[HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; Do you think, so it has sense? Regards Pavel
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
On Sun, Sep 21, 2014 at 9:27 PM, Pavel Stehule pavel.steh...@gmail.com wrote: Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; I guess that might be quite useful, otherwise the only way that comes to mind to do this would be something along the lines of: select *,sum(case when reason lastreason then 1 else 0 end) over (order by start) as chg_num from (select *,lag(reason) over (order by start) vnext from sometable) sometable; This way might not be too bad as I think the outer window will have no need to perform another sort, since the inner window clause has sorted it the right way already. Though something like change_number() would make this a bit more pretty. It's almost like rank(), but with a parameter. Regards David Rowley
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
Hi Pavel (and others), Pavel Stehule wrote: Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; What about select srk.reason, min(srk.start), sum(srk.km) from start_reason_km srk group by srk.reason, (select max(start) from start_reason_km other WHERE other.start srk.start and other.reason != srk.reason); In general, I think window function are very specific in how the queryplan must look like, leaving not much room for the optimizer. On the other hand, if there happends to be an efficient way to get the results of the table ordered by start, then the window function will very likely much faster then a join. I would be nice if the optimizer is able to add such stream order operations. Do you think, so it has sense? Regards Pavel Regards, Mart PS: This is my first post to the mailing list. I am a software developer interest is performance making webapplications with a different database server during working hours. -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
2014-09-21 14:30 GMT+02:00 Mart Kelder m...@kelder31.nl: Hi Pavel (and others), Pavel Stehule wrote: Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; What about select srk.reason, min(srk.start), sum(srk.km) from start_reason_km srk group by srk.reason, (select max(start) from start_reason_km other WHERE other.start srk.start and other.reason != srk.reason); This query is Cartesian product, so for some large data it is significantly slower then window function (required only sorts without joins) My motivation was a) to implement described task without Cartesian product. b) introduce some tool for this kind of problems. I seen more times a request .. reduce a time series, and a window function change_number (or maybe consistent_series_number) can be good candidate. In general, I think window function are very specific in how the queryplan must look like, leaving not much room for the optimizer. On the other hand, if there happends to be an efficient way to get the results of the table ordered by start, then the window function will very likely much faster then a join. I would be nice if the optimizer is able to add such stream order operations. Do you think, so it has sense? Regards Pavel Regards, Mart PS: This is my first post to the mailing list. I am a software developer interest is performance making webapplications with a different database server during working hours. -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
Hi Pavel (and others), Op zondag 21 september 2014 15:35:46 schreef u: 2014-09-21 14:30 GMT+02:00 Mart Kelder m...@kelder31.nl: Hi Pavel (and others), Pavel Stehule wrote: Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; What about select srk.reason, min(srk.start), sum(srk.km) from start_reason_km srk group by srk.reason, (select max(start) from start_reason_km other WHERE other.start srk.start and other.reason != srk.reason); This query is Cartesian product, so for some large data it is significantly slower then window function (required only sorts without joins) I think we have the same queryplan in mind (with only one scan). As far as I know, SQL is a language where you define the result you want to get, and let the server find a way how to find the data. I think windowed function also say how the server needs to get the information. The real challenge is of course of finding heuristics to remove the additional join. In this particular case, I can tell how to remove the inner join from the subquery: * the where-clause of the self-join contains other.start srk.start. From that we can conclude that if the table is (or can be) sorted on start, we have seen the data before the subquery is executed * because we only need an aggregate, we need to store the intermediate max for each reason. And then add the result to the stream. Recently, I had a simular problem with a table containing a timestamp, a state and a object where the state belongs to. A object remains in a state until there is a more recent tuple in the table. I needed basically to query all the previous state for each tuple, but preverably without the additional join. My motivation was