# ambers
<p align="center">
<img src="https://raw.githubusercontent.com/albertxli/ambers/main/images/ambers-banner-v2.svg" alt="ambers banner" width="900">
</p>
[](https://crates.io/crates/ambers)
[](https://pypi.org/project/ambers/)
[](LICENSE)
Pure Rust SPSS `.sav`/`.zsav` reader and writer — Arrow-native, zero C dependencies.
## Features
- Blazing fast read and write for SPSS `.sav` (bytecode) and `.zsav` (zlib) files
- Rich metadata: variable labels, value labels, missing values, MR sets, measure levels, and more
- Lazy reader via `scan_sav()` — Polars LazyFrame with projection and row limit pushdown
- Pure Rust with a native Python API — native Arrow integration, no C dependencies
- Benchmarked up to 3–10x faster reads and 4–20x faster writes compared to current popular SPSS I/O libraries
## Installation
**Python:**
```bash
uv add ambers
```
**Rust:**
```bash
cargo add ambers
```
## Python
```python
import ambers as am
import polars as pl
# Eager read — returns SavFile with .data and .meta
sav = am.read_sav("survey.sav")
df, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
# Lazy read — .data is a Polars LazyFrame
sav = am.scan_sav("survey.sav")
lf, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
df = lf.select(["Q1", "Q2", "age"]).head(1000).collect()
# Explore metadata
meta.summary()
meta.describe("Q1")
meta.value("Q1")
# Read metadata only (fast, skips data)
meta = am.read_sav_meta("survey.sav")
# Write back — roundtrip with full metadata
sav = am.read_sav("input.sav")
df, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
df = df.filter(pl.col("age") > 18)
am.write_sav(df, "filtered.sav", meta=meta) # bytecode (default for .sav)
am.write_sav(df, "compressed.zsav", meta=meta) # zlib (default for .zsav)
am.write_sav(df, "raw.sav", meta=meta, compression="uncompressed") # no compression
am.write_sav(df, "fast.zsav", meta=meta, compression_level=1) # fast zlib
# From scratch — metadata is optional, inferred from DataFrame schema
am.write_sav(df, "new.sav")
# Apply value labels — replace codes with labels for export/analysis
df, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta) # Enum dtype (ordered, strict)
labeled.write_excel("survey.xlsx") # Enum auto-casts to String
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta, output="string") # String dtype for export
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta, output="enum_null") # Enum, unmapped → null
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta, exclude=["weight", "id"]) # skip specific columns
# Apply missing values — nullify SPSS user-defined missing codes
clean = am.apply_missing(df, meta) # all columns with specs
clean = am.apply_missing(df, meta, columns=["Q1", "Q2"]) # specific columns only
clean = am.apply_missing(df, meta, exclude=["age"]) # skip specific columns
# Validate — check value label quality before analysis
report = am.validate(df, meta)
print(report) # box-drawing summary
report.is_valid # True if no errors
report.raise_if_invalid() # raise if errors found
report.to_frame() # DataFrame for export
```
`.sav` uses bytecode compression by default, `.zsav` uses zlib. Pass `compression=` to override (`"uncompressed"`, `"bytecode"`, `"zlib"`). Pass `meta=` to preserve all metadata from a prior `read_sav()`, or omit it to infer formats from the DataFrame.
### SavFile
`read_sav()` and `scan_sav()` return a `SavFile` object with file-level metadata alongside the data:
```
>>> sav = am.read_sav("survey_2025.sav")
>>> sav
┌─ SavFile ──────────────────────────┐
│ Data DataFrame (polars) │
│ Shape 22,070 rows x 677 cols │
│ Source survey_2025.sav │
│ File size 146.5 MB, bytecode │
│ Read time 0.286s │
└────────────────────────────────────┘
```
| Attribute | Type | Description |
|-----------|------|-------------|
| `sav.data` | `DataFrame` or `LazyFrame` | The data (eager from `read_sav`, lazy from `scan_sav`) |
| `sav.meta` | `SpssMetadata` | All variable metadata (labels, formats, value labels, etc.) |
| `sav.source` | `str \| None` | Source file path |
| `sav.shape` | `tuple[int, int] \| None` | `(n_rows, n_cols)` |
| `sav.file_size` | `int \| None` | File size in bytes |
| `sav.read_time` | `float \| None` | Wall-clock read time in seconds |
| `sav.compression` | `str` | `"uncompressed"`, `"bytecode"`, or `"zlib"` |
For `scan_sav()`, `read_time` measures metadata/schema reading only (not lazy collection).
### apply_labels
Replace numeric/string codes with their SPSS value labels. By default produces Polars `Enum` columns that preserve SPSS definition order — crucial for Likert scales and survey analysis.
