feat(datasets): accept pep version spec in read_dataset

src/datachain/catalog/catalog.py

@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
     DatasetInvalidVersionError,
     DatasetNotFoundError,
     DatasetVersionNotFoundError,
+    NamespaceNotFoundError,
     ProjectNotFoundError,
     QueryScriptCancelError,
     QueryScriptRunError,
@@ -1107,21 +1108,26 @@ def get_dataset_with_remote_fallback(
         namespace_name: str,
         project_name: str,
         version: Optional[str] = None,
+        pull_dataset: bool = False,
+        update: bool = False,
     ) -> DatasetRecord:
-        try:
-            project = self.metastore.get_project(project_name, namespace_name)
-            ds = self.get_dataset(name, project)
-            if version and not ds.has_version(version):
-                raise DatasetVersionNotFoundError(
-                    f"Dataset {name} does not have version {version}"
-                )
-            return ds
+        if self.metastore.is_local_dataset(namespace_name) or not update:
+            try:
+                project = self.metastore.get_project(project_name, namespace_name)
+                ds = self.get_dataset(name, project)
+                if not version or ds.has_version(version):
+                    return ds
+            except (NamespaceNotFoundError, ProjectNotFoundError, DatasetNotFoundError):
+                pass
+
+        if self.metastore.is_local_dataset(namespace_name):
+            raise DatasetNotFoundError(
+                f"Dataset {name}"
+                + (f" version {version} " if version else " ")
+                + "not found"
+            )
 
-        except (
-            ProjectNotFoundError,
-            DatasetNotFoundError,
-            DatasetVersionNotFoundError,
-        ):
+        if pull_dataset:
             print("Dataset not found in local catalog, trying to get from studio")
             remote_ds_uri = create_dataset_uri(
                 name, namespace_name, project_name, version
@@ -1136,6 +1142,8 @@ def get_dataset_with_remote_fallback(
                 name, self.metastore.get_project(project_name, namespace_name)
             )
 
+        return self.get_remote_dataset(namespace_name, project_name, name)
+
     def get_dataset_with_version_uuid(self, uuid: str) -> DatasetRecord:
         """Returns dataset that contains version with specific uuid"""
         for dataset in self.ls_datasets():
@@ -1152,6 +1160,10 @@ def get_remote_dataset(
 
         info_response = studio_client.dataset_info(namespace, project, name)
         if not info_response.ok:
+            if info_response.status == 404:
+                raise DatasetNotFoundError(
+                    f"Dataset {namespace}.{project}.{name} not found"
+                )
             raise DataChainError(info_response.message)
 
         dataset_info = info_response.data

src/datachain/dataset.py

@@ -12,6 +12,9 @@
 )
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
+from packaging.specifiers import SpecifierSet
+from packaging.version import Version
+
 from datachain import semver
 from datachain.error import DatasetVersionNotFoundError, InvalidDatasetNameError
 from datachain.namespace import Namespace
@@ -661,13 +664,39 @@ def latest_major_version(self, major: int) -> Optional[str]:
             return None
         return max(versions).version
 
-    @property
-    def prev_version(self) -> Optional[str]:
-        """Returns previous version of a dataset"""
-        if len(self.versions) == 1:
+    def latest_compatible_version(self, version_spec: str) -> Optional[str]:
+        """
+        Returns the latest version that matches the given version specifier.
+
+        Supports Python version specifiers like:
+        - ">=1.0.0,<2.0.0" (compatible release range)
+        - "~=1.4.2" (compatible release clause)
+        - "==1.2.*" (prefix matching)
+        - ">1.0.0" (exclusive ordered comparison)
+        - ">=1.0.0" (inclusive ordered comparison)
+        - "!=1.3.0" (version exclusion)
+
+        Args:
+            version_spec: Version specifier string following PEP 440
+
+        Returns:
+            Latest compatible version string, or None if no compatible version found
+        """
+        spec_set = SpecifierSet(version_spec)
+
+        # Convert dataset versions to packaging.Version objects
+        # and filter compatible ones
+        compatible_versions = []
+        for v in self.versions:
+            pkg_version = Version(v.version)
+            if spec_set.contains(pkg_version):
+                compatible_versions.append(v)
+
+        if not compatible_versions:
             return None
 
-        return sorted(self.versions)[-2].version
+        # Return the latest compatible version
+        return max(compatible_versions).version
 
