17 KiB
Engine Persistence (C1) Implementation Plan
For agentic workers: REQUIRED SUB-SKILL: Use superpowers:subagent-driven-development (recommended) or superpowers:executing-plans to implement this plan task-by-task. Steps use checkbox (
- [ ]) syntax for tracking.
Goal: Make FTS indexes, HNSW vector indexes, and graphs survive a database restart — same query results after reopen, live index updates — fixing the silent-empty-results correctness bug.
Architecture: Follow the existing schema-durability pattern: engine DDL is persisted under new _schema: key prefixes in the LSM store; at startup a new restoreEngines*(ctx) (living in executor.nim, the top module) replays it — FTS/HNSW by re-parsing + re-executing the CREATE INDEX DDL via executeQueryImpl (rebuild-from-scan), graphs by rebuilding the Graph object from the backing _nodes/_edges tables with the same row→graph mapping the DML path uses (exec/dml.nim:155-195). exec/context.nim gets one hook var restoreEnginesHook* called at the end of newExecutionContext, wired by executor.nim (the established hook pattern — Nim forbids circular imports; context is L1, restore logic needs L5+ modules).
Tech Stack: Nim 2.2.10, ARC, unittest.
Global Constraints
- Spec:
docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-30-engine-persistence-design.md(read it first). - Test command per task:
nim c -d:ssl --threads:on --path:src -o:tests/test_schema_persist tests/test_schema_persist.nim && ./tests/test_schema_persistANDnim c -d:ssl --threads:on --path:src -o:tests/test_all tests/test_all.nim && ./tests/test_all— both exit 0. - TDD: write the failing test FIRST in
tests/test_schema_persist.nim, watch it fail for the right reason, then implement. - No behavior changes outside the persistence semantics. No new dependencies. Pure additive
_schema:keys — old databases without the keys start exactly as before. - Public API freeze: no changes to exported signatures; additive procs only.
- Failures during engine restore must NOT prevent startup: per-key try/except, warn via the project's logging, continue.
- Reopen pattern for tests (existing in test_schema_persist.nim — reuse its helpers): build ctx on a temp dir, close, create a NEW LSMTree + ExecutionContext on the same dir, assert.
- Commits: per task, after tests pass (user approved per-task commits for this workflow).
- Relevant code facts (verified, use them):
- CREATE INDEX FTS branch:
src/barabadb/query/executor.nim:1285-1300; HNSW:1302-1334; B-tree:1336-1350. AST fields:stmt.ciKind(ikFullText/ikHNSW),stmt.ciName,stmt.ciTarget,stmt.ciColumns. - DROP INDEX:
executor.nim:1352-1370— currently only searchesctx.btrees; FTS/HNSW indexes cannot be dropped at all today. - CREATE GRAPH:
executor.nim:882-905(fails if backing tables exist — hence the loader approach, not replay); DROP GRAPH:907-922. - DROP TABLE:
executor.nim:854-880(deletes btrees + dropTableSchema + data keys; engine cleanup must be added here). - Graph row→object mapping to mirror in the loader:
exec/dml.nim:155-195(addNodeWithIdwith props from non-id/node_label/properties columns;addEdgeWithIdwith parsed weight). - Graph engine API:
gengine.newGraph/addNodeWithId/addEdgeWithId(graph/engine.nim:51,71,99). newExecutionContextcallsrestoreSchemaatexec/context.nim:41; hook call goes right after.- Hook idiom to copy:
exec/eval.nim(var + require* nil-guard) and the wiring block at the bottom ofexecutor.nim. - Restore must replay via
executeQueryImpl(NO DDL lock — the lock lives only in theexecuteQuerywrapper; verify).