a) to implement described task without Cartesian product. Good reason (if you consider the queryplan and not the query). b) introduce some tool for this kind of problems. I seen more times a request .. reduce a time series, and a window function change_number (or maybe consistent_series_number) can be good candidate. I also need to note that there is a lot of difference in complexity between the possible solutions of this problem. Where a new window function can probably be very easy implemented, the optimizer changes descripted above are complex and not easy to implement. I also want to note that I am not really against new window functions, I only want to point out that a more generic solution also might be possible. Regards, Mart -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
2014-09-21 17:00 GMT+02:00 Mart Kelder m...@kelder31.nl: Hi Pavel (and others), Op zondag 21 september 2014 15:35:46 schreef u: 2014-09-21 14:30 GMT+02:00 Mart Kelder m...@kelder31.nl: Hi Pavel (and others), Pavel Stehule wrote: Hi I tried to solve following task: I have a table start, reason, km = 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 and I would reduce these rows to 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. But we can simplify this task with window function that returns number of change in some column. Then this task can be solved by select min(start), min(reason), sum(km) from (select start, reason, km, change_number(reason) over (order by start)) group by change_number; What about select srk.reason, min(srk.start), sum(srk.km) from start_reason_km srk group by srk.reason, (select max(start) from start_reason_km other WHERE other.start srk.start and other.reason != srk.reason); This query is Cartesian product, so for some large data it is significantly slower then window function (required only sorts without joins) I think we have the same queryplan in mind (with only one scan). As far as I know, SQL is a language where you define the result you want to get, and let the server find a way how to find the data. I think windowed function also say how the server needs to get the information. What I know It is not true now. Any subselect enforce individual scan of source relation. Postgres has no any special support for selfjoin. The real challenge is of course of finding heuristics to remove the additional join. In this particular case, I can tell how to remove the inner join from the subquery: * the where-clause of the self-join contains other.start srk.start. From that we can conclude that if the table is (or can be) sorted on start, we have seen the data before the subquery is executed * because we only need an aggregate, we need to store the intermediate max for each reason. And then add the result to the stream. Recently, I had a simular problem with a table containing a timestamp, a state and a object where the state belongs to. A object remains in a state until there is a more recent tuple in the table. I needed basically to query all the previous state for each tuple, but preverably without the additional join. My motivation was a) to implement described task without Cartesian product. Good reason (if you consider the queryplan and not the query). yes. There is probably big space for improvements in more directions. For example - we have application, where is often used pattern SELECT FROM A JOIN (SELECT someagg() FROM A) .. ON Sometimes these queries are slow due terrible low estimation. It is one example of more Pavel b) introduce some tool for this kind of problems. I seen more times a request .. reduce a time series, and a window function change_number (or maybe consistent_series_number) can be good candidate. I also need to note that there is a lot of difference in complexity between the possible solutions of this problem. Where a new window function can probably be very easy implemented, the optimizer changes descripted above are complex and not easy to implement. I also want to note that I am not really against new window functions, I only want to point out that a more generic solution also might be possible. Regards, Mart -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
Pavel == Pavel Stehule pavel.steh...@gmail.com writes: Pavel Hi Pavel I tried to solve following task: Pavel I have a table Pavel start, reason, km Pavel = Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel and I would reduce these rows to Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. Only relatively. My standard solution is something like this: select start_time, reason, sum(km) as km from (select max(label_time) over (order by start) as start_time, reason, km from (select start, reason, km, case when reason is distinct from lag(reason) over (order by start) then start end as label_time from yourtable ) s2 ) s1 group by start_time, reason order by start_time; (Your change_number idea is essentially equivalent to doing sum(case when x is distinct from lag(x) over w then 1 end) over w, except that since window functions can't be nested, that expression requires a subquery.) -- Andrew (irc:RhodiumToad) -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
