion-python-44 announcement
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+---
+layout: post
+title: Apache DataFusion Python 43.1.0 Released
+date: 2025-02-07
+author: timsaucer
+categories: [release]
+---
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+
+We are happy to announce that [datafusion-python 44.0.0] has been released. This release
+brings in all of the new features of the core [DataFusion 44.0.0] library. You can see the
+full details of the improvements in the [changelogs].
+
+[DataFusion 44.0.0]: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/blob/main/dev/changelog/44.0.0.md
+[datafusion-python 44.0.0]: https://pypi.org/project/datafusion/44.0.0/
+[changelogs]: https://github.com/apache/datafusion-python/tree/main/dev/changelog
+
+## Asynchronous Iteration of Record Batches
+
+Retrieving a `RecordBatch` from a `RecordBatchStream` was a synchronous call, which would
+require the end user's code to wait for the data retrieval. This is described in
+[Issue 974]. We continue to support this as a synchronous iterator, but we have also added
+in the ability to retrieve the `RecordBatch` using the Python asynchronous `anext`
+function.
+
+[Issue 974]: https://github.com/apache/datafusion-python/issues/974
+
+# Default Compression for Parquet files
+
+With [PR 981], we change the saving of Parquet files to use zstd compression by default.
+Previously the default was uncompressed, causing excessive disk storage. Zstd is an
+excellent compression scheme that balances speed and compression ratio. Users can still
+save their Parquet files uncompressed by passing in the appropriate value to the
+`compression` argument when calling `DataFrame.write_parquet`.
+
+[PR 981]: https://github.com/apache/datafusion-python/pull/981
+
+## `uv` package management
+
+[uv] is an extremely fast Python package manager, written in Rust. In the previous version
+of `datafusion-python` we had a combination of settings of PyPi and Conda. Instead, we
+switch to using [uv] is our primary method for dependency management.
+
+For most users of DataFusion, this change will be transparent. You can still install
+via `pip` or `conda`. For developers, the instructions in the repository have been updated.
+
+[uv]: https://github.com/astral-sh/uv
+
+## Migration Guide
+
+During the upgrade from [DataFusion 43.0.0] to [DataFusion 44.0.0] as our upstream core
+dependency, we discovered a few changes were necessary within our repository and our
+unit tests. These notes serve to help guide users who may encounter similar issues when
+upgrading.
+
+- `RuntimeConfig` is now deprecated in favor of `RuntimeEnvBuilder`. The migration is
+fairly straightforward, and the corresponding classes have been marked as deprecated. For
+end users it should be simply a matter of changing the class name.
+- If you perform a `concat` of a `string_view` and `string`, it will now return a
+`string_view` instead of a `string`. This likely only impacts unit tests that are validating
+return types. In general, it is recommended to switch to using `string_view` whenever
+possible. You can see the blog articles [String View Pt 1] and [Pt 2] for more information
+on these performance improvements.
+- The function `date_part` now returns an `int32` instead of a `float64`. This is likely
+only impactful to unit tests.
+
+[DataFusion 43.0.0]: https://github.com/apache/datafusion/blob/main/dev/changelog/43.0.0.md
+[String View Pt 1]: https://datafusion.apache.org/blog/2024/09/13/string-view-german-style-strings-part-1/
+[Pt 2]: https://datafusion.apache.org/blog/2024/09/13/string-view-german-style-strings-part-2/
+
+## Appreciation
+
+We would like to thank everyone who has helped with these releases through their helpful
+conversations, code review, issue descriptions, and code authoring. We would especially
+like to thank the following authors of PRs who made these releases possible, listed in
+alphabetical order by username: [@chenkovsky], [@ion-elgreco], [@kylebarron], and
+[@kosiew].
+
+Thank you!
+
+[@chenkovsky]: https://github.com/chenkovsky
+[@ion-elgreco]: https://github.com/ion-elgreco
+[@kylebarron]: https://github.com/kylebarron
+[@kosiew]: https://github.com/kosiew
+
+## Get Involved
+
+The DataFusion Python team is an active and engaging community and we would love
+to have you join us and help the project.
+
+Here are some ways to get involved:
+
+* Learn more by visiting the [DataFusion Python project] page.
+
+* Try out the project and provide feedback, file issues, and contribute code.
+
+* Join us on [ASF Slack] or the [Arrow Rust Discord Server].
+
+[DataFusion Python project]: https://datafusion.apache.org/python/index.html
+[ASF Slack]: https://s.apache.org/slack-invite
+[Arrow Rust Discord Server]: https://discord.gg/Qw5gKqHxUM
