fix(remote): stream create table readers with multipart writes

test: cover blob null/empty preservation across Table::optimize (#3774 )
## Description `Table::optimize()` compacts through `lance::dataset::optimize::compact_files` (`rust/lancedb/src/table/optimize.rs:155`). Until lance-format/lance#7965 that rewrite corrupted blob columns holding null or empty values, which is what #3744 reports: - **storage 2.0** (legacy v1 `lance-encoding:blob` descriptors): every payload following a null or empty row in the same fragment was rewritten as `{position: 0, size: 0}`, so it read back as `b""` and the new fragment no longer referenced the bytes — silent payload loss, unrecoverable once the pre-optimize versions are pruned. - **storage 2.2** (blob v2): a valid empty value was rewritten as null, destroying the null-vs-empty distinction. Both manifestations share one root cause: `is_inline_null_blob` classified any inline blob with `position == 0 && size == 0` as null, which is also exactly what a *valid empty value* looks like. Such rows were dropped from `blob_read_addrs`, misaligning every payload that followed. The behaviour is already correct on `main`: the vendored lance crate first carried the fix at `v10.0.0-beta.3` (#3710) and is now `v10.1.0-beta.1` (#3757). What was missing is coverage — nothing in this repo exercised a blob column containing a null or empty value through `optimize()`, which is why this shipped unnoticed. This PR adds that guard. ## Tests Two tests in `rust/lancedb/tests/blob_integration.rs`, reusing the file's existing 64 KiB dedicated-blob helpers and a delete-triggered fragment rewrite. After `id IN (1, 4)` is deleted the surviving rows are `2` (null), `3` (valid empty), `5` and `6` (payloads) — payloads sit immediately after the null/empty, which is where the misalignment landed. - `optimize_preserves_v1_blob_payloads_with_null_and_empty` — storage 2.0; asserts the **payload bytes** are unchanged across `OptimizeAction::All` (what the Python/Node `optimize()` bindings invoke). Payloads are read through `lance::Dataset::take_blobs`, since `Table::fetch_blobs` rejects legacy v1 columns. The before/after descriptors are reported on failure but deliberately *not* asserted: compaction repacks the blob file, so they shift legitimately (id 5 `(131072, 65536)` → `(0, 65536)`, id 6 `(196608, 65536)` → `(65536, 65536)`). Note that a post-compaction `position: 0` is both the legitimate first-payload offset and the bug's signature, so asserting descriptors would be actively misleading. - `optimize_preserves_blob_v2_null_and_empty_distinction` — storage >= 2.2; asserts a null stays null and a valid empty value stays non-null empty. Both assert the pre-optimize state first, so a setup change that stops producing the null/empty/payload mix fails loudly instead of passing vacuously. Both also assert the returned `CompactionMetrics` show a fragment was actually rewritten. These tests depend on `delete("id IN (1, 4)")` pushing the fragment past lance's `materialize_deletions_threshold` (0.1 by default; 2 of 6 rows here). That coupling is invisible and unasserted otherwise: against a forced no-op (`materialize_deletions_threshold: 1.5`) the metrics come back all zeroes and *every payload assertion still passes*. Since the whole point of these tests is to survive dependency changes, they check that the rewrite happened rather than trusting the planner to keep selecting the fragment. Guard verified against a pre-fix lance: with the published `lancedb==0.36.0` wheel (vendors lance 9.0.0), `Table.optimize()` on the same data rewrites the descriptors of the two rows following the null/empty from `(131072, 65536)` and `(196608, 65536)` to `(0, 0)`, and the payloads read back empty. Against the pinned `v10.1.0-beta.1`, all 39 tests in the file pass, adding roughly 10–20 ms to the file's runtime. ## Not addressed here - **No released artifact has the fix yet.** PyPI `lancedb` 0.36.0 (2026-07-29) vendors lance 9.0.0; npm `@lancedb/lancedb` 0.37.1-beta.0 predates the bump. No 9.x lance tag carries the fix: `v10.0.0-beta.3` is the first tag containing it, every `v9.1.0-beta.1`…`beta.8` is behind it, and `v9.0.0` / `v9.0.1-rc.1` sit on a diverged branch without it. A stable lancedb release needs a stable lance >= 10. - **The version skew #3744 flagged is still live.** `python/pyproject.toml` pins `pylance==9.0.0rc1` for the `tests` extra against a vendored `10.1.0-beta.1`, so Python CI still cannot observe this class of divergence. - **Only the single-fragment rewrite shape is covered.** Both tests rewrite one fragment by materializing deletions. lance's own `test_compact_blob_v1/v2_preserves_null_empty_and_payload_order` cover the multi-fragment merge shape (3 fragments → 1) at unit level, so this PR is complementary rather than redundant — it covers the binding-level path through `Table::optimize` — but it would not catch a regression that only appears when *merging* fragments. `multi_fragment_dedicated_blob_table` in the same file makes that a cheap follow-up. Closes #3744 🤖 Generated with [Claude Code](https://claude.com/claude-code) --------- Co-authored-by: Claude Opus 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
2026-08-26 16:08:43 +00:00 · 2026-08-05 21:15:47 +00:00 · 2026-08-04 12:23:03 -07:00 · 2026-08-04 11:18:22 -07:00 · 2026-08-03 15:49:52 -07:00 · 2026-08-03 12:54:41 -07:00
67 changed files with 8308 additions and 1706 deletions
@@ -601,7 +601,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "hex",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "sha1 0.10.6",
 "time",
 "tokio",
@@ -664,7 +664,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes-utils",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 0.4.6",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -694,7 +694,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
 ]
@@ -743,7 +743,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
 ]
@@ -773,7 +773,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "hex",
 "hmac 0.13.0",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "lru",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -802,7 +802,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
 ]
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
 ]
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "aws-types",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "regex-lite",
 "tracing",
 ]
@@ -873,7 +873,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "hex",
 "hmac 0.13.0",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "p256",
 "percent-encoding",
 "ring",
@@ -906,7 +906,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "crc-fast",
 "hex",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "md-5 0.11.0",
@@ -940,7 +940,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes-utils",
 "futures-core",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "h2 0.3.27",
 "h2 0.4.14",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 0.4.6",
 "hyper 0.14.32",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "fastrand",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 0.4.6",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
@@ -1044,7 +1044,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "aws-smithy-types",
 "bytes",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "pin-project-lite",
 "tokio",
 "tracing",
@@ -1070,7 +1070,7 @@ checksum = "7442cb268338f0eb8278140a107c046756aa01093d8ef5e99628d34ae09c94f5"
 dependencies = [
 "aws-smithy-runtime-api",
 "aws-smithy-types",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 ]

 [[package]]
@@ -1084,7 +1084,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes-utils",
 "futures-core",
 "http 0.2.12",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 0.4.6",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
@@ -1132,7 +1132,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "axum-core",
 "bytes",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
@@ -1165,7 +1165,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "async-trait",
 "bytes",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "mime",
@@ -3421,8 +3421,8 @@ checksum = "42703706b716c37f96a77aea830392ad231f44c9e9a67872fa5548707e11b11c"

 [[package]]
 name = "fsst"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "rand 0.9.5",
@@ -3842,7 +3842,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "fnv",
 "futures-core",
 "futures-sink",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "indexmap 2.14.0",
 "slab",
 "tokio",
@@ -3953,7 +3953,7 @@ checksum = "629d8f3bbeda9d148036d6b0de0a3ab947abd08ce90626327fc3547a49d59d97"
 dependencies = [
 "dirs",
 "futures",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "indicatif",
 "libc",
 "log",
@@ -3976,7 +3976,7 @@ checksum = "430b33fa84f92796d4d263070b6c0d3ca219df7b9a0e1853ee431029b1612bcd"
 dependencies = [
 "async-trait",
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "more-asserts",
 "serde",
 "thiserror 2.0.18",
@@ -4041,9 +4041,9 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "http"
-version = "1.4.2"
+version = "1.5.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "6970f50e31d6fc17d3fa27329444bfa74e196cf62e95052a3f6fee181dba6425"
+checksum = "918d3568bebf352712bc2ef3d46a8bcf1a75b373be6539de198e9105cbbf9ce0"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "itoa",
@@ -4067,7 +4067,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "ca2a8f2913ee65f60facd6a5905613afaa448497a0230cc41ce022d93290bc2c"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 ]

 [[package]]
@@ -4078,7 +4078,7 @@ checksum = "b021d93e26becf5dc7e1b75b1bed1fd93124b374ceb73f43d4d4eafec896a64a"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "futures-core",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "pin-project-lite",
 ]
@@ -4145,7 +4145,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "futures-channel",
 "futures-core",
 "h2 0.4.14",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "httparse",
 "httpdate",
@@ -4177,7 +4177,7 @@ version = "0.27.9"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "33ca68d021ef39cf6463ab54c1d0f5daf03377b70561305bb89a8f83aab66e0f"
 dependencies = [
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
 "hyper-util",
 "rustls 0.23.40",
@@ -4211,7 +4211,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "futures-channel",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
 "ipnet",
@@ -4777,8 +4777,8 @@ checksum = "e037a2e1d8d5fdbd49b16a4ea09d5d6401c1f29eca5ff29d03d3824dba16256a"

 [[package]]
 name = "lance"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arc-swap",
 "arrow",
@@ -4852,8 +4852,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-arrow"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
@@ -4875,7 +4875,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "lance-arrow-scalar"
 version = "58.0.0"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
@@ -4889,7 +4889,7 @@ dependencies = [
 [[package]]
 name = "lance-arrow-stats"
 version = "58.0.0"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-schema",
@@ -4898,8 +4898,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-bitpacking"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrayref",
 "crunchy",
@@ -4909,14 +4909,15 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-core"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
 "arrow-data",
 "arrow-schema",
 "async-trait",
+ "blake3",
 "byteorder",
 "bytes",
 "datafusion-common",
@@ -4949,8 +4950,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-datafusion"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
 "arrow-array",
@@ -4980,8 +4981,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-datagen"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
 "arrow-array",
@@ -4998,8 +4999,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-derive"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "proc-macro2",
 "quote",
@@ -5008,8 +5009,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-encoding"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-arith",
 "arrow-array",
@@ -5044,12 +5045,13 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-file"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-arith",
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
+ "arrow-cast",
 "arrow-data",
 "arrow-schema",
 "arrow-select",
@@ -5075,8 +5077,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-index"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arc-swap",
 "arrow",
@@ -5143,8 +5145,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-index-core"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-schema",
@@ -5166,18 +5168,12 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-io"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
- "arrow-arith",
 "arrow-array",
- "arrow-buffer",
- "arrow-cast",
- "arrow-data",
 "arrow-schema",
- "arrow-select",
- "async-recursion",
 "async-trait",
 "aws-config",
 "aws-credential-types",
@@ -5186,7 +5182,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "chrono",
 "futures",
 "goosefs-sdk",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "io-uring",
 "lance-arrow",
 "lance-core",
@@ -5210,8 +5206,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-linalg"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
@@ -5227,8 +5223,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-namespace"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
 "async-trait",
@@ -5240,8 +5236,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-namespace-impls"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
 "arrow-ipc",
@@ -5295,8 +5291,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-select"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-buffer",
@@ -5311,8 +5307,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-table"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow",
 "arrow-array",
@@ -5351,8 +5347,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-testing"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "arrow-array",
 "arrow-schema",
@@ -5365,8 +5361,8 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "lance-tokenizer"
-version = "10.0.0-beta.5"
-source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.0.0-beta.5#ddb8e28ca238f29628b8e1795ddccbb7bf75e5c8"
+version = "10.1.0-beta.1"
+source = "git+https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git?tag=v10.1.0-beta.1#68f4d4c1d0c4871b067557c61fc405078f1ab3b7"
 dependencies = [
 "icu_segmenter",
 "jieba-rs",
@@ -5418,7 +5414,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "goosefs-sdk",
 "half",
 "hf-hub",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "lance",
 "lance-arrow",
@@ -6084,15 +6080,15 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "napi-build"
-version = "2.3.2"
+version = "2.4.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "c9c366d2c8c60b86fa632df75f745509b52f9128f91a6bad4c796e44abb505e1"
+checksum = "5282704fbe8d49b0cf8b08e3f33233416a528658f205c7e5ace63b582de0b11c"

 [[package]]
 name = "napi-derive"
-version = "3.6.0"
+version = "3.6.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "a49c513341a61a16a10af6efcce46b30d0822ba2d4fb197d24d33dfc199c78d5"
+checksum = "4d5c9c02556ea6dc99dffd36c1ce60141411657438501a125b675776d011ce92"
 dependencies = [
 "convert_case",
 "ctor 1.0.5",
@@ -6104,9 +6100,9 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "napi-derive-backend"
-version = "6.0.0"
+version = "6.1.1"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "4747005fa3e2c9989ac45a723a514c5db2411238b72981a3cda4c701a9dfea17"
+checksum = "d60b5d773ad46c698c8cc2cd9fde0b283d39cbb7f71c04bee633c7bdba4423bd"
 dependencies = [
 "convert_case",
 "proc-macro2",
@@ -6360,7 +6356,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "futures-channel",
 "futures-core",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "httparse",
 "humantime",
@@ -6481,7 +6477,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
 "futures",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "jiff",
 "log",
@@ -6506,7 +6502,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "0d6f81ba6960e3fae1882f253b114b21d7e444e1534f209c7737a79f6243eb6f"
 dependencies = [
 "futures",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "mea",
 "opendal-core",
 ]
@@ -6550,7 +6546,7 @@ checksum = "0030644366ef5d8cbe3a4a5822bf99a4aafddc1666e9d24b44d158d9062fc76a"
 dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "opendal-service-azure-common",
@@ -6571,7 +6567,7 @@ checksum = "6dea4908d490143a9b0b7f7a790e139ff829b06a023f670455ed3d44f664b361"
 dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "opendal-service-azure-common",
@@ -6589,7 +6585,7 @@ version = "0.57.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9b489f13c42e69d69bdd72952b634356ec43a7881a20259b38b540fcecdf4051"
 dependencies = [
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "opendal-core",
 ]

@@ -6600,7 +6596,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "aa8cafe9729213375c7331019b0cb756ad3e1aff7f45cd32c45eae91ebde8901"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "quick-xml 0.39.4",
@@ -6618,7 +6614,7 @@ checksum = "48de101aac565ed06af4b47903c24eafd249075553ec1fb18256751c45148d47"
 dependencies = [
 "async-trait",
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -6653,7 +6649,7 @@ checksum = "c4922661976a1d40794a2adfbdb888cc3c23097690f825a92f773af38908a848"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "hf-xet",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -6669,7 +6665,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "328fa55e8888cbdfe00826bfea2a79042422b720e8369e9e021e46121dea5ace"
 dependencies = [
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "opendal-core",
 "quick-xml 0.39.4",
@@ -6688,7 +6684,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
 "crc32c",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "md-5 0.11.0",
 "opendal-core",
@@ -7587,7 +7583,7 @@ version = "0.14.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "343d3bd7056eda839b03204e68deff7d1b13aba7af2b2fd16890697274262ee7"
 dependencies = [
- "heck 0.5.0",
+ "heck 0.4.1",
 "itertools 0.14.0",
 "log",
 "multimap",
@@ -8230,7 +8226,7 @@ checksum = "57ac2757f3140aa2e213b554148ae0b52733e624fc6723f0cc6bb3d440176c95"
 dependencies = [
 "anyhow",
 "form_urlencoded",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "percent-encoding",
 "reqsign-core",
@@ -8248,7 +8244,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "anyhow",
 "bytes",
 "form_urlencoded",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "percent-encoding",
 "quick-xml 0.39.4",
@@ -8270,7 +8266,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
 "form_urlencoded",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "jsonwebtoken",
 "log",
 "pem",
@@ -8295,7 +8291,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "futures",
 "hex",
 "hmac 0.12.1",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "jiff",
 "log",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -8322,7 +8318,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "35cc609b49c69e76ecaceb775a03f792d1ed3e7755ab3548d4534fd801e3242e"
 dependencies = [
 "form_urlencoded",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "jsonwebtoken",
 "log",
 "percent-encoding",
@@ -8342,7 +8338,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "e128f19525861dbded59e1e7c17653a8ed63d573ca04aed708d552dbef5bb32a"
 dependencies = [
 "anyhow",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "log",
 "percent-encoding",
 "reqsign-core",
@@ -8362,7 +8358,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "futures-core",
 "futures-util",
 "h2 0.4.14",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
@@ -8406,7 +8402,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "futures-core",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
@@ -8460,7 +8456,7 @@ checksum = "199dda04a536b532d0cc04d7979e39b1c763ea749bf91507017069c00b96056f"
 dependencies = [
 "anyhow",
 "async-trait",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "reqwest 0.13.3",
 "thiserror 2.0.18",
 "tower-service",
@@ -8502,9 +8498,9 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "rkyv"
-version = "0.8.16"
+version = "0.8.17"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "73389e0c99e664f919275ab5b5b0471391fe9a8de61e1dff9b1eaf56a90f16e3"
+checksum = "815cc8a37159a463064825246cadb07961e25cd9885908606f6d08a98d8f8874"
 dependencies = [
 "bytecheck",
 "bytes",
@@ -8521,9 +8517,9 @@ dependencies = [

 [[package]]
 name = "rkyv_derive"
-version = "0.8.16"
+version = "0.8.17"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5d2ed0b54125315fb36bd021e82d314d1c126548f871634b483f46b31d13cac6"
+checksum = "c0ed1a78a1b19d184b0daa629dd9a024573173ec7d485b287cb369fb3607cc1c"
 dependencies = [
 "proc-macro2",
 "quote",
@@ -9281,7 +9277,7 @@ version = "0.8.9"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "c1c97747dbf44bb1ca44a561ece23508e99cb592e862f22222dcf42f51d1e451"
 dependencies = [
- "heck 0.5.0",
+ "heck 0.4.1",
 "proc-macro2",
 "quote",
 "syn 2.0.117",
@@ -9293,7 +9289,7 @@ version = "0.9.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "54254b8531cafa275c5e096f62d48c81435d1015405a91198ddb11e967301d40"
 dependencies = [
- "heck 0.5.0",
+ "heck 0.4.1",
 "proc-macro2",
 "quote",
 "syn 2.0.117",
@@ -9734,7 +9730,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "32497e9a4c7b38532efcdebeef879707aa9f794296a4f0244f6f69e9bc8574bd"
 dependencies = [
 "fastrand",
- "getrandom 0.4.2",
+ "getrandom 0.3.4",
 "once_cell",
 "rustix",
 "windows-sys 0.61.2",
@@ -10062,7 +10058,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "base64 0.22.1",
 "bytes",
 "h2 0.4.14",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
@@ -10118,7 +10114,7 @@ checksum = "1e9cd434a998747dd2c4276bc96ee2e0c7a2eadf3cae88e52be55a05fa9053f5"
 dependencies = [
 "bitflags 2.11.1",
 "bytes",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "pin-project-lite",
@@ -10138,7 +10134,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "bytes",
 "futures-core",
 "futures-util",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "http-body 1.1.0",
 "http-body-util",
 "pin-project-lite",
@@ -11159,7 +11155,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "clap",
 "crc32fast",
 "futures",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "hyper 1.9.0",
 "lazy_static",
 "more-asserts",
@@ -11233,7 +11229,7 @@ dependencies = [
 "chrono",
 "clap",
 "gearhash",
- "http 1.4.2",
+ "http 1.5.0",
 "itertools 0.14.0",
 "lazy_static",
 "more-asserts",
@@ -13,20 +13,20 @@ categories = ["database-implementations"]
 rust-version = "1.91.0"

 [workspace.dependencies]
-lance = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-core = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-datagen = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-file = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-io = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-index = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-linalg = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-namespace = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-namespace-impls = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-table = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-testing = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-datafusion = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-encoding = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-arrow = { "version" = "=10.0.0-beta.5", "tag" = "v10.0.0-beta.5", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-core = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-datagen = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-file = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-io = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-index = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-linalg = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-namespace = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-namespace-impls = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", default-features = false, "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-table = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-testing = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-datafusion = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-encoding = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-arrow = { "version" = "=10.1.0-beta.1", "tag" = "v10.1.0-beta.1", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
 ahash = "0.8"
 # Note that this one does not include pyarrow
 arrow = { version = "58.0.0", optional = false }
@@ -25,6 +25,27 @@ the underlying connection has been closed.

 ## Methods

+### cancelJob()
+
+```ts
+abstract cancelJob(jobId): Promise<boolean>
+```
+
+Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+
+Resolves to true if the server accepted the cancellation, false if no
+such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op success.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **jobId**: `string`
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`boolean`&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### cloneTable()

 ```ts
@@ -365,6 +386,26 @@ Drop an existing table.

 ***

+### getJob()
+
+```ts
+abstract getJob(jobId): Promise<null | JobDescription>
+```
+
+Describe a single server-side job by id.
+
+Resolves to `null` when the server has no such job.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **jobId**: `string`
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`null` \| [`JobDescription`](../interfaces/JobDescription.md)&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### isOpen()

 ```ts
@@ -379,6 +420,62 @@ Return true if the connection has not been closed

 ***

+### job()
+
+```ts
+abstract job(jobId): Job
+```
+
+A [Job](Job.md) handle for a server-side job by id.
+
+The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect on
+the job itself.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **jobId**: `string`
+
+#### Returns
+
+[`Job`](Job.md)
+
+***
+
+### jobHistory()
+
+```ts
+abstract jobHistory(jobId?): Promise<Table<any>>
+```
+
+The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as an Arrow table.
+
+Lists history across all jobs when `jobId` is omitted.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **jobId?**: `string`
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`Table`&lt;`any`&gt;&gt;
+
+***
+
+### listJobs()
+
+```ts
+abstract listJobs(): Promise<JobInfo[]>
+```
+
+List server-side jobs across the database's tables.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`JobInfo`](../interfaces/JobInfo.md)[]&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### listNamespaces()

 ```ts
@@ -0,0 +1,83 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / Job
+
+# Class: Job
+
+A handle to an operation that may still be running.
+
+## Constructors
+
+### new Job()
+
+```ts
+new Job(): Job
+```
+
+#### Returns
+
+[`Job`](Job.md)
+
+## Accessors
+
+### id
+
+```ts
+get id(): null | string
+```
+
+Identifies the operation on the server that is running it. Operations
+that run in this process have no server id. The value is opaque.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`null` \| `string`
+
+## Methods
+
+### cancel()
+
+```ts
+cancel(): Promise<void>
+```
+
+Request cancellation. Cancelling a finished operation is a no-op.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`void`&gt;
+
+***
+
+### status()
+
+```ts
+status(): Promise<string>
+```
+
+The operation's current lifecycle state: "running", "finished",
+"failed", or "cancelled".
+
+A point snapshot; unlike [Job.wait](Job.md#wait) it does not block or reject
+on a terminal failure state. States a newer server reports that this
+client version does not know pass through as-is.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`string`&gt;
+
+***
+
+### wait()
+
+```ts
+wait(): Promise<void>
+```
+
+Wait until the operation reaches a terminal state.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`void`&gt;
@@ -295,6 +295,29 @@ await table.createIndex("my_float_col");

 ***

+### createIndexAsync()
+
+```ts
+abstract createIndexAsync(column, options?): Promise<Job>
+```
+
+Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+
+The job may already be complete when returned; callers must not assume
+the index exists until [Job.wait](Job.md#wait) resolves.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **column**: `string`
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`IndexOptions`](../interfaces/IndexOptions.md)&gt;
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`Job`](Job.md)&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### currentBranch()

