Hi All,

+1 to merge 5349 (I also approved in GH).

Cheers,
Dmitri.

On Tue, Sep 29, 2026 at 9:58 AM Alex Dutra <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> The PR [5349] has received two approvals already. Are we OK to merge it as
> is?
>
> Thanks,
> Alex
>
> [5349]: https://github.com/apache/polaris/pull/5349
>
> On Sat, Sep 26, 2026 at 1:44 AM Yufei Gu <[email protected]> wrote:
> >
> > Hi Alex,
> >
> > Thanks for the update. The PR looks good to me now.
> >
> > Creating a document to list all source-of-truth schema files in the Git
> rep
> > works for now. We can address any further improvements as follow-ups.
> >
> > Yufei
> >
> >
> > On Fri, Sep 25, 2026 at 2:28 PM Prithvi S <[email protected]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > +1 on landing #5349 this way. The version check belongs with the single
> > > schema.sql, and the upgrade notes can wait.
> > >
> > > The page still says to apply the migration SQL below, and that SQL is
> gone.
> > > What's left is a diff of schema.sql, from v6 on.
> > > I think we should still give people some SQL. A schema diff shows the
> end
> > > state, not what to run when the tables already have data.
> > > idempotency_records only exists in v4, and the v5 file says it was
> never
> > > wired up. v3 to v5 has nothing to do for that table. Running every hop
> > > creates it and then drops it. On a real v4 database, DROP TABLE IF
> EXISTS
> > > is enough, index and primary key included. I'd only list a dependency
> when
> > > the drop changes some other table we're keeping, like Ayush said.
> > > Same kind of gap elsewhere. The 1.7 events change needs an UPDATE to
> clear
> > > '__realm__', and a schema diff only shows the nullable column. The v6
> notes
> > > drop and recreate idx_locations, and Cockroach needs indexes even when
> > > version already says 6. #5349 checks that number, so the database still
> > > starts.
> > > #5437 already added the idempotency drop on the published 1.7.0 page.
> The
> > > changelog and the doc on main never picked it up.
> > > So a short note per release, only for those steps. New tables and
> columns
> > > come from the diff. Anything added and removed in between can be
> skipped.
> > >
> > > I'd keep the SQL as a file in the repo and test it the way JB
> described.
> > > Load the old schema, run the file, check columns and indexes against
> the
> > > next schema. The doc links the file.
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > > Prithvi S
> > >
> > > On Fri, Sep 25, 2026 at 6:53 PM Dmitri Bourlatchkov <[email protected]>
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Hi All,
> > > >
> > > > Alex's proposal for making progress here sounds good to me. +1 to PR
> > > [5349]
> > > > in its current state.
> > > >
> > > > I think it is also a good idea to reopen the discussion on schema
> upgrade
> > > > instructions after merging this PR.
> > > >
> > > > [5349] https://github.com/apache/polaris/pull/5349
> > > >
> > > > Cheers,
> > > > Dmitri.
> > > >
> > > > On Fri, Sep 25, 2026 at 9:03 AM Alex Dutra <[email protected]>
> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Hi Yufei, hi all,
> > > > >
> > > > > In [5349], I do believe that the instructions were complete and
> > > correct.
> > > > >
> > > > > However, in the spirit of making progress in that PR, which is
> stuck
> > > > > until we settle on this specific topic, I went ahead and removed
> ALL
> > > > > migration SQL snippets from that PR, **including** what was already
> > > > > present on main, as you requested. Only generic instructions about
> how
> > > > > to get the schema diffs were retained.
> > > > >
> > > > > I hope this move will help get that PR unstuck.
> > > > >
> > > > > But now I think this discussion thread (or a new one maybe) should
> > > > > answer a broader question: should we provide any form of specific
> SQL
> > > > > migration guidance to users, and if so, in what form?
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > Alex
> > > > >
> > > > > [5349]: https://github.com/apache/polaris/pull/5349
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thu, Sep 24, 2026 at 10:53 PM Yufei Gu <[email protected]>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > That's a net loss for end users.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > This assumes the documented instructions are correct and
> sufficient
> > > to
> > > > > > complete the upgrade. I don’t think that’s the case. For example,
> > > what
> > > > > > steps should users follow to upgrade from a schema version
> earlier
> > > than
> > > > > v4
> > > > > > to v5? Why do users need to create a table and then delete it
> during
> > > a
> > > > > > upgrade? It is getting even more complex when data backfill is
> > > needed.