- CREATE INDEX FTS branch:
Task 1: Hook scaffold + FTS index persistence
Files:
- Modify:
src/barabadb/query/exec/context.nim(hook var + call in newExecutionContext) - Modify:
src/barabadb/query/executor.nim(persist key in FTS branch, restoreEngines proc, wiring) - Modify:
src/barabadb/query/exec/schema.nim(new key prefix const, if the pattern is followed there) - Test:
tests/test_schema_persist.nim
Interfaces:
-
Consumes: existing
restoreSchemaflow;execScanfor rebuild. -
Produces:
var restoreEnginesHook*: proc(ctx: ExecutionContext)inexec/context.nim, called at the end ofnewExecutionContext(nil-safe:if restoreEnginesHook != nil: restoreEnginesHook(result)).proc restoreEngines*(ctx: ExecutionContext)inexecutor.nim— wired viacontext.restoreEnginesHook = restoreEnginesin the existing hook-wiring block at module scope.- Key format:
_schema:ftsidx:<table>.<col>→ reconstructed DDLCREATE INDEX <name> ON <table> (<cols>) USING FTS(col list joined; ciName fallback to colKey when empty, mirroring executor.nim:1283).
-
Step 1: Write the failing test
Add to tests/test_schema_persist.nim (match existing suite style):
test "FTS index survives reopen":
let dir = testDir & "_fts"
removeDir(dir)
createDir(dir)
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE TABLE docs (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, content TEXT)"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO docs (id, content) VALUES (1, 'quick brown fox')"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE INDEX docs_fts ON docs (content) USING FTS"))
ctx.db.close()
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
let r = executeQuery(ctx, parse("SELECT hybrid_search_ids('docs', 'content', 'quick') AS ids"))
check r.success
check valueToString(r.rows[0]["ids"]).contains("docs.1")
# index keeps updating after reopen
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO docs (id, content) VALUES (2, 'quick red fox')"))
let r2 = executeQuery(ctx, parse("SELECT hybrid_search_ids('docs', 'content', 'red') AS ids"))
check r2.success
check valueToString(r2.rows[0]["ids"]).contains("docs.2")
ctx.db.close()
removeDir(dir)
(If hybrid_search_ids signature differs, copy the exact working call from tests/test_all.nim's Hybrid RAG Search suite. The key assertion: results are non-empty after reopen — today they are silently empty.)
- Step 2: Run it, watch it fail
Run: nim c -d:ssl --threads:on --path:src -o:tests/test_schema_persist tests/test_schema_persist.nim && ./tests/test_schema_persist
Expected: FAIL — ids string empty (index vanished after reopen).
- Step 3: Implement
exec/context.nim: addvar restoreEnginesHook*: proc(ctx: ExecutionContext)with a doc comment (wired by executor.nim; breaks the module layering cycle), and call it nil-safely at the end ofnewExecutionContext.executor.nim, FTS branch (afterctx.ftsIndexes[colKey] = ftsIdx, before the return): persist the reconstructed DDL:let ftsDdl = "CREATE INDEX " & idxName & " ON " & stmt.ciTarget & " (" & stmt.ciColumns.join(", ") & ") USING FTS" ctx.db.put("_schema:ftsidx:" & colKey, cast[seq[byte]](ftsDdl))executor.nim: newproc restoreEngines*(ctx: ExecutionContext)— scansctx.db.scanAll()for keys starting with_schema:ftsidx:, per key: tryexecuteQueryImpl(ctx, qpar.parse(qlex.tokenize(cast[string](value))))(log warning + continue on failure; replay re-persists the same key idempotently). Wirecontext.restoreEnginesHook = restoreEnginesin the module-scope hook block.
- Step 4: Run tests, watch them pass
Run both test commands from Global Constraints.
Expected: new test PASS; test_all exit 0, 461+ [OK].
- Step 5: Commit
git add src/barabadb/query/exec/context.nim src/barabadb/query/executor.nim tests/test_schema_persist.nim
git commit -m "feat(persist): FTS indexes survive restart (schema key + restore replay)"
Task 2: HNSW vector index persistence
Files:
- Modify:
src/barabadb/query/executor.nim(persist key in HNSW branch; extend restoreEngines scan) - Test:
tests/test_schema_persist.nim
Interfaces:
-
Consumes: Task 1's restoreEngines + hook.