 ```ts
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 - [Connection](classes/Connection.md)
 - [HeaderProvider](classes/HeaderProvider.md)
 - [Index](classes/Index.md)
+- [Job](classes/Job.md)
 - [MakeArrowTableOptions](classes/MakeArrowTableOptions.md)
 - [MatchQuery](classes/MatchQuery.md)
 - [MergeInsertBuilder](classes/MergeInsertBuilder.md)
@@ -88,6 +89,9 @@
 - [IvfFlatOptions](interfaces/IvfFlatOptions.md)
 - [IvfPqOptions](interfaces/IvfPqOptions.md)
 - [IvfRqOptions](interfaces/IvfRqOptions.md)
+- [JobDescription](interfaces/JobDescription.md)
+- [JobFailureInfo](interfaces/JobFailureInfo.md)
+- [JobInfo](interfaces/JobInfo.md)
 - [ListNamespacesOptions](interfaces/ListNamespacesOptions.md)
 - [ListNamespacesResponse](interfaces/ListNamespacesResponse.md)
 - [LsmWriteSpec](interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.md)
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / JobDescription
+
+# Interface: JobDescription
+
+A described job from `Connection.getJob`.
+
+## Properties
+
+### creationMs
+
+```ts
+creationMs: number;
+```
+
+When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+
+***
+
+### failure?
+
+```ts
+optional failure: JobFailureInfo;
+```
+
+Why the job failed, when the job is failed and the server reports a
+reason.
+
+***
+
+### jobId
+
+```ts
+jobId: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### jobType
+
+```ts
+jobType: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### specJson?
+
+```ts
+optional specJson: string;
+```
+
+The job-type-specific specification as a JSON string, when present.
+
+***
+
+### state
+
+```ts
+state: string;
+```
+
+Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / JobFailureInfo
+
+# Interface: JobFailureInfo
+
+The server's account of why a job failed.
+
+## Properties
+
+### message?
+
+```ts
+optional message: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### phase?
+
+```ts
+optional phase: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### retryable?
+
+```ts
+optional retryable: boolean;
+```
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / JobInfo
+
+# Interface: JobInfo
+
+A row from `Connection.listJobs`: one server-side job.
+
+## Properties
+
+### createdAtMillis
+
+```ts
+createdAtMillis: number;
+```
+
+When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+
+***
+
+### jobId
+
+```ts
+jobId: string;
+```
+
+The job id -- what `Connection.getJob` and `Connection.cancelJob`
+accept.
+
+***
+
+### jobType
+
+```ts
+jobType: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### state
+
+```ts
+state: string;
+```
+
+Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
+
+***
+
+### table
+
+```ts
+table: string;
+```
+
+The table the job runs against, without URI or namespace.
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
    <properties>
        <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
        <arrow.version>15.0.0</arrow.version>
-        <lance-core.version>10.0.0-beta.5</lance-core.version>
+        <lance-core.version>10.1.0-beta.1</lance-core.version>
        <spotless.skip>false</spotless.skip>
        <spotless.version>2.30.0</spotless.version>
        <spotless.java.googlejavaformat.version>1.7</spotless.java.googlejavaformat.version>
@@ -877,3 +877,96 @@ describe("remote connection", () => {
    });
  });
 });
+
+describe("remote connection jobs surface", () => {
+  it("lists, describes, cancels, and reads history", async () => {
+    const { tableFromArrays, tableToIPC } = await import("apache-arrow");
+    const eventsTable = tableFromArrays({ state: ["created", "succeeded"] });
+    const eventsBody = Buffer.from(tableToIPC(eventsTable, "stream"));
+
+    await withMockDatabase(
+      (req, res) => {
+        let body = "";
+        req.on("data", (chunk) => {
+          body += chunk;
+        });
+        req.on("end", () => {
+          const payload = body.length > 0 ? JSON.parse(body) : {};
+          if (req.url === "/v1/jobs/list") {
+            if (payload["page_token"] === undefined) {
+              res
+                .writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" })
+                .end(
+                  '{"jobs": [{"job_id": "job-1", "table": "t1", ' +
+                    '"job_type": "create_index", "state": "in_progress", ' +
+                    '"created_at_millis": 1000}], "page_token": "next"}',
+                );
+            } else {
+              res
+                .writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" })
+                .end(
+                  '{"jobs": [{"job_id": "job-2", "table": "t2", ' +
+                    '"job_type": "create_index", "state": "succeeded", ' +
+                    '"created_at_millis": 2000}]}',
+                );
+            }
+          } else if (req.url === "/v1/jobs/describe") {
+            if (payload["job_id"] !== "job-1") {
+              res.writeHead(404).end("no such job");
+              return;
+            }
+            res
+              .writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" })
+              .end(
+                '{"job_id": "job-1", "job_type": "create_index", ' +
+                  '"job_state": "FAILED", "creation_ms": 1000, ' +
+                  '"spec": {"column": "vec"}, "failure": {"phase": "execute", ' +
+                  '"message": "worker died", "retryable": true}}',
+              );
+          } else if (req.url === "/v1/jobs/cancel") {
+            if (payload["job_id"] !== "job-1") {
+              res.writeHead(404).end("no such job");
+              return;
+            }
+            res
+              .writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" })
+              .end('{"job_id": "job-1"}');
+          } else if (req.url === "/v1/jobs/query_events") {
+            res
+              .writeHead(200, {
+                "Content-Type": "application/vnd.apache.arrow.stream",
+              })
+              .end(eventsBody);
+          } else {
+            res.writeHead(404).end();
+          }
+        });
+      },
+      async (db) => {
+        const jobs = await db.listJobs();
+        expect(jobs.map((job) => job.jobId)).toEqual(["job-1", "job-2"]);
+        expect(jobs[0].state).toEqual("running");
+        expect(jobs[1].state).toEqual("finished");
+
+        const description = await db.getJob("job-1");
+        expect(description?.state).toEqual("failed");
+        expect(JSON.parse(description?.specJson ?? "")).toEqual({
+          column: "vec",
+        });
+        expect(description?.failure?.message).toEqual("worker died");
+        expect(await db.getJob("missing")).toBeNull();
+
+        expect(await db.cancelJob("job-1")).toBe(true);
+        expect(await db.cancelJob("missing")).toBe(false);
+
+        const history = await db.jobHistory("job-1");
+        expect(history.numRows).toEqual(2);
+
+        const job = db.job("job-1");
+        expect(job.id).toEqual("job-1");
+        expect(await job.status()).toEqual("failed");
+        await expect(job.wait()).rejects.toThrow("worker died");
+      },
+    );
+  });
+});
@@ -851,7 +851,11 @@ describe("When creating an index", () => {
  afterEach(() => tmpDir.removeCallback());

  it("should create a vector index on vector columns", async () => {
-    await tbl.createIndex("vec");
+    const job = await tbl.createIndexAsync("vec");
+    expect(job.id).toBeNull();
+    await job.wait();
+    // Cancelling a job that already finished succeeds and does nothing.
+    await job.cancel();

    // check index directory
    const indexDir = path.join(tmpDir.name, "test.lance", "_indices");
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors

+import { tableFromIPC } from "apache-arrow";
 import {
  Data,
  SchemaLike,
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ import type {
  CreateNamespaceResponse,
  DescribeNamespaceResponse,
  DropNamespaceResponse,
+  Job,
+  JobDescription,
+  JobInfo,
  ListNamespacesResponse,
 } from "./native";
 export type {
@@ -436,6 +440,40 @@ export abstract class Connection {
    newName: string,
    options?: RenameTableOptions,
  ): Promise<void>;
+
+  /**
+   * A {@link Job} handle for a server-side job by id.
+   *
+   * The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+   * surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect on
+   * the job itself.
+   */
+  abstract job(jobId: string): Job;
+
+  /** List server-side jobs across the database's tables. */
+  abstract listJobs(): Promise<JobInfo[]>;
+
+  /**
+   * Describe a single server-side job by id.
+   *
+   * Resolves to `null` when the server has no such job.
+   */
+  abstract getJob(jobId: string): Promise<JobDescription | null>;
+
+  /**
+   * Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+   *
+   * Resolves to true if the server accepted the cancellation, false if no
+   * such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op success.
+   */
+  abstract cancelJob(jobId: string): Promise<boolean>;
+
+  /**
+   * The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as an Arrow table.
+   *
+   * Lists history across all jobs when `jobId` is omitted.
+   */
+  abstract jobHistory(jobId?: string): Promise<ArrowTable>;
 }

 /** @hideconstructor */
@@ -722,6 +760,30 @@ export class LocalConnection extends Connection {
      options?.newNamespacePath,
    );
  }
+
+  job(jobId: string): Job {
+    return this.inner.job(jobId);
+  }
+
+  async listJobs(): Promise<JobInfo[]> {
+    return this.inner.listJobs();
+  }
+
+  async getJob(jobId: string): Promise<JobDescription | null> {
+    return this.inner.getJob(jobId);
+  }
+
+  async cancelJob(jobId: string): Promise<boolean> {
+    return this.inner.cancelJob(jobId);
+  }
+
+  async jobHistory(jobId?: string): Promise<ArrowTable> {
+    const buf = await this.inner.jobHistory(jobId);
+    if (buf.length === 0) {
+      return new ArrowTable();
+    }
+    return tableFromIPC(buf);
+  }
 }

 /**
@@ -85,7 +85,13 @@ export {
  RenameTableOptions,
 } from "./connection";

-export { Session } from "./native.js";
+export {
+  Job,
+  JobDescription,
+  JobFailureInfo,
+  JobInfo,
+  Session,
+} from "./native.js";

 export {
  ExecutableQuery,
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import {
  DropColumnsResult,
  IndexConfig,
  IndexStatistics,
+  Job,
  Branches as NativeBranches,
  OptimizeStats,
  TableStatistics,
@@ -358,6 +359,17 @@ export abstract class Table {
    options?: Partial<IndexOptions>,
  ): Promise<void>;

+  /**
+   * Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+   *
+   * The job may already be complete when returned; callers must not assume
+   * the index exists until {@link Job.wait} resolves.
+   */
+  abstract createIndexAsync(
+    column: string,
+    options?: Partial<IndexOptions>,
+  ): Promise<Job>;
+
  /**
   * Drop an index from the table.
   *
@@ -940,6 +952,22 @@ export class LocalTable extends Table {
    );
  }

+  async createIndexAsync(
+    column: string,
+    options?: Partial<IndexOptions>,
+  ): Promise<Job> {
+    // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noExplicitAny: skip
+    const nativeIndex = (options?.config as any)?.inner;
+    return await this.inner.createIndexAsync(
+      nativeIndex,
+      column,
+      options?.replace,
+      options?.waitTimeoutSeconds,
+      options?.name,
+      options?.train,
+    );
+  }
+
  async dropIndex(name: string): Promise<void> {
    await this.inner.dropIndex(name);
  }
@@ -340,6 +340,69 @@ impl Connection {
        self.get_inner()?.drop_all_tables(&ns).await.default_error()
    }

+    /// A `Job` handle for a server-side job by id.
+    ///
+    /// The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+    /// surfaces when the handle is used.
+    #[napi]
+    pub fn job(&self, job_id: String) -> napi::Result<crate::job::Job> {
+        let job = self.get_inner()?.job(job_id).default_error()?;
+        Ok(crate::job::Job::new(job))
+    }
+
+    /// List server-side jobs across the database's tables.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn list_jobs(&self) -> napi::Result<Vec<crate::job::JobInfo>> {
+        let jobs = self.get_inner()?.list_jobs().await.default_error()?;
+        Ok(jobs.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect())
+    }
+
+    /// Describe a single server-side job by id. `null` when the server has
+    /// no such job.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn get_job(
+        &self,
+        job_id: String,
+    ) -> napi::Result<Option<crate::job::JobDescription>> {
+        let description = self.get_inner()?.get_job(&job_id).await.default_error()?;
+        Ok(description.map(Into::into))
+    }
+
+    /// Request cancellation of a server-side job by id. Returns true if the
+    /// server accepted the cancellation, false if no such job exists.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn cancel_job(&self, job_id: String) -> napi::Result<bool> {
+        self.get_inner()?.cancel_job(&job_id).await.default_error()
+    }
+
+    /// The lifecycle event history of a server-side job (all jobs when
+    /// `job_id` is null), as an Arrow IPC stream buffer. Empty when there is
+    /// no history.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn job_history(&self, job_id: Option<String>) -> napi::Result<Buffer> {
+        let batches = self
+            .get_inner()?
+            .job_history(job_id.as_deref())
+            .await
+            .default_error()?;
+        let Some(first) = batches.first() else {
+            return Ok(Buffer::from(Vec::<u8>::new()));
+        };
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        let mut writer = arrow_ipc::writer::StreamWriter::try_new(&mut out, &first.schema())
+            .map_err(|e| napi::Error::from_reason(e.to_string()))?;
+        for batch in &batches {
+            writer
+                .write(batch)
+                .map_err(|e| napi::Error::from_reason(e.to_string()))?;
+        }
+        writer
+            .finish()
+            .map_err(|e| napi::Error::from_reason(e.to_string()))?;
+        drop(writer);
+        Ok(Buffer::from(out))
+    }
+
    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
    /// Describe a namespace and return its properties.
    pub async fn describe_namespace(
@@ -0,0 +1,123 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use napi_derive::napi;
+
+use crate::error::NapiErrorExt;
+
+/// A handle to an operation that may still be running.
+#[napi]
+pub struct Job {
+    inner: Arc<lancedb::Job>,
+}
+
+impl Job {
+    pub(crate) fn new(inner: lancedb::Job) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: Arc::new(inner),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[napi]
+impl Job {
+    /// Identifies the operation on the server that is running it. Operations
+    /// that run in this process have no server id. The value is opaque.
+    #[napi(getter)]
+    pub fn id(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.inner.id().map(str::to_string)
+    }
+
+    /// The operation's current lifecycle state: "running", "finished",
+    /// "failed", or "cancelled".
+    ///
+    /// A point snapshot; unlike {@link Job.wait} it does not block or reject
+    /// on a terminal failure state. States a newer server reports that this
+    /// client version does not know pass through as-is.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn status(&self) -> napi::Result<String> {
+        self.inner.status().await.default_error()
+    }
+
+    /// Wait until the operation reaches a terminal state.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn wait(&self) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        self.inner.wait().await.default_error()
+    }
+
+    /// Request cancellation. Cancelling a finished operation is a no-op.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn cancel(&self) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        self.inner.cancel().await.default_error()
+    }
+}
+
+/// A row from `Connection.listJobs`: one server-side job.
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct JobInfo {
+    /// The job id -- what `Connection.getJob` and `Connection.cancelJob`
+    /// accept.
+    pub job_id: String,
+    /// The table the job runs against, without URI or namespace.
+    pub table: String,
+    pub job_type: String,
+    /// Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
+    pub state: String,
+    /// When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+    pub created_at_millis: i64,
+}
+
+impl From<lancedb::database::JobInfo> for JobInfo {
+    fn from(info: lancedb::database::JobInfo) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            job_id: info.job_id,
+            table: info.table,
+            job_type: info.job_type,
+            state: info.state,
+            created_at_millis: info.created_at_millis,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The server's account of why a job failed.
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct JobFailureInfo {
+    pub phase: Option<String>,
+    pub message: Option<String>,
+    pub retryable: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+/// A described job from `Connection.getJob`.
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct JobDescription {
+    pub job_id: String,
+    pub job_type: String,
+    /// Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
+    pub state: String,
+    /// When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+    pub creation_ms: i64,
+    /// The job-type-specific specification as a JSON string, when present.
+    pub spec_json: Option<String>,
+    /// Why the job failed, when the job is failed and the server reports a
+    /// reason.
+    pub failure: Option<JobFailureInfo>,
+}
+
+impl From<lancedb::database::JobDescription> for JobDescription {
+    fn from(description: lancedb::database::JobDescription) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            job_id: description.job_id,
+            job_type: description.job_type,
+            state: description.state,
+            creation_ms: description.creation_ms,
+            spec_json: (!description.spec.is_null()).then(|| description.spec.to_string()),
+            failure: description.failure.map(|failure| JobFailureInfo {
+                phase: failure.phase,
+                message: failure.message,
+                retryable: failure.retryable,
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+}
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ mod error;
 mod header;
 mod index;
 mod iterator;
+mod job;
 pub mod merge;
 pub mod otel;
 pub mod permutation;
@@ -168,6 +168,39 @@ impl Table {
        builder.execute().await.default_error()
    }

+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn create_index_async(
+        &self,
+        index: Option<&Index>,
+        column: String,
+        replace: Option<bool>,
+        wait_timeout_s: Option<i64>,
+        name: Option<String>,
+        train: Option<bool>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<crate::job::Job> {
+        let lancedb_index = if let Some(index) = index {
+            index.consume()?
+        } else {
+            lancedb::index::Index::Auto
+        };
+        let mut builder = self.inner_ref()?.create_index(&[column], lancedb_index);
+        if let Some(replace) = replace {
+            builder = builder.replace(replace);
+        }
+        if let Some(timeout) = wait_timeout_s {
+            builder =
+                builder.wait_timeout(std::time::Duration::from_secs(timeout.try_into().unwrap()));
+        }
+        if let Some(name) = name {
+            builder = builder.name(name);
+        }
+        if let Some(train) = train {
+            builder = builder.train(train);
+        }
+        let job = builder.execute_async().await.default_error()?;
+        Ok(crate::job::Job::new(job))
+    }
+
    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
    pub async fn drop_index(&self, index_name: String) -> napi::Result<()> {
        self.inner_ref()?
@@ -306,7 +339,9 @@ impl Table {
        let transforms = NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(transforms);
        let res = self
            .inner_ref()?
-            .add_columns(transforms, None)
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(transforms)
+            .execute()
            .await
            .default_error()?;
        Ok(res.into())
@@ -323,7 +358,9 @@ impl Table {
        let transforms = NewColumnTransform::AllNulls(schema);
        let res = self
            .inner_ref()?
-            .add_columns(transforms, None)
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(transforms)
+            .execute()
            .await
            .default_error()?;
        Ok(res.into())
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from .remote import ClientConfig
 from .remote.db import RemoteDBConnection
 from .expr import Expr, col, lit, func
 from .schema import blob, vector, BlobType
+from .job import AsyncJob, Job
 from .table import AsyncTable, Table
 from .types import BaseTokenizerType
 from ._lancedb import Session
@@ -500,6 +501,7 @@ __all__ = [
    "connect_namespace",
    "connect_namespace_async",
    "AsyncConnection",
+    "AsyncJob",
    "AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection",
    "AsyncTable",
    "FtsToken",
@@ -513,6 +515,7 @@ __all__ = [
    "BlobType",
    "vector",
    "DBConnection",
+    "Job",
    "LanceDBConnection",
    "LanceNamespaceDBConnection",
    "RemoteDBConnection",
@@ -14,14 +14,10 @@ import pyarrow as pa
 from .expr import Expr
 from .schema import blob_v2_column_paths
 from .types import BlobMode, QueryProjection, QueryProjectionSpec
-from .util import get_uri_scheme

 if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from _typeshed import WriteableBuffer

-    from .remote.table import RemoteTable
-    from .table import AsyncTable, Table
-
 BLOB_MODE_TO_HANDLING = {
    "lazy": "blobs_descriptions",
    "bytes": "all_binary",
@@ -104,22 +100,6 @@ def validate_blob_mode(blob_mode: BlobMode) -> None:
        raise ValueError(f"blob_mode must be one of {modes}, got {blob_mode!r}")


-def supports_blob_auto_row_id(table: Table | AsyncTable | RemoteTable) -> bool:
-    """Blob auto row-id applies to native tables, not LanceDB Cloud."""
-    from .remote.table import RemoteTable
-
-    if isinstance(table, RemoteTable):
-        return False
-
-    inner = getattr(table, "_inner", None)
-    if inner is not None:
-        uri = inner.database().uri
-        if isinstance(uri, str) and get_uri_scheme(uri) == "db":
-            return False
-
-    return True
-
-
 def projection_includes_blob_column(
    projection: QueryProjection,
    blob_columns: Iterable[str],
@@ -164,16 +144,14 @@ def v2_projection_needs_row_id(


 def blob_auto_row_id_for_scan(
-    table: Table | AsyncTable | RemoteTable,
    schema: pa.Schema,
    projection: QueryProjection,
    *,
    with_row_id: bool | None,
 ) -> bool:
+    """Auto row-id only applies when the caller said nothing about row ids."""
    if with_row_id is not None:
        return False
-    if not supports_blob_auto_row_id(table):
-        return False
    return v2_projection_needs_row_id(schema, projection, with_row_id=False)


@@ -186,6 +164,11 @@ def finalize_blob_query_table(
 ) -> pa.Table:
    if user_requested_row_id or not blob_auto_row_id:
        return tbl
+    if "_rowid" not in tbl.column_names:
+        # A backend that ignores the row-id request leaves nothing to stash. Hand
+        # back the projection as-is so fetch_blobs raises the error that names the
+        # ways to supply row ids, rather than failing here about a hidden column.
+        return tbl
    return stash_auto_row_ids(tbl, blob_paths)


@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ class Connection(object):
        start_after: Optional[str],
        limit: Optional[int],
    ) -> list[str]: ...  # Deprecated: Use list_tables instead
+    def job(self, job_id: str) -> Job: ...
+    async def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]: ...
+    async def get_job(self, job_id: str) -> Optional[JobDescription]: ...
+    async def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool: ...
+    async def job_history(
+        self, job_id: Optional[str] = None
+    ) -> List[pa.RecordBatch]: ...
    async def create_table(
        self,
        name: str,
@@ -209,6 +216,47 @@ class BlobFile:
    def read_range(self, offset: int, length: int) -> bytes: ...
    def read_up_to(self, length: int) -> bytes: ...

+class Job:
+    @property
+    def id(self) -> Optional[str]: ...
+    async def status(self) -> str: ...
+    async def wait(self) -> None: ...
+    async def cancel(self) -> None: ...
+
+class JobInfo:
+    @property
+    def job_id(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def table(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def job_type(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def state(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def created_at_millis(self) -> int: ...
+
+class JobFailureInfo:
+    @property
+    def phase(self) -> Optional[str]: ...
+    @property
+    def message(self) -> Optional[str]: ...
+    @property
+    def retryable(self) -> Optional[bool]: ...
+
+class JobDescription:
+    @property
+    def job_id(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def job_type(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def state(self) -> str: ...
+    @property
+    def creation_ms(self) -> int: ...
+    @property
+    def spec_json(self) -> Optional[str]: ...
+    @property
+    def failure(self) -> Optional[JobFailureInfo]: ...
+
 class Table:
    def name(self) -> str: ...
    def __repr__(self) -> str: ...
@@ -248,6 +296,28 @@ class Table:
        name: Optional[str],
        train: Optional[bool],
    ): ...
+    async def create_index_async(
+        self,
+        column: str,
+        index: Union[
+            IvfFlat,
+            IvfSq,
+            IvfPq,
+            HnswPq,
+            HnswSq,
+            HnswFlat,
+            BTree,
+            Bitmap,
+            LabelList,
+            Fm,
+            FTS,
+        ],
+        replace: Optional[bool],
+        wait_timeout: Optional[object],
+        *,
+        name: Optional[str],
+        train: Optional[bool],
+    ) -> Job: ...
    async def list_versions(self) -> List[Dict[str, Any]]: ...
    async def version(self) -> int: ...
    async def checkout(self, version: Union[int, str]): ...
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ from lance_namespace.errors import NamespaceNotEmptyError, TableNotFoundError

 from . import __version__
 from ._lancedb import connect as lancedb_connect  # type: ignore
+from .job import AsyncJob, Job
 from .table import (
    AsyncTable,
    LanceTable,
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
    from .pydantic import LanceModel

    from ._lancedb import Connection as LanceDbConnection
+    from ._lancedb import JobDescription, JobInfo
    from .common import DATA, URI
    from .embeddings import EmbeddingFunctionConfig
    from ._lancedb import Session
@@ -178,6 +180,51 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
            "Namespace operations are not supported for this connection type"
        )

+    def namespace_exists(self, namespace_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """Check if a namespace exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        namespace_id: List[str]
+            The namespace identifier to check.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the namespace exists, False otherwise.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        NotImplementedError
+            If the connection type does not support namespace operations.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            "Namespace operations are not supported for this connection type"
+        )
+
+    def table_exists(self, table_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """Check if a table exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        table_id: List[str]
+            The table identifier to check (full path including namespace
+            segments and table name).
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the table exists, False otherwise.
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        NotImplementedError
+            If the connection type does not support namespace operations.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            "Namespace operations are not supported for this connection type"
+        )
+
    def list_tables(
        self,
        namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None,
@@ -563,6 +610,46 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
        """
        raise NotImplementedError("serialize is not supported for this connection type")

+    def job(self, job_id: str) -> Job:
+        """A [Job][lancedb.job.Job] handle for a server-side job by id.
+
+        The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+        surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect
+        on the job itself.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("job is not supported for this connection type")
+
+    def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]:
+        """List server-side jobs across the database's tables."""
+        raise NotImplementedError("list_jobs is not supported for this connection type")
+
+    def get_job(self, job_id: str) -> Optional[JobDescription]:
+        """Describe a single server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns None when the server has no such job.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError("get_job is not supported for this connection type")
+
+    def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool:
+        """Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns True if the server accepted the cancellation, False if no
+        such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op
+        success.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            "cancel_job is not supported for this connection type"
+        )
+
+    def job_history(self, job_id: Optional[str] = None) -> List[pa.RecordBatch]:
+        """The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as Arrow batches.
+
+        Lists history across all jobs when `job_id` is None.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError(
+            "job_history is not supported for this connection type"
+        )
+

 class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
    """
@@ -688,11 +775,7 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
        return cls(None, _inner=inner)

    def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        val = f"{self.__class__.__name__}(uri={self._conn.uri!r}"
-        if self.read_consistency_interval is not None:
-            val += f", read_consistency_interval={repr(self.read_consistency_interval)}"
-        val += ")"
-        return val
+        return f"{self.__class__.__name__}(uri={self._conn.uri!r})"

    @override
    def serialize(self) -> str:
@@ -1129,6 +1212,47 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
            )
        )

+    @override
+    def job(self, job_id: str) -> Job:
+        """A [Job][lancedb.job.Job] handle for a server-side job by id.
+
+        The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+        surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect
+        on the job itself.
+        """
+        return Job(self._conn.job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]:
+        """List server-side jobs across the database's tables."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_jobs())
+
+    @override
+    def get_job(self, job_id: str) -> Optional[JobDescription]:
+        """Describe a single server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns None when the server has no such job.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.get_job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool:
+        """Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns True if the server accepted the cancellation, False if no
+        such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op
+        success.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.cancel_job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def job_history(self, job_id: Optional[str] = None) -> List[pa.RecordBatch]:
+        """The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as Arrow batches.
+
+        Lists history across all jobs when `job_id` is None.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.job_history(job_id))
+
    @override
    def namespace_client(self) -> LanceNamespace:
        """Get the equivalent namespace client for this connection.
@@ -1838,6 +1962,43 @@ class AsyncConnection(object):
            namespace_path = []
        await self._inner.drop_all_tables(namespace_path=namespace_path)

+    def job(self, job_id: str) -> AsyncJob:
+        """An [AsyncJob][lancedb.job.AsyncJob] handle for a server-side job
+        by id.
+
+        The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+        surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect
+        on the job itself.
+        """
+        return AsyncJob(self._inner.job(job_id))
+
+    async def list_jobs(self) -> List[JobInfo]:
+        """List server-side jobs across the database's tables."""
+        return await self._inner.list_jobs()
+
+    async def get_job(self, job_id: str) -> Optional[JobDescription]:
+        """Describe a single server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns None when the server has no such job.
+        """
+        return await self._inner.get_job(job_id)
+
+    async def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool:
+        """Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns True if the server accepted the cancellation, False if no
+        such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op
+        success.
+        """
+        return await self._inner.cancel_job(job_id)
+
+    async def job_history(self, job_id: Optional[str] = None) -> List[pa.RecordBatch]:
+        """The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as Arrow batches.
+
+        Lists history across all jobs when `job_id` is None.
+        """
+        return await self._inner.job_history(job_id)
+
    async def namespace_client(self) -> LanceNamespace:
        """Get the equivalent namespace client for this connection.