> > > > > In a
> > > > > > real env, users still need to consult the versioned schema
> files,*
> > > the
> > > > > > source of truth*, to understand what has changed.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Schema upgrades are critical operations that require great care;
> > > even a
> > > > > > small error can break the system. Given these gaps, I don’t think
> > > users
> > > > > can
> > > > > > confidently rely solely on the Schema upgrades section
> > > > > > <
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> https://polaris.apache.org/releases/1.7.0/metastores/relational-jdbc/#schema-upgrades
> > > > > >
> > > > > > .
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Maintaining separate migration instructions also adds a
> maintenance
> > > > > burden
> > > > > > for the community when we already have the source of truth in the
> > > rep.
> > > > > > Besides, incomplete instructions can give users a false sense of
> > > > > confidence
> > > > > > that following the page is sufficient for a safe upgrade, which
> is
> > > > > > disastrous.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Yufei
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 6:06 AM Alex Dutra <[email protected]>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Hi Yufei,
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > This fails on older schemas that don't have the events table.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > If a user follows the migrations sequentially, the events
> table is
> > > > > > > guaranteed to exist by the time the v4 to v5 script runs. The
> > > UPDATE
> > > > > > > statement only fails if someone tries to apply the v4 to v5
> > > migration
> > > > > > > on a schema that never went through previous steps. That's an
> > > > operator
> > > > > > > error, not a documentation issue.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I'd suggest removing the entire Schema upgrades section
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > That's a net loss for end users. Why not keep it? I agree it's
> > > > subject
> > > > > > > to drift, but as I mentioned earlier, 1) it's still better than
> > > > > > > nothing, and 2) we can prevent drift by creating migration
> tests
> > > that
> > > > > > > exercise the migration steps.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > Alex
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Wed, Sep 23, 2026 at 5:18 AM Yong Zheng <[email protected]>
> > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Thanks for the feedback all. I will proceed with the change.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > Yong
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On 2026/09/22 23:45:05 Yufei Gu wrote:
> > > > > > > > > I think users shouldn't rely on SQL snippets in the upgrade
> > > guide
> > > > > as
> > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > source of truth for schema changes.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > For example: UPDATE polaris_schema.events SET catalog_id =
> NULL
> > > > > WHERE
> > > > > > > > > catalog_id = '__realm__';
> > > > > > > > > This fails on older schemas that don't have the events
> table.
> > > > Like
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > ALTER TABLE example discussed above, it shows why migration
> > > steps
> > > > > need
> > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > account for the starting schema version.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I'd suggest removing the entire Schema upgrades section
> > > > > > > > > <
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> https://polaris.apache.org/releases/1.7.0/metastores/relational-jdbc/#schema-upgrades
> > > > > > > >.
> > > > > > > > > The historical schema SQL files should remain the source of
> > > truth
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > each
> > > > > > > > > schema version. Maintaining migration SQL separately in the
> > > > > > > documentation
> > > > > > > > > is prone to errors and drift.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 22, 2026 at 10:40 AM Alex Dutra <
> [email protected]
> > > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Hi all,
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > I agree with Ayush. For the record, I initially included
> a
> > > DROP
> > > > > INDEX
> > > > > > > > > > statement in my own PR [5349], but in hindsight, I think
> that
> > > > > was a
> > > > > > > > > > bad idea that sparked this whole discussion. I apologize
> for
> > > > > that.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > #5349 removes the runtime fallback and makes the
> migration
> > > > > > > mandatory
> > > > > > > > > > with a fail fast on version mismatch. That turns these
> > > snippets
> > > > > from
> > > > > > > > > > advisory into load bearing, and today they are
> > > > > > > > > > untested prose [...] the durable fix is a test per
> backend
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > +1000. That is my intention as soon as [5349] gets
> merged. I
> > > > > think we
> > > > > > > > > > can also improve on the visual presentation and propose
> > > > migration
> > > > > > > > > > steps for each database type, using Docsy tabbed panes
> [1].
> > > But
> > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > > PR is already big, so I think we need to move forward
> > > > > incrementally
> > > > > > > > > > here.
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > > Alex
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > [1]:
> > > > https://www.docsy.dev/docs/content/shortcodes/#tabbed-panes
> > > > > > > > > > [5349]: https://github.com/apache/polaris/pull/5349
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 22, 2026 at 6:30 AM Jean-Baptiste Onofré <
> > > > > > > [email protected]>
> > > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Hi guys,
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > +1 to what Ayush said: I would keep the upgrade as a
> single
> > > > > DROP
> > > > > > > TABLE IF
> > > > > > > > > > > EXISTS polaris_schema.idempotency_records.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > The decisive argument for me is that the block is
> > > documented
> > > > as
> > > > > > > covering
> > > > > > > > > > > "an existing v3/v4 database". One snippet, two source
> > > > > versions, so
> > > > > > > every
> > > > > > > > > > > statement in it has to be a no-op on the lower one. v3
> > > never
> > > > > had
> > > > > > > > > > > idempotency_records (it is created in the v3 -> v4
> > > section),
> > > > so
> > > > > > > ALTER
> > > > > > > > > > TABLE
> > > > > > > > > > > ... DROP CONSTRAINT idempotency_records_pkey fails
> there,
> > > and
> > > > > with
> > > > > > > > > > > ON_ERROR_STOP the rest of the "migration" never runs.