```python
sav = am.read_sav("survey.sav")
df, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
# Default: Enum output, strict validation
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta)
labeled.group_by("satisfaction").agg(pl.len()) # sorted by definition order
labeled.write_excel("survey.xlsx") # Enum auto-casts to String
# String output for quick export
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta, output="string")
# Enum output with unmapped values as null
labeled = am.apply_labels(df, meta, output="enum_null")
```
| `"enum"` (default) | `pl.Enum` (ordered) | Error | Analysis — strict, validated categories |
| `"string"` | `pl.String` | Stringify (`3.0` → `"3"`) | Export — readable text for Excel/CSV |
| `"enum_null"` | `pl.Enum` (ordered) | Null | Analysis — exclude unknowns from base |
Numeric columns without value labels are skipped. String columns always pass through unmapped text. See [apply_labels.md](apply_labels.md) for full documentation.
### validate
Check value label quality before analysis — catch unlabeled values and duplicate labels upfront.
```python
sav = am.read_sav("survey.sav")
df, meta = sav.data, sav.meta
report = am.validate(df, meta)
print(report) # box-drawing summary
report.is_valid # True if no errors (warnings OK)
report.raise_if_invalid() # raise ValueError if errors
# Programmatic access
for error in report.errors:
print(f"{error.column}: {error.details['unlabeled_values']}")
# Export as DataFrame
report.to_frame().write_csv("validation_issues.csv")
```
See [validate.md](validate.md) for full documentation.
## Rust
```rust
use ambers::{read_sav, read_sav_metadata};
// Read data + metadata
let (batch, meta) = read_sav("survey.sav")?;
println!("{} rows, {} cols", batch.num_rows(), meta.number_columns);
// Read metadata only
let meta = read_sav_metadata("survey.sav")?;
println!("{}", meta.label("Q1").unwrap_or("(no label)"));
```
## Metadata API (Python)
| `meta.summary()` | Formatted overview: file info, type distribution, annotations |
| `meta.describe("Q1")` | Deep-dive into a single variable (or list of variables) |
| `meta.diff(other)` | Compare two metadata objects, returns `MetaDiff` |
| `meta.label("Q1")` | Variable label |
| `meta.value("Q1")` | Value labels dict |
| `meta.format("Q1")` | SPSS format string (e.g. `"F8.2"`, `"A50"`) |
| `meta.measure("Q1")` | Measurement level (`"nominal"`, `"ordinal"`, `"scale"`) |
| `meta.role("Q1")` | Variable role (`"input"`, `"target"`, `"both"`, `"none"`, `"partition"`, `"split"`) |
| `meta.attribute("Q1", "CustomNote")` | Custom attribute values (`list[str]` or `None`) |
| `meta.schema` | Full metadata as a nested Python dict |
All variable-name methods raise `KeyError` for unknown variables.
### Metadata Fields
All fields returned by the reader. Fields marked **Write** are preserved when passed via `meta=` to `write_sav()`. Read-only fields are set automatically (encoding, timestamps, row/column counts, etc.).
> **Note:** This is a first pass — field names and behavior may change without warning in future releases.
| `file_label` | yes | yes | `str` |
| `file_format` | yes | — | `str` |
| `file_encoding` | yes | — | `str` |
| `creation_time` | yes | — | `str` |
| `compression` | yes | — | `str` |
| `number_columns` | yes | — | `int` |
| `number_rows` | yes | — | `int \| None` |
| `weight_variable` | yes | yes | `str \| None` |
| `notes` | yes | yes | `list[str]` |
| `variable_names` | yes | — | `list[str]` |
| `variable_labels` | yes | yes | `dict[str, str]` |
| `variable_value_labels` | yes | yes | `dict[str, dict[float\|str, str]]` |
| `variable_formats` | yes | yes | `dict[str, str]` |
| `variable_measures` | yes | yes | `dict[str, str]` |
| `variable_alignments` | yes | yes | `dict[str, str]` |
| `variable_storage_widths` | yes | — | `dict[str, int]` |
| `variable_display_widths` | yes | yes | `dict[str, int]` |
| `variable_roles` | yes | yes | `dict[str, str]` |
| `variable_missing_values` | yes | yes | `dict[str, dict]` |
| `variable_attributes` | yes | yes | `dict[str, dict[str, list[str]]]` |
| `mr_sets` | yes | yes | `dict[str, dict]` |
| `arrow_data_types` | yes | — | `dict[str, str]` |
**Creating metadata from scratch:**
```python
meta = am.SpssMetadata(
file_label="Customer Survey 2026",
variable_labels={"Q1": "Satisfaction", "Q2": "Loyalty"},
variable_value_labels={"Q1": {1: "Low", 5: "High"}},
variable_measures={"Q1": "ordinal", "Q2": "nominal"},
)
am.write_sav(df, "output.sav", meta=meta)
```
**Modifying existing metadata** (from `read_sav()` or a previously created `SpssMetadata`):
```python
# .update() — bulk update multiple fields at once, merges dicts, replaces scalars
meta2 = meta.update(
file_label="Updated Survey",
variable_labels={"Q3": "NPS"}, # Q1/Q2 labels preserved, Q3 added
variable_measures={"Q3": "scale"},
)
# .with_*() — chainable single-field setters, with full IDE autocomplete and type hints
meta3 = (meta
.with_file_label("Updated Survey")
.with_variable_labels({"Q3": "NPS"})
.with_variable_measures({"Q3": "scale"})
)
```
> **Immutability:** `SpssMetadata` is immutable. `.update()` and `.with_*()` always return a **new** instance — the original is never modified. Assign to a new variable if you need to keep both copies.