@@ -23,3 +23,15 @@ class MissingColumnError(KeyError):
        return (
            f"Error: Column '{self.column_name}' does not exist in the DataFrame object"
        )
+
+
+class JobFailedError(RuntimeError):
+    """Exception raised when an asynchronous job reaches the failed state."""
+
+    pass
+
+
+class JobCancelledError(RuntimeError):
+    """Exception raised when an asynchronous job was cancelled."""
+
+    pass
@@ -0,0 +1,105 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+"""Handles to operations a server may run asynchronously."""
+
+import asyncio
+from datetime import timedelta
+from typing import Optional
+
+from lancedb.background_loop import LOOP
+
+from . import _lancedb
+
+
+class AsyncJob:
+    """A handle to an operation that may still be running.
+
+    The operation may already be complete when the handle is created.
+    """
+
+    def __init__(self, inner: Optional["_lancedb.Job"]):
+        self._inner = inner
+
+    @property
+    def id(self) -> Optional[str]:
+        """Identifies the operation on the server that is running it.
+
+        Returned for correlating with server logs or the jobs API. Operations
+        that run in this process have no server id and return `None`. The value
+        is opaque: parsing it or storing it to resume the job later is not
+        supported.
+        """
+        return self._inner.id if self._inner is not None else None
+
+    async def status(self) -> str:
+        """The operation's current lifecycle state: "running", "finished",
+        "failed", or "cancelled".
+
+        A point snapshot; unlike `wait` it does not block or raise on a
+        terminal failure state. States a newer server reports that this
+        client version does not know pass through as-is.
+        """
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return "finished"
+        return await self._inner.status()
+
+    async def wait(self, timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None):
+        """Wait until the operation reaches a terminal state.
+
+        Raises `JobFailedError` if the operation failed, `JobCancelledError`
+        if it was cancelled, and `TimeoutError` if `timeout` elapses first.
+        """
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return
+        if timeout is None:
+            await self._inner.wait()
+        else:
+            await asyncio.wait_for(self._inner.wait(), timeout.total_seconds())
+
+    async def cancel(self):
+        """Request cancellation. Cancelling a finished operation is a no-op."""
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return
+        await self._inner.cancel()
+
+
+class Job:
+    """Synchronous counterpart of `AsyncJob`."""
+
+    def __init__(self, inner: Optional[AsyncJob]):
+        self._inner = inner
+
+    @property
+    def id(self) -> Optional[str]:
+        """Identifies the operation on the server that is running it.
+
+        See :attr:`AsyncJob.id`.
+        """
+        return self._inner.id if self._inner is not None else None
+
+    def status(self) -> str:
+        """The operation's current lifecycle state: "running", "finished",
+        "failed", or "cancelled".
+
+        See :meth:`AsyncJob.status`.
+        """
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return "finished"
+        return LOOP.run(self._inner.status())
+
+    def wait(self, timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None):
+        """Block until the operation reaches a terminal state.
+
+        Raises `JobFailedError` if the operation failed, `JobCancelledError`
+        if it was cancelled, and `TimeoutError` if `timeout` elapses first.
+        """
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return
+        LOOP.run(self._inner.wait(timeout))
+
+    def cancel(self):
+        """Request cancellation. Cancelling a finished operation is a no-op."""
+        if self._inner is None:
+            return
+        LOOP.run(self._inner.cancel())
@@ -92,8 +92,10 @@ class LanceMergeInsertBuilder(object):
        self._when_not_matched_by_source_delete = True
        if isinstance(condition, Expr):
            self._when_not_matched_by_source_condition_expr = condition._inner
-        elif condition is not None:
+            self._when_not_matched_by_source_condition = None
+        else:
            self._when_not_matched_by_source_condition = condition
+            self._when_not_matched_by_source_condition_expr = None
        return self

    def use_index(self, use_index: bool) -> LanceMergeInsertBuilder:
@@ -38,7 +38,11 @@ from lance_namespace_urllib3_client.models.query_table_request_vector import (
    QueryTableRequestVector,
 )
 from lance_namespace_urllib3_client.models.string_fts_query import StringFtsQuery
-from lance_namespace.errors import NamespaceNotEmptyError, TableNotFoundError
+from lance_namespace.errors import (
+    NamespaceNotEmptyError,
+    NamespaceNotFoundError,
+    TableNotFoundError,
+)
 from lancedb._lancedb import (
    connect_namespace as _connect_namespace,
    connect_namespace_client as _connect_namespace_client,
@@ -53,6 +57,8 @@ from lance_namespace import (
    DropNamespaceResponse,
    ListNamespacesResponse,
    ListTablesResponse,
+    NamespaceExistsRequest,
+    TableExistsRequest,
 )
 from lancedb.table import AsyncTable, LanceTable, Table
 from lancedb.util import validate_table_name
@@ -780,6 +786,51 @@ class LanceNamespaceDBConnection(DBConnection):
        """
        return LOOP.run(self._inner.describe_namespace(namespace_path))

+    @override
+    def namespace_exists(self, namespace_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if a namespace exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        namespace_id : List[str]
+            The namespace identifier to check.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the namespace exists, False otherwise.
+        """
+        request = NamespaceExistsRequest(id=namespace_id)
+        try:
+            self._namespace_client.namespace_exists(request)
+            return True
+        except NamespaceNotFoundError:
+            return False
+
+    @override
+    def table_exists(self, table_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if a table exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        table_id : List[str]
+            The table identifier to check (full path including namespace
+            segments and table name).
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the table exists, False otherwise.
+        """
+        request = TableExistsRequest(id=table_id)
+        try:
+            self._namespace_client.table_exists(request)
+            return True
+        except TableNotFoundError:
+            return False
+
    @override
    def list_tables(
        self,
@@ -1233,6 +1284,49 @@ class AsyncLanceNamespaceDBConnection:
        """
        return await self._inner.describe_namespace(namespace_path)

+    async def namespace_exists(self, namespace_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if a namespace exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        namespace_id : List[str]
+            The namespace identifier to check.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the namespace exists, False otherwise.
+        """
+        request = NamespaceExistsRequest(id=namespace_id)
+        try:
+            self._namespace_client.namespace_exists(request)
+            return True
+        except NamespaceNotFoundError:
+            return False
+
+    async def table_exists(self, table_id: List[str]) -> bool:
+        """
+        Check if a table exists.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        table_id : List[str]
+            The table identifier to check (full path including namespace
+            segments and table name).
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        bool
+            True if the table exists, False otherwise.
+        """
+        request = TableExistsRequest(id=table_id)
+        try:
+            self._namespace_client.table_exists(request)
+            return True
+        except TableNotFoundError:
+            return False
+
    async def list_tables(
        self,
        namespace_path: Optional[List[str]] = None,
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@ from ._blob import (
    finalize_blob_query_table,
    replace_v2_blob_columns_with_bytes,
    replace_v2_blob_columns_with_bytes_sync,
-    supports_blob_auto_row_id,
    validate_blob_mode,
 )
 from .types import BlobMode, QueryProjection
@@ -1280,10 +1279,7 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
        return self._with_row_id is True

    def _blob_auto_row_id_enabled(self) -> bool:
-        if not supports_blob_auto_row_id(self._table):
-            return False
        return blob_auto_row_id_for_scan(
-            self._table,
            self._table.schema,
            self._columns,
            with_row_id=self._with_row_id,
@@ -2701,7 +2697,7 @@ class LanceHybridQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
            self._fts_query.phrase_query(True)
        if self._distance_type:
            self._vector_query.metric(self._distance_type)
-        if self._minimum_nprobes:
+        if self._minimum_nprobes is not None:
            self._vector_query.minimum_nprobes(self._minimum_nprobes)
        if self._maximum_nprobes is not None:
            self._vector_query.maximum_nprobes(self._maximum_nprobes)
@@ -2774,7 +2770,7 @@ class AsyncQueryBase(object):
        )

    async def _maybe_add_blob_row_id(self) -> None:
-        if self._table is None or not supports_blob_auto_row_id(self._table):
+        if self._table is None:
            self._blob_auto_row_id = False
            self._blob_paths = ()
            return
@@ -2782,7 +2778,6 @@ class AsyncQueryBase(object):
        req = self._inner.to_query_request()
        schema = await self._table.schema()
        self._blob_auto_row_id = blob_auto_row_id_for_scan(
-            self._table,
            schema,
            req.select,
            with_row_id=self._with_row_id,
@@ -3034,7 +3029,6 @@ class AsyncQueryBase(object):

        schema = await self._table.schema()
        blob_auto_row_id = blob_auto_row_id_for_scan(
-            self._table,
            schema,
            query.columns,
            with_row_id=self._with_row_id,
@@ -3880,10 +3874,9 @@ class AsyncHybridQuery(AsyncStandardQuery, AsyncVectorQueryBase):
        req = fts_query._inner.to_query_request()
        blob_auto_row_id = False
        blob_paths: tuple[str, ...] = ()
-        if self._table is not None and supports_blob_auto_row_id(self._table):
+        if self._table is not None:
            schema = await self._table.schema()
            blob_auto_row_id = blob_auto_row_id_for_scan(
-                self._table,
                schema,
                req.select,
                with_row_id=self._with_row_id,
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import json
 import logging
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
 import sys
-from typing import Any, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, Union
+from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Iterable, List, Optional, Union
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 import warnings

@@ -23,6 +23,10 @@ import pyarrow as pa

 from ..common import DATA
 from ..db import DBConnection, LOOP
+from ..job import Job
+
+if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from .._lancedb import JobDescription, JobInfo
 from ..embeddings import EmbeddingFunctionConfig
 from lance_namespace import (
    LanceNamespace,
@@ -415,6 +419,11 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):

        if namespace_path is None:
            namespace_path = []
+        if storage_options is not None:
+            logging.info(
+                "storage_options is ignored in LanceDb Cloud"
+                " (storage is managed; set storage_options on connect() instead)"
+            )
        if index_cache_size is not None:
            logging.info(
                "index_cache_size is ignored in LanceDb Cloud"
@@ -684,6 +693,47 @@ class RemoteDBConnection(DBConnection):
            )
        )

+    @override
+    def job(self, job_id: str) -> Job:
+        """A [Job][lancedb.job.Job] handle for a server-side job by id.
+
+        The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+        surfaces when the handle is used. Dropping the handle has no effect
+        on the job itself.
+        """
+        return Job(self._conn.job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def list_jobs(self) -> List["JobInfo"]:
+        """List server-side jobs across the database's tables."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.list_jobs())
+
+    @override
+    def get_job(self, job_id: str) -> Optional["JobDescription"]:
+        """Describe a single server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns None when the server has no such job.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.get_job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def cancel_job(self, job_id: str) -> bool:
+        """Request cancellation of a server-side job by id.
+
+        Returns True if the server accepted the cancellation, False if no
+        such job exists. Cancelling an already-terminal job is a no-op
+        success.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.cancel_job(job_id))
+
+    @override
+    def job_history(self, job_id: Optional[str] = None) -> List[pa.RecordBatch]:
+        """The lifecycle event history of a server-side job, as Arrow batches.
+
+        Lists history across all jobs when `job_id` is None.
+        """
+        return LOOP.run(self._conn.job_history(job_id))
+
    @override
    def namespace_client(self) -> LanceNamespace:
        """Get the equivalent namespace client for this connection.
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ from typing import (
 import warnings

 from lancedb import __version__
+from lancedb._blob import BlobFile

 from lancedb._lancedb import (
    AddColumnsResult,
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ from lancedb.index import (
    IvfSq,
    LabelList,
 )
+from lancedb.job import Job
 from lancedb.remote.db import LOOP
 from lancedb.table import IndexConfigType, KNOWN_METRICS
 import pyarrow as pa
@@ -540,6 +542,34 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
            )
        )

+    def create_index_async(
+        self,
+        column: str,
+        *,
+        config: IndexConfigType,
+        replace: Optional[bool] = None,
+        wait_timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        train: bool = True,
+    ) -> Job:
+        """Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+
+        The job may already be complete when returned; callers must not assume
+        the index exists until :meth:`Job.wait` returns.
+        """
+        return Job(
+            LOOP.run(
+                self._table.create_index_async(
+                    column,
+                    replace=replace,
+                    config=config,
+                    wait_timeout=wait_timeout,
+                    name=name,
+                    train=train,
+                )
+            )
+        )
+
    def _is_legacy_create_index_call(
        self,
        first_arg: str,
@@ -1039,22 +1069,22 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
        )

    def blob_columns(self) -> list[str]:
-        raise NotImplementedError(
-            "blob_columns() is not yet supported on the LanceDB Cloud"
-        )
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.blob_columns())

-    def fetch_blobs(self, column: str, row_ids) -> pa.LargeBinaryArray:
-        raise NotImplementedError("fetch_blobs() is not supported on LanceDB Cloud")
+    def fetch_blobs(
+        self, column: str, row_ids: Union[list[int], pa.Table]
+    ) -> pa.LargeBinaryArray:
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.fetch_blobs(column, row_ids))

    def fetch_blob_ranges(self, column: str, requests) -> pa.LargeBinaryArray:
        raise NotImplementedError(
            "fetch_blob_ranges() is not supported on LanceDB Cloud"
        )

-    def fetch_blob_files(self, column: str, row_ids):
-        raise NotImplementedError(
-            "fetch_blob_files() is not supported on LanceDB Cloud"
-        )
+    def fetch_blob_files(
+        self, column: str, row_ids: Union[list[int], pa.Table]
+    ) -> "list[Optional[BlobFile]]":
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.fetch_blob_files(column, row_ids))

    def head(self, n=5) -> pa.Table:
        """
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ from ._blob import (
 from .types import BlobMode
 from lancedb.arrow import peek_reader
 from lancedb.background_loop import LOOP, embedding_executor
+from lancedb.job import AsyncJob, Job
 from .dependencies import (
    _check_for_hugging_face,
    _check_for_lance,
@@ -977,6 +978,24 @@ class Table(ABC):
        """
        raise NotImplementedError

+    def create_index_async(
+        self,
+        column: str,
+        *,
+        config: IndexConfigType,
+        replace: Optional[bool] = None,
+        wait_timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        train: bool = True,
+    ) -> Job:
+        """Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+
+        Takes the same arguments as :meth:`create_index`. The job may already
+        be complete when returned; callers must not assume the index exists
+        until :meth:`Job.wait` returns.
+        """
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
    def drop_index(self, name: str) -> None:
        """
        Drop an index from the table.
@@ -1574,8 +1593,10 @@ class Table(ABC):
        """Open lazy, seekable :class:`~lancedb._blob.BlobFile` handles.

        Prefer this over :meth:`fetch_blobs` for large payloads. ``row_ids`` is
-        a ``list[int]`` or query ``pyarrow.Table`` with ``_rowid`` (or stashed
-        row-id metadata). Null rows are ``None``. Local tables only.
+        a ``list[int]`` or a query ``pyarrow.Table`` carrying row identity via
+        ``_rowid`` or a ``_lance_row_id`` field on the blob descriptor. Null
+        rows are ``None``. Remote tables require LanceDB Cloud server 0.5.0 or
+        newer.
        """

    @abstractmethod
@@ -2469,13 +2490,7 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
        return LOOP.run(self._table.count_rows(filter))

    def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        val = f"{self.__class__.__name__}(name={self.name!r}"
-        if self._conn.read_consistency_interval is not None:
-            val += ", read_consistency_interval={!r}".format(
-                self._conn.read_consistency_interval
-            )
-        val += f", _conn={self._conn!r})"
-        return val
+        return f"{self.__class__.__name__}(name={self.name!r}, _conn={self._conn!r})"

    def __str__(self) -> str:
        return self.__repr__()
@@ -2784,6 +2799,34 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
            )
        )

+    def create_index_async(
+        self,
+        column: str,
+        *,
+        config: IndexConfigType,
+        replace: Optional[bool] = None,
+        wait_timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        train: bool = True,
+    ) -> Job:
+        """Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+
+        The job may already be complete when returned; callers must not assume
+        the index exists until :meth:`Job.wait` returns.
+        """
+        return Job(
+            LOOP.run(
+                self._table.create_index_async(
+                    column,
+                    replace=replace,
+                    config=config,
+                    wait_timeout=wait_timeout,
+                    name=name,
+                    train=train,
+                )
+            )
+        )
+
    def _is_legacy_create_index_call(
        self,
        first_arg: str,
@@ -4871,6 +4914,46 @@ class AsyncTable:
                )
            raise e

+    async def create_index_async(
+        self,
+        column: str,
+        *,
+        replace: Optional[bool] = None,
+        config: Optional[
+            Union[
+                IvfFlat,
+                IvfPq,
+                IvfRq,
+                HnswPq,
+                HnswSq,
+                HnswFlat,
+                BTree,
+                Bitmap,
+                LabelList,
+                Fm,
+                FTS,
+            ]
+        ] = None,
+        wait_timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        name: Optional[str] = None,
+        train: bool = True,
+    ) -> AsyncJob:
+        """Create an index, returning a handle to the indexing job.
+
+        Takes the same arguments as :meth:`create_index`. The job may already
+        be complete when returned; callers must not assume the index exists
+        until :meth:`AsyncJob.wait` resolves.
+        """
+        job = await self._inner.create_index_async(
+            column,
+            index=config,
+            replace=replace,
+            wait_timeout=wait_timeout,
+            name=name,
+            train=train,
+        )
+        return AsyncJob(job)
+
    async def drop_index(self, name: str) -> None:
        """
        Drop an index from the table.
@@ -226,13 +226,13 @@ def test_fetch_blob_ranges_validates_requests():
    table = _blob_table("range_validation", [{"id": 1, "image": b"abc"}])
    row_id = _row_ids_by_id(table)[1]

-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="exceeds blob size"):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="exceeds blob size"):
        table.fetch_blob_ranges("image", [(row_id, 2, 2)])

-    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="offset \\+ length overflowed"):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="offset \\+ length overflowed"):
        table.fetch_blob_ranges("image", [(row_id, 2**64 - 1, 1)])

-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="row ids"):
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="row IDs"):
        table.fetch_blob_ranges("image", [(2**64 - 1, 0, 1)])


@@ -62,6 +62,21 @@ def test_basic(tmp_path):
    assert db.open_table("test").name == db["test"].name


+def test_sync_repr_does_not_use_background_loop(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    from lancedb.background_loop import LOOP
+
+    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
+    table = db.create_table("test", data=[{"id": 1}])
+
+    def fail_run(*args, **kwargs):
+        raise AssertionError("repr should not use the Python background loop")
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(LOOP, "run", fail_run)
+
+    assert repr(db) == f"LanceDBConnection(uri={str(tmp_path)!r})"
+    assert repr(table) == f"LanceTable(name='test', _conn={db!r})"
+
+
 def test_ingest_pd(tmp_path):
    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)

@@ -123,6 +123,19 @@ async def test_async_hybrid_query_default_limit(table: AsyncTable):
    assert texts.count("a") == 1


+def test_hybrid_query_minimum_nprobes_zero_raises(sync_table: Table):
+    # minimum_nprobes(0) must raise the same validation error a plain vector
+    # query raises, not silently no-op because 0 is falsy.
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="minimum_nprobes must be greater than 0"):
+        (
+            sync_table.search(query_type="hybrid")
+            .vector([0.0, 0.4])
+            .text("dog")
+            .minimum_nprobes(0)
+            .to_arrow()
+        )
+
+
 def test_hybrid_query_distance_range(sync_table: Table):
    reranker = RRFReranker(return_score="all")
    result = (
@@ -84,6 +84,15 @@ async def binary_table(db_async):
    )


+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_create_index_async_returns_done_job(some_table: AsyncTable):
+    job = await some_table.create_index_async("id", config=BTree())
+    assert job.id is None
+    await job.wait()
+    assert len(await some_table.list_indices()) == 1
+    await job.cancel()
+
+
@pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_create_scalar_index(some_table: AsyncTable):
    # Can create
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ Tests verify:
 """

 import copy
+import os
 import shutil
 import sys
 import tempfile
@@ -239,7 +240,7 @@ def create_tracking_namespace(

    dir_props = {f"storage.{k}": v for k, v in storage_options_with_refresh.items()}

-    if bucket_name.startswith("/") or bucket_name.startswith("file://"):
+    if os.path.isabs(bucket_name) or bucket_name.startswith("file://"):
        dir_props["root"] = f"{bucket_name}/namespace_root"
    else:
        dir_props["root"] = f"s3://{bucket_name}/namespace_root"
@@ -767,3 +768,70 @@ def test_namespace_with_schema_only(s3_bucket: str, use_custom: bool):

    # Verify data was added
    assert table.count_rows() == 2
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_custom", [False, True], ids=["DirectoryNS", "CustomNS"])
+def test_namespace_exists(use_custom: bool):
+    """
+    Test namespace_exists returns True for existing and False for non-existent.
+    """
+    temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    try:
+        ns_client, _ = create_tracking_namespace(
+            bucket_name=temp_dir,
+            storage_options={},
+            credential_expires_in_seconds=3600,
+            use_custom=use_custom,
+        )
+        db = LanceNamespaceDBConnection(ns_client)
+
+        namespace_name = f"test_ns_{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+        db.create_namespace([namespace_name])
+
+        # Existing namespace should return True
+        assert db.namespace_exists(namespace_id=[namespace_name]) is True
+
+        # Non-existent namespace should return False
+        assert db.namespace_exists(namespace_id=["nonexistent_ns"]) is False
+    finally:
+        shutil.rmtree(temp_dir, ignore_errors=True)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("use_custom", [False, True], ids=["DirectoryNS", "CustomNS"])
+def test_table_exists(use_custom: bool):
+    """
+    Test table_exists returns True for existing table and False for non-existent.
+    """
+    temp_dir = tempfile.mkdtemp()
+    try:
+        ns_client, _ = create_tracking_namespace(
+            bucket_name=temp_dir,
+            storage_options={},
+            credential_expires_in_seconds=3600,
+            use_custom=use_custom,
+        )
+        db = LanceNamespaceDBConnection(ns_client)
+
+        namespace_name = f"test_ns_{uuid.uuid4().hex[:8]}"
+        db.create_namespace([namespace_name])
+
+        table_name = f"test_table_{uuid.uuid4().hex}"
+        namespace_path = [namespace_name]
+        schema = pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
+                pa.field("vector", pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2)),
+                pa.field("text", pa.string()),
+            ]
+        )
+
+        db.create_table(table_name, schema=schema, namespace_path=namespace_path)
+
+        # Existing table should return True
+        table_id = namespace_path + [table_name]
+        assert db.table_exists(table_id=table_id) is True
+
+        # Non-existent table should return False
+        assert db.table_exists(table_id=namespace_path + ["nonexistent_table"]) is False
+    finally:
+        shutil.rmtree(temp_dir, ignore_errors=True)
@@ -812,6 +812,121 @@ def test_table_create_indices():
        table.drop_index("custom_fts_idx")


