How to Install `dataset` in Python

v1.6.2 General Purpose MIT

Toolkit for Python-based database access.

Install pip install dataset

What is dataset?

Toolkit for Python-based database access.

In short, dataset makes reading and writing data in databases as simple as reading and writing JSON files.

Note: as of version 1.0, dataset is split into two packages, with the data export features now extracted into a stand-alone package, datafreeze. See the relevant repository here.

Documentation → PyPI page → Author: Friedrich Lindenberg, Gregor Aisch, Stefan Wehrmeyer

Quick Start

Minimal example to get started with dataset:

import dataset

print(dataset.__version__)

Installation

pip (standard)

pip install dataset

Virtual environment (recommended)

python -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate   # Windows: venv\Scripts\activate
pip install dataset

pip3

pip3 install dataset

conda

conda install -c conda-forge dataset

Poetry

poetry add dataset

Dependencies

Installing dataset will also install these packages:

sqlalchemy alembic banal

Verify the Installation

After installing, confirm the package is available:

python -c "import dataset; print(dataset.__version__)"

If this prints a version number, installation succeeded. If you see a ModuleNotFoundError, see the errors section below.

Installation Errors

Common errors when installing dataset with pip.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'dataset'

Cause: The package is not installed in the current Python environment.

Fix: Run pip install dataset. If using a virtual environment, ensure it is activated first.

ModuleNotFoundError: No module named 'dataset' (installed but still failing)

Cause: pip installed the package into a different Python than the one running your script.

Fix: Use python -m pip install dataset to install into the interpreter you are running.

ImportError: cannot import name 'X' from 'dataset'

Cause: The function or class does not exist in the installed version.

Fix: Check the version with pip show dataset and upgrade with pip install --upgrade dataset.

pip: command not found

Cause: pip is not in PATH or Python was not added to PATH during installation.

Fix: Try python -m pip install dataset. On macOS/Linux try pip3.

PermissionError: [Errno 13] Permission denied

Cause: No write access to the system Python package directory.

Fix: Use a virtual environment, or add --user: pip install --user dataset

SSL: CERTIFICATE_VERIFY_FAILED

Cause: pip cannot verify PyPI's SSL certificate — common behind corporate proxies.

Fix: Try: pip install --trusted-host pypi.org --trusted-host files.pythonhosted.org dataset

Recent Releases

Version	Released
`1.6.2` latest	2023-07-12
`1.6.0`	2023-01-30
`1.5.2`	2021-12-16
`1.5.1`	2021-11-17
`1.5.0`	2021-04-22

Full release history on PyPI →

Manage dataset

Upgrade to latest version

pip install --upgrade dataset

Install a specific version

pip install dataset==1.6.2

Uninstall

pip uninstall dataset

Check what is installed

pip show dataset

Last updated: 2026-04-11 • Data from PyPI

How to Install dataset in Python