-
Produces: key format
_schema:vecidx:<table>.<col>→CREATE INDEX <name> ON <table> (<cols>) USING HNSW; restoreEngines scans both prefixes. -
Step 1: Write the failing test
test "HNSW vector index survives reopen":
let dir = testDir & "_vec"
removeDir(dir)
createDir(dir)
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE TABLE vecs (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, embedding TEXT)"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO vecs (id, embedding) VALUES (1, '[1.0, 0.0, 0.0]')"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE INDEX vecs_hnsw ON vecs (embedding) USING HNSW"))
ctx.db.close()
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
let r = executeQuery(ctx, parse("SELECT hybrid_search_ids('vecs', 'embedding', '', '[1.0, 0.0, 0.0]') AS ids"))
check r.success
check valueToString(r.rows[0]["ids"]).contains("vecs.1")
ctx.db.close()
removeDir(dir)
(If no pure-vector query form exists, copy the exact working vector-search call from test_all's Hybrid RAG suite — e.g. hybrid_search_filtered with a vector arg. Assertion: non-empty after reopen.)
- Step 2: Run it, watch it fail
Expected: FAIL — empty ids after reopen.
- Step 3: Implement
Mirror Task 1: persist _schema:vecidx: + reconstructed USING HNSW DDL in the HNSW branch; add the _schema:vecidx: prefix to the restoreEngines scan (same replay path).
- Step 4: Run tests, watch them pass
Both test commands; expected PASS + test_all green.
- Step 5: Commit
git add src/barabadb/query/executor.nim tests/test_schema_persist.nim
git commit -m "feat(persist): HNSW vector indexes survive restart"
Task 3: Graph persistence
Files:
- Modify:
src/barabadb/query/executor.nim(persist marker on CREATE GRAPH, delete on DROP GRAPH, graph loader in restoreEngines) - Test:
tests/test_schema_persist.nim
Interfaces:
-
Consumes: Task 1's restoreEngines; graph engine API (
gengine.newGraph/addNodeWithId/addEdgeWithId); row→graph mapping fromexec/dml.nim:155-195. -
Produces: key format
_schema:graphs:<name>→ original-ish DDLCREATE GRAPH <name>(marker + introspection); graph loader that rebuildsctx.graphs[name]from<name>_nodes/<name>_edgesrows. -
Step 1: Write the failing test
test "Graph survives reopen":
let dir = testDir & "_graph"
removeDir(dir)
createDir(dir)
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE GRAPH social"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO social_nodes (id, node_label) VALUES (1, 'person')"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO social_nodes (id, node_label) VALUES (2, 'person')"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO social_edges (source_id, dest_id, edge_label, weight) VALUES (1, 2, 'knows', 1.0)"))
ctx.db.close()
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
check "social" in ctx.graphs
check gengine.nodeCount(ctx.graphs["social"]) == 2
check gengine.edgeCount(ctx.graphs["social"]) == 1
ctx.db.close()
removeDir(dir)
(Adjust imports: the test file needs barabadb/graph/engine as gengine. If a higher-level graph query is easily available from test_all's graph suites, prefer asserting on that instead/in addition.)
- Step 2: Run it, watch it fail
Expected: FAIL — "social" in ctx.graphs is false after reopen.
- Step 3: Implement
- CREATE GRAPH branch (executor.nim:882-905): on success,
ctx.db.put("_schema:graphs:" & name, cast[seq[byte]]("CREATE GRAPH " & name)). On the failure paths, no key is written. - DROP GRAPH branch (907-922):
ctx.db.delete("_schema:graphs:" & name). - restoreEngines: for each
_schema:graphs:key — extract name; skip if already inctx.graphs; build:Per-key try/except with warning + continue. Usevar g = gengine.newGraph() # mirror exec/dml.nim:155-195 mapping for row in execScan(ctx, name & "_nodes"): # id, node_label, props = all other columns except id/node_label/properties ... for row in execScan(ctx, name & "_edges"): # source_id, dest_id, edge_label, weight (parseFloat, default 1.0) ... ctx.graphs[name] = ggengine.addNodeWithId/addEdgeWithIdwith the SAME failure tolerance as dml.nim (except CatchableError: discard per row).
- Step 4: Run tests, watch them pass
Both test commands; expected PASS + test_all green.
- Step 5: Commit
git add src/barabadb/query/executor.nim tests/test_schema_persist.nim
git commit -m "feat(persist): graphs survive restart (rebuild from backing tables)"
Task 4: DROP paths completeness
Files:
- Modify:
src/barabadb/query/executor.nim(DROP INDEX for FTS/HNSW, DROP TABLE engine cleanup) - Test:
tests/test_schema_persist.nim
Interfaces:
-
Consumes: Tasks 1-3 key formats.