+def test_remote_create_index_async_returns_job():
+    from lancedb.index import BTree
+
+    describe_calls = []
+
+    def handler(request):
+        content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+        body = request.rfile.read(content_len) if content_len > 0 else b""
+        if request.path == "/v1/table/test/create_index/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b'{"job_id": "job-1"}')
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/describe":
+            assert json.loads(body)["job_id"] == "job-1"
+            describe_calls.append(1)
+            state = "IN_PROGRESS" if len(describe_calls) == 1 else "DONE"
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(
+                json.dumps(dict(job_id="job-1", job_state=state)).encode()
+            )
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/cancel":
+            assert json.loads(body)["job_id"] == "job-1"
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b"{}")
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/create/?mode=create":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b"{}")
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/describe/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(
+                json.dumps(
+                    dict(
+                        version=1,
+                        schema=dict(
+                            fields=[
+                                dict(name="id", type={"type": "int64"}, nullable=False),
+                            ]
+                        ),
+                    )
+                ).encode()
+            )
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        table = db.create_table("test", [{"id": 1}])
+        job = table.create_index_async("id", config=BTree())
+        assert job.id == "job-1"
+        job.wait(timeout=timedelta(seconds=30))
+        assert len(describe_calls) == 2
+        job.cancel()
+
+
+def test_remote_job_wait_raises_on_failure():
+    from lancedb.exceptions import JobFailedError
+    from lancedb.index import BTree
+
+    def handler(request):
+        content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+        body = request.rfile.read(content_len) if content_len > 0 else b""
+        if request.path == "/v1/table/test/create_index/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b'{"job_id": "job-2"}')
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/describe":
+            assert json.loads(body)["job_id"] == "job-2"
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(
+                json.dumps(dict(job_id="job-2", job_state="FAILED")).encode()
+            )
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/create/?mode=create":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b"{}")
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/describe/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(
+                json.dumps(
+                    dict(
+                        version=1,
+                        schema=dict(
+                            fields=[
+                                dict(name="id", type={"type": "int64"}, nullable=False),
+                            ]
+                        ),
+                    )
+                ).encode()
+            )
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        table = db.create_table("test", [{"id": 1}])
+        job = table.create_index_async("id", config=BTree())
+        with pytest.raises(JobFailedError, match="job-2"):
+            job.wait()
+
+
 def test_remote_create_index_new_api():
    received_requests = []

@@ -1020,7 +1135,7 @@ def query_test_table(query_handler, *, server_version=Version("0.1.0")):
            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
            request.send_header("phalanx-version", str(server_version))
            request.end_headers()
-            request.wfile.write(b"{}")
+            request.wfile.write(b'{"version": 1, "schema": {"fields": []}}')
        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/query/":
            content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length"))
            body = request.rfile.read(content_len)
@@ -1858,3 +1973,330 @@ def test_inherited_remote_table_reopens_after_fork():
    finally:
        server.shutdown()
        server_thread.join()
+
+
+BLOB_DESCRIBE_RESPONSE = {
+    "table": "test",
+    "version": 1,
+    "schema": {
+        "fields": [
+            {"name": "id", "type": {"type": "int64"}, "nullable": False},
+            {
+                "name": "image",
+                "type": {
+                    "type": "struct",
+                    "fields": [
+                        {
+                            "name": "data",
+                            "type": {"type": "large_binary"},
+                            "nullable": True,
+                        },
+                        {"name": "uri", "type": {"type": "string"}, "nullable": True},
+                    ],
+                },
+                "nullable": True,
+                "metadata": {
+                    "ARROW:extension:name": "lance.blob.v2",
+                    "ARROW:extension:metadata": "",
+                },
+            },
+        ]
+    },
+}
+
+
+def blob_query_response_table():
+    image_field = pa.field(
+        "image",
+        pa.struct(
+            [
+                pa.field("kind", pa.uint8(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("position", pa.uint64(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("size", pa.uint64(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("blob_id", pa.uint32(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("blob_uri", pa.string(), nullable=False),
+            ]
+        ),
+        metadata={"lance-encoding:blob": "true"},
+    )
+    images = pa.StructArray.from_arrays(
+        [
+            pa.array([1, 0, 0], type=pa.uint8()),
+            pa.array([0, 0, 0], type=pa.uint64()),
+            pa.array([5, 0, 5], type=pa.uint64()),
+            pa.array([1, 0, 2], type=pa.uint32()),
+            pa.array(["", "", ""], type=pa.string()),
+        ],
+        fields=image_field.type,
+        mask=pa.array([False, True, False]),
+    )
+    return pa.Table.from_arrays(
+        [
+            pa.array([1, 2, 3], type=pa.int64()),
+            images,
+            pa.array([10, 20, 30], type=pa.uint64()),
+        ],
+        schema=pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("id", pa.int64(), nullable=False),
+                image_field,
+                pa.field("_rowid", pa.uint64()),
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def blob_remote_table(*, server_version=Version("0.5.0")):
+    def handler(request):
+        if request.path == "/v1/table/test/describe/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.send_header("phalanx-version", str(server_version))
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(json.dumps(BLOB_DESCRIBE_RESPONSE).encode())
+        elif request.path.startswith("/v1/table/test/blob/image/"):
+            path = request.path.partition("?")[0]
+            row_id = int(path.split("/")[-2])
+            payload = {10: b"alpha", 20: None, 30: b"gamma"}[row_id]
+            if payload is None:
+                request.send_response(204)
+                request.end_headers()
+                return
+            byte_range = request.headers["Range"].removeprefix("bytes=")
+            start_text, end_text = byte_range.split("-", maxsplit=1)
+            start = int(start_text)
+            end = int(end_text) if end_text else len(payload) - 1
+            chunk = payload[start : end + 1]
+            request.send_response(206)
+            request.send_header("Content-Range", f"bytes {start}-{end}/{len(payload)}")
+            request.send_header("Content-Length", str(len(chunk)))
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(chunk)
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/query/":
+            content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+            body = json.loads(request.rfile.read(content_len))
+            assert body["columns"] == ["id", "image"]
+            assert body["with_row_id"] is True
+            response_table = blob_query_response_table()
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/vnd.apache.arrow.file")
+            request.end_headers()
+            with pa.ipc.new_file(request.wfile, response_table.schema) as writer:
+                writer.write_table(response_table)
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/fetch_blobs/":
+            content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+            body = json.loads(request.rfile.read(content_len))
+            assert body["column"] == "image"
+            assert body["row_ids"] == [10, 20, 30]
+            response_table = pa.table(
+                {"image": pa.array([b"alpha", None, b"gamma"], type=pa.large_binary())}
+            )
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/vnd.apache.arrow.stream")
+            request.end_headers()
+            with pa.ipc.new_stream(request.wfile, response_table.schema) as writer:
+                writer.write_table(response_table)
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        yield db.open_table("test")
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_columns_and_fetch():
+    with blob_remote_table() as table:
+        assert table.blob_columns() == ["image"]
+        blobs = table.fetch_blobs("image", [10, 20, 30])
+        assert blobs.to_pylist() == [b"alpha", None, b"gamma"]
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_files_are_lazy_seekable_handles():
+    with blob_remote_table() as table:
+        files = table.fetch_blob_files("image", [10, 20, 30])
+
+        assert len(files) == 3
+        alpha, null_row, gamma = files
+        assert null_row is None
+        assert alpha is not None
+        assert gamma is not None
+        assert alpha.size() == 5
+        assert alpha.read_range(1, 3) == b"lph"
+        gamma.seek(2)
+        assert gamma.read() == b"mma"
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_fetch_accepts_query_table():
+    hits = pa.table({"_rowid": pa.array([10, 20, 30], type=pa.uint64())})
+
+    with blob_remote_table() as table:
+        blobs = table.fetch_blobs("image", hits)
+
+    assert blobs.to_pylist() == [b"alpha", None, b"gamma"]
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_query_stashes_row_ids_for_fetch():
+    with blob_remote_table() as table:
+        hits = table.search().select(["id", "image"]).limit(3).to_arrow()
+        assert "_rowid" not in hits.column_names
+        assert "_lance_row_id" in hits.schema.field("image").type.names
+        blobs = table.fetch_blobs("image", hits)
+
+    assert blobs.to_pylist() == [b"alpha", None, b"gamma"]
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_query_survives_a_server_that_ignores_the_row_id_request():
+    def handler(request):
+        if request.path == "/v1/table/test/describe/":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.send_header("phalanx-version", "0.5.0")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(json.dumps(BLOB_DESCRIBE_RESPONSE).encode())
+        elif request.path == "/v1/table/test/query/":
+            content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+            assert json.loads(request.rfile.read(content_len))["with_row_id"] is True
+            response_table = blob_query_response_table().drop_columns(["_rowid"])
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/vnd.apache.arrow.file")
+            request.end_headers()
+            with pa.ipc.new_file(request.wfile, response_table.schema) as writer:
+                writer.write_table(response_table)
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        table = db.open_table("test")
+        hits = table.search().select(["id", "image"]).limit(3).to_arrow()
+
+        assert hits.column_names == ["id", "image"]
+        assert "_lance_row_id" not in hits.schema.field("image").type.names
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="pass a list of row ids"):
+            table.fetch_blobs("image", hits)
+
+
+def test_remote_blob_byte_apis_not_supported_on_old_server():
+    with blob_remote_table(server_version=Version("0.1.0")) as table:
+        assert table.blob_columns() == ["image"]
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError, match="not supported"):
+            table.fetch_blobs("image", [1])
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError, match="not supported"):
+            table.fetch_blob_files("image", [1])
+
+
+def test_remote_connection_jobs_surface():
+    from lancedb.exceptions import JobFailedError
+
+    schema = pa.schema([("state", pa.string())])
+    batch = pa.record_batch([pa.array(["created", "done"])], schema=schema)
+    sink = pa.BufferOutputStream()
+    with pa.ipc.new_stream(sink, schema) as writer:
+        writer.write_batch(batch)
+    events_body = sink.getvalue().to_pybytes()
+
+    def handler(request):
+        content_len = int(request.headers.get("Content-Length", 0))
+        body = request.rfile.read(content_len) if content_len > 0 else b""
+        payload = json.loads(body) if body else {}
+        if request.path == "/v1/jobs/list":
+            if payload.get("page_token") is None:
+                rsp = dict(
+                    jobs=[
+                        dict(
+                            job_id="job-1",
+                            table="t1",
+                            job_type="create_index",
+                            state="in_progress",
+                            created_at_millis=1000,
+                        )
+                    ],
+                    page_token="next",
+                )
+            else:
+                assert payload["page_token"] == "next"
+                rsp = dict(
+                    jobs=[
+                        dict(
+                            job_id="job-2",
+                            table="t2",
+                            job_type="create_index",
+                            state="succeeded",
+                            created_at_millis=2000,
+                        )
+                    ]
+                )
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(json.dumps(rsp).encode())
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/describe":
+            if payload["job_id"] != "job-1":
+                request.send_response(404)
+                request.end_headers()
+                return
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(
+                json.dumps(
+                    dict(
+                        job_id="job-1",
+                        job_type="create_index",
+                        job_state="FAILED",
+                        creation_ms=1000,
+                        spec=dict(column="vec"),
+                        failure=dict(
+                            phase="execute", message="worker died", retryable=True
+                        ),
+                    )
+                ).encode()
+            )
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/cancel":
+            if payload["job_id"] != "job-1":
+                request.send_response(404)
+                request.end_headers()
+                return
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b'{"job_id": "job-1"}')
+        elif request.path == "/v1/jobs/query_events":
+            assert payload["job_id"] == "job-1"
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/vnd.apache.arrow.stream")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(events_body)
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        jobs = db.list_jobs()
+        assert [job.job_id for job in jobs] == ["job-1", "job-2"]
+        assert jobs[0].state == "running"
+        assert jobs[0].table == "t1"
+        assert jobs[1].state == "finished"
+
+        description = db.get_job("job-1")
+        assert description.job_type == "create_index"
+        assert description.state == "failed"
+        assert json.loads(description.spec_json) == {"column": "vec"}
+        assert description.failure.message == "worker died"
+        assert description.failure.retryable is True
+        assert db.get_job("missing") is None
+
+        assert db.cancel_job("job-1") is True
+        assert db.cancel_job("missing") is False
+
+        batches = db.job_history("job-1")
+        assert len(batches) == 1
+        assert batches[0].num_rows == 2
+        assert batches[0].column("state").to_pylist() == ["created", "done"]
+
+        job = db.job("job-1")
+        assert job.id == "job-1"
+        assert job.status() == "failed"
+        with pytest.raises(JobFailedError, match="worker died"):
+            job.wait(timeout=timedelta(seconds=5))
@@ -1402,6 +1402,15 @@ async def test_async_open_table_with_branch_version(tmp_path):
    assert await pinned.count_rows() == 4  # writable again


+def test_create_index_async_returns_done_job(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    table = mem_db.create_table("job_test", [{"id": i} for i in range(10)])
+    job = table.create_index_async("id", config=BTree())
+    assert job.id is None
+    job.wait()
+    assert len(table.list_indices()) == 1
+    job.cancel()
+
+
@patch("lancedb.table.AsyncTable.create_index")
 def test_create_index_method(mock_create_index, mem_db: DBConnection):
    table = mem_db.create_table(
@@ -2355,6 +2364,29 @@ def test_merge_insert_by_source_delete_expr(mem_db: DBConnection):
    assert table.to_arrow().sort_by("a") == expected


+def test_merge_insert_by_source_delete_reconfigure(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    # Calling when_not_matched_by_source_delete() again with no condition must
+    # widen the delete to unconditional, not keep the earlier condition around.
+    table = mem_db.create_table(
+        "my_table",
+        data=pa.table({"a": [1, 2, 3], "b": ["a", "b", "c"]}),
+    )
+    new_data = pa.table({"a": [2, 4], "b": ["x", "z"]})
+
+    merge_insert_res = (
+        table.merge_insert("a")
+        .when_matched_update_all()
+        .when_not_matched_insert_all()
+        .when_not_matched_by_source_delete("a > 2")
+        .when_not_matched_by_source_delete()
+        .execute(new_data)
+    )
+    assert merge_insert_res.num_deleted_rows == 2
+
+    expected = pa.table({"a": [2, 4], "b": ["x", "z"]})
+    assert table.to_arrow().sort_by("a") == expected
+
+
@pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_merge_insert_by_source_delete_expr_async(
    mem_db_async: AsyncConnection,
@@ -3087,9 +3119,6 @@ def test_consistency(tmp_path, consistency_interval):

    db2 = lancedb.connect(tmp_path, read_consistency_interval=consistency_interval)
    table2 = db2.open_table("my_table")
-    if consistency_interval is not None:
-        assert "read_consistency_interval=datetime.timedelta(" in repr(db2)
-        assert "read_consistency_interval=datetime.timedelta(" in repr(table2)
    assert table2.version == table.version

    table.add([{"id": 1}])
@@ -13,7 +13,11 @@ use crate::{
    runtime::future_into_py,
    table::Table,
 };
-use arrow::{datatypes::Schema, ffi_stream::ArrowArrayStreamReader, pyarrow::FromPyArrow};
+use arrow::{
+    datatypes::Schema,
+    ffi_stream::ArrowArrayStreamReader,
+    pyarrow::{FromPyArrow, ToPyArrow},
+};
 use lancedb::{
    connection::Connection as LanceConnection,
    connection::NamespaceClientPushdownOperation,
@@ -24,7 +28,7 @@ use pyo3::{
    Bound, FromPyObject, Py, PyAny, PyRef, PyResult, Python,
    exceptions::{PyRuntimeError, PyValueError},
    pyclass, pyfunction, pymethods,
-    types::{PyDict, PyDictMethods},
+    types::{PyDict, PyDictMethods, PyList, PyListMethods},
 };

 #[pyclass]
@@ -536,6 +540,55 @@ impl Connection {
            })
        })
    }
+
+    pub fn job(&self, job_id: String) -> PyResult<crate::job::Job> {
+        let inner = self.get_inner()?.clone();
+        Ok(crate::job::Job::new(inner.job(job_id).infer_error()?))
+    }
+
+    pub fn list_jobs(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            let jobs = inner.list_jobs().await.infer_error()?;
+            Ok(jobs
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(crate::job::JobInfo::from)
+                .collect::<Vec<_>>())
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn get_job(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, job_id: String) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            let description = inner.get_job(&job_id).await.infer_error()?;
+            Ok(description.map(crate::job::JobDescription::from))
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn cancel_job(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, job_id: String) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner.cancel_job(&job_id).await.infer_error()
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[pyo3(signature = (job_id=None))]
+    pub fn job_history(
+        self_: PyRef<'_, Self>,
+        job_id: Option<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.get_inner()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            let batches = inner.job_history(job_id.as_deref()).await.infer_error()?;
+            Python::attach(|py| {
+                let list = PyList::empty(py);
+                for batch in batches {
+                    list.append(batch.to_pyarrow(py)?)?;
+                }
+                Ok(list.unbind())
+            })
+        })
+    }
 }

 #[pyfunction]
@@ -102,6 +102,18 @@ impl<T> PythonErrorExt<T> for std::result::Result<T, LanceError> {
                    err.setattr(intern!(py, "__cause__"), cause_err)?;
                    Err(PyErr::from_value(err))
                }),
+                LanceError::JobFailed { .. } => Python::attach(|py| {
+                    let cls = py
+                        .import(intern!(py, "lancedb.exceptions"))?
+                        .getattr(intern!(py, "JobFailedError"))?;
+                    Err(PyErr::from_value(cls.call1((err.to_string(),))?))
+                }),
+                LanceError::JobCancelled { .. } => Python::attach(|py| {
+                    let cls = py
+                        .import(intern!(py, "lancedb.exceptions"))?
+                        .getattr(intern!(py, "JobCancelledError"))?;
+                    Err(PyErr::from_value(cls.call1((err.to_string(),))?))
+                }),
                _ => self.runtime_error(),
            },
        }
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use crate::runtime::future_into_py;
+use pyo3::{Bound, PyAny, PyRef, PyResult, pyclass, pymethods};
+
+use crate::error::PythonErrorExt;
+
+#[pyclass]
+pub struct Job {
+    inner: Arc<lancedb::Job>,
+}
+
+impl Job {
+    pub(crate) fn new(inner: lancedb::Job) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: Arc::new(inner),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[pymethods]
+impl Job {
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn id(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.inner.id().map(str::to_string)
+    }
+
+    pub fn status(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
+        future_into_py(
+            self_.py(),
+            async move { inner.status().await.infer_error() },
+        )
+    }
+
+    pub fn wait(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner.wait().await.infer_error()?;
+            Ok(())
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn cancel(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner.cancel().await.infer_error()?;
+            Ok(())
+        })
+    }
+}
+
+/// A row from `Connection.list_jobs`: one server-side job.
+#[pyclass(get_all, skip_from_py_object)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct JobInfo {
+    job_id: String,
+    table: String,
+    job_type: String,
+    state: String,
+    created_at_millis: i64,
+}
+
+#[pymethods]
+impl JobInfo {
+    fn __repr__(&self) -> String {
+        format!(
+            "JobInfo(job_id={:?}, table={:?}, job_type={:?}, state={:?}, created_at_millis={})",
+            self.job_id, self.table, self.job_type, self.state, self.created_at_millis
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<lancedb::database::JobInfo> for JobInfo {
+    fn from(info: lancedb::database::JobInfo) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            job_id: info.job_id,
+            table: info.table,
+            job_type: info.job_type,
+            state: info.state,
+            created_at_millis: info.created_at_millis,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The server's account of why a job failed.
+#[pyclass(get_all, skip_from_py_object)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct JobFailureInfo {
+    phase: Option<String>,
+    message: Option<String>,
+    retryable: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+#[pymethods]
+impl JobFailureInfo {
+    fn __repr__(&self) -> String {
+        format!(
+            "JobFailureInfo(phase={:?}, message={:?}, retryable={:?})",
+            self.phase, self.message, self.retryable
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+/// A described job from `Connection.get_job`.
+#[pyclass(get_all, skip_from_py_object)]
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct JobDescription {
+    job_id: String,
+    job_type: String,
+    state: String,
+    creation_ms: i64,
+    spec_json: Option<String>,
+    failure: Option<JobFailureInfo>,
+}
+
+#[pymethods]
+impl JobDescription {
+    fn __repr__(&self) -> String {
+        format!(
+            "JobDescription(job_id={:?}, job_type={:?}, state={:?}, creation_ms={})",
+            self.job_id, self.job_type, self.state, self.creation_ms
+        )
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<lancedb::database::JobDescription> for JobDescription {
+    fn from(description: lancedb::database::JobDescription) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            job_id: description.job_id,
+            job_type: description.job_type,
+            state: description.state,
+            creation_ms: description.creation_ms,
+            spec_json: (!description.spec.is_null()).then(|| description.spec.to_string()),
+            failure: description.failure.map(|failure| JobFailureInfo {
+                phase: failure.phase,
+                message: failure.message,
+                retryable: failure.retryable,
+            }),
+        }
+    }
+}
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ pub mod error;
 pub mod expr;
 pub mod header;
 pub mod index;
+pub mod job;
 pub mod namespace;
 pub mod oauth;
 pub mod otel;
@@ -44,6 +45,10 @@ pub fn _lancedb(_py: Python, m: &Bound<'_, PyModule>) -> PyResult<()> {
    m.add_class::<Connection>()?;
    m.add_class::<Session>()?;
    m.add_class::<Table>()?;
+    m.add_class::<crate::job::Job>()?;
+    m.add_class::<crate::job::JobInfo>()?;
+    m.add_class::<crate::job::JobDescription>()?;
+    m.add_class::<crate::job::JobFailureInfo>()?;
    m.add_class::<PyBlobFile>()?;
    m.add_class::<IndexConfig>()?;
    m.add_class::<Query>()?;
@@ -426,9 +426,11 @@ pub struct PyBlobFile {
 impl PyBlobFile {
    fn read_bytes(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Py<PyBytes>> {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        let bytes = block_on(async move { inner.read().await })
+        let py = self_.py();
+        let bytes = py
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.read().await }))
            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob read failed: {e}")))?;
-        Ok(PyBytes::new(self_.py(), bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
+        Ok(PyBytes::new(py, bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
    }

    pub fn read(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
@@ -444,24 +446,32 @@ impl PyBlobFile {

    fn close(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<()> {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        block_on(async move { inner.close().await })
+        self_
+            .py()
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.close().await }))
            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob close failed: {e}")))
    }

    fn is_closed(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> bool {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        block_on(async move { inner.is_closed().await })
+        self_
+            .py()
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.is_closed().await }))
    }

    fn seek(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, position: u64) -> PyResult<()> {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        block_on(async move { inner.seek(position).await })
+        self_
+            .py()
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.seek(position).await }))
            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob seek failed: {e}")))
    }

    fn tell(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<u64> {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        block_on(async move { inner.tell().await })
+        self_
+            .py()
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.tell().await }))
            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob tell failed: {e}")))
    }

@@ -475,16 +485,20 @@ impl PyBlobFile {
            .checked_add(length as u64)
            .ok_or_else(|| PyValueError::new_err("offset + length overflowed"))?;
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        let bytes = block_on(async move { inner.read_range(offset..end).await })
+        let py = self_.py();
+        let bytes = py
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.read_range(offset..end).await }))
            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob read_range failed: {e}")))?;
-        Ok(PyBytes::new(self_.py(), bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
+        Ok(PyBytes::new(py, bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
    }

    fn read_up_to(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, length: usize) -> PyResult<Py<PyBytes>> {
        let inner = self_.inner.clone();
-        let bytes = block_on(async move { inner.read_up_to(length).await })
-            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob read failed: {e}")))?;
-        Ok(PyBytes::new(self_.py(), bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
+        let py = self_.py();
+        let bytes = py
+            .detach(move || block_on(async move { inner.read_up_to(length).await }))
+            .map_err(|e| PyRuntimeError::new_err(format!("blob read_up_to failed: {e}")))?;
+        Ok(PyBytes::new(py, bytes.as_ref()).unbind())
    }
 }

@@ -805,6 +819,37 @@ impl Table {
        })
    }

+    #[pyo3(signature = (column, index=None, replace=None, wait_timeout=None, *, name=None, train=None))]
+    pub fn create_index_async<'a>(
+        self_: PyRef<'a, Self>,
+        column: String,
+        index: Option<Bound<'_, PyAny>>,
+        replace: Option<bool>,
+        wait_timeout: Option<Bound<'_, PyAny>>,
+        name: Option<String>,
+        train: Option<bool>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'a, PyAny>> {
+        let index = extract_index_params(&index)?;
+        let timeout = wait_timeout.map(|t| t.extract::<std::time::Duration>().unwrap());
+        let mut op = self_
+            .inner_ref()?
+            .create_index_with_timeout(&[column], index, timeout);
+        if let Some(replace) = replace {
+            op = op.replace(replace);
+        }
+        if let Some(name) = name {
+            op = op.name(name);
+        }
+        if let Some(train) = train {
+            op = op.train(train);
+        }
+
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            let job = op.execute_async().await.infer_error()?;
+            Ok(crate::job::Job::new(job))
+        })
+    }
+
    pub fn drop_index(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>, index_name: String) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
@@ -1330,7 +1375,12 @@ impl Table {

        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            let result = inner.add_columns(definitions, None).await.infer_error()?;
+            let result = inner
+                .add_columns()
+                .transform(definitions)
+                .execute()
+                .await
+                .infer_error()?;
            Ok(AddColumnsResult::from(result))
        })
    }
@@ -1344,7 +1394,12 @@ impl Table {

        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
-            let result = inner.add_columns(transform, None).await.infer_error()?;
+            let result = inner
+                .add_columns()
+                .transform(transform)
+                .execute()
+                .await
+                .infer_error()?;
            Ok(AddColumnsResult::from(result))
        })
    }
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
 [toolchain]
-channel = "1.95.0"
+channel = "1.97.0"
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 //!
 //! Blob tables require Lance file format >= 2.2 and stable row ids at create.

