dpyb

A simple, dependency-free, file-based Python database.

dpyb is a lightweight database that stores all its data in a single Python-readable file with the .dpyb.py extension. Every table is a plain Python dictionary, so you can read, inspect, and even version-control your database with Git.

• Zero dependencies — only the Python standard library
• Human-readable format — data is stored as plain Python dicts
• Automatic backups — every write operation creates a timestamped backup (can be disabled)
• Simple API — 13 functions, no classes to learn
• Consistent tables — rows and columns never go out of sync

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Requirements

• Python 3.12 or newer

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Installation

pip install dpyb

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Quick start

import dpyb

# Create a new database
dpyb.CreateDataBase("mydb")

# Add a table
dpyb.AddTableToDataBase("mydb", "users")

# Add 5 empty rows and 2 extra columns
dpyb.AddRow("mydb", "users", 5)      # 6 rows total
dpyb.AddColumn("mydb", "users", 2)   # 3 columns total

# Fill some cells
dpyb.WriteData("mydb", "users", 1, 1, "Ali")
dpyb.WriteData("mydb", "users", 1, 2, 25)
dpyb.WriteData("mydb", "users", 1, 3, "Tehran")

# Read a cell
print(dpyb.ReadData("mydb", "users", 1, 1))   # "Ali"

The file mydb.dpyb.py will look like this:

# a d-py-b database file, DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
# d-py-b, a simple python database by darkstarshine2011

# ---

users = {
    1: {1: 'Ali', 2: 25, 3: 'Tehran'},
    2: {1: '', 2: '', 3: ''},
    3: {1: '', 2: '', 3: ''},
    4: {1: '', 2: '', 3: ''},
    5: {1: '', 2: '', 3: ''},
    6: {1: '', 2: '', 3: ''},
}

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Data model

A dpyb database is a set of tables. Each table is a dictionary:

Table = {
    RowID: { ColumnID: Value, ColumnID: Value, ... },
    RowID: { ColumnID: Value, ColumnID: Value, ... },
}

Example:

users = {
    1: {1: "Ali",  2: 25, 3: "Tehran"},
    2: {1: "Sara", 2: 30, 3: "Shiraz"},
    3: {1: "Reza", 2: 40, 3: "Mashhad"},
}

• Row IDs and Column IDs are integers.
• Values can be any Python literal: str, int, float, bool, None, list, dict, tuple.

How AddRow and AddColumn work

• AddRow(db, table, N) adds N new rows. Each new row inherits every column that already exists in the table, filled with "".
• AddColumn(db, table, N) adds N new columns to every row in the table, filled with "".
• A newly created table starts with 1 row and 1 column.

This means you never have to worry about rows and columns getting out of sync. Every row always has exactly the same set of columns.

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API Reference

Note: All write operations (AddTableToDataBase, AddRow, AddColumn, WriteData, DeleteRow, DeleteColumn, DeleteTable) accept an optional Backup parameter. It defaults to True. Set it to False to skip creating a backup (useful for bulk operations).

GetDataBaseName(DataBaseFile)

Normalizes a database filename. Adds the .dpyb.py extension if missing.

dpyb.GetDataBaseName("mydb")        # "mydb.dpyb.py"
dpyb.GetDataBaseName("mydb.dpyb")   # "mydb.dpyb.py"
dpyb.GetDataBaseName("mydb.py")     # "mydb.dpyb.py"

CreateDataBase(DataBaseFile)

Creates a new, empty database file. Overwrites the file if it already exists.

dpyb.CreateDataBase("mydb")

CreateBackup(DataBaseFile)

Creates a timestamped backup of the database in the Backup/ folder.

This is called automatically by every write operation (unless Backup=False), so you rarely need to call it manually.