> DROP
> > > > > TABLE IF
> > > > > > > > > > EXISTS
> > > > > > > > > > > is a no-op on v3 and correct on v4. That property is
> worth
> > > > > more to
> > > > > > > > > > > operators than explicitness.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > On the revert motivation: drop statements do not
> record how
> > > > to
> > > > > > > recreate
> > > > > > > > > > > anything. A "downgrade" needs the CREATE statements,
> and
> > > > those
> > > > > > > already
> > > > > > > > > > > exist in schema-v4.sql and are repeated in the v3 -> v4
> > > > > section of
> > > > > > > #5349.
> > > > > > > > > > > Listing more drops adds nothing there imho. If we want
> > > > > documented
> > > > > > > > > > downgrade
> > > > > > > > > > > later, it should be its own script of CREATE
> statements.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Also, idempotency_records_pkey is just the PostgreSQL
> > > default
> > > > > > > constraint
> > > > > > > > > > > name. A deployment where the constraint was created
> under a
> > > > > > > different
> > > > > > > > > > name
> > > > > > > > > > > fails the ALTER and succeeds on the DROP TABLE. We
> claim
> > > > > > > PostgreSQL,
> > > > > > > > > > > CockroachDB and H2 for this block, so I would avoid
> > > generated
> > > > > > > names in
> > > > > > > > > > > operator facing SQL.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > As a convention, Ayush carve-out is the right line:
> list a
> > > > > > > dependency
> > > > > > > > > > only
> > > > > > > > > > > when the drop reaches outside the object being removed,
> > > > > typically a
> > > > > > > > > > foreign
> > > > > > > > > > > key from a table we are keeping, where CASCADE silently
> > > > alters
> > > > > that
> > > > > > > > > > > retained table. That is an operator visible side
> effect and
> > > > > > > belongs in
> > > > > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > > instructions. Cascades confined to the dropped object
> are
> > > > > noise.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > One broader point while we are here: #5349 removes the
> > > > runtime
> > > > > > > fallback
> > > > > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > > > makes the migration mandatory with a fail fast on
> version
> > > > > > > mismatch. That
> > > > > > > > > > > turns these snippets from advisory into load bearing,
> and
> > > > today
> > > > > > > they are
> > > > > > > > > > > untested prose (which is how a statement that errors on
> > > > > PostgreSQL
> > > > > > > got as
> > > > > > > > > > > far as it did). I think the durable fix is a test per
> > > > backend:
> > > > > > > bootstrap
> > > > > > > > > > > schema-vN, apply the documented N -> N+1 SQL, assert
> the
> > > > result
> > > > > > > matches
> > > > > > > > > > > schema-v(N+1). That would catch this class of issue in
> CI
> > > > > rather
> > > > > > > than on
> > > > > > > > > > > the list. Happy to open an issue for it.
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Regards
> > > > > > > > > > > JB
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > On Tue, Sep 22, 2026 at 4:16 AM Yong Zheng <
> > > > [email protected]>
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Hello all,
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > I would like to start this discussion regarding if we
> > > > should
> > > > > > > list out
> > > > > > > > > > > > cascading dependency deletion during schema version
> > > change
> > > > > (see
> > > > > > > sample
> > > > > > > > > > > > reference in
> https://github.com/apache/polaris/pull/5437
> > > ).
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > With the sample reference, we will be dropping table
> > > > > > > > > > > > polaris_schema.idempotency_records which has index
> > > > > > > > > > > > "polaris_schema.idx_idemp_realm_expires" and PK on
> > > > > > > > > > > > "idempotency_records_pkey".
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > When we drop the table, it would drop the PK along
> with
> > > > index
> > > > > > > during
> > > > > > > > > > > > cascading dependency deletion. One reason to keep
> those
> > > is
> > > > to
> > > > > > > easy the
> > > > > > > > > > > > revert process if we need to do so. However, keeping
> all
> > > of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > > > dependencies listed out is a bit tedious and add
> > > over-head
> > > > > for
> > > > > > > regular
> > > > > > > > > > > > schema upgrade (in this case, instead of running one
> drop
> > > > > sql,
> > > > > > > we would
> > > > > > > > > > > > need to do 2 drop plus 1 alter table sql statements).
> > > > > Thoughts?
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > > > > Yong
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
>

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