+use std::ops::Range;
 use std::sync::Arc;

 use arrow_array::LargeBinaryArray;
@@ -17,10 +18,202 @@ use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Schema};
 use lance::dataset::{BlobRangeRequest as LanceBlobRangeRequest, Dataset, WriteParams};
 use lance_arrow::FieldExt;
 use lance_encoding::version::LanceFileVersion;
+use lance_io::object_store::ObjectStore;
+use object_store::path::Path;

 use crate::error::{Error, Result};

-pub use lance::dataset::BlobFile;
+/// Seekable handle for one blob value, backed by local storage or a remote
+/// HTTP byte-range endpoint.
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct BlobFile {
+    inner: BlobFileInner,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+enum BlobFileInner {
+    Native(lance::dataset::BlobFile),
+    #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+    Remote(Box<crate::remote::table::blobs::RemoteBlobFile>),
+}
+
+impl From<lance::dataset::BlobFile> for BlobFile {
+    fn from(value: lance::dataset::BlobFile) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: BlobFileInner::Native(value),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+impl From<crate::remote::table::blobs::RemoteBlobFile> for BlobFile {
+    fn from(value: crate::remote::table::blobs::RemoteBlobFile) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: BlobFileInner::Remote(Box::new(value)),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl BlobFile {
+    /// Inline reader over a data-file slice.
+    pub fn new_inline(
+        object_store: Arc<ObjectStore>,
+        path: Path,
+        position: u64,
+        size: u64,
+    ) -> Self {
+        lance::dataset::BlobFile::new_inline(object_store, path, position, size).into()
+    }
+
+    /// Dedicated sidecar-file reader.
+    pub fn new_dedicated(object_store: Arc<ObjectStore>, path: Path, size: u64) -> Self {
+        lance::dataset::BlobFile::new_dedicated(object_store, path, size).into()
+    }
+
+    /// Packed reader for a slice in a shared sidecar.
+    pub fn new_packed(
+        object_store: Arc<ObjectStore>,
+        path: Path,
+        position: u64,
+        size: u64,
+    ) -> Self {
+        lance::dataset::BlobFile::new_packed(object_store, path, position, size).into()
+    }
+
+    /// External reader at a resolved object location.
+    pub fn new_external(
+        object_store: Arc<ObjectStore>,
+        path: Path,
+        uri: String,
+        position: u64,
+        size: u64,
+    ) -> Self {
+        lance::dataset::BlobFile::new_external(object_store, path, uri, position, size).into()
+    }
+
+    /// Close the handle.
+    pub async fn close(&self) -> lance_core::Result<()> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.close().await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.close().await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Whether the handle is closed.
+    pub async fn is_closed(&self) -> bool {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.is_closed().await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.is_closed(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Read a range without moving the cursor.
+    pub async fn read_range(&self, range: Range<u64>) -> lance_core::Result<bytes::Bytes> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.read_range(range).await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.read_range(range).await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Read ranges without moving the cursor.
+    pub async fn read_ranges(
+        &self,
+        ranges: &[Range<u64>],
+    ) -> lance_core::Result<Vec<bytes::Bytes>> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.read_ranges(ranges).await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.read_ranges(ranges).await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Read from the cursor to the end.
+    pub async fn read(&self) -> lance_core::Result<bytes::Bytes> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.read().await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.read().await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Read up to `len` bytes and advance the cursor.
+    pub async fn read_up_to(&self, len: usize) -> lance_core::Result<bytes::Bytes> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.read_up_to(len).await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.read_up_to(len).await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Move the cursor to `new_cursor`.
+    pub async fn seek(&self, new_cursor: u64) -> lance_core::Result<()> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.seek(new_cursor).await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.seek(new_cursor).await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Current cursor position.
+    pub async fn tell(&self) -> lance_core::Result<u64> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.tell().await,
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.tell().await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Blob length in bytes.
+    pub fn size(&self) -> u64 {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.size(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(file) => file.size(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Physical byte offset in the data file. `None` on remote handles. The
+    /// Cloud byte-range route does not expose storage layout.
+    pub fn position(&self) -> Option<u64> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => Some(file.position()),
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Path of the data file holding the blob. `None` on remote handles. The
+    /// Cloud byte-range route does not expose storage layout.
+    pub fn data_path(&self) -> Option<&Path> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => Some(file.data_path()),
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Native storage layout. `None` on remote handles. The Cloud byte-range
+    /// route does not expose layout.
+    pub fn kind(&self) -> Option<lance_core::datatypes::BlobKind> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => Some(file.kind()),
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// External URI for native handles. Remote handles do not expose storage URIs.
+    pub fn uri(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            BlobFileInner::Native(file) => file.uri(),
+            #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
+            BlobFileInner::Remote(_) => None,
+        }
+    }
+}

 /// One row-specific blob range read request.
 ///
@@ -264,7 +457,10 @@ pub(crate) async fn take_blob_files_aligned(

    let handles = dataset.take_blobs(row_ids, column).await?;
    ensure_all_row_ids_resolved(column, row_ids.len(), handles.len())?;
-    Ok(handles)
+    Ok(handles
+        .into_iter()
+        .map(|handle| handle.map(Into::into))
+        .collect())
 }

 #[cfg(test)]
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ use crate::connection::create_table::CreateTableBuilder;
 use crate::data::scannable::Scannable;
 use crate::database::listing::ListingDatabase;
 use crate::database::{
-    CloneTableRequest, Database, DatabaseOptions, OpenTableRequest, ReadConsistency,
-    TableNamesRequest,
+    CloneTableRequest, Database, DatabaseOptions, JobDescription, JobInfo, OpenTableRequest,
+    ReadConsistency, TableNamesRequest,
 };
 use crate::embeddings::{EmbeddingRegistry, MemoryRegistry};
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
@@ -456,6 +456,10 @@ impl Connection {
    ///
    /// # Returns
    /// Created [`TableRef`], or [`Error::TableNotFound`] if the table does not exist.
+    /// If the table's storage is present but holds no readable dataset (for example a
+    /// `<name>.lance` directory left behind by an interrupted drop and re-create, which
+    /// [`Self::table_names`] still lists) this returns [`Error::TableCorrupted`]
+    /// instead.
    pub fn open_table(&self, name: impl Into<String>) -> OpenTableBuilder {
        OpenTableBuilder::new(
            self.internal.clone(),
@@ -513,6 +517,39 @@ impl Connection {
        self.internal.read_consistency().await
    }

+    /// A [`crate::job::Job`] handle for a server-side job by id, suitable for
+    /// waiting on or cancelling the job.
+    ///
+    /// The handle is constructed without a server round trip; an unknown id
+    /// surfaces when the handle is used. Only server-backed databases support
+    /// job handles by id.
+    pub fn job(&self, job_id: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<crate::job::Job> {
+        self.internal.job(job_id.as_ref())
+    }
+
+    /// List server-side jobs across the database's tables.
+    pub async fn list_jobs(&self) -> Result<Vec<JobInfo>> {
+        self.internal.list_jobs().await
+    }
+
+    /// Describe a single server-side job by id. `None` when the server has no
+    /// such job.
+    pub async fn get_job(&self, job_id: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<Option<JobDescription>> {
+        self.internal.get_job(job_id.as_ref()).await
+    }
+
+    /// Request cancellation of a server-side job by id. Returns true if the
+    /// server accepted the cancellation, false if no such job exists.
+    pub async fn cancel_job(&self, job_id: impl AsRef<str>) -> Result<bool> {
+        self.internal.cancel_job(job_id.as_ref()).await
+    }
+
+    /// The lifecycle event history of a server-side job (all jobs when
+    /// `job_id` is `None`), as recorded Arrow batches.
+    pub async fn job_history(&self, job_id: Option<&str>) -> Result<Vec<RecordBatch>> {
+        self.internal.job_history(job_id).await
+    }
+
    /// Drop a table in the database.
    ///
    /// # Arguments
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::time::Duration;

+use arrow_array::RecordBatch;
+
 use lance::dataset::ReadParams;
 use lance_namespace::LanceNamespace;
 use lance_namespace::models::{
@@ -200,6 +202,45 @@ pub enum ReadConsistency {
    Strong,
 }

+/// A row from [`Database::list_jobs`]: one server-side job (index build,
+/// compaction, column refresh, ...).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct JobInfo {
+    /// The job id -- what [`Database::get_job`] and [`Database::cancel_job`]
+    /// accept.
+    pub job_id: String,
+    /// The table the job runs against, without URI or namespace.
+    pub table: String,
+    pub job_type: String,
+    /// Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
+    pub state: String,
+    /// When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+    pub created_at_millis: i64,
+}
+
+/// A described job from [`Database::get_job`]: lifecycle state plus the
+/// job-type-specific specification.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct JobDescription {
+    pub job_id: String,
+    pub job_type: String,
+    /// Lifecycle state: "running", "finished", "failed", or "cancelled".
+    pub state: String,
+    /// When the job was created, in milliseconds since the epoch.
+    pub creation_ms: i64,
+    /// The job-type-specific specification. Null when the server omits it.
+    pub spec: serde_json::Value,
+    /// Why the job failed, when the job is failed and the server reports a
+    /// reason.
+    pub failure: Option<crate::error::JobFailure>,
+}
+
+fn job_op_not_supported<T>(what: &str) -> Result<T> {
+    Err(crate::error::Error::NotSupported {
+        message: format!("{} is not supported by this database", what),
+    })
+}
+
 /// The `Database` trait defines the interface for database implementations.
 ///
 /// A database is responsible for managing tables and their metadata.
@@ -245,6 +286,31 @@ pub trait Database:
    ///
    /// See [`CloneTableRequest`] for detailed documentation and examples.
    async fn clone_table(&self, request: CloneTableRequest) -> Result<Arc<dyn BaseTable>>;
+    /// A [`crate::job::Job`] handle for a server-side job by id, suitable for
+    /// waiting on or cancelling the job. The handle is constructed without a
+    /// server round trip; an unknown id surfaces when the handle is used.
+    fn job(&self, _job_id: &str) -> Result<crate::job::Job> {
+        job_op_not_supported("job")
+    }
+    /// List server-side jobs across the database's tables.
+    async fn list_jobs(&self) -> Result<Vec<JobInfo>> {
+        job_op_not_supported("list_jobs")
+    }
+    /// Describe a single job by id. `None` when the server has no such job.
+    async fn get_job(&self, _job_id: &str) -> Result<Option<JobDescription>> {
+        job_op_not_supported("get_job")
+    }
+    /// Request cancellation of a job by id. Returns true if the server
+    /// accepted the cancellation, false if no such job exists. Cancelling an
+    /// already-terminal job is a no-op success.
+    async fn cancel_job(&self, _job_id: &str) -> Result<bool> {
+        job_op_not_supported("cancel_job")
+    }
+    /// The lifecycle event history of a job (all jobs when `job_id` is
+    /// `None`), as recorded Arrow batches.
+    async fn job_history(&self, _job_id: Option<&str>) -> Result<Vec<RecordBatch>> {
+        job_op_not_supported("job_history")
+    }
    /// Open a table in the database
    async fn open_table(&self, request: OpenTableRequest) -> Result<Arc<dyn BaseTable>>;
    /// Rename a table in the database
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ use lance_core::{cache::LanceCache, utils::futures::FinallyStreamExt};
 use lance_encoding::decoder::{DecoderPlugins, FilterExpression};
 use lance_file::{
    reader::{FileReader, FileReaderOptions},
-    writer::{FileWriter, FileWriterOptions},
+    version::ConcreteFileVersion,
+    versions,
+    writer::FileWriterOptions,
 };
 use lance_io::{
    ReadBatchParams,
@@ -152,8 +154,12 @@ impl Shuffler {
                    source: None,
                })?;
            let object_writer = object_store.create(&path).await?;
-            let writer =
-                FileWriter::try_new(object_writer, schema.clone(), FileWriterOptions::default())?;
+            let writer = versions::create_writer(
+                ConcreteFileVersion::V2_1,
+                object_writer,
+                schema.clone(),
+                FileWriterOptions::default(),
+            )?;
            file_writers.push(writer);
        }

@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ pub fn compute_output_schema(
        let field_name = ed
            .dest_column
            .clone()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", &ed.source_column));
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", ed.source_column));

        sb.push(Field::new(
            field_name,
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ pub fn compute_embeddings_for_batch(
        let dst_field_name = fld
            .dest_column
            .clone()
-            .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", &fld.source_column));
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", fld.source_column));

        let dst_field = Field::new(
            dst_field_name,
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ impl<R: RecordBatchReader> WithEmbeddings<R> {
                let field_name = ed
                    .dest_column
                    .clone()
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", &ed.source_column));
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| format!("{}_embedding", ed.source_column));
                Ok(Field::new(
                    field_name,
                    func.dest_type()?.into_owned(),
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors

-use std::sync::PoisonError;
+use std::fmt::{self, Display, Formatter};
+use std::sync::{Arc, PoisonError};

 use arrow_schema::ArrowError;
 use datafusion_common::DataFusionError;
@@ -9,6 +10,46 @@ use snafu::Snafu;

 pub(crate) type BoxError = Box<dyn std::error::Error + Send + Sync>;

+/// Why a job failed, to whatever precision the backend provides.
+///
+/// A job run in this process carries the error it failed with in [`Self::source`].
+/// A job run remotely carries whatever the server reported, which older servers
+/// do not report at all. Every field is absent rather than invented when the
+/// backend does not supply it.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Default)]
+pub struct JobFailure {
+    /// The stage the job was in, when known.
+    pub phase: Option<String>,
+    /// A human-readable reason, when known.
+    pub message: Option<String>,
+    /// Whether a retry could clear the failure, when known.
+    pub retryable: Option<bool>,
+    /// The error the job failed with, when it ran in this process.
+    pub source: Option<Arc<Error>>,
+}
+
+impl JobFailure {
+    /// A failure whose only known detail is the error that caused it.
+    pub(crate) fn from_source(source: Arc<Error>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            message: Some(source.to_string()),
+            source: Some(source),
+            ..Default::default()
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Display for JobFailure {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut Formatter<'_>) -> fmt::Result {
+        match (&self.message, &self.phase) {
+            (Some(message), Some(phase)) => write!(f, ": {message} (in {phase})"),
+            (Some(message), None) => write!(f, ": {message}"),
+            (None, Some(phase)) => write!(f, " in {phase}"),
+            (None, None) => Ok(()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Snafu)]
 #[snafu(visibility(pub(crate)))]
 pub enum Error {
@@ -18,6 +59,10 @@ pub enum Error {
    InvalidInput { message: String },
    #[snafu(display("Table '{name}' was not found"))]
    TableNotFound { name: String, source: BoxError },
+    #[snafu(display(
+        "Table '{name}' exists but could not be loaded (it may be corrupt or incomplete): {source}"
+    ))]
+    TableCorrupted { name: String, source: BoxError },
    #[snafu(display("Database '{name}' was not found"))]
    DatabaseNotFound { name: String },
    #[snafu(display("Database '{name}' already exists."))]
@@ -40,6 +85,13 @@ pub enum Error {
    Runtime { message: String },
    #[snafu(display("Timeout error: {message}"))]
    Timeout { message: String },
+    #[snafu(display("Job{} failed{failure}", job_id.as_ref().map(|id| format!(" {id}")).unwrap_or_default()))]
+    JobFailed {
+        job_id: Option<String>,
+        failure: JobFailure,
+    },
+    #[snafu(display("Job{} was cancelled", job_id.as_ref().map(|id| format!(" {id}")).unwrap_or_default()))]
+    JobCancelled { job_id: Option<String> },

    // 3rd party / external errors
    #[snafu(display("object_store error: {source}"))]
@@ -121,6 +173,9 @@ impl From<lance::Error> for Error {
        match source {
            lance::Error::Wrapped { error, .. } => Self::from_box_error(error),
            lance::Error::External { source } => Self::from_box_error(source),
+            lance::Error::InvalidInput { source, .. } => Self::InvalidInput {
+                message: source.to_string(),
+            },
            _ => Self::Lance { source },
        }
    }
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ use std::time::Duration;
 use vector::IvfFlatIndexBuilder;

 use crate::index::vector::IvfRqIndexBuilder;
-use crate::{DistanceType, Error, Result, table::BaseTable};
+use crate::{DistanceType, Error, Result, job::Job, table::BaseTable};

 use self::{
    scalar::{BTreeIndexBuilder, BitmapIndexBuilder, FmIndexBuilder, LabelListIndexBuilder},
@@ -305,6 +305,14 @@ impl IndexBuilder {
    pub async fn execute(self) -> Result<()> {
        self.parent.clone().create_index(self).await
    }
+
+    /// Creates the index, returning a [`Job`] tracking the operation.
+    ///
+    /// The job may already be complete when returned, and callers must not
+    /// assume the index exists until [`Job::wait`] resolves.
+    pub async fn execute_async(self) -> Result<Job> {
+        self.parent.clone().create_index_async(self).await
+    }
 }

 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Deserialize)]
@@ -0,0 +1,182 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+//! Handles to operations a server may run asynchronously.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use tokio::sync::watch;
+use tokio::task::{AbortHandle, JoinHandle};
+
+use crate::error::{Error, JobFailure, Result};
+
+/// Backend-specific tracking for an asynchronous operation.
+#[async_trait]
+pub(crate) trait JobHandle: Send + Sync {
+    /// Server-assigned id, when the backend has one.
+    fn id(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        None
+    }
+    async fn status(&self) -> Result<String>;
+    async fn wait(&self) -> Result<()>;
+    async fn cancel(&self) -> Result<()>;
+}
+
+/// A handle to an operation that may still be running.
+///
+/// The operation may already be complete when the handle is created.
+pub struct Job {
+    handle: Option<Box<dyn JobHandle>>,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for Job {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("Job")
+            .field("id", &self.id())
+            .field("done", &self.handle.is_none())
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl Job {
+    /// A job whose operation finished before the handle was created.
+    pub(crate) fn new_done() -> Self {
+        Self { handle: None }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) fn new(handle: Box<dyn JobHandle>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            handle: Some(handle),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// A job running as a task in this process.
+    pub(crate) fn spawned(task: JoinHandle<Result<()>>) -> Self {
+        Self::new(Box::new(SpawnedJob::new(task)))
+    }
+
+    /// Identifies the operation on the server that is running it.
+    ///
+    /// Returned for correlating with server logs or the jobs API. Operations
+    /// that run in this process have no server id and return `None`. The
+    /// value is opaque: parsing it or storing it to resume the job later is
+    /// not supported.
+    pub fn id(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        self.handle.as_ref().and_then(|handle| handle.id())
+    }
+
+    /// The operation's current lifecycle state: "running", "finished",
+    /// "failed", or "cancelled".
+    ///
+    /// A point snapshot; unlike [`Job::wait`] it does not block, raise on a
+    /// terminal failure state, or retry. States a newer server reports that
+    /// this client version does not know pass through as-is.
+    pub async fn status(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        match &self.handle {
+            None => Ok("finished".to_string()),
+            Some(handle) => handle.status().await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Waits until the operation reaches a terminal state.
+    ///
+    /// Returns [`crate::Error::JobFailed`] if the operation failed and
+    /// [`crate::Error::JobCancelled`] if it was cancelled.
+    pub async fn wait(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        match &self.handle {
+            None => Ok(()),
+            Some(handle) => handle.wait().await,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Requests cancellation of the operation.
+    ///
+    /// Cancelling an operation that already finished is a no-op.
+    pub async fn cancel(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        match &self.handle {
+            None => Ok(()),
+            Some(handle) => handle.cancel().await,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// How an in-process operation ended. Cloneable so every waiter can be given
+/// the outcome; [`Error`] is not, so failures share one behind an [`Arc`].
+#[derive(Clone)]
+enum Outcome {
+    Succeeded,
+    Failed(Arc<Error>),
+    Cancelled,
+}
+
+impl Outcome {
+    fn into_result(self) -> Result<()> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Succeeded => Ok(()),
+            Self::Failed(source) => Err(Error::JobFailed {
+                job_id: None,
+                failure: JobFailure::from_source(source),
+            }),
+            Self::Cancelled => Err(Error::JobCancelled { job_id: None }),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Tracks an operation running as a task in this process. A second task
+/// watches the first so that aborting it still produces an outcome, and so
+/// that every caller of `wait` observes the same one.
+struct SpawnedJob {
+    outcome: watch::Receiver<Option<Outcome>>,
+    abort: AbortHandle,
+}
+
+impl SpawnedJob {
+    fn new(task: JoinHandle<Result<()>>) -> Self {
+        let abort = task.abort_handle();
+        let (tx, outcome) = watch::channel(None);
+        tokio::spawn(async move {
+            let outcome = match task.await {
+                Ok(Ok(())) => Outcome::Succeeded,
+                Ok(Err(err)) => Outcome::Failed(Arc::new(err)),
+                Err(err) if err.is_cancelled() => Outcome::Cancelled,
+                Err(err) => Outcome::Failed(Arc::new(Error::Runtime {
+                    message: format!("index job task failed: {err}"),
+                })),
+            };
+            let _ = tx.send(Some(outcome));
+        });
+        Self { outcome, abort }
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl JobHandle for SpawnedJob {
+    async fn status(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        let label = match &*self.outcome.borrow() {
+            None => "running",
+            Some(Outcome::Succeeded) => "finished",
+            Some(Outcome::Failed(_)) => "failed",
+            Some(Outcome::Cancelled) => "cancelled",
+        };
+        Ok(label.to_string())
+    }
+
+    async fn wait(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut outcome = self.outcome.clone();
+        let settled = outcome
+            .wait_for(|outcome| outcome.is_some())
+            .await
+            .map_err(|_| Error::Runtime {
+                message: "index job outcome was dropped before it completed".to_string(),
+            })?
+            .clone()
+            .expect("wait_for returns once an outcome is set");
+        settled.into_result()
+    }
+
+    async fn cancel(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        self.abort.abort();
+        Ok(())
+    }
+}
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ pub mod expr;
 pub mod index;
 pub mod io;
 pub mod ipc;
+pub mod job;
 #[cfg(feature = "metrics-otel")]
 pub mod metrics_otel;
 #[cfg(feature = "polars")]
@@ -203,7 +204,8 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};

 pub use blob::{BlobRangeRequest, blob, is_blob};
 pub use connection::{ConnectNamespaceBuilder, Connection};
-pub use error::{Error, Result};
+pub use error::{Error, JobFailure, Result};
+pub use job::Job;
 use lance_index::vector::ApproxMode as LanceApproxMode;
 use lance_linalg::distance::DistanceType as LanceDistanceType;
 /// Re-export of the [`metrics`](https://docs.rs/metrics) crate facade. Enable
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@

 pub(crate) mod client;
 pub(crate) mod db;
+pub(crate) mod job;
 pub mod oauth;
 mod retry;
 pub(crate) mod table;
 pub(crate) mod util;

 const ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE: &str = "application/vnd.apache.arrow.stream";
-#[cfg(test)]
 const ARROW_FILE_CONTENT_TYPE: &str = "application/vnd.apache.arrow.file";
 #[cfg(test)]
 const JSON_CONTENT_TYPE: &str = "application/json";
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> RestfulLanceDbClient<S> {
            .err_to_http(request_id.clone())?;
        debug!(
            "Received response for request_id={}: {:?}",
-            request_id, &response
+            request_id, response
        );
        Ok((request_id, response))
    }
@@ -768,7 +768,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> RestfulLanceDbClient<S> {
                Ok((status, response)) if status.is_success() => {
                    debug!(
                        "Received response for request_id={}: {:?}",
-                        retry_counter.request_id, &response
+                        retry_counter.request_id, response
                    );
                    return Ok((retry_counter.request_id, response));
                }
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::sync::Arc;

+use arrow_array::RecordBatch;
 use async_trait::async_trait;
 use http::StatusCode;
 use lance_io::object_store::StorageOptions;
@@ -18,13 +19,14 @@ use lance_namespace::models::{
 };

 use crate::Error;
+use crate::data::scannable::Scannable;
 use crate::database::{
    CloneTableRequest, CreateTableMode, CreateTableRequest, Database, DatabaseOptions,
-    OpenTableRequest, ReadConsistency, TableNamesRequest,
+    JobDescription, JobInfo, OpenTableRequest, ReadConsistency, TableNamesRequest,
 };
 use crate::error::Result;
 use crate::remote::util::stream_as_body;
-use crate::table::BaseTable;
+use crate::table::{AddDataBuilder, BaseTable};

 use super::ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE;
 use super::client::{
@@ -79,6 +81,10 @@ impl ServerVersion {
    pub fn support_multipart_write(&self) -> bool {
        self.0 >= semver::Version::new(0, 4, 0)
    }
+
+    pub fn support_blobs(&self) -> bool {
+        self.0 >= semver::Version::new(0, 5, 0)
+    }
 }

 pub const OPT_REMOTE_PREFIX: &str = "remote_database_";
@@ -428,6 +434,73 @@ fn build_cache_key(name: &str, namespace: &[String]) -> String {
    key.iter().map(|b| format!("{:02x}", b)).collect()
 }