-
Produces: DROP INDEX removes in-memory FTS/HNSW index + its
_schema:key; DROP TABLE removes engine indexes/keys for that table. -
Step 1: Write the failing tests
test "DROP INDEX removes FTS index and its schema key":
let dir = testDir & "_dropfts"
removeDir(dir)
createDir(dir)
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE TABLE docs (id INTEGER PRIMARY KEY, content TEXT)"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("INSERT INTO docs (id, content) VALUES (1, 'quick brown fox')"))
discard executeQuery(ctx, parse("CREATE INDEX docs_fts ON docs (content) USING FTS"))
let d = executeQuery(ctx, parse("DROP INDEX docs_fts"))
check d.success
check "docs.content" notin ctx.ftsIndexes
ctx.db.close()
block:
let db = newLSMTree(dir)
var ctx = newExecutionContext(db)
check "docs.content" notin ctx.ftsIndexes # no ghost rebuild
ctx.db.close()
removeDir(dir)
test "DROP TABLE removes engine indexes for that table":
# same flow without the DROP INDEX; DROP TABLE docs instead;
# after reopen, ctx.ftsIndexes must not contain docs.content
# and the _schema:ftsidx:docs.content key must be gone
(Write both fully, mirroring the first test's structure; adjust colKey format to the actual one — table.col.)
- Step 2: Run them, watch them fail
Expected: DROP INDEX test FAILS (FTS index can't be dropped today — d.success false or index still present / ghost rebuild after reopen). DROP TABLE test likely FAILS on the ghost-rebuild assertion.
- Step 3: Implement
- DROP INDEX (executor.nim:1352-1370): before/after the btree search, also check
ctx.ftsIndexesandctx.vectorIndexesfor a key == stmt.diName or ending with "." & stmt.diName or whose idxName matches (mirror the colKey/idxName convention from CREATE INDEX: idxName defaults to colKey); on hit: delete in-memory entry ANDctx.db.delete("_schema:ftsidx:" / "_schema:vecidx:" & key). Keep the existing btree +_schema:indexes:behavior untouched. - DROP TABLE (executor.nim:854-880): alongside the btree sweep — delete
ctx.ftsIndexes/ctx.vectorIndexesentries whose key starts withdropName & ".", and delete the corresponding_schema:ftsidx:/_schema:vecidx:keys (scan for prefix, same style as the data-keys sweep).
- Step 4: Run tests, watch them pass
Both test commands; expected PASS + test_all green.
- Step 5: Commit
git add src/barabadb/query/executor.nim tests/test_schema_persist.nim
git commit -m "fix: DROP INDEX/TABLE clean up FTS/HNSW indexes and their schema keys"
Task 5: Full verification + docs
Files:
-
Modify:
docs/superpowers/specs/2026-07-30-engine-persistence-design.md(status → done) -
Modify: README.md feature claims ONLY IF it explicitly says FTS/vector/graph persistence is missing/optional (check first; minimal edit)
-
Step 1: Full suite
Run: nimble test
Expected: exit 0, 650+ [OK] (new tests add to the count), 0 failed.
- Step 2: Docs
Update the spec status line. Check README for "persistence optional"-style claims about graph/FTS (grep -n -i 'persist' README.md docs/en/*.md | head -20); update only lines that are now false, minimally.
- Step 3: Commit
git add docs/ README.md
git commit -m "docs: engine persistence (C1) done"
Self-Review Notes
- Spec coverage: §1 (persist DDL) → Tasks 1-3; §2 (restore) → Tasks 1-3 via restoreEngines; DROP paths → Task 4; testing § → each task's Step 1; failure tolerance → restoreEngines try/except; lock concern → replay via executeQueryImpl (lock lives in the executeQuery wrapper only).
- CREATE GRAPH replay rejected (fails on existing backing tables) → loader approach, per spec's "pick whichever is smaller" clause.
- Riskiest spot: the colKey/idxName conventions in DROP INDEX (Task 4) — tests pin them down.
- Type consistency: hook type
proc(ctx: ExecutionContext)matches restoreEngines; copied hook idiom from exec/eval.nim.