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Fix HLL union estimate/serialization regression from lazy KxQ rebuild - #512

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proost merged 3 commits into
apache:masterfrom
SavicStefan:hll_bug_fix
Aug 15, 2026
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Fix HLL union estimate/serialization regression from lazy KxQ rebuild#512
proost merged 3 commits into
apache:masterfrom
SavicStefan:hll_bug_fix

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@SavicStefan

@SavicStefan SavicStefan commented Aug 13, 2026

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Since the lazy KxQ/curMin rebuild was introduced ("skip updating kxq in HLL merge"), Hll8Array::mergeHll only sets rebuild_kxq_curmin_ and defers the recompute. Several consumers read that deferred state without honoring the flag, so unioning HLL sketches with different lgConfigK could:

  • discard accumulated data: isEmpty() reads curMin_/numAtCurMin_, which stay at empty-sketch defaults after a downsampling merge, so a populated gadget looks empty and the next union update overwrites it;
  • corrupt the estimate: internalCouponUpdate does incremental KxQ/HIP updates against the stale base;
  • serialize non-deterministically: copyAs() rebuilds via register replay (convertToHll8) while estimate/bounds rebuild via the direct sum, so equivalent merges could serialize to different bytes.

The effect was estimates collapsing to ~one input's cardinality (merge-order dependent) and merge-order-dependent serialization; 4.0.1 had neither.

Fix, keeping the lazy-merge optimization:

  • isEmpty(): a pending rebuild means the array is non-empty.
  • internalCouponUpdate(): rebuild before an incremental update reads KxQ, only when the coupon changes a register (duplicate coupons stay lazy).
  • copyAs(): make every same-type result use the direct-sum rebuild so all paths agree, keeping serialization merge-order independent.

Adds a regression tests covering estimate order-independence, is_empty() after a downsampling merge, scalar-after-merge accumulation, and merge-order-independent serialization.

SavicStefan and others added 2 commits August 13, 2026 18:15
Since the lazy KxQ/curMin rebuild was introduced ("skip updating kxq in HLL
merge"), Hll8Array::mergeHll only sets rebuild_kxq_curmin_ and defers the
recompute. Several consumers read that deferred state without honoring the
flag, so unioning HLL sketches with different lgConfigK could:

- discard accumulated data: isEmpty() reads curMin_/numAtCurMin_, which stay at
  empty-sketch defaults after a downsampling merge, so a populated gadget looks
  empty and the next union update overwrites it;
- corrupt the estimate: internalCouponUpdate does incremental KxQ/HIP updates
  against the stale base;
- serialize non-deterministically: copyAs() rebuilds via register replay
  (convertToHll8) while estimate/bounds rebuild via the direct sum, so equivalent
  merges could serialize to different bytes.

The effect was estimates collapsing to ~one input's cardinality (merge-order
dependent) and merge-order-dependent serialization; 4.0.1 had neither.

Fix, keeping the lazy-merge optimization:
- isEmpty(): a pending rebuild means the array is non-empty.
- internalCouponUpdate(): rebuild before an incremental update reads KxQ, only
  when the coupon changes a register (duplicate coupons stay lazy).
- copyAs(): make every same-type result use the direct-sum rebuild so all paths
  agree, keeping serialization merge-order independent.

Adds a regression test covering estimate order-independence, is_empty() after a
downsampling merge, scalar-after-merge accumulation, and merge-order-independent
serialization.

Co-authored-by: Isaac
Co-authored-by: Stefan Savić <stefan.savic@databricks.com>
Signed-off-by: Stefan Savić <stefan.savic@databricks.com>

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I agree on overall, but how about changing get_result in union? Like java one, rebuild before get_result.

And rebuilding in copy_as changes logic semantically.

@SavicStefan
SavicStefan requested a review from proost August 15, 2026 11:05

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Thank you!

@proost
proost merged commit 70b86fa into apache:master Aug 15, 2026
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2 participants