+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct RemoteListJobRow {
+    job_id: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    table: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    job_type: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    state: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    created_at_millis: i64,
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct RemoteListJobsResponse {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    jobs: Vec<RemoteListJobRow>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    page_token: Option<String>,
+}
+
+/// The server's account of why a job failed. Absent from older servers,
+/// which report only the terminal state.
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct RemoteReportedFailure {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    phase: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    message: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    retryable: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+#[derive(serde::Deserialize)]
+struct RemoteDescribeJobResponse {
+    job_id: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    job_type: String,
+    job_state: String,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    creation_ms: i64,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    spec: serde_json::Value,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    failure: Option<RemoteReportedFailure>,
+}
+
+/// Server job states -> the client vocabulary ("running" / "finished" /
+/// "failed" / "cancelled"). Covers both the describe enum (IN_PROGRESS /
+/// DONE / FAILED / CANCELLED) and the registry's lowercase list-row states
+/// (in_progress / succeeded / failed / canceled / timed_out). States this
+/// client version does not know (e.g. created, queued) pass through as-is.
+fn job_state_to_client(state: &str) -> String {
+    match state {
+        "IN_PROGRESS" | "in_progress" => "running",
+        "DONE" | "done" | "succeeded" => "finished",
+        "FAILED" | "failed" | "TIMED_OUT" | "timed_out" => "failed",
+        "CANCELLED" | "cancelled" | "canceled" => "cancelled",
+        other => other,
+    }
+    .to_string()
+}
+
+/// Bound on `list_jobs` page walking; a warning is logged when the listing
+/// is truncated at this many pages.
+const MAX_LIST_JOBS_PAGES: usize = 100;
+
 #[async_trait]
 impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
    fn uri(&self) -> &str {
@@ -441,6 +514,108 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
        })
    }

+    fn job(&self, job_id: &str) -> Result<crate::job::Job> {
+        Ok(crate::job::Job::new(Box::new(super::job::RemoteJob::new(
+            self.client.clone(),
+            job_id.to_string(),
+        ))))
+    }
+
+    async fn list_jobs(&self) -> Result<Vec<JobInfo>> {
+        let mut out = Vec::new();
+        let mut page_token: Option<String> = None;
+        for page in 0..MAX_LIST_JOBS_PAGES {
+            let mut body = serde_json::json!({});
+            if let Some(token) = &page_token {
+                body["page_token"] = serde_json::Value::String(token.clone());
+            }
+            let req = self.client.post("/v1/jobs/list").json(&body);
+            let (request_id, rsp) = self.client.send(req).await?;
+            let rsp = self.client.check_response(&request_id, rsp).await?;
+            let body: RemoteListJobsResponse = rsp.json().await.err_to_http(request_id)?;
+            out.extend(body.jobs.into_iter().map(|row| JobInfo {
+                job_id: row.job_id,
+                table: row.table,
+                job_type: row.job_type,
+                state: job_state_to_client(&row.state),
+                created_at_millis: row.created_at_millis,
+            }));
+            page_token = body.page_token;
+            if page_token.is_none() {
+                break;
+            }
+            if page + 1 == MAX_LIST_JOBS_PAGES {
+                log::warn!(
+                    "list_jobs truncated after {} pages ({} jobs)",
+                    MAX_LIST_JOBS_PAGES,
+                    out.len()
+                );
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(out)
+    }
+
+    async fn get_job(&self, job_id: &str) -> Result<Option<JobDescription>> {
+        let req = self
+            .client
+            .post("/v1/jobs/describe")
+            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "job_id": job_id }));
+        let (request_id, rsp) = self.client.send(req).await?;
+        let rsp = match self.client.check_response(&request_id, rsp).await {
+            Ok(rsp) => rsp,
+            Err(Error::Http {
+                status_code: Some(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND),
+                ..
+            }) => return Ok(None),
+            Err(err) => return Err(err),
+        };
+        let body: RemoteDescribeJobResponse = rsp.json().await.err_to_http(request_id)?;
+        Ok(Some(JobDescription {
+            job_id: body.job_id,
+            job_type: body.job_type,
+            state: job_state_to_client(&body.job_state),
+            creation_ms: body.creation_ms,
+            spec: body.spec,
+            failure: body.failure.map(|reported| crate::error::JobFailure {
+                phase: reported.phase,
+                message: reported.message,
+                retryable: reported.retryable,
+                source: None,
+            }),
+        }))
+    }
+
+    async fn cancel_job(&self, job_id: &str) -> Result<bool> {
+        let req = self
+            .client
+            .post("/v1/jobs/cancel")
+            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "job_id": job_id }));
+        let (request_id, rsp) = self.client.send(req).await?;
+        match self.client.check_response(&request_id, rsp).await {
+            Ok(_) => Ok(true),
+            Err(Error::Http {
+                status_code: Some(StatusCode::NOT_FOUND),
+                ..
+            }) => Ok(false),
+            Err(err) => Err(err),
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn job_history(&self, job_id: Option<&str>) -> Result<Vec<arrow_array::RecordBatch>> {
+        let mut body = serde_json::json!({});
+        if let Some(job_id) = job_id {
+            body["job_id"] = serde_json::Value::String(job_id.to_string());
+        }
+        let req = self.client.post("/v1/jobs/query_events").json(&body);
+        let (request_id, rsp) = self.client.send(req).await?;
+        let rsp = self.client.check_response(&request_id, rsp).await?;
+        let bytes = rsp.bytes().await.err_to_http(request_id)?;
+        let reader = arrow_ipc::reader::StreamReader::try_new(std::io::Cursor::new(bytes), None)?;
+        reader
+            .collect::<std::result::Result<Vec<_>, _>>()
+            .map_err(Into::into)
+    }
+
    async fn table_names(&self, request: TableNamesRequest) -> Result<Vec<String>> {
        let mut req = if !request.namespace_path.is_empty() {
            let namespace_id =
@@ -520,7 +695,19 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
    }

    async fn create_table(&self, mut request: CreateTableRequest) -> Result<Arc<dyn BaseTable>> {
-        let body = stream_as_body(request.data.scan_as_stream())?;
+        // The create endpoint limits the size of the complete request even though
+        // its body is streamed. Sources without a row-count hint (notably Python
+        // generators / RecordBatchReader) can therefore exceed that limit after
+        // many individually small batches. Create the schema first and feed the
+        // unknown-length source through the multipart insert path instead.
+        let stage_initial_data = request.data.num_rows().is_none();
+        let schema = request.data.schema();
+        let body = if stage_initial_data {
+            let mut empty = RecordBatch::new_empty(schema.clone());
+            stream_as_body(empty.scan_as_stream())?
+        } else {
+            stream_as_body(request.data.scan_as_stream())?
+        };

        let identifier = build_table_identifier(
            &request.name,
@@ -591,6 +778,16 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
            table_identifier,
            version,
        ));
+        table.seed_schema_ref(schema);
+
+        if stage_initial_data {
+            let base_table: Arc<dyn BaseTable> = table.clone();
+            AddDataBuilder::new(base_table, request.data, None)
+                .write_options(request.write_options)
+                .execute()
+                .await?;
+        }
+
        self.table_cache.insert(cache_key, table.clone()).await;

        Ok(table)
@@ -661,6 +858,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
                RemoteTable::<S>::handle_table_not_found(&request.name, rsp, &request_id).await?;
            let rsp = self.client.check_response(&request_id, rsp).await?;
            let version = parse_server_version(&request_id, &rsp)?;
+            let describe_body = rsp.text().await.ok();
            let table_identifier = build_table_identifier(
                &request.name,
                &request.namespace_path,
@@ -673,6 +871,12 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> Database for RemoteDatabase<S> {
                table_identifier,
                version,
            ));
+            // This describe already carries the schema, so hand it to the table
+            // instead of making the first schema read fetch it again. A version or
+            // branch pin applied after this invalidates the cache.
+            if let Some(body) = &describe_body {
+                table.seed_schema(body);
+            }
            let cache_key = build_cache_key(&request.name, &request.namespace_path);
            self.table_cache.insert(cache_key, table.clone()).await;
            Ok(table)
@@ -923,9 +1127,10 @@ impl From<StorageOptions> for RemoteOptions {
 mod tests {
    use super::{NamespaceHeaderProviderContext, build_cache_key};
    use std::collections::HashMap;
+    use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
    use std::sync::{Arc, OnceLock};

-    use arrow_array::{Int32Array, RecordBatch};
+    use arrow_array::{Int32Array, RecordBatch, RecordBatchIterator};
    use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Schema};
    use lance_namespace_impls::{DynamicContextProvider, OperationInfo};

@@ -1073,6 +1278,46 @@ mod tests {
        assert_eq!(table.name(), "table1");
    }

+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_table_seeds_the_schema_from_its_describe() {
+        let describe_calls = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let counted = describe_calls.clone();
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/table1/describe/");
+            counted.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(
+                    r#"{"version": 1, "schema": {"fields": [
+                        {"name": "id", "type": {"type": "int64"}, "nullable": false}
+                    ]}}"#
+                        .to_string(),
+                )
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+
+        let table = conn.open_table("table1").execute().await.unwrap();
+        let schema = table.schema().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(schema.field(0).name(), "id");
+        assert_eq!(describe_calls.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_table_survives_a_describe_body_it_cannot_parse() {
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/table1/describe/");
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(r#"{"table": "table1"}"#.to_string())
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+
+        let table = conn.open_table("table1").execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(table.name(), "table1");
+    }
+
    #[tokio::test]
    async fn test_open_table_branch_and_version() {
        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
@@ -1150,6 +1395,88 @@ mod tests {
        assert_eq!(table.name(), "table1");
    }

+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_create_table_streaming_reader_uses_multipart_insert() {
+        let create_count = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let multipart_create_count = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let insert_count = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let complete_count = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+
+        let create_count_c = create_count.clone();
+        let multipart_create_count_c = multipart_create_count.clone();
+        let insert_count_c = insert_count.clone();
+        let complete_count_c = complete_count.clone();
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler_and_config(
+            move |request| {
+                let path = request.url().path();
+                let query = request.url().query().unwrap_or("");
+                match path {
+                    "/v1/table/table1/create/" => {
+                        create_count_c.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .header("phalanx-version", "0.4.0")
+                            .body(String::new())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    "/v1/table/table1/multipart_write/create" => {
+                        multipart_create_count_c.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body(r#"{"upload_id":"streaming-create"}"#.to_string())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    "/v1/table/table1/insert/" => {
+                        assert!(query.contains("upload_id=streaming-create"));
+                        assert!(query.contains("upload_part_id="));
+                        insert_count_c.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body(String::new())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    "/v1/table/table1/multipart_write/complete" => {
+                        assert!(query.contains("upload_id=streaming-create"));
+                        complete_count_c.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body(r#"{"version":2}"#.to_string())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    path => panic!("unexpected path: {path}"),
+                }
+            },
+            ClientConfig {
+                max_bytes_per_request: Some(1),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        );
+
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("a", DataType::Int32, false)]));
+        let batches = vec![
+            Ok(RecordBatch::try_new(
+                schema.clone(),
+                vec![Arc::new(Int32Array::from(vec![1, 2, 3]))],
+            )
+            .unwrap()),
+            Ok(RecordBatch::try_new(
+                schema.clone(),
+                vec![Arc::new(Int32Array::from(vec![4, 5, 6]))],
+            )
+            .unwrap()),
+        ];
+        let reader: Box<dyn arrow_array::RecordBatchReader + Send> =
+            Box::new(RecordBatchIterator::new(batches, schema));
+
+        let table = conn.create_table("table1", reader).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(table.name(), "table1");
+        assert_eq!(create_count.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+        assert_eq!(multipart_create_count.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+        assert!(insert_count.load(Ordering::SeqCst) >= 1);
+        assert_eq!(complete_count.load(Ordering::SeqCst), 1);
+    }
+
    #[tokio::test]
    async fn test_create_table_already_exists() {
        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|_| {
@@ -2042,4 +2369,165 @@ mod tests {
            assert!(list_response.tables.contains(&"table3".to_string()));
        }
    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_list_jobs_paginates() {
+        let page = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.method(), &reqwest::Method::POST);
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/jobs/list");
+            let body: serde_json::Value =
+                serde_json::from_slice(request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
+            match page.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst) {
+                0 => {
+                    assert!(body.get("page_token").is_none());
+                    http::Response::builder()
+                        .status(200)
+                        .body(
+                            r#"{"jobs": [{"job_id": "job-1", "table": "t1", "job_type": "create_index", "state": "in_progress", "created_at_millis": 1000}], "page_token": "next"}"#,
+                        )
+                        .unwrap()
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    assert_eq!(body["page_token"], "next");
+                    http::Response::builder()
+                        .status(200)
+                        .body(
+                            r#"{"jobs": [{"job_id": "job-2", "table": "t2", "job_type": "create_index", "state": "succeeded", "created_at_millis": 2000}, {"job_id": "job-3", "table": "t3", "job_type": "create_index", "state": "timed_out", "created_at_millis": 3000}]}"#,
+                        )
+                        .unwrap()
+                }
+            }
+        });
+        let jobs = conn.list_jobs().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(jobs.len(), 3);
+        assert_eq!(jobs[0].job_id, "job-1");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[0].table, "t1");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[0].state, "running");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[1].job_id, "job-2");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[1].state, "finished");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[1].created_at_millis, 2000);
+        assert_eq!(jobs[2].job_id, "job-3");
+        assert_eq!(jobs[2].state, "failed");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_get_job() {
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.method(), &reqwest::Method::POST);
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/jobs/describe");
+            let body: serde_json::Value =
+                serde_json::from_slice(request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(body["job_id"], "job-1");
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(
+                    r#"{"job_id": "job-1", "job_type": "create_index", "job_state": "FAILED", "creation_ms": 1000, "spec": {"column": "vec"}, "failure": {"phase": "execute", "message": "worker died", "retryable": true}}"#,
+                )
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        let job = conn.get_job("job-1").await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(job.job_id, "job-1");
+        assert_eq!(job.job_type, "create_index");
+        assert_eq!(job.state, "failed");
+        assert_eq!(job.creation_ms, 1000);
+        assert_eq!(job.spec["column"], "vec");
+        let failure = job.failure.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(failure.phase.as_deref(), Some("execute"));
+        assert_eq!(failure.message.as_deref(), Some("worker died"));
+        assert_eq!(failure.retryable, Some(true));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_get_job_missing_is_none() {
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|_| {
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(404)
+                .body("no such job")
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        assert!(conn.get_job("nope").await.unwrap().is_none());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_cancel_job() {
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/jobs/cancel");
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(r#"{"job_id": "job-1"}"#)
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        assert!(conn.cancel_job("job-1").await.unwrap());
+
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(|_| {
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(404)
+                .body("no such job")
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        assert!(!conn.cancel_job("nope").await.unwrap());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_job_history_parses_arrow_stream() {
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new(
+            "state",
+            DataType::Utf8,
+            false,
+        )]));
+        let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+            schema.clone(),
+            vec![Arc::new(arrow_array::StringArray::from(vec![
+                "created", "done",
+            ]))],
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let mut body = Vec::new();
+        {
+            let mut writer = arrow_ipc::writer::StreamWriter::try_new(&mut body, &schema).unwrap();
+            writer.write(&batch).unwrap();
+            writer.finish().unwrap();
+        }
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/jobs/query_events");
+            let req_body: serde_json::Value =
+                serde_json::from_slice(request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap()).unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(req_body["job_id"], "job-1");
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(body.clone())
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        let batches = conn.job_history(Some("job-1")).await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(batches.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(batches[0].num_rows(), 2);
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_conn_job_waits_to_done() {
+        let polls = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let polls_ref = polls.clone();
+        let conn = Connection::new_with_handler(move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/jobs/describe");
+            let state = if polls_ref.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst) == 0 {
+                "IN_PROGRESS"
+            } else {
+                "DONE"
+            };
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(format!(
+                    r#"{{"job_id": "job-1", "job_type": "create_index", "job_state": "{}", "creation_ms": 1}}"#,
+                    state
+                ))
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+        let job = conn.job("job-1").unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(job.id(), Some("job-1"));
+        assert_eq!(job.status().await.unwrap(), "running");
+        job.wait().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(job.status().await.unwrap(), "finished");
+        assert!(polls.load(Ordering::SeqCst) >= 3);
+    }
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,170 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+//! Tracking for server-side jobs through the `/v1/jobs` API.
+
+use std::time::Duration;
+
+use async_trait::async_trait;
+use tokio::time::sleep;
+
+use serde::{Deserialize, Deserializer};
+
+use crate::error::{Error, JobFailure, Result};
+use crate::job::JobHandle;
+use crate::remote::client::{HttpSend, RequestResultExt, RestfulLanceDbClient};
+
+/// Delay before the second job-state poll; doubles up to [`MAX_POLL_INTERVAL`].
+const INITIAL_POLL_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_millis(200);
+const MAX_POLL_INTERVAL: Duration = Duration::from_secs(5);
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+enum JobState {
+    InProgress,
+    Cancelled,
+    Failed,
+    Done,
+    /// A state this client version does not know; treated as still running
+    /// and reported as-is if the job never settles.
+    Other(String),
+}
+
+impl<'de> Deserialize<'de> for JobState {
+    fn deserialize<D: Deserializer<'de>>(deserializer: D) -> std::result::Result<Self, D::Error> {
+        Ok(Self::from(String::deserialize(deserializer)?.as_str()))
+    }
+}
+
+impl JobState {
+    /// The client vocabulary label for this state.
+    fn client_label(&self) -> String {
+        match self {
+            Self::InProgress => "running".to_string(),
+            Self::Done => "finished".to_string(),
+            Self::Failed => "failed".to_string(),
+            Self::Cancelled => "cancelled".to_string(),
+            Self::Other(state) => state.clone(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<&str> for JobState {
+    fn from(state: &str) -> Self {
+        match state {
+            "IN_PROGRESS" => Self::InProgress,
+            "CANCELLED" => Self::Cancelled,
+            // The server reports a timed-out job as FAILED on describe;
+            // accept the raw registry state too in case a future server
+            // stops folding it.
+            "FAILED" | "TIMED_OUT" => Self::Failed,
+            "DONE" => Self::Done,
+            other => Self::Other(other.to_string()),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+/// The server's account of why a job failed. Absent from older servers, which
+/// report only the terminal state.
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct ReportedFailure {
+    #[serde(default)]
+    phase: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    message: Option<String>,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    retryable: Option<bool>,
+}
+
+#[derive(Deserialize)]
+struct DescribeJobResponse {
+    job_state: JobState,
+    #[serde(default)]
+    failure: Option<ReportedFailure>,
+}
+
+pub struct RemoteJob<S: HttpSend> {
+    client: RestfulLanceDbClient<S>,
+    job_id: String,
+}
+
+impl<S: HttpSend> RemoteJob<S> {
+    pub fn new(client: RestfulLanceDbClient<S>, job_id: String) -> Self {
+        Self { client, job_id }
+    }
+
+    /// One `/v1/jobs/describe` round trip.
+    async fn describe(&self) -> Result<DescribeJobResponse> {
+        let request = self
+            .client
+            .post("/v1/jobs/describe")
+            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "job_id": self.job_id }));
+        let (request_id, response) = self.client.send(request).await?;
+        let response = self.client.check_response(&request_id, response).await?;
+        let body = response.text().await.err_to_http(request_id.clone())?;
+        let description: DescribeJobResponse =
+            serde_json::from_str(&body).map_err(|e| Error::Http {
+                source: format!("failed to parse job description: {}", e).into(),
+                request_id,
+                status_code: None,
+            })?;
+        Ok(description)
+    }
+}
+
+#[async_trait]
+impl<S: HttpSend> JobHandle for RemoteJob<S> {
+    fn id(&self) -> Option<&str> {
+        Some(&self.job_id)
+    }
+
+    async fn status(&self) -> Result<String> {
+        Ok(self.describe().await?.job_state.client_label())
+    }
+
+    async fn wait(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut interval = INITIAL_POLL_INTERVAL;
+        loop {
+            let description = self.describe().await?;
+            match description.job_state {
+                JobState::Done => return Ok(()),
+                JobState::Failed => {
+                    return Err(Error::JobFailed {
+                        job_id: Some(self.job_id.clone()),
+                        failure: description
+                            .failure
+                            .map(|reported| JobFailure {
+                                phase: reported.phase,
+                                message: reported.message,
+                                retryable: reported.retryable,
+                                source: None,
+                            })
+                            .unwrap_or_default(),
+                    });
+                }
+                JobState::Cancelled => {
+                    return Err(Error::JobCancelled {
+                        job_id: Some(self.job_id.clone()),
+                    });
+                }
+                JobState::InProgress => {}
+                JobState::Other(ref state) => {
+                    log::debug!("job {} is in unrecognized state {state}", self.job_id)
+                }
+            }
+            sleep(interval).await;
+            interval = (interval * 2).min(MAX_POLL_INTERVAL);
+        }
+    }
+
+    async fn cancel(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        let request = self
+            .client
+            .post("/v1/jobs/cancel")
+            .json(&serde_json::json!({ "job_id": self.job_id }));
+        let (request_id, response) = self.client.send(request).await?;
+        self.client
+            .check_response(&request_id, response)
+            .await
+            .map(|_| ())
+    }
+}
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 // SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
 // SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors

-//! DataFusion ExecutionPlan for inserting data into remote LanceDB tables.
+//! DataFusion ExecutionPlan for streaming writes (add / merge_insert) to
+//! remote LanceDB tables.

 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 use std::time::{Duration, Instant};
@@ -23,28 +24,57 @@ use lance::io::exec::utils::InstrumentedRecordBatchStreamAdapter;
 use crate::Error;
 use crate::remote::ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE;
 use crate::remote::client::{HttpSend, RestfulLanceDbClient, Sender};
-use crate::remote::table::RemoteTable;
-use crate::table::AddResult;
+use crate::remote::table::{MergeInsertRequest, REQUEST_TIMEOUT_HEADER, RemoteTable};
 use crate::table::datafusion::insert::COUNT_SCHEMA;
 use crate::table::write_progress::WriteProgressTracker;
+use crate::table::{AddResult, MergeResult};

-/// ExecutionPlan for inserting data into a remote LanceDB table.
+/// The write operation a [`RemoteWriteExec`] performs. Both variants share the
+/// same Arrow-IPC streaming body and error side-channel; only the target
+/// endpoint, query parameters, and parsed result type differ.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub(crate) enum WriteOp {
+    /// `add`: stream to `/v1/table/{id}/insert/`, optionally overwriting.
+    Insert { overwrite: bool },
+    /// `merge_insert`: stream to `/v1/table/{id}/merge_insert/` with the merge
+    /// parameters carried as query params. Multipart is not supported for this
+    /// operation (the server has no multipart merge_insert endpoint), so an
+    /// `upload_id` combined with this op is a programming error.
+    MergeInsert {
+        query: MergeInsertRequest,
+        timeout: Option<Duration>,
+    },
+}
+
+/// The parsed server response for a completed write, discriminated by the
+/// operation that produced it.
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub(crate) enum WriteResult {
+    Add(AddResult),
+    Merge(MergeResult),
+}
+
+/// ExecutionPlan for streaming a write (add or merge_insert) to a remote
+/// LanceDB table.
 ///
-/// Streams data as Arrow IPC to `/v1/table/{id}/insert/` endpoint.
+/// Streams data as Arrow IPC to the endpoint selected by [`WriteOp`]. Both
+/// operations reuse the same error side-channel so an input stream error (e.g.
+/// NaN rejection) surfaces with its original message rather than the masked
+/// HTTP error Hyper produces when a request body stream fails under HTTP2.
 ///
 /// When `upload_id` is set, inserts are staged as part of a multipart write
 /// session and the plan supports multiple partitions for parallel uploads.
 /// Without `upload_id`, the plan requires a single partition and commits
-/// immediately.
+/// immediately. Multipart applies to `add` only.
 #[derive(Debug)]
-pub struct RemoteInsertExec<S: HttpSend = Sender> {
+pub struct RemoteWriteExec<S: HttpSend = Sender> {
    table_name: String,
    identifier: String,
    client: RestfulLanceDbClient<S>,
    input: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan>,
-    overwrite: bool,
+    op: WriteOp,
    properties: Arc<PlanProperties>,
-    add_result: Arc<Mutex<Option<AddResult>>>,
+    result: Arc<Mutex<Option<WriteResult>>>,
    metrics: ExecutionPlanMetricsSet,
    upload_id: Option<String>,
    tracker: Option<Arc<WriteProgressTracker>>,
@@ -61,27 +91,28 @@ pub struct RemoteInsertExec<S: HttpSend = Sender> {
    max_request_duration: Option<Duration>,
 }

-impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteInsertExec<S> {
-    /// Create a new single-partition RemoteInsertExec.
+impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteWriteExec<S> {
+    /// Create a new single-partition RemoteWriteExec.
    pub fn new(
        table_name: String,
        identifier: String,
        client: RestfulLanceDbClient<S>,
        input: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan>,
-        overwrite: bool,
+        op: WriteOp,
        tracker: Option<Arc<WriteProgressTracker>>,
        branch: Option<String>,
    ) -> Self {
        Self::new_inner(
-            table_name, identifier, client, input, overwrite, None, tracker, branch, None, None,
+            table_name, identifier, client, input, op, None, tracker, branch, None, None,
        )
    }