     @classmethod
     def from_dict(cls, d: dict[str, Any]) -> "DatasetRecord":

src/datachain/lib/dc/datasets.py

@@ -7,9 +7,6 @@
     ProjectNotFoundError,
 )
 from datachain.lib.dataset_info import DatasetInfo
-from datachain.lib.file import (
-    File,
-)
 from datachain.lib.projects import get as get_project
 from datachain.lib.settings import Settings
 from datachain.lib.signal_schema import SignalSchema
@@ -34,7 +31,6 @@ def read_dataset(
     version: Optional[Union[str, int]] = None,
     session: Optional[Session] = None,
     settings: Optional[dict] = None,
-    fallback_to_studio: bool = True,
     delta: Optional[bool] = False,
     delta_on: Optional[Union[str, Sequence[str]]] = (
         "file.path",
@@ -44,6 +40,7 @@ def read_dataset(
     delta_result_on: Optional[Union[str, Sequence[str]]] = None,
     delta_compare: Optional[Union[str, Sequence[str]]] = None,
     delta_retry: Optional[Union[bool, str]] = None,
+    update: bool = False,
 ) -> "DataChain":
     """Get data from a saved Dataset. It returns the chain itself.
     If dataset or version is not found locally, it will try to pull it from Studio.
@@ -55,11 +52,12 @@ def read_dataset(
             set; otherwise, default values will be applied.
         namespace : optional name of namespace in which dataset to read is created
         project : optional name of project in which dataset to read is created
-        version : dataset version
+        version : dataset version. Supports:
+            - Exact version strings: "1.2.3"
+            - Legacy integer versions: 1, 2, 3 (finds latest major version)
+            - Version specifiers (PEP 440): ">=1.0.0,<2.0.0", "~=1.4.2", "==1.2.*", etc.
         session : Session to use for the chain.
         settings : Settings to use for the chain.
-        fallback_to_studio : Try to pull dataset from Studio if not found locally.
-            Default is True.
         delta: If True, only process new or changed files instead of reprocessing
             everything. This saves time by skipping files that were already processed in
             previous versions. The optimization is working when a new version of the
@@ -79,6 +77,8 @@ def read_dataset(
               (error mode)
             - True: Reprocess records missing from the result dataset (missing mode)
             - None: No retry processing (default)
+        update: If True, it checks updates for the updates of the dataset on the Studio
+            side.
 
     Example:
         ```py
@@ -92,11 +92,17 @@ def read_dataset(
         ```
 
         ```py
-        chain = dc.read_dataset("my_cats", fallback_to_studio=False)
+        chain = dc.read_dataset("my_cats", version="1.0.0")
         ```
 
         ```py
-        chain = dc.read_dataset("my_cats", version="1.0.0")
+        # Using version specifiers (PEP 440)
+        chain = dc.read_dataset("my_cats", version=">=1.0.0,<2.0.0")
+        ```
+
+        ```py
+        # Legacy integer version support (finds latest in major version)
+        chain = dc.read_dataset("my_cats", version=1)  # Latest 1.x.x version
         ```
 
         ```py
@@ -113,14 +119,15 @@ def read_dataset(
             version="1.0.0",
             session=session,
             settings=settings,
-            fallback_to_studio=True,
         )
         ```
     """
     from datachain.telemetry import telemetry
 
     from .datachain import DataChain
 
+    telemetry.send_event_once("class", "datachain_init", name=name, version=version)
+
     session = Session.get(session)
     catalog = session.catalog
 
@@ -131,31 +138,37 @@ def read_dataset(
     )
 
     if version is not None:
+        dataset = session.catalog.get_dataset_with_remote_fallback(
+            name, namespace_name, project_name, update=update
+        )
+
+        # Convert legacy integer versions to version specifiers
+        # For backward compatibility we still allow users to put version as integer
+        # in which case we convert it to a version specifier that finds the latest
+        # version where major part is equal to that input version.
+        # For example if user sets version=2, we convert it to ">=2.0.0,<3.0.0"
+        # which will find something like 2.4.3 (assuming 2.4.3 is the biggest among
+        # all 2.* dataset versions)
+        if isinstance(version, int):
+            version_spec = f">={version}.0.0,<{version + 1}.0.0"
+        else:
+            version_spec = str(version)
+
+        from packaging.specifiers import InvalidSpecifier, SpecifierSet
+
         try:
-            # for backward compatibility we still allow users to put version as integer
-            # in which case we are trying to find latest version where major part is
-            # equal to that input version. For example if user sets version=2, we could
-            # continue with something like 2.4.3 (assuming 2.4.3 is the biggest among
-            # all 2.* dataset versions). If dataset doesn't have any versions where
-            # major part is equal to that input, exception is thrown.
-            major = int(version)
-            try:
-                ds_project = get_project(project_name, namespace_name, session=session)
-            except ProjectNotFoundError:
-                raise DatasetNotFoundError(
-                    f"Dataset {name} not found in namespace {namespace_name} and",
-                    f" project {project_name}",
-                ) from None
-
-            dataset = session.catalog.get_dataset(name, ds_project)
-            latest_major = dataset.latest_major_version(major)
-            if not latest_major:
+            # Try to parse as version specifier
+            SpecifierSet(version_spec)
+            # If it's a valid specifier set, find the latest compatible version
+            latest_compatible = dataset.latest_compatible_version(version_spec)
+            if not latest_compatible:
                 raise DatasetVersionNotFoundError(
-                    f"Dataset {name} does not have version {version}"
+                    f"No dataset {name} version matching specifier {version_spec}"
                 )
-            version = latest_major
-        except ValueError:
-            # version is in new semver string format, continuing as normal
+            version = latest_compatible
+        except InvalidSpecifier:
+            # If not a valid specifier, treat as exact version string
+            # This handles cases like "1.2.3" which are exact versions, not specifiers
             pass
 
     if settings:
@@ -169,11 +182,8 @@ def read_dataset(
         namespace_name=namespace_name,
         version=version,  #  type: ignore[arg-type]
         session=session,
-        indexing_column_types=File._datachain_column_types,
-        fallback_to_studio=fallback_to_studio,
     )
 
