piqi

piqi is a data serialization format and library developed by the National Science Foundation's Advanced Scientific Computing Advisory Committee (NSF ASCAC). It is designed to efficiently store and exchange data, particularly for scientific applications. piqi aims to provide a flexible and extensible alternative to existing serialization formats like Protocol Buffers and Avro.

The core of piqi is its schema definition language, which allows users to describe the structure of their data. This schema is used to generate code for various programming languages, enabling seamless data serialization and deserialization. piqi supports a range of data types and features, including nested structures, lists, maps, and unions, making it suitable for complex data representations.

One of piqi's key advantages is its ability to handle evolving data schemas. It allows for backward and forward compatibility, ensuring that applications can continue to function even when the data format changes over time. This is crucial in scientific fields where data formats may need to be updated as research progresses.

piqi's design emphasizes performance and efficiency. It aims to minimize data size and serialization/deserialization overhead, which is important for handling large datasets common in scientific computing. The library is implemented in C++ and provides bindings for other languages, allowing for integration into diverse research environments. Its development is ongoing, with a focus on further enhancing its capabilities and performance.