-    /// Create a multi-partition RemoteInsertExec for use with multipart writes.
+    /// Create a multi-partition RemoteWriteExec for use with multipart writes.
    ///
    /// Each partition's insert is staged under the given `upload_id` without
    /// committing. The caller is responsible for calling the complete (or abort)
-    /// endpoint after all partitions finish.
+    /// endpoint after all partitions finish. Multipart is insert-only, so the
+    /// op is fixed to [`WriteOp::Insert`].
    #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
    pub fn new_multipart(
        table_name: String,
@@ -100,7 +131,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteInsertExec<S> {
            identifier,
            client,
            input,
-            overwrite,
+            WriteOp::Insert { overwrite },
            Some(upload_id),
            tracker,
            branch,
@@ -115,7 +146,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteInsertExec<S> {
        identifier: String,
        client: RestfulLanceDbClient<S>,
        input: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan>,
-        overwrite: bool,
+        op: WriteOp,
        upload_id: Option<String>,
        tracker: Option<Arc<WriteProgressTracker>>,
        branch: Option<String>,
@@ -140,9 +171,9 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteInsertExec<S> {
            identifier,
            client,
            input,
-            overwrite,
+            op,
            properties: Arc::new(properties),
-            add_result: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
+            result: Arc::new(Mutex::new(None)),
            metrics: ExecutionPlanMetricsSet::new(),
            upload_id,
            tracker,
@@ -152,14 +183,30 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> RemoteInsertExec<S> {
        }
    }

-    /// Get the add result after execution.
-    // TODO: this will be used when we wire this up to Table::add().
-    #[allow(dead_code)]
+    /// Get the add result after execution, if this exec ran an insert.
    pub fn add_result(&self) -> Option<AddResult> {
-        self.add_result
+        match self
+            .result
            .lock()
            .unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
            .clone()
+        {
+            Some(WriteResult::Add(r)) => Some(r),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Get the merge result after execution, if this exec ran a merge_insert.
+    pub fn merge_result(&self) -> Option<MergeResult> {
+        match self
+            .result
+            .lock()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|e| e.into_inner())
+            .clone()
+        {
+            Some(WriteResult::Merge(r)) => Some(r),
+            _ => None,
+        }
    }

    /// Stream the input into an HTTP body as an Arrow IPC stream, capturing any
@@ -464,24 +511,24 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> PartRequestCtx<'_, S> {
    }
 }

-impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> DisplayAs for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
+impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> DisplayAs for RemoteWriteExec<S> {
    fn fmt_as(&self, t: DisplayFormatType, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
        match t {
            DisplayFormatType::Default | DisplayFormatType::Verbose => {
-                write!(
-                    f,
-                    "RemoteInsertExec: table={}, overwrite={}",
-                    self.table_name, self.overwrite
-                )
+                write!(f, "RemoteWriteExec: table={}, op=", self.table_name)?;
+                match &self.op {
+                    WriteOp::Insert { overwrite } => write!(f, "insert, overwrite={}", overwrite),
+                    WriteOp::MergeInsert { .. } => write!(f, "merge_insert"),
+                }
            }
            DisplayFormatType::TreeRender => {
-                write!(f, "RemoteInsertExec")
+                write!(f, "RemoteWriteExec")
            }
        }
    }
 }

-impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
+impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteWriteExec<S> {
    fn name(&self) -> &str {
        Self::static_name()
    }
@@ -516,15 +563,18 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
    ) -> DataFusionResult<Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan>> {
        if children.len() != 1 {
            return Err(DataFusionError::Internal(
-                "RemoteInsertExec requires exactly one child".to_string(),
+                "RemoteWriteExec requires exactly one child".to_string(),
            ));
        }
+        // Building a fresh exec (with a new, empty `result`) is what makes the
+        // outer rescannable retry loop work: `reset_state()` clears the captured
+        // result so a re-execution starts clean.
        Ok(Arc::new(Self::new_inner(
            self.table_name.clone(),
            self.identifier.clone(),
            self.client.clone(),
            children[0].clone(),
-            self.overwrite,
+            self.op.clone(),
            self.upload_id.clone(),
            self.tracker.clone(),
            self.branch.clone(),
@@ -540,11 +590,19 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
    ) -> DataFusionResult<SendableRecordBatchStream> {
        if self.upload_id.is_none() && partition != 0 {
            return Err(DataFusionError::Internal(
-                "RemoteInsertExec only supports single partition execution without upload_id"
+                "RemoteWriteExec only supports single partition execution without upload_id"
                    .to_string(),
            ));
        }

+        // Multipart is insert-only: the server has no multipart merge_insert
+        // endpoint, so a merge_insert with an upload_id is a programming error.
+        if self.upload_id.is_some() && matches!(self.op, WriteOp::MergeInsert { .. }) {
+            return Err(DataFusionError::Internal(
+                "merge_insert does not support multipart (upload_id) writes".to_string(),
+            ));
+        }
+
        let input_stream = self.input.execute(partition, context)?;
        let input_schema = input_stream.schema();
        let input_stream: SendableRecordBatchStream =
@@ -556,8 +614,8 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
            ));
        let client = self.client.clone();
        let identifier = self.identifier.clone();
-        let overwrite = self.overwrite;
-        let add_result = self.add_result.clone();
+        let op = self.op.clone();
+        let result_slot = self.result.clone();
        let table_name = self.table_name.clone();
        let upload_id = self.upload_id.clone();
        let tracker = self.tracker.clone();
@@ -568,10 +626,12 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
        let stream = futures::stream::once(async move {
            // Multipart writes with a byte budget split the partition into
            // several bounded, still-streamed requests so no single request
-            // stays open long enough to hit the client read timeout.
+            // stays open long enough to hit the client read timeout. This path
+            // is insert-only (guarded above).
            if let (Some(upload_id), Some(max_bytes)) =
                (upload_id.as_deref(), max_bytes_per_request)
            {
+                let overwrite = matches!(op, WriteOp::Insert { overwrite: true });
                let ctx = PartRequestCtx {
                    client: &client,
                    identifier: &identifier,
@@ -592,16 +652,36 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
                )?);
            }

-            let mut request = client
-                .post(&format!("/v1/table/{}/insert/", identifier))
-                .header(CONTENT_TYPE, ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE);
+            // Build the request for the selected operation. Both endpoints take
+            // an Arrow-IPC streaming body and reuse the same error side-channel.
+            let mut request = match &op {
+                WriteOp::Insert { overwrite } => {
+                    let mut request = client
+                        .post(&format!("/v1/table/{}/insert/", identifier))
+                        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE);
+                    if *overwrite {
+                        request = request.query(&[("mode", "overwrite")]);
+                    }
+                    if let Some(ref uid) = upload_id {
+                        request = request.query(&[("upload_id", uid.as_str())]);
+                    }
+                    request
+                }
+                WriteOp::MergeInsert { query, timeout } => {
+                    let mut request = client
+                        .post(&format!("/v1/table/{}/merge_insert/", identifier))
+                        .query(query)
+                        .header(CONTENT_TYPE, ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE);
+                    if let Some(timeout) = timeout {
+                        // (If it doesn't fit into u64, it's not worth sending anyways.)
+                        if let Ok(timeout_ms) = u64::try_from(timeout.as_millis()) {
+                            request = request.header(REQUEST_TIMEOUT_HEADER, timeout_ms);
+                        }
+                    }
+                    request
+                }
+            };

-            if overwrite {
-                request = request.query(&[("mode", "overwrite")]);
-            }
-            if let Some(ref uid) = upload_id {
-                request = request.query(&[("upload_id", uid.as_str())]);
-            }
            if let Some(ref b) = branch {
                request = request.query(&[("branch", b.as_str())]);
            }
@@ -635,6 +715,8 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {

            // If the request failed due to an input stream error, surface the
            // original error (e.g. NaN rejection) instead of the HTTP error.
+            // This is the crux of the #2339 fix: Hyper silently swallows body
+            // stream errors under HTTP2, so we recover the original here.
            if let Ok(stream_err) = error_rx.try_recv() {
                return Err(stream_err);
            }
@@ -642,7 +724,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
            let (request_id, response) = result?;

            // For multipart writes, the staging response is not the final
-            // version. Only parse AddResult for non-multipart inserts.
+            // version. Only parse the result for non-multipart writes.
            if upload_id.is_none() {
                let body_text = response.text().await.map_err(|e| {
                    DataFusionError::External(Box::new(Error::Http {
@@ -652,21 +734,44 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
                    }))
                })?;

-                let parsed_result = if body_text.trim().is_empty() {
-                    // Backward compatible with old servers
-                    AddResult { version: 0 }
-                } else {
-                    serde_json::from_str(&body_text).map_err(|e| {
-                        DataFusionError::External(Box::new(Error::Http {
-                            source: format!("Failed to parse add response: {}", e).into(),
-                            request_id: request_id.clone(),
-                            status_code: None,
-                        }))
-                    })?
+                let parsed_result = match &op {
+                    WriteOp::Insert { .. } => {
+                        let add = if body_text.trim().is_empty() {
+                            // Backward compatible with old servers
+                            AddResult { version: 0 }
+                        } else {
+                            serde_json::from_str(&body_text).map_err(|e| {
+                                DataFusionError::External(Box::new(Error::Http {
+                                    source: format!("Failed to parse add response: {}", e).into(),
+                                    request_id: request_id.clone(),
+                                    status_code: None,
+                                }))
+                            })?
+                        };
+                        WriteResult::Add(add)
+                    }
+                    WriteOp::MergeInsert { .. } => {
+                        let merge = if body_text.trim().is_empty() {
+                            // Backward compatible with old servers
+                            MergeResult::default()
+                        } else {
+                            serde_json::from_str(&body_text).map_err(|e| {
+                                DataFusionError::External(Box::new(Error::Http {
+                                    source: format!("Failed to parse merge_insert response: {}", e)
+                                        .into(),
+                                    request_id: request_id.clone(),
+                                    status_code: None,
+                                }))
+                            })?
+                        };
+                        WriteResult::Merge(merge)
+                    }
                };

-                let mut res_lock = add_result.lock().map_err(|_| {
-                    DataFusionError::Execution("Failed to acquire lock for add_result".to_string())
+                let mut res_lock = result_slot.lock().map_err(|_| {
+                    DataFusionError::Execution(
+                        "Failed to acquire lock for write result".to_string(),
+                    )
                })?;
                *res_lock = Some(parsed_result);
            } else {
@@ -680,7 +785,7 @@ impl<S: HttpSend + 'static> ExecutionPlan for RemoteInsertExec<S> {
                })?;
            }

-            // Return a single batch with count 0 (actual count is tracked in add_result)
+            // Return a single batch with count 0 (actual count is tracked in result)
            let count_array: ArrayRef = Arc::new(UInt64Array::from(vec![0u64]));
            let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(COUNT_SCHEMA.clone(), vec![count_array])?;
            Ok::<_, DataFusionError>(batch)
@@ -711,9 +816,11 @@ mod tests {
    use std::sync::atomic::{AtomicUsize, Ordering};
    use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};

-    use super::RemoteInsertExec;
+    use super::RemoteWriteExec;
+    use super::WriteOp;
    use crate::Table;
    use crate::remote::ARROW_STREAM_CONTENT_TYPE;
+    use crate::remote::table::MergeInsertRequest;
    use crate::table::datafusion::BaseTableAdapter;

    fn schema_json() -> &'static str {
@@ -1028,7 +1135,7 @@ mod tests {
        let input = input_plan_from_batches(schema, batches).await;

        // A 1-byte budget forces every batch into its own part.
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1068,7 +1175,7 @@ mod tests {

        // A large byte budget and no time limit keep the whole partition in a
        // single part.
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1109,7 +1216,7 @@ mod tests {
        // A large byte budget but a tiny duration budget: writing and sending
        // one batch already takes longer than the limit, so each batch is cut
        // into its own part on the time check rather than the byte check.
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1144,7 +1251,7 @@ mod tests {
        // write relies on another partition having data to commit.
        let input = input_plan_from_batches(schema, vec![]).await;

-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1184,7 +1291,7 @@ mod tests {
        let input = input_plan_from_batches(schema, batches).await;

        // A 1-byte budget forces every batch into its own part.
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1233,7 +1340,7 @@ mod tests {
        ];
        let input = input_plan_from_partitions(schema, partitions).await;

-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1267,7 +1374,7 @@ mod tests {
        // A large byte budget keeps the good batch and the following error in
        // the same part, exercising the mid-part abort path.
        let input: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan> = Arc::new(ErroringExec::new());
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -1297,6 +1404,66 @@ mod tests {
        );
    }

+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_merge_insert_input_error_surfaces_original() {
+        // Regression test for #2339 on the single-request merge_insert path.
+        // When the input stream errors mid-body, Hyper masks it under HTTP2 as a
+        // generic "stream error sent by user" message. The error side-channel
+        // must recover and surface the original DataFusion error instead.
+        use futures::StreamExt;
+
+        let client = crate::remote::client::test_utils::client_with_handler(|request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/my_table/merge_insert/");
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .body(
+                    r#"{"version": 2, "num_updated_rows": 0, "num_inserted_rows": 0, "num_deleted_rows": 0}"#
+                        .to_string(),
+                )
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+
+        let query = MergeInsertRequest {
+            on: "id".to_string(),
+            when_matched_update_all: false,
+            when_matched_update_all_filt: None,
+            when_not_matched_insert_all: false,
+            when_not_matched_by_source_delete: false,
+            when_not_matched_by_source_delete_filt: None,
+            use_index: true,
+            use_lsm: None,
+        };
+
+        let input: Arc<dyn ExecutionPlan> = Arc::new(ErroringExec::new());
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new(
+            "my_table".to_string(),
+            "my_table".to_string(),
+            client,
+            input,
+            WriteOp::MergeInsert {
+                query,
+                timeout: None,
+            },
+            None,
+            None,
+        );
+
+        let mut stream = exec.execute(0, Arc::new(TaskContext::default())).unwrap();
+        let mut err = None;
+        while let Some(item) = stream.next().await {
+            if let Err(e) = item {
+                err = Some(e);
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        let err = err.expect("expected the input stream error to surface");
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("boom"),
+            "expected original input error, got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
    #[tokio::test]
    async fn test_multipart_records_progress_within_a_part() {
        use crate::table::write_progress::{ProgressCallback, WriteProgress, WriteProgressTracker};
@@ -1327,7 +1494,7 @@ mod tests {
        // A large byte budget keeps all three batches in one part; smooth
        // progress therefore requires bytes to be reported per chunk rather than
        // once when the part completes.
-        let exec = RemoteInsertExec::new_multipart(
+        let exec = RemoteWriteExec::new_multipart(
            "my_table".to_string(),
            "my_table".to_string(),
            client,
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@

 //! LanceDB Table APIs

+use crate::blob::BlobFile;
 use arrow_array::{LargeBinaryArray, RecordBatch, RecordBatchReader};
 use arrow_schema::{Schema, SchemaRef};
 use async_trait::async_trait;
@@ -12,7 +13,6 @@ use datafusion_physical_plan::ExecutionPlan;
 use datafusion_physical_plan::display::DisplayableExecutionPlan;
 use futures::StreamExt;
 use futures::stream::FuturesUnordered;
-use lance::dataset::BlobFile;
 pub use lance::dataset::ColumnAlteration;
 pub use lance::dataset::NewColumnTransform;
 pub use lance::dataset::ReadParams;
@@ -50,12 +50,14 @@ use crate::DistanceType;
 use crate::blob::BlobRangeRequest;
 use crate::data::scannable::{PeekedScannable, Scannable, estimate_write_partitions};
 use crate::database::Database;
+use crate::database::listing::LANCE_FILE_EXTENSION;
 use crate::database::read_freshness::TableFreshness;
 use crate::embeddings::{EmbeddingDefinition, EmbeddingRegistry, MemoryRegistry};
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 use crate::index::IndexStatistics;
 use crate::index::{Index, IndexBuilder};
 use crate::index::{IndexConfig, IndexStatisticsImpl, IndexType};
+use crate::job::Job;
 use crate::query::{IntoQueryVector, Query, QueryExecutionOptions, TakeQuery, VectorQuery};
 use crate::table::datafusion::insert::InsertExec;
 use crate::utils::{PatchReadParam, PatchWriteParam, resolve_arrow_field_path};
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ use crate::utils::{PatchReadParam, PatchWriteParam, resolve_arrow_field_path};
 use self::dataset::DatasetConsistencyWrapper;
 use self::merge::MergeInsertBuilder;

+pub mod add_columns;
 mod add_data;
 pub mod branch_merge;
 mod create_index;
@@ -77,6 +80,7 @@ pub mod schema_evolution;
 pub mod update;
 pub mod write_progress;
 use crate::index::waiter::wait_for_index;
+pub use add_columns::AddColumnsBuilder;
 #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
 pub(crate) use add_data::PreprocessingOutput;
 pub use add_data::{AddDataBuilder, AddDataMode, AddResult, NaNVectorBehavior};
@@ -146,6 +150,55 @@ pub(crate) fn map_namespace_lance_error(err: lance::Error, table_name: &str) ->
    }
 }

+/// Map a `lance::Error::DatasetNotFound` for the table at `uri` into a `lancedb::Error`.
+///
+/// Lance reports "there is nothing at this location" and "there is a table directory
+/// here but nothing loadable inside it" with the same error. Only the first is a
+/// `TableNotFound`: a `<name>.lance` directory left behind by an interrupted drop and
+/// re-create is still reported by `Connection::table_names`, so callers need to be able
+/// to tell "never existed" from "exists but is broken".
+///
+/// See <https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3127>.
+async fn map_dataset_not_found(
+    uri: &str,
+    name: &str,
+    params: ReadParams,
+    err: lance::Error,
+) -> Error {
+    let name = name.to_string();
+    let source = Box::new(err);
+    if table_dir_exists(uri, params).await.unwrap_or(false) {
+        Error::TableCorrupted { name, source }
+    } else {
+        Error::TableNotFound { name, source }
+    }
+}
+
+/// Whether a table directory is present at `uri`, even though no dataset could be
+/// loaded from it.
+///
+/// This looks for a `<name>.lance` entry in the parent directory, which is exactly what
+/// `ListingDatabase::table_names` lists, so the two APIs agree on whether a table is
+/// present. Probing `uri` itself would not work: object stores have no empty
+/// directories to probe, and on a local filesystem the interesting case is precisely an
+/// empty directory.
+async fn table_dir_exists(uri: &str, params: ReadParams) -> Result<bool> {
+    let (object_store, path, _) = DatasetBuilder::from_uri(uri)
+        .with_read_params(params)
+        .build_object_store()
+        .await?;
+    // Only `*.lance` entries are ever reported as tables, so nothing else can produce
+    // the list-then-open mismatch this guards against.
+    if path.extension() != Some(LANCE_FILE_EXTENSION) {
+        return Ok(false);
+    }
+    let (Some(parent), Some(dir_name)) = (path.parent(), path.filename()) else {
+        return Ok(false);
+    };
+    let entries = object_store.read_dir(parent).await?;
+    Ok(entries.iter().any(|entry| entry.as_str() == dir_name))
+}
+
 /// Defines the type of column
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum ColumnKind {
@@ -563,6 +616,9 @@ pub trait BaseTable: std::fmt::Display + std::fmt::Debug + Send + Sync {
    async fn update(&self, update: UpdateBuilder) -> Result<UpdateResult>;
    /// Create an index on the provided column(s).
    async fn create_index(&self, index: IndexBuilder) -> Result<()>;
+
+    /// Starts index creation, returning a handle to the resulting job.
+    async fn create_index_async(&self, index: IndexBuilder) -> Result<Job>;
    /// List the indices on the table.
    async fn list_indices(&self) -> Result<Vec<IndexConfig>>;
    /// Drop an index from the table.
@@ -1566,12 +1622,8 @@ impl Table {
    }

    /// Add new columns to the table, providing values to fill in.
-    pub async fn add_columns(
-        &self,
-        transforms: NewColumnTransform,
-        read_columns: Option<Vec<String>>,
-    ) -> Result<AddColumnsResult> {
-        self.inner.add_columns(transforms, read_columns).await
+    pub fn add_columns(&self) -> AddColumnsBuilder {
+        AddColumnsBuilder::new(self.inner.clone())
    }

    /// Change a column's name or nullability.
@@ -2240,6 +2292,8 @@ impl NativeTable {
            None => false,
        };

+        // Kept so that a `DatasetNotFound` can be re-checked against storage below.
+        let recovery_params = params.clone();
        let mut builder = DatasetBuilder::from_uri(uri).with_read_params(params);

        // Set up commit handler when managed_versioning is enabled
@@ -2255,13 +2309,13 @@ impl NativeTable {
            builder = builder.with_commit_handler(commit_handler);
        }

-        let dataset = builder.load().await.map_err(|e| match e {
-            lance::Error::DatasetNotFound { .. } => Error::TableNotFound {
-                name: name.to_string(),
-                source: Box::new(e),
-            },
-            e => e.into(),
-        })?;
+        let dataset = match builder.load().await {
+            Ok(dataset) => dataset,
+            Err(e @ lance::Error::DatasetNotFound { .. }) => {
+                return Err(map_dataset_not_found(uri, name, recovery_params, e).await);
+            }
+            Err(e) => return Err(e.into()),
+        };

        let dataset = DatasetConsistencyWrapper::new_latest(dataset, read_consistency_interval);
        let id = Self::build_id(&namespace, name);
@@ -3009,29 +3063,18 @@ impl BaseTable for NativeTable {
    }

    async fn create_index(&self, opts: IndexBuilder) -> Result<()> {
-        if opts.columns.len() != 1 {
-            return Err(Error::Schema {
-                message: "Multi-column (composite) indices are not yet supported".to_string(),
-            });
-        }
-        self.dataset.ensure_mutable()?;
-        let mut dataset = (*self.dataset.get().await?).clone();
-        let (column, field) = Self::resolve_index_field(dataset.schema(), &opts.columns[0])?;
+        let prepared = self.prepare_index(&opts).await?;
+        self.build_index(opts, prepared).await
+    }

-        let lance_idx_params = self.make_index_params(&field, opts.index.clone()).await?;
-        let index_type = self.get_index_type_for_field(&field, &opts.index);
-        let columns = [column.as_str()];
-        let mut builder = dataset
-            .create_index_builder(&columns, index_type, lance_idx_params.as_ref())
-            .train(opts.train)
-            .replace(opts.replace);
-
-        if let Some(name) = opts.name {
-            builder = builder.name(name);
-        }
-        builder.await?;
-        self.dataset.update(dataset);
-        Ok(())
+    async fn create_index_async(&self, opts: IndexBuilder) -> Result<Job> {
+        // Prepare before spawning so bad input is reported by this call rather
+        // than only by the job.
+        let prepared = self.prepare_index(&opts).await?;
+        let table = self.clone();
+        Ok(Job::spawned(tokio::spawn(async move {
+            table.build_index(opts, prepared).await
+        })))
    }

    async fn drop_index(&self, index_name: &str) -> Result<()> {
@@ -3584,6 +3627,103 @@ mod tests {
        assert!(matches!(table.unwrap_err(), Error::TableNotFound { .. }));
    }

+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_not_found_missing_lance_dir() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let dataset_path = tmp_dir.path().join("test.lance");
+
+        let err = NativeTable::open(dataset_path.to_str().unwrap())
+            .await
+            .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            matches!(&err, Error::TableNotFound { name, .. } if name == "test"),
+            "got {err:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// Write a table and then break it, leaving the `<name>.lance` directory in place.
+    ///
+    /// `remove_all` reproduces an interrupted drop + re-create (the directory is left
+    /// empty); otherwise only the manifests are removed, leaving the data files behind.
+    async fn write_then_corrupt_table(dir: &std::path::Path, remove_all: bool) -> String {
+        let dataset_path = dir.join("test.lance");
+        let uri = dataset_path.to_str().unwrap().to_string();
+
+        let batch = make_test_batches();
+        let reader = RecordBatchIterator::new(vec![Ok(batch.clone())], batch.schema());
+        Dataset::write(reader, &uri, None).await.unwrap();
+
+        if remove_all {
+            for entry in std::fs::read_dir(&dataset_path).unwrap() {
+                let entry = entry.unwrap();
+                if entry.file_type().unwrap().is_dir() {
+                    std::fs::remove_dir_all(entry.path()).unwrap();
+                } else {
+                    std::fs::remove_file(entry.path()).unwrap();
+                }
+            }
+            assert_eq!(std::fs::read_dir(&dataset_path).unwrap().count(), 0);
+        } else {
+            let versions = dataset_path.join("_versions");
+            assert!(versions.is_dir(), "expected manifests under {versions:?}");
+            std::fs::remove_dir_all(&versions).unwrap();
+            assert!(std::fs::read_dir(&dataset_path).unwrap().count() > 0);
+        }
+
+        uri
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_corrupt_empty_dir() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = write_then_corrupt_table(tmp_dir.path(), true).await;
+
+        let err = NativeTable::open(&uri).await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            matches!(&err, Error::TableCorrupted { name, .. } if name == "test"),
+            "got {err:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_corrupt_missing_manifest() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = write_then_corrupt_table(tmp_dir.path(), false).await;
+
+        let err = NativeTable::open(&uri).await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            matches!(&err, Error::TableCorrupted { name, .. } if name == "test"),
+            "got {err:?}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    /// A table listed by `table_names()` must not be reported as missing by
+    /// `open_table()`. See <https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3127>.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_open_table_corrupt_is_still_listed() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let db = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        write_then_corrupt_table(tmp_dir.path(), true).await;
+
+        assert_eq!(
+            db.table_names().execute().await.unwrap(),
+            vec!["test".to_string()]
+        );
+        let err = db.open_table("test").execute().await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            matches!(&err, Error::TableCorrupted { name, .. } if name == "test"),
+            "got {err:?}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("exists but could not be loaded"),
+            "got {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
    #[test]
    #[cfg(not(windows))]
    fn test_object_store_path() {
@@ -4591,7 +4731,7 @@ mod tests {
                .set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec::bucket("id", bad))
                .await
                .expect_err("should reject");
-            assert!(matches!(err, Error::Lance { .. }), "got {:?}", err);
+            assert!(matches!(err, Error::InvalidInput { .. }), "got {:?}", err);
        }