**Update logic:**
- **Dict fields** (labels, formats, measures, etc.) merge as an overlay — new keys are added, existing keys are overwritten, all other keys are preserved. Pass `{key: None}` to remove a key.
- **Scalar fields** (`file_label`, `weight_variable`) and **`notes`** are replaced entirely.
- **Column renames are not tracked.** If you rename `"Q1"` to `"Q1a"` in your DataFrame, metadata for `"Q1"` does not carry over — you must explicitly provide metadata for `"Q1a"`.
See [metadata.md](metadata.md) for the full API reference including update logic details, missing values, MR sets, and validation rules.
> **SPSS tip:** Custom variable attributes are not shown in SPSS's Variable View by default. Go to **View > Customize Variable View** and click **OK**, or run `DISPLAY ATTRIBUTES` in SPSS syntax.
## Streaming Reader (Rust)
```rust
let mut scanner = ambers::scan_sav("survey.sav")?;
scanner.select(&["age", "gender"])?;
scanner.limit(1000);
while let Some(batch) = scanner.next_batch()? {
println!("Batch: {} rows", batch.num_rows());
}
```
## Performance
### Eager Read
All results return a Polars DataFrame. Best of 3–5 runs (with warmup) on Windows 11, Python 3.13, Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX (24C), 64 GB RAM (6400 MT/s).
| test_1 (bytecode) | 0.2 MB | 1,500 | 75 | < 0.01s | < 0.01s | 0.011s | — | — |
| test_2 (bytecode) | 147 MB | 22,070 | 677 | **0.286s** | 0.897s | 3.524s | **3.1x** | **12x** |
| test_3 (uncompressed) | 1.1 GB | 79,066 | 915 | **0.322s** | 1.150s | 4.918s | **3.6x** | **15x** |
| test_4 (uncompressed) | 0.6 MB | 201 | 158 | **0.002s** | 0.003s | 0.012s | **1.5x** | **6x** |
| test_5 (uncompressed) | 0.6 MB | 203 | 136 | **0.002s** | 0.003s | 0.016s | **1.5x** | **8x** |
| test_6 (uncompressed) | 5.4 GB | 395,330 | 916 | **1.600s** | 1.752s | 25.214s | **1.1x** | **16x** |
- **Faster than polars_readstat on all tested files** — 1.1–3.6x faster
- **6–16x faster than pyreadstat** across all file sizes
- No PyArrow dependency — uses Arrow PyCapsule Interface for zero-copy transfer
### Lazy Read with Pushdown
`scan_sav()` returns a Polars LazyFrame. Unlike eager reads, it only reads the data you ask for:
| test_2 (147 MB, 22K × 677) | 0.903s | 0.363s (2.5x) | 0.181s (5.0x) | **0.157s (5.7x)** |
| test_3 (1.1 GB, 79K × 915) | 0.700s | 0.554s (1.3x) | 0.020s (35x) | **0.012s (58x)** |
| test_6 (5.4 GB, 395K × 916) | 3.062s | 2.343s (1.3x) | 0.022s (139x) | **0.013s (236x)** |
On the 5.4 GB file, selecting 5 columns and 1000 rows completes in **13ms** — 236x faster than reading the full dataset.
### Write
`write_sav()` writes a Polars DataFrame + metadata back to `.sav` (bytecode) or `.zsav` (zlib). Best of 5 runs on the same machine.
| test_1 (bytecode) | 0.2 MB | 1,500 | 75 | .sav | **0.001s** | 0.019s | **13x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **0.004s** | 0.025s | **6x** |
| test_2 (bytecode) | 147 MB | 22,070 | 677 | .sav | **0.539s** | 3.622s | **7x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **0.386s** | 4.174s | **11x** |
| test_3 (uncompressed) | 1.1 GB | 79,066 | 915 | .sav | **0.439s** | 13.963s | **32x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **0.436s** | 17.991s | **41x** |
| test_4 (uncompressed) | 0.6 MB | 201 | 158 | .sav | **0.002s** | 0.027s | **16x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **0.004s** | 0.035s | **9x** |
| test_5 (uncompressed) | 0.6 MB | 203 | 136 | .sav | **0.001s** | 0.023s | **17x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **0.003s** | 0.027s | **9x** |
| test_6 (uncompressed) | 5.4 GB | 395,330 | 916 | .sav | **2.511s** | 84.836s | **34x** |
| | | | | .zsav | **2.255s** | 90.499s | **40x** |
- **6–41x faster than pyreadstat** on writes across all files and compression modes
- Full metadata roundtrip: variable labels, value labels, missing values, MR sets, display properties
- Bytecode (.sav) and zlib (.zsav) compression
## Roadmap
- `apply_missing_values()` — apply SPSS missing value definitions to DataFrames
- `meta.validate(df)` — validate metadata against a DataFrame
- Codebook export — generate variable documentation from metadata
- Continued I/O performance optimization
- Currently Polars-only — pandas/other DataFrame libraries may be added later
## License
[MIT](LICENSE)