-    telemetry.send_event_once("class", "datachain_init", name=name, version=version)
     signals_schema = SignalSchema({"sys": Sys})
     if query.feature_schema:
         signals_schema |= SignalSchema.deserialize(query.feature_schema)

src/datachain/lib/dc/listings.py

@@ -127,12 +127,8 @@ def read_listing_dataset(
     if version is None:
         version = dataset.latest_version
 
-    query = DatasetQuery(
-        name=name,
-        session=session,
-        indexing_column_types=File._datachain_column_types,
-        fallback_to_studio=False,
-    )
+    query = DatasetQuery(name=name, session=session)
+
     if settings:
         cfg = {**settings}
         if "prefetch" not in cfg:

src/datachain/lib/projects.py

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def get(name: str, namespace: str, session: Optional[Session]) -> Project:
         ```py
         import datachain as dc
         from datachain.lib.projects import get as get_project
-        project  = get_project("my-project", "local")
+        project = get_project("my-project", "local")
         ```
     """
     return Session.get(session).catalog.metastore.get_project(name, namespace)

src/datachain/query/dataset.py

@@ -1099,13 +1099,9 @@ def __init__(
         namespace_name: Optional[str] = None,
         catalog: Optional["Catalog"] = None,
         session: Optional[Session] = None,
-        indexing_column_types: Optional[dict[str, Any]] = None,
         in_memory: bool = False,
-        fallback_to_studio: bool = True,
         update: bool = False,
     ) -> None:
-        from datachain.remote.studio import is_token_set
-
         self.session = Session.get(session, catalog=catalog, in_memory=in_memory)
         self.catalog = catalog or self.session.catalog
         self.steps: list[Step] = []
@@ -1137,18 +1133,16 @@ def __init__(
             # not setting query step yet as listing dataset might not exist at
             # this point
             self.list_ds_name = name
-        elif fallback_to_studio and is_token_set():
+        else:
             self._set_starting_step(
                 self.catalog.get_dataset_with_remote_fallback(
                     name,
                     namespace_name=namespace_name,
                     project_name=project_name,
                     version=version,
+                    pull_dataset=True,
                 )
             )
-        else:
-            project = self.catalog.metastore.get_project(project_name, namespace_name)
-            self._set_starting_step(self.catalog.get_dataset(name, project=project))
 
     def _set_starting_step(self, ds: "DatasetRecord") -> None:
         if not self.version:

src/datachain/remote/studio.py

@@ -78,10 +78,11 @@ def _parse_dates(obj: dict, date_fields: list[str]):
 
 
 class Response(Generic[T]):
-    def __init__(self, data: T, ok: bool, message: str) -> None:
+    def __init__(self, data: T, ok: bool, message: str, status: int) -> None:
         self.data = data
         self.ok = ok
         self.message = message
+        self.status = status
 
     def __repr__(self):
         return (
@@ -186,7 +187,7 @@ def _send_request_msgpack(
             message = "Indexing in progress"
         else:
             message = content.get("message", "")
-        return Response(response_data, ok, message)
+        return Response(response_data, ok, message, response.status_code)
 
     @retry_with_backoff(retries=3, errors=(HTTPError, Timeout))
     def _send_request(
@@ -236,7 +237,7 @@ def _send_request(
         else:
             message = ""
 
-        return Response(data, ok, message)
+        return Response(data, ok, message, response.status_code)
 
     @staticmethod
     def _unpacker_hook(code, data):

tests/func/test_dataset_query.py

@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@
 import sqlalchemy
 
 from datachain.dataset import DatasetDependencyType, DatasetStatus
-from datachain.error import (
-    DatasetVersionNotFoundError,
-)
+from datachain.error import DatasetNotFoundError
 from datachain.lib.listing import parse_listing_uri
 from datachain.query import C, DatasetQuery, Object, Stream
 from datachain.sql.functions import path as pathfunc
@@ -70,7 +68,7 @@ def test_save_multiple_versions(cloud_test_catalog, animal_dataset):
     assert DatasetQuery(name=ds_name, version="1.0.1", catalog=catalog).count() == 3
     assert DatasetQuery(name=ds_name, version="1.0.2", catalog=catalog).count() == 3
 
-    with pytest.raises(DatasetVersionNotFoundError):
+    with pytest.raises(DatasetNotFoundError):
         DatasetQuery(name=ds_name, version="4.0.0", catalog=catalog).count()