Re: Proposal for Null Bitmap Optimization(for Trailing NULLs)

I would work on this and try to present the performance test results.
I would also go ahead and examine, whether the logic can be added into
heap_form_tuple by any means.

Thanks,
Gokul.

On Wed, Mar 19, 2008 at 12:11 AM, Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us> wrote:

>
> Added to TODO:
>
> * Consider not storing a NULL bitmap on disk if all the NULLs are
> trailing
>
> http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-hackers/2007-12/msg00624.php
> http://archives.postgresql.org/pgsql-patches/2007-12/msg00109.php
>
> Tom's comments are:
>
> What this lacks is some performance testing to measure the cost of
> the
> extra tests in heap_form_tuple. If that can be shown to be
> negligible
> then it's probably worth doing .... though I don't like any part of
> the
> actually submitted patch ;-). All this should need is a bit more
> logic
> in heap_form_tuple and heap_formtuple.
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Gokulakannan Somasundaram wrote:
> > Hi,
> > Currently we check for the existence of NULL values in the tuple and
> we
> > set the has_null flag. If the has_null flag is present, the tuple will
> be
> > storing a null bitmap. What i propose is
> >
> > a) By modifying the functions, heap_form_tuple and heap_fill_tuple, we
> can
> > check whether all the nulls are trailing nulls. If all the nulls are
> > trailing nulls, then we will not set the has_null flag and we will not
> have
> > the null bitmap with the tuple.
> >
> > b) While selecting the tuple, we will check whether the tuple offset
> equals
> > / exceeds the length of the tuple and then mark the remaining attributes
> of
> > the tuple as null. To be exact, we need to modify the slot_deform_tuple
> in
> > order to achieve the same.
> >
> > This may not give huge performance benefits, but as you may know, it
> will
> > help is reducing the disk footprint.
> >
> >
> > Expecting your comments..
> >
> > --
> > Thanks,
> > Gokul.
> > CertoSQL Project,
> > Allied Solution Group.
> > (www.alliedgroups.com)
>
> --
> Bruce Momjian <bruce(at)momjian(dot)us> http://momjian.us
> EnterpriseDB http://postgres.enterprisedb.com
>
> + If your life is a hard drive, Christ can be your backup. +
>
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