feat(api): add ibis.asc expression

ibis/expr/api.py

@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@
     'cumulative_window',
     'date',
     'desc',
+    'asc',
     'Expr',
     'geo_area',
     'geo_as_binary',
@@ -347,6 +348,31 @@ def desc(expr: ir.ColumnExpr | str) -> ir.SortExpr | ops.DeferredSortKey:
         return ops.SortKey(expr, ascending=False).to_expr()
 
 
+def asc(expr: ir.ColumnExpr | str) -> ir.SortExpr | ops.DeferredSortKey:
+    """Create a ascending sort key from `asc` or column name.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    expr
+        The expression or column name to use for sorting
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> import ibis
+    >>> t = ibis.table([('g', 'string')])
+    >>> result = t.group_by('g').size('count').sort_by(ibis.asc('count'))
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ops.DeferredSortKey
+        A deferred sort key
+    """
+    if not isinstance(expr, Expr):
+        return ops.DeferredSortKey(expr)
+    else:
+        return ops.SortKey(expr).to_expr()
+
+
 def timestamp(
     value: str | numbers.Integral,
     timezone: str | None = None,

ibis/tests/expr/test_table.py

@@ -386,6 +386,17 @@ def test_sort_by_desc_deferred_sort_key(table):
     assert_equal(result, expected2)
 
 
+def test_sort_by_asc_deferred_sort_key(table):
+    result = table.group_by('g').size().sort_by(ibis.asc('count'))
+
+    tmp = table.group_by('g').size()
+    expected = tmp.sort_by(tmp['count'])
+    expected2 = tmp.sort_by(ibis.asc(tmp['count']))
+
+    assert_equal(result, expected)
+    assert_equal(result, expected2)
+
+
 def test_slice_convenience(table):
     expr = table[:5]
     expr2 = table[:5:1]
@@ -1218,6 +1229,10 @@ def test_sort_by2(table):
     result = m.sort_by(ibis.desc(lambda x: x.foo))
     expected = m.sort_by(ibis.desc('foo'))
     assert_equal(result, expected)
+
+    result = m.sort_by(ibis.asc(lambda x: x.foo))
+    expected = m.sort_by('foo')
+    assert_equal(result, expected)
 
 
 def test_projection2(table):