Hey, sorry I what I say is obvious for you . If I understood your problem correctly, it is strictly equivalent to this one : http://postgresql.1045698.n5.nabble.com/Count-of-records-in-a-row-td5775363.html there is a postgres trick to solve this problem : what you want is essentially generate a unique group_id, but one that depends of an order of row not defined in the group. The solution is to generate a row number by the order you want , then a row number by the group , then a subtraction of the 2 row number gives you an unique id per group. The cost is that you have to use 2 windows function., hence 2 scans I guess. Cheers, Rémi-C 2014-09-21 17:51 GMT+02:00 Andrew Gierth and...@tao11.riddles.org.uk: Pavel == Pavel Stehule pavel.steh...@gmail.com writes: Pavel Hi Pavel I tried to solve following task: Pavel I have a table Pavel start, reason, km Pavel = Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel and I would reduce these rows to Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. Only relatively. My standard solution is something like this: select start_time, reason, sum(km) as km from (select max(label_time) over (order by start) as start_time, reason, km from (select start, reason, km, case when reason is distinct from lag(reason) over (order by start) then start end as label_time from yourtable ) s2 ) s1 group by start_time, reason order by start_time; (Your change_number idea is essentially equivalent to doing sum(case when x is distinct from lag(x) over w then 1 end) over w, except that since window functions can't be nested, that expression requires a subquery.) -- Andrew (irc:RhodiumToad) -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
2014-09-21 17:51 GMT+02:00 Andrew Gierth and...@tao11.riddles.org.uk: Pavel == Pavel Stehule pavel.steh...@gmail.com writes: Pavel Hi Pavel I tried to solve following task: Pavel I have a table Pavel start, reason, km Pavel = Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel and I would reduce these rows to Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. Only relatively. My standard solution is something like this: select start_time, reason, sum(km) as km from (select max(label_time) over (order by start) as start_time, reason, km from (select start, reason, km, case when reason is distinct from lag(reason) over (order by start) then start end as label_time from yourtable ) s2 ) s1 group by start_time, reason order by start_time; (Your change_number idea is essentially equivalent to doing sum(case when x is distinct from lag(x) over w then 1 end) over w, except that since window functions can't be nested, that expression requires a subquery.) yes, I found this solution in third iteration too. so this proposal lost a main benefit Regards Pavel -- Andrew (irc:RhodiumToad)
Re: [HACKERS] proposal: window function - change_number
2014-09-21 18:08 GMT+02:00 Rémi Cura remi.c...@gmail.com: Hey, sorry I what I say is obvious for you . If I understood your problem correctly, it is strictly equivalent to this one : http://postgresql.1045698.n5.nabble.com/Count-of-records-in-a-row-td5775363.html there is a postgres trick to solve this problem : what you want is essentially generate a unique group_id, but one that depends of an order of row not defined in the group. The solution is to generate a row number by the order you want , then a row number by the group , then a subtraction of the 2 row number gives you an unique id per group. The cost is that you have to use 2 windows function., hence 2 scans I guess. yes, it is little bit similar - I found a pattern described by Andrew is well too. regards Pavel Cheers, Rémi-C 2014-09-21 17:51 GMT+02:00 Andrew Gierth and...@tao11.riddles.org.uk: Pavel == Pavel Stehule pavel.steh...@gmail.com writes: Pavel Hi Pavel I tried to solve following task: Pavel I have a table Pavel start, reason, km Pavel = Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 10:00:00, commerc, 20 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel and I would reduce these rows to Pavel 2014-01-01 08:00:00, private, 10 Pavel 2014-01-01 09:00:00, commerc, 20 + 20 = 40 Pavel 2014-01-01 11:00:00, private, 8 Pavel It is relative hard to it now with SQL only. Only relatively. My standard solution is something like this: select start_time, reason, sum(km) as km from (select max(label_time) over (order by start) as start_time, reason, km from (select start, reason, km, case when reason is distinct from lag(reason) over (order by start) then start end as label_time from yourtable ) s2 ) s1 group by start_time, reason order by start_time; (Your change_number idea is essentially equivalent to doing sum(case when x is distinct from lag(x) over w then 1 end) over w, except that since window functions can't be nested, that expression requires a subquery.) -- Andrew (irc:RhodiumToad) -- Sent via pgsql-hackers mailing list (pgsql-hackers@postgresql.org) To make changes to your subscription: http://www.postgresql.org/mailpref/pgsql-hackers