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Open Diffix
What it is
Open Diffix is an open-source project for anonymizing structured data. Its SynDiffix Python package creates synthetic datasets intended to remain statistically accurate while preserving strong anonymity. The package is aimed especially at descriptive analytics, including histograms, heatmaps, column correlations, counts, averages, and standard deviations. It can generate a separate synthetic table for each analytic task and maintain anonymity across many column combinations. Machine-learning use is possible, although the maker says it is somewhat less easy for those applications. A distributable blob can let others generate synthetic tables, but users must install SynDiffix, and blobs currently do not scale well beyond about 10 columns. Installation uses pip and requires Python 3.10 or later. For data with multiple rows per protected entity, the entity identifier must be supplied separately or anonymity may be compromised. The project also includes pg_diffix, a PostgreSQL extension for aggregate answers to a very limited SQL subset; development is paused and PostgreSQL 13 or higher is required.
For and against
For
- Open-source tools for structured-data anonymization
- Synthetic data supports descriptive analytics
- Separate datasets can target individual use cases
- API and on-premises deployment are listed
- Email and GitHub support channels are available
Against
- SynDiffix requires Python 3.10 or later
- Blobs scale poorly beyond about 10 columns
- Entity identifiers must be supplied separately in some data
- pg_diffix development is currently paused
The verdict
Open Diffix centers on synthetic data for analytics while documenting conditions that affect anonymity and scale. Its paused pg_diffix component and runtime requirements deserve attention during planning.
Who it suits
It suits teams generating anonymized synthetic data for descriptive analysis and tailored datasets. PostgreSQL users can consider pg_diffix when its narrow query scope and paused development fit their needs.
On the record
- Analytics
- SynDiffix is especially suited to descriptive analytics, including histograms, heatmaps, column correlations, counts, averages, and standard deviations.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Blob limit
- The maker’s repository says SynDiffix blobs currently do not scale well beyond about 10 columns.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Distribution
- SynDiffix supports creating a distributable blob from which users can generate synthetic tables, and the maker says users need to install SynDiffix to use a blob.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Install
- The SynDiffix repository says to install the package with pip and requires Python 3.10 or later.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Machine learning
- SynDiffix can be used for machine learning, though the maker says it is somewhat less easy to use for ML applications.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Origins
- The underlying technology for Open Diffix tools was developed by the Max Planck Institute for Software Systems in partnership with the former Aircloak GmbH.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- pg_diffix
- pg_diffix is a PostgreSQL extension that returns aggregate anonymized answers for a limited subset of SQL queries, and its development is currently paused.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- pg_diffix compatibility
- The pg_diffix repository says PostgreSQL version 13 or higher is required and documents installation on Linux and Windows.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- pg_diffix limitations
- The Open Diffix site says pg_diffix only returns aggregate answers consisting of column values and associated counts for a very limited subset of SQL, and is less flexible than SynDiffix.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- pg_diffix requirements
- The pg_diffix repository requires PostgreSQL 13 or higher and documents installation for Linux and Windows.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- pg_diffix support
- The maker says pg_diffix development is currently paused and invites interested project teams to contact them.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- PostgreSQL extension
- pg_diffix is a PostgreSQL extension that returns aggregate anonymized answers to a very limited subset of SQL queries.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Project
- Open Diffix is an open-source project developing tools for anonymizing structured data.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Protected entities
- For data with multiple rows per protected entity, the entity identifier must be supplied separately or anonymity may be compromised.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- SynDiffix installs with pip and requires Python 3.10 or later.github.com · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker invites questions and requests for help or advice by email and bug reports or feature requests through GitHub issues.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- SynDiffix
- SynDiffix is a Python package for generating statistically accurate and strongly anonymous synthetic data from structured data.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
- Tailored datasets
- SynDiffix is designed to generate a separate synthetic dataset tailored to each use case, and the site says it can support thousands of column combinations while preserving anonymity.open-diffix.org · read 8 Oct 2026
