Hi I've been trying out monetdb on a 350M row table (modern linux workstation with 24GB RAM + SSD). This table has a sorted TIMESTAMP column and a second unsorted VARCHAR(6) column which is non-unique (perhaps 50M distinct values fairly randomly distributed). This query is very slow, spends huge amount of time writing, and has very low CPU (intermediate results?): select count(*) from t_order where orderId = 'XXXXXX' This takes hours to complete. However, this query is a lot faster, even though the timestamp clause is redundant (all my data is > '2012-01-01'): select count(*) from t_order where orderId = 'XXXXXX' and time > '1970-01-01'; The first run is slowish (10s of seconds - I guess because we're reading the orderId column fully), however subsequent runs are sub-second. Obviously I could write an app which puts the spurious timestamp clause into the where, but it's still confusing and not ideal. Is there something I can do? The EXPLAINs are: sql>explain select count(*) from t_order where orderId = 'XXXXXX' and time

'1970-01-01'; +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | mal | +=========================================================================================================================+ | function user.s9_3{autoCommit=true}(A0:str,A1:str):void; | | X_14 := nil:wrd; | | barrier X_263 := language.dataflow(); | | X_4 := sql.mvc(); | | X_68:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,0,16); | | X_132 := X_68; | | X_101:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,0,16); | | X_164 := X_101; | | X_35:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",0,16); | | X_10 := calc.timestamp(A1,7); | | X_180 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_164,X_35,X_10,">"); | | X_197 := algebra.subselect(X_132,X_180,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_228 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_197,X_164); | | X_246 := aggr.count(X_228); | | X_70:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,1,16); | | X_133 := X_70; | | X_103:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,1,16); | | X_165 := X_103; | | X_37:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",1,16); | | X_181 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_165,X_37,X_10,">"); | | X_199 := algebra.subselect(X_133,X_181,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_229 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_199,X_165); | | X_247 := aggr.count(X_229); | | X_72:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,2,16); | | X_134 := X_72; | | X_105:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,2,16); | | X_166 := X_105; | | X_39:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",2,16); | | X_182 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_166,X_39,X_10,">"); | | X_201 := algebra.subselect(X_134,X_182,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_230 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_201,X_166); | | X_248 := aggr.count(X_230); | | X_74:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,3,16); | | X_135 := X_74; | | X_107:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,3,16); | | X_167 := X_107; | | X_41:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",3,16); | | X_183 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_167,X_41,X_10,">"); | | X_203 := algebra.subselect(X_135,X_183,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_231 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_203,X_167); | | X_249 := aggr.count(X_231); | | X_76:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,4,16); | | X_136 := X_76; | | X_109:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,4,16); | | X_168 := X_109; | | X_43:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",4,16); | | X_184 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_168,X_43,X_10,">"); | | X_205 := algebra.subselect(X_136,X_184,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_232 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_205,X_168); | | X_250 := aggr.count(X_232); | | X_78:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,5,16); | | X_137 := X_78; | | X_111:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,5,16); | | X_169 := X_111; | | X_45:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",5,16); | | X_185 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_169,X_45,X_10,">"); | | X_207 := algebra.subselect(X_137,X_185,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_233 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_207,X_169); | | X_251 := aggr.count(X_233); | | X_80:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,6,16); | | X_138 := X_80; | | X_113:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,6,16); | | X_170 := X_113; | | X_47:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",6,16); | | X_186 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_170,X_47,X_10,">"); | | X_209 := algebra.subselect(X_138,X_186,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_234 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_209,X_170); | | X_252 := aggr.count(X_234); | | X_82:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,7,16); | | X_139 := X_82; | | X_115:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,7,16); | | X_171 := X_115; | | X_49:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",7,16); | | X_187 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_171,X_49,X_10,">"); | | X_211 := algebra.subselect(X_139,X_187,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_235 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_211,X_171); | | X_253 := aggr.count(X_235); | | X_84:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,8,16); | | X_140 := X_84; | | X_117:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,8,16); | | X_172 := X_117; | | X_51:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",8,16); | | X_188 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_172,X_51,X_10,">"); | | X_213 := algebra.subselect(X_140,X_188,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_236 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_213,X_172); | | X_254 := aggr.count(X_236); | | X_86:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,9,16); | | X_141 := X_86; | | X_119:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,9,16); | | X_173 := X_119; | | X_53:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",9,16); | | X_189 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_173,X_53,X_10,">"); | | X_215 := algebra.subselect(X_141,X_189,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_237 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_215,X_173); | | X_255 := aggr.count(X_237); | | X_88:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,10,16); | | X_142 := X_88; | | X_121:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,10,16); | | X_174 := X_121; | | X_55:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",10,16); | | X_190 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_174,X_55,X_10,">"); | | X_217 := algebra.subselect(X_142,X_190,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_238 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_217,X_174); | | X_256 := aggr.count(X_238); | | X_90:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,11,16); | | X_143 := X_90; | | X_123:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,11,16); | | X_175 := X_123; | | X_57:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",11,16); | | X_191 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_175,X_57,X_10,">"); | | X_219 := algebra.subselect(X_143,X_191,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_239 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_219,X_175); | | X_257 := aggr.count(X_239); | | X_92:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,12,16); | | X_144 := X_92; | | X_125:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,12,16); | | X_176 := X_125; | | X_59:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",12,16); | | X_192 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_176,X_59,X_10,">"); | | X_221 := algebra.subselect(X_144,X_192,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_240 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_221,X_176); | | X_258 := aggr.count(X_240); | | X_94:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,13,16); | | X_145 := X_94; | | X_127:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,13,16); | | X_177 := X_127; | | X_61:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",13,16); | | X_193 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_177,X_61,X_10,">"); | | X_223 := algebra.subselect(X_145,X_193,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_241 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_223,X_177); | | X_259 := aggr.count(X_241); | | X_96:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,14,16); | | X_146 := X_96; | | X_129:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,14,16); | | X_178 := X_129; | | X_63:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",14,16); | | X_194 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_178,X_63,X_10,">"); | | X_225 := algebra.subselect(X_146,X_194,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_242 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_225,X_178); | | X_260 := aggr.count(X_242); | | X_98:bat[:oid,:str] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","orderid",0,15,16); | | X_147 := X_98; | | X_131:bat[:oid,:timestamp] := sql.bind(X_4,"sys","t_order","time",0,15,16); | | X_179 := X_131; | | X_65:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_4,"sys","t_order",15,16); | | X_195 := algebra.thetasubselect(X_179,X_65,X_10,">"); | | X_227 := algebra.subselect(X_147,X_195,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_243 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_227,X_179); | | X_261 := aggr.count(X_243); | | X_245 := mat.pack(X_246,X_247,X_248,X_249,X_250,X_251,X_252,X_253,X_254,X_255,X_256,X_257,X_258,X_259,X_260,X_261); | | X_262 := algebra.selectNotNil(X_245); | | X_14 := aggr.sum(X_262); | | language.pass(X_164); | | language.pass(X_165); | | language.pass(X_166); | | language.pass(X_167); | | language.pass(X_168); | | language.pass(X_169); | | language.pass(X_170); | | language.pass(X_171); | | language.pass(X_172); | | language.pass(X_173); | | language.pass(X_174); | | language.pass(X_175); | | language.pass(X_176); | | language.pass(X_177); | | language.pass(X_178); | | language.pass(X_179); | | exit X_263; | | sql.exportValue(1,"sys.L1","L1","wrd",64,0,6,X_14,""); | | end s9_3; | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 171 tuples (63.183ms) sql>explain select count(*) from t_order where orderId = 'XXXXXX'; +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | mal | +================================================================+ | function user.s10_3{autoCommit=true}(A0:str):void; | | X_3 := sql.mvc(); | | X_7 := sql.bind(X_3,"sys","t_order","orderid",0); | | X_10 := X_7; | | X_4:bat[:oid,:oid] := sql.tid(X_3,"sys","t_order"); | | X_11 := algebra.subselect(X_10,X_4,A0,A0,true,true,false); | | X_13 := algebra.leftfetchjoin(X_11,X_10); | | X_14 := aggr.count(X_13); | | sql.exportValue(1,"sys.L1","L1","wrd",64,0,6,X_14,""); | | end s10_3; | | # optimizer.mitosis() | | # optimizer.dataflow() | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ 12 tuples (0.838ms)

sql>select * from storage() where "table" = 't_order'; +--------+---------+-------------------+-----------+----------+-----------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+--------+ | schema | table | column | type | location | count | typewidth | columnsize | heapsize | indices | sorted | +========+=========+===================+===========+==========+===========+===========+============+============+=========+========+ | sys | t_order | time | timestamp | 11/1146 | 349989136 | 8 | 2799913088 | 0 | 0 | true | ... | sys | t_order | orderid | varchar | 10/1043 | 349989136 | 6 | 2799913088 | 8240889856 | 0 | false | ... | sys | t_order | idx_orderid | oid | 04/456 | 349989136 | 8 | 2799913088 | 0 | 0 | true | +--------+---------+-------------------+-----------+----------+-----------+-----------+------------+------------+---------+--------+ (some fields edited out...) So the fast one has a much more complicated MAL plan. (Other than this, and a date parsing prob which I've reported, I'm really excited about this software!) -Will Muldrew