ray-data

Scale ML data preprocessing and batch inference with Ray Data across distributed workers.

Updated May 2, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/qcmuu/AI-Research-Skills --skill ray-data-qcmuu
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: ray-data
Source: https://github.com/qcmuu/AI-Research-Skills/tree/main/05-data-processing/ray-data
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/qcmuu/AI-Research-Skills --skill ray-data-qcmuu

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires ray[data], pyarrow, pandas, and includes references (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

Ray Data solves slow, memory-bound data preprocessing and batch inference by distributing streaming dataset operations across CPU/GPU clusters.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Streaming execution for large datasets: Process datasets larger than RAM using lazy, block-based pipelines suitable for >100GB workloads.
  • Distributed transformations: Apply fast vectorized batch transforms (map_batches), filtering, grouping, and custom aggregations for ETL and feature prep.
  • Framework integration and multi-format I/O: Read/write Parquet/CSV/JSON/images and integrate with Ray Train alongside PyTorch and TensorFlow for scalable training-time ingestion.

Use this for a real scenario like multi-modal batch inference where you load images from object storage, run GPU-accelerated preprocessing, and write processed outputs back to Parquet for later training.

Quick Start

Use the ray-data skill to read Parquet data from an S3 path, apply a batch transformation that lowercases text fields, and stream the resulting batches for inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions about ray-data

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I scale ML data preprocessing when my dataset is larger than RAM?

Distributed data preprocessing handles datasets larger than RAM by using Ray Data's lazy, block-based streaming execution across distributed CPU or GPU clusters.

How do I apply batch transformations to Parquet data using Ray Data?

You can apply batch transformations to Parquet data by reading the files from storage like S3 and using the map_batches operator for fast, vectorized ETL operations on streaming blocks.

Can I use Ray Data for multi-modal image loading and GPU preprocessing?

Ray Data supports multi-modal loading like reading images from object storage and executing optional GPU-accelerated preprocessing for batch inference workloads.

Does Ray Data integrate with PyTorch and TensorFlow for distributed training?

Ray Data integrates with Ray Train to provide scalable training-time data ingestion for PyTorch and TensorFlow workflows, enabling sharded dataset handling across workers.

What is the best way to run distributed ETL pipelines on large datasets?

Running distributed ETL pipelines on large datasets is best handled by Ray Data, which applies fast vectorized batch transforms, filtering, grouping, and custom aggregations across workers.

What file formats are supported for reading and writing in Ray Data pipelines?

Ray Data pipelines support reading and writing multi-format I/O including Parquet, CSV, JSON, and images for scalable machine learning data ingestion and export.