AddTableToDataBase(DataBaseFile, TableName, Backup=True)

Adds a new table to the database. The table starts with 1 row and 1 column, both empty. Does nothing if the table already exists.

dpyb.AddTableToDataBase("mydb", "users")

AddRow(DataBaseFile, TableName, Rows=1, Backup=True)

Adds Rows new rows to the table. Each new row inherits all existing columns, filled with "". Default is 1 row.

dpyb.AddRow("mydb", "users")      # 1 new row
dpyb.AddRow("mydb", "users", 5)   # 5 new rows

AddColumn(DataBaseFile, TableName, Columns=1, Backup=True)

Adds Columns new columns to every row of the table, filled with "". Default is 1 column.

dpyb.AddColumn("mydb", "users")      # 1 new column
dpyb.AddColumn("mydb", "users", 3)   # 3 new columns

ReadData(DataBaseFile, TableName, Row, Column)

Returns the value of a single cell.

Name = dpyb.ReadData("mydb", "users", 1, 1)   # "Ali"

WriteData(DataBaseFile, TableName, Row, Column, Value, Backup=True)

Writes a value into a single cell.

dpyb.WriteData("mydb", "users", 1, 2, 26)

DeleteRow(DataBaseFile, TableName, Row, Backup=True)

Deletes a row from the table.

dpyb.DeleteRow("mydb", "users", 2)

DeleteColumn(DataBaseFile, TableName, Column, Backup=True)

Deletes a column from every row of the table.

dpyb.DeleteColumn("mydb", "users", 3)

DeleteTable(DataBaseFile, TableName, Backup=True)

Deletes an entire table from the database.

dpyb.DeleteTable("mydb", "users")

ListTables(DataBaseFile)

Returns a list of all table names.

dpyb.ListTables("mydb")   # ["users", "posts"]

GetTable(DataBaseFile, TableName)

Returns the entire table as a Python dictionary.

Users = dpyb.GetTable("mydb", "users")

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Examples

The examples/ folder contains ready-to-run scripts, from a basic hello-world to a small inventory system.

#	File	What it shows
01	Getting started	Create a database, add a table, write and read a cell
02	Adding rows and columns	How AddRow and AddColumn keep tables consistent
03	Reading and writing cells	Fill a small table cell by cell
04	Iterating over a table	Loop through every row and every cell
05	Multiple tables	One database, many independent tables
06	Deleting	Delete rows, columns, and full tables
07	Filling from a list	Populate a table from a Python list
08	Simple todo list	A tiny command-line app with state
09	Searching and filtering	Find rows matching a condition
10	Contact book	Add / find / delete a contact
11	Statistics on a table	Sum, average, min, max with plain Python
12	Copying a table	Duplicate a table inside the same database
13	Nested data	Store lists and dicts inside cells
14	Inventory system	A small shop inventory with sell / restock
15	Complete workflow	End-to-end tour of the entire API
16	Disabling backups	Use Backup=False for bulk operations

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Backups

By default, every write operation creates a timestamped backup inside a Backup/ folder next to your script.

Backup/
├── 20261005_120000_123456.dpyb.py.backup
├── 20261005_120015_654321.dpyb.py.backup
└── ...

Disabling backups

If you are doing a large number of writes at once (e.g., filling a big table in a loop), creating a backup for every single write can slow things down and flood your hard drive with thousands of files. You can disable backups for individual calls by passing Backup=False:

# Do one backup manually before the bulk operation
dpyb.CreateBackup("mydb")

# Add 100 rows without creating 100 backup files
for i in range(100):
    dpyb.AddRow("mydb", "users", 1, Backup=False)

Read operations (ReadData, GetTable, ListTables) do not create backups.

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Notes

• Database files use the .dpyb.py extension and should not be edited by hand. They are valid Python files, but a wrong edit can break the parser.
• dpyb has zero external dependencies.
• Not designed for concurrent writes. If multiple processes write to the same database at the same time, data loss may occur.
• Not designed for large datasets. Every write reads and rewrites the entire file.

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License

This project is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0 or later (AGPL-3.0-or-later). See the LICENSE file for the full text.

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Author

Made by darkstarshine2011

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Credits

• Library code — darkstarshine2011
• Examples — written by DeepSeek