        // Happy path: install spec; verify MemWAL details record it.
@@ -0,0 +1,161 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+//! Builder for adding columns to a table.
+
+use std::sync::Arc;
+
+use lance::dataset::NewColumnTransform;
+
+use super::BaseTable;
+use super::schema_evolution::AddColumnsResult;
+use crate::{Error, Result};
+
+/// Adds columns to a table. See [`Table::add_columns`](super::Table::add_columns).
+pub struct AddColumnsBuilder {
+    parent: Arc<dyn BaseTable>,
+    transform: Option<NewColumnTransform>,
+    read_columns: Option<Vec<String>>,
+}
+
+impl std::fmt::Debug for AddColumnsBuilder {
+    fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
+        f.debug_struct("AddColumnsBuilder")
+            .field("parent", &self.parent)
+            .field("has_transform", &self.transform.is_some())
+            .field("read_columns", &self.read_columns)
+            .finish()
+    }
+}
+
+impl AddColumnsBuilder {
+    pub(crate) fn new(parent: Arc<dyn BaseTable>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            parent,
+            transform: None,
+            read_columns: None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Set how the new columns' values are produced. Required.
+    pub fn transform(mut self, transform: NewColumnTransform) -> Self {
+        self.transform = Some(transform);
+        self
+    }
+
+    /// Limit which existing columns a [`NewColumnTransform::BatchUDF`] mapper
+    /// receives. Every other transform determines what it reads, so setting
+    /// this alongside one is an error rather than a silent no-op.
+    pub fn read_columns(mut self, columns: impl IntoIterator<Item = impl Into<String>>) -> Self {
+        self.read_columns = Some(columns.into_iter().map(Into::into).collect());
+        self
+    }
+
+    /// Add the columns.
+    pub async fn execute(self) -> Result<AddColumnsResult> {
+        let Self {
+            parent,
+            transform,
+            read_columns,
+        } = self;
+
+        let Some(transform) = transform else {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "add_columns requires a transform".into(),
+            });
+        };
+
+        if read_columns.is_some() && !matches!(transform, NewColumnTransform::BatchUDF(_)) {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "read_columns applies only to a BatchUDF transform; \
+                          every other transform determines what it reads"
+                    .into(),
+            });
+        }
+
+        parent.add_columns(transform, read_columns).await
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::sync::Arc;
+
+    use arrow_array::{Int32Array, RecordBatch, record_batch};
+    use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Schema};
+    use lance::dataset::{BatchUDF, NewColumnTransform};
+
+    use crate::Table;
+    use crate::connect;
+
+    async fn table_with_two_columns(name: &str) -> Table {
+        let conn = connect("memory://").execute().await.unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("x", Int32, [1, 2, 3]), ("y", Int32, [10, 20, 30])).unwrap();
+        conn.create_table(name, batch).execute().await.unwrap()
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_requires_a_transform() {
+        let table = table_with_two_columns("no_transform").await;
+        let err = table.add_columns().execute().await.unwrap_err();
+        assert!(
+            err.to_string().contains("requires a transform"),
+            "got: {err}"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_read_columns_with_sql_expressions_is_rejected() {
+        let table = table_with_two_columns("read_cols_sql").await;
+        let err = table
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![(
+                "doubled".into(),
+                "x * 2".into(),
+            )]))
+            .read_columns(["x"])
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap_err();
+        assert!(err.to_string().contains("BatchUDF"), "got: {err}");
+
+        let schema = table.schema().await.unwrap();
+        assert!(
+            schema.field_with_name("doubled").is_err(),
+            "a rejected call must not commit"
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_read_columns_limits_what_a_batch_udf_sees() {
+        let table = table_with_two_columns("read_cols_udf").await;
+
+        let output_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("sum", DataType::Int32, true)]));
+        let mapper_schema = output_schema.clone();
+        let udf = BatchUDF {
+            mapper: Box::new(move |batch: &RecordBatch| {
+                assert!(batch.column_by_name("x").is_some());
+                assert!(batch.column_by_name("y").is_none(), "y was not requested");
+                let x = batch["x"].as_any().downcast_ref::<Int32Array>().unwrap();
+                let doubled: Int32Array = x.iter().map(|v| v.map(|v| v * 2)).collect();
+                Ok(RecordBatch::try_new(
+                    mapper_schema.clone(),
+                    vec![Arc::new(doubled)],
+                )?)
+            }),
+            output_schema,
+            result_checkpoint: None,
+        };
+
+        table
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::BatchUDF(udf))
+            .read_columns(["x"])
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let schema = table.schema().await.unwrap();
+        assert!(schema.field_with_name("sum").is_ok());
+    }
+}
@@ -576,10 +576,12 @@ mod tests {

        // Add a new physical column AFTER the embedding column.
        table
-            .add_columns(
-                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![("score".into(), "42.0".into())]),
-                None,
-            )
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![(
+                "score".into(),
+                "42.0".into(),
+            )]))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();

@@ -683,7 +685,9 @@ mod tests {
            true,
        )]));
        table
-            .add_columns(NewColumnTransform::AllNulls(nested_schema), None)
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::AllNulls(nested_schema))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();

@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ use lance_index::vector::pq::PQBuildParams;
 use lance_index::vector::sq::builder::SQBuildParams;

 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+
+/// Resolved column, index parameters and index type for one build.
+pub(super) type PreparedIndex = (String, Box<dyn lance::index::IndexParams>, IndexType);
 use crate::index::Index;
 use crate::index::vector::{VectorIndex, suggested_num_sub_vectors};
 use crate::utils::{
@@ -105,6 +108,47 @@ impl NativeTable {
        }
    }

+    /// Resolves the target column and index parameters, erroring on input the
+    /// build would reject.
+    pub(super) async fn prepare_index(
+        &self,
+        opts: &crate::index::IndexBuilder,
+    ) -> Result<PreparedIndex> {
+        if opts.columns.len() != 1 {
+            return Err(Error::Schema {
+                message: "Multi-column (composite) indices are not yet supported".to_string(),
+            });
+        }
+        self.dataset.ensure_mutable()?;
+        let dataset = self.dataset.get().await?;
+        let (column, field) = Self::resolve_index_field(dataset.schema(), &opts.columns[0])?;
+        let params = self.make_index_params(&field, opts.index.clone()).await?;
+        let index_type = self.get_index_type_for_field(&field, &opts.index);
+        Ok((column, params, index_type))
+    }
+
+    /// Builds a prepared index and publishes the new dataset version.
+    pub(super) async fn build_index(
+        &self,
+        opts: crate::index::IndexBuilder,
+        prepared: PreparedIndex,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let (column, lance_idx_params, index_type) = prepared;
+        let mut dataset = (*self.dataset.get().await?).clone();
+        let columns = [column.as_str()];
+        let mut builder = dataset
+            .create_index_builder(&columns, index_type, lance_idx_params.as_ref())
+            .train(opts.train)
+            .replace(opts.replace);
+
+        if let Some(name) = opts.name {
+            builder = builder.name(name);
+        }
+        builder.await?;
+        self.dataset.update(dataset);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
    pub(super) fn resolve_index_field(
        schema: &lance_core::datatypes::Schema,
        column: &str,
@@ -475,6 +519,208 @@ mod tests {
        assert_eq!(table.list_indices().await.unwrap().len(), 0);
    }

+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_job_waits_for_local_build() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        let job = table
+            .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+            .execute_async()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        // Local jobs run in this process and have no server id.
+        assert_eq!(job.id(), None);
+        // The build runs as a task, so the index need not exist yet; it must
+        // once the job resolves.
+        job.wait().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(table.list_indices().await.unwrap().len(), 1);
+        // Cancelling a finished job is a no-op.
+        job.cancel().await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    /// Concurrent waiters, and a wait issued after the job settled, all
+    /// succeed once the build does.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_job_reports_success_to_every_waiter() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        let job = Arc::new(
+            table
+                .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+                .execute_async()
+                .await
+                .unwrap(),
+        );
+        let waiters = (0..4)
+            .map(|_| {
+                let job = job.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move { job.wait().await })
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        for waiter in waiters {
+            waiter.await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        }
+        // A wait after the job settled still reports the same outcome.
+        job.wait().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(table.list_indices().await.unwrap().len(), 1);
+    }
+
+    /// Every waiter sees a failure, not just the first: a waiter that missed
+    /// the outcome would be told the job succeeded.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_job_reports_failure_to_every_waiter() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Rebuilding the same index without replace fails once the build
+        // starts, so the failure reaches the job rather than execute_async.
+        let job = Arc::new(
+            table
+                .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+                .replace(false)
+                .execute_async()
+                .await
+                .unwrap(),
+        );
+        let waiters = (0..3)
+            .map(|_| {
+                let job = job.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move { job.wait().await })
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        for waiter in waiters {
+            waiter
+                .await
+                .unwrap()
+                .expect_err("every waiter must see the failure");
+        }
+        job.wait().await.expect_err("a later wait still fails");
+    }
+
+    /// A local failure keeps the error it failed with, so a caller can match on
+    /// the original variant rather than parse a message.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_failure_keeps_the_source_error() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let job = table
+            .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+            .replace(false)
+            .execute_async()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let crate::Error::JobFailed { failure, .. } = job.wait().await.unwrap_err() else {
+            panic!("a failed job reports JobFailed");
+        };
+        let source = failure.source.expect("a local failure carries its error");
+        assert_eq!(
+            failure.message.as_deref(),
+            Some(source.to_string()).as_deref()
+        );
+        // Nothing local can report these, so they must be absent rather than invented.
+        assert!(failure.phase.is_none());
+        assert!(failure.retryable.is_none());
+    }
+
+    /// Every waiter sees the cancellation, including ones that were already
+    /// waiting when the cancel landed.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_job_reports_cancellation_to_every_waiter() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        let job = Arc::new(
+            table
+                .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+                .execute_async()
+                .await
+                .unwrap(),
+        );
+        // Cancel before yielding, so the build cannot have started and the
+        // outcome is always the cancellation.
+        job.cancel().await.unwrap();
+
+        let waiters = (0..2)
+            .map(|_| {
+                let job = job.clone();
+                tokio::spawn(async move { job.wait().await })
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+        for waiter in waiters {
+            match waiter.await.unwrap() {
+                Err(crate::Error::JobCancelled { .. }) => {}
+                other => panic!("expected the cancellation, got {other:?}"),
+            }
+        }
+        match job.wait().await {
+            Err(crate::Error::JobCancelled { .. }) => {}
+            other => panic!("expected the cancellation, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_execute_async_job_cancel_stops_local_build() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap())
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int32, (0..512).collect::<Vec<_>>())).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        let job = table
+            .create_index(&["id"], Index::BTree(BTreeIndexBuilder::default()))
+            .execute_async()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        job.cancel().await.unwrap();
+        match job.wait().await {
+            Err(crate::Error::JobCancelled { .. }) => {}
+            // The build may finish before the abort lands.
+            Ok(()) => {}
+            other => panic!("unexpected job outcome: {other:?}"),
+        }
+    }
+
    #[tokio::test]
    async fn test_ivf_pq_uses_default_partition_size_for_num_partitions() {
        use crate::index::vector::IvfPqIndexBuilder;
@@ -193,10 +193,12 @@ mod tests {

        // Add a computed column
        let result = table
-            .add_columns(
-                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![("doubled".into(), "id * 2".into())]),
-                None,
-            )
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![(
+                "doubled".into(),
+                "id * 2".into(),
+            )]))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();

@@ -251,13 +253,12 @@ mod tests {

        // Add multiple columns at once
        table
-            .add_columns(
-                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![
-                    ("y".into(), "x + 1".into()),
-                    ("z".into(), "x * x".into()),
-                ]),
-                None,
-            )
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![
+                ("y".into(), "x + 1".into()),
+                ("z".into(), "x * x".into()),
+            ]))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();

@@ -283,10 +284,12 @@ mod tests {

        // Add a column with a constant value
        table
-            .add_columns(
-                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![("constant".into(), "42".into())]),
-                None,
-            )
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![(
+                "constant".into(),
+                "42".into(),
+            )]))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();

@@ -659,10 +662,12 @@ mod tests {

        // Add column increments version
        let add_result = table
-            .add_columns(
-                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![("c".into(), "a + b".into())]),
-                None,
-            )
+            .add_columns()
+            .transform(NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![(
+                "c".into(),
+                "a + b".into(),
+            )]))
+            .execute()
            .await
            .unwrap();
        assert!(add_result.version > v1);
@@ -9,14 +9,17 @@ use arrow_array::{
 };
 use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Fields, Schema};
 use futures::TryStreamExt;
+use lance::Dataset;
 use lance_encoding::version::LanceFileVersion;
 use lancedb::{
    Connection, Error, Result, Table,
    blob::{BlobRangeRequest, blob},
    connect, connect_namespace,
-    database::listing::OPT_NEW_TABLE_ENABLE_STABLE_ROW_IDS,
+    database::listing::{
+        ListingDatabaseOptions, NewTableConfig, OPT_NEW_TABLE_ENABLE_STABLE_ROW_IDS,
+    },
    query::{ExecutableQuery, QueryBase},
-    table::{AddDataMode, CompactionOptions, OptimizeAction},
+    table::{AddDataMode, CompactionOptions, OptimizeAction, OptimizeStats},
 };
 use tempfile::tempdir;

@@ -647,7 +650,7 @@ async fn fetch_blob_ranges_validates_requests() -> Result<()> {
        .await
        .unwrap_err();
    assert!(matches!(&err, Error::InvalidInput { .. }), "got {err:?}");
-    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row ids"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row IDs"));
    Ok(())
 }

@@ -680,7 +683,7 @@ async fn fetch_blobs_out_of_range_id_errors_without_panic() -> Result<()> {
    let table = create_inline_blob_table(&db, "t", &[1], &[Some(b"x".as_slice())]).await?;

    let err = table.fetch_blobs("image", &[u64::MAX]).await.unwrap_err();
-    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row ids"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row IDs"));
    Ok(())
 }

@@ -694,11 +697,11 @@ async fn fetch_blob_apis_reject_mixed_valid_and_missing_row_ids() -> Result<()>

    let err = table.fetch_blobs("image", &row_ids).await.unwrap_err();
    assert!(matches!(&err, Error::InvalidInput { .. }), "got {err:?}");
-    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row ids"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row IDs"));

    let err = table.fetch_blob_files("image", &row_ids).await.unwrap_err();
    assert!(matches!(&err, Error::InvalidInput { .. }), "got {err:?}");
-    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row ids"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row IDs"));

    let requests = row_ids.map(|row_id| BlobRangeRequest::new(row_id, 0, 1));
    let err = table
@@ -706,7 +709,7 @@ async fn fetch_blob_apis_reject_mixed_valid_and_missing_row_ids() -> Result<()>
        .await
        .unwrap_err();
    assert!(matches!(&err, Error::InvalidInput { .. }), "got {err:?}");
-    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row ids"));
+    assert!(err.to_string().contains("row IDs"));
    Ok(())
 }

@@ -1075,3 +1078,252 @@ async fn fetch_blob_files_aligns_across_fragments_with_nulls_and_dups() -> Resul
    }
    Ok(())
 }
+
+/// Rows exercising the null/empty interleavings from
+/// <https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3744>: a payload, a null, a valid
+/// empty value, then payloads whose descriptors a fragment rewrite used to zero.
+fn null_empty_input_batch() -> RecordBatch {
+    let owned = [
+        Some(dedicated_blob_bytes(1)),
+        None,
+        Some(Vec::new()),
+        Some(dedicated_blob_bytes(4)),
+        Some(dedicated_blob_bytes(5)),
+        Some(dedicated_blob_bytes(6)),
+    ];
+    let payloads: Vec<Option<&[u8]>> = owned.iter().map(|payload| payload.as_deref()).collect();
+    binary_input_batch(&[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6], &payloads)
+}
+
+/// One `(id, Some((payload length, first byte)))` per live row, or `(id, None)`
+/// for a null blob.  Comparing lengths and first bytes keeps failure output
+/// readable where comparing whole payloads would not.
+type BlobSummary = Vec<(i64, Option<(usize, Option<u8>)>)>;
+
+/// The rows [`null_empty_input_batch`] leaves behind after `id IN (1, 4)` is
+/// deleted: a null, a valid empty value, and the two payloads that follow them.
+fn expected_null_empty_survivors() -> BlobSummary {
+    vec![
+        (2, None),
+        (3, Some((0, None))),
+        (5, Some((DEDICATED_BLOB_LEN, Some(5)))),
+        (6, Some((DEDICATED_BLOB_LEN, Some(6)))),
+    ]
+}
+
+/// `optimize()` only rewrites a fragment when lance's compaction planner selects
+/// it — here because the delete pushes the fragment past
+/// `materialize_deletions_threshold` (0.1 by default; these tests delete 2 of 6
+/// rows). Without this check, a planner or threshold change upstream would leave
+/// both regression tests green while no rewrite happened at all.
+fn assert_compacted(stats: &OptimizeStats) {
+    let metrics = stats
+        .compaction
+        .as_ref()
+        .expect("OptimizeAction::All runs compaction");
+    assert!(
+        metrics.fragments_removed >= 1,
+        "optimize() rewrote no fragment, so this test proves nothing: {metrics:?}"
+    );
+}
+
+fn summarize(rows: &[(i64, Option<Vec<u8>>)]) -> BlobSummary {
+    rows.iter()
+        .map(|(id, payload)| {
+            (
+                *id,
+                payload
+                    .as_ref()
+                    .map(|bytes| (bytes.len(), bytes.first().copied())),
+            )
+        })
+        .collect()
+}
+
+async fn sorted_id_rowid(table: &Table) -> Result<Vec<(i64, u64)>> {
+    let mut pairs = collect_id_rowid(table).await?;
+    pairs.sort_by_key(|(id, _)| *id);
+    Ok(pairs)
+}
+
+/// `{position, size}` descriptors of a legacy v1 blob column, keyed by `id`.
+async fn v1_blob_descriptors(table: &Table) -> Result<Vec<(i64, Option<(u64, u64)>)>> {
+    let batches = table
+        .query()
+        .execute()
+        .await?
+        .try_collect::<Vec<_>>()
+        .await?;
+    let batch = arrow_select::concat::concat_batches(&batches[0].schema(), &batches).unwrap();
+    let ids = batch
+        .column_by_name("id")
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_any()
+        .downcast_ref::<Int64Array>()
+        .unwrap();
+    let descriptors = batch
+        .column_by_name("image")
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_any()
+        .downcast_ref::<StructArray>()
+        .expect("v1 blob column reads back as a descriptor struct");
+    let position = descriptors
+        .column_by_name("position")
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_any()
+        .downcast_ref::<UInt64Array>()
+        .unwrap();
+    let size = descriptors
+        .column_by_name("size")
+        .unwrap()
+        .as_any()
+        .downcast_ref::<UInt64Array>()
+        .unwrap();
+    let mut rows: Vec<(i64, Option<(u64, u64)>)> = (0..batch.num_rows())
+        .map(|row| {
+            let descriptor =
+                (!descriptors.is_null(row)).then(|| (position.value(row), size.value(row)));
+            (ids.value(row), descriptor)
+        })
+        .collect();
+    rows.sort_by_key(|(id, _)| *id);
+    Ok(rows)
+}
+
+/// Payload bytes of every live row of a legacy v1 blob column, keyed by `id`.
+/// [`Table::fetch_blobs`] rejects v1 columns, so read them through lance.
+async fn v1_blob_payloads(dataset_uri: &str, table: &Table) -> Result<Vec<(i64, Option<Vec<u8>>)>> {
+    let pairs = sorted_id_rowid(table).await?;
+    let row_ids: Vec<u64> = pairs.iter().map(|(_, row_id)| *row_id).collect();
+    let dataset = Arc::new(Dataset::open(dataset_uri).await?);
+    let files = dataset.take_blobs(&row_ids, "image").await?;
+    assert_eq!(
+        files.len(),
+        pairs.len(),
+        "take_blobs returned {} handles for {} live rows",
+        files.len(),
+        pairs.len()
+    );
+    let mut rows = Vec::with_capacity(pairs.len());
+    for ((id, _), file) in pairs.iter().zip(files) {
+        let payload = match file {
+            Some(file) => Some(file.read().await?.to_vec()),
+            None => None,
+        };
+        rows.push((*id, payload));
+    }
+    Ok(rows)
+}
+
+/// Length and first byte of every live blob v2 value, keyed by `id`.
+async fn blob_v2_values(table: &Table) -> Result<BlobSummary> {
+    let pairs = sorted_id_rowid(table).await?;
+    let row_ids: Vec<u64> = pairs.iter().map(|(_, row_id)| *row_id).collect();
+    let bytes = table.fetch_blobs("image", &row_ids).await?;
+    Ok(pairs
+        .iter()
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(slot, (id, _))| {
+            let value = (!bytes.is_null(slot))
+                .then(|| (bytes.value(slot).len(), bytes.value(slot).first().copied()));
+            (*id, value)
+        })
+        .collect())
+}
+
+/// Regression test for [#3744]: on storage 2.0 (legacy v1 descriptors),
+/// compaction rewrote every payload following a null or empty value in the same
+/// fragment as `{position: 0, size: 0}`, so the payload bytes read back as `b""`
+/// and the new fragment no longer referenced them at all.
+///
+/// [#3744]: https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3744
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn optimize_preserves_v1_blob_payloads_with_null_and_empty() -> Result<()> {
+    let tmp = tempdir().unwrap();
+    let db_uri = tmp.path().to_str().unwrap().to_string();
+    let db = connect(&db_uri)
+        .database_options(&ListingDatabaseOptions {
+            new_table_config: NewTableConfig {
+                data_storage_version: Some(LanceFileVersion::V2_0),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            ..Default::default()
+        })
+        .execute()
+        .await?;
+    let legacy = Field::new("image", DataType::LargeBinary, true).with_metadata(
+        std::collections::HashMap::from([("lance-encoding:blob".to_string(), "true".to_string())]),
+    );
+    let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+        Field::new("id", DataType::Int64, false),
+        legacy,
+    ]));
+    let table = db.create_empty_table("t", schema).execute().await?;
+    table.add(null_empty_input_batch()).execute().await?;
+    assert_eq!(
+        storage_format_version(&table).await,
+        LanceFileVersion::V2_0.resolve(),
+        "v1 blob descriptors only exist below storage 2.2"
+    );
+    let dataset_uri = table.uri().await?;
+
+    // Any rewrite triggers it; deleting rows is the shape from the issue.
+    table.delete("id IN (1, 4)").await?;
+    let descriptors_before = v1_blob_descriptors(&table).await?;
+    let before = v1_blob_payloads(&dataset_uri, &table).await?;
+    assert_eq!(
+        summarize(&before),
+        expected_null_empty_survivors(),
+        "test setup no longer produces the null/empty/payload mix"
+    );
+
+    let stats = table.optimize(OptimizeAction::All).await?;
+    assert_compacted(&stats);
+
+    let descriptors_after = v1_blob_descriptors(&table).await?;
+    let after = v1_blob_payloads(&dataset_uri, &table).await?;
+    assert_eq!(
+        summarize(&after),
+        summarize(&before),
+        "optimize() lost blob payloads; descriptors before={descriptors_before:?} after={descriptors_after:?}"
+    );
+    assert!(after == before, "optimize() changed blob payload bytes");
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+/// Regression test for the blob v2 half of [#3744]: compaction rewrote a valid
+/// empty value as null, destroying the null-vs-empty distinction.
+///
+/// [#3744]: https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3744
+#[tokio::test]
+async fn optimize_preserves_blob_v2_null_and_empty_distinction() -> Result<()> {
+    let tmp = tempdir().unwrap();
+    let db = connect(tmp.path().to_str().unwrap()).execute().await?;
+    let table = db
+        .create_empty_table("t", blob_table_schema())
+        .execute()
+        .await?;
+    table.add(null_empty_input_batch()).execute().await?;
+    assert!(
+        storage_format_version(&table).await >= LanceFileVersion::V2_2,
+        "blob v2 columns require storage >= 2.2"
+    );
+
+    table.delete("id IN (1, 4)").await?;
+    let before = blob_v2_values(&table).await?;
+    assert_eq!(
+        before,
+        expected_null_empty_survivors(),
+        "test setup no longer produces the null/empty/payload mix"
+    );
+
+    let stats = table.optimize(OptimizeAction::All).await?;
+    assert_compacted(&stats);
+
+    assert_eq!(
+        blob_v2_values(&table).await?,
+        before,
+        "optimize() changed blob v2 values"
+    );
+    Ok(())
+}