feat(python): add Permutation.from_table() with chainable HF/torch-style API

Hides the two-step `permutation_builder(t).shuffle().execute()` /
`Permutation.from_tables(t, perm_tbl)` dance behind a single chainable
entry point that ML engineers already expect from HuggingFace and
PyTorch:

  perm = Permutation.from_table(table).shuffle(seed=42)

Builder operations (shuffle, filter, split_*) are accumulated lazily and
the underlying permutation table is built only once on first read.
Subsequent read / transform / format calls are forwarded transparently
to the materialized Permutation.

Closes lancedb/lancedb#3244

.bumpversion.toml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tool.bumpversion]
-current_version = "0.28.0-beta.9"
+current_version = "0.28.0-beta.10"
 parse = """(?x)
     (?P<major>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.
     (?P<minor>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.

Cargo.lock

@@ -4476,9 +4476,11 @@ dependencies = [
  "arrow-schema",
  "async-trait",
  "axum",
+ "base64 0.22.1",
  "bytes",
  "chrono",
  "futures",
+ "hmac",
  "lance",
  "lance-core",
  "lance-index",
@@ -4488,10 +4490,12 @@ dependencies = [
  "lance-table",
  "log",
  "object_store",
+ "quick-xml 0.38.4",
  "rand 0.9.4",
  "reqwest",
  "serde",
  "serde_json",
+ "sha2",
  "snafu 0.9.0",
  "tokio",
  "tower",
@@ -4576,7 +4580,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lancedb"
-version = "0.28.0-beta.9"
+version = "0.28.0-beta.10"
 dependencies = [
  "ahash",
  "anyhow",
@@ -4658,7 +4662,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lancedb-nodejs"
-version = "0.28.0-beta.9"
+version = "0.28.0-beta.10"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow-array",
  "arrow-buffer",
@@ -4680,7 +4684,7 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "lancedb-python"
-version = "0.31.0-beta.9"
+version = "0.31.0-beta.10"
 dependencies = [
  "arrow",
  "async-trait",

docs/src/java/java.md

@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Add the following dependency to your `pom.xml`:
 <dependency>
     <groupId>com.lancedb</groupId>
     <artifactId>lancedb-core</artifactId>
-    <version>0.28.0-beta.9</version>
+    <version>0.28.0-beta.10</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 

docs/src/js/interfaces/ConnectionOptions.md

@@ -41,6 +41,29 @@ for testing purposes.
 
 ***
 
+### manifestEnabled?
+
+```ts
+optional manifestEnabled: boolean;
+```
+
+(For LanceDB OSS only): use directory namespace manifests as the source
+of truth for table metadata. Existing directory-listed root tables are
+migrated into the manifest on access.
+
+***
+
+### namespaceClientProperties?
+
+```ts
+optional namespaceClientProperties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+(For LanceDB OSS only): extra properties for the backing namespace
+client used by manifest-enabled native connections.
+
+***
+
 ### readConsistencyInterval?
 
 ```ts

java/lancedb-core/pom.xml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     <parent>
       <groupId>com.lancedb</groupId>
       <artifactId>lancedb-parent</artifactId>
-      <version>0.28.0-beta.9</version>
+      <version>0.28.0-beta.10</version>
       <relativePath>../pom.xml</relativePath>
     </parent>
 

java/pom.xml

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
     <groupId>com.lancedb</groupId>
     <artifactId>lancedb-parent</artifactId>
-    <version>0.28.0-beta.9</version>
+    <version>0.28.0-beta.10</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
     <name>${project.artifactId}</name>
     <description>LanceDB Java SDK Parent POM</description>

nodejs/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "lancedb-nodejs"
 edition.workspace = true
-version = "0.28.0-beta.9"
+version = "0.28.0-beta.10"
 publish = false
 license.workspace = true
 description.workspace = true

nodejs/npm/darwin-arm64/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-darwin-arm64",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["darwin"],
 	"cpu": ["arm64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.darwin-arm64.node",

nodejs/npm/linux-arm64-gnu/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-linux-arm64-gnu",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["linux"],
 	"cpu": ["arm64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.linux-arm64-gnu.node",

nodejs/npm/linux-arm64-musl/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-linux-arm64-musl",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["linux"],
 	"cpu": ["arm64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.linux-arm64-musl.node",

nodejs/npm/linux-x64-gnu/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-linux-x64-gnu",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["linux"],
 	"cpu": ["x64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.linux-x64-gnu.node",

nodejs/npm/linux-x64-musl/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-linux-x64-musl",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["linux"],
 	"cpu": ["x64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.linux-x64-musl.node",

nodejs/npm/win32-arm64-msvc/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@lancedb/lancedb-win32-arm64-msvc",
-  "version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+  "version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
   "os": [
     "win32"
   ],

nodejs/npm/win32-x64-msvc/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-win32-x64-msvc",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+	"version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
 	"os": ["win32"],
 	"cpu": ["x64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.win32-x64-msvc.node",

nodejs/package-lock.json

@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "@lancedb/lancedb",
-  "version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+  "version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
   "lockfileVersion": 3,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "@lancedb/lancedb",
-      "version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+      "version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
       "cpu": [
         "x64",
         "arm64"

nodejs/package.json

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "ann"
   ],
   "private": false,
-  "version": "0.28.0-beta.9",
+  "version": "0.28.0-beta.10",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "exports": {
     ".": "./dist/index.js",

nodejs/src/connection.rs

@@ -67,6 +67,12 @@ impl Connection {
                 builder = builder.storage_option(key, value);
             }
         }
+        if let Some(manifest_enabled) = options.manifest_enabled {
+            builder = builder.manifest_enabled(manifest_enabled);
+        }
+        if let Some(namespace_client_properties) = options.namespace_client_properties {
+            builder = builder.namespace_client_properties(namespace_client_properties);
+        }
 
         // Create client config, optionally with header provider
         let client_config = options.client_config.unwrap_or_default();

nodejs/src/lib.rs

@@ -37,6 +37,13 @@ pub struct ConnectionOptions {
     ///
     /// The available options are described at https://docs.lancedb.com/storage/
     pub storage_options: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    /// (For LanceDB OSS only): use directory namespace manifests as the source
+    /// of truth for table metadata. Existing directory-listed root tables are
+    /// migrated into the manifest on access.
+    pub manifest_enabled: Option<bool>,
+    /// (For LanceDB OSS only): extra properties for the backing namespace
+    /// client used by manifest-enabled native connections.
+    pub namespace_client_properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
     /// (For LanceDB OSS only): the session to use for this connection. Holds
     /// shared caches and other session-specific state.
     pub session: Option<session::Session>,

python/python/lancedb/__init__.py

@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ def connect(
     client_config: Union[ClientConfig, Dict[str, Any], None] = None,
     storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
     session: Optional[Session] = None,
+    manifest_enabled: bool = False,
     namespace_client_impl: Optional[str] = None,
     namespace_client_properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
     namespace_client_pushdown_operations: Optional[List[str]] = None,
@@ -111,6 +112,10 @@ def connect(
     storage_options: dict, optional
         Additional options for the storage backend. See available options at
         <https://docs.lancedb.com/storage/>
+    manifest_enabled : bool, default False
+        When true for local/native connections, use directory namespace
+        manifests as the source of truth for table metadata. Existing
+        directory-listed root tables are migrated into the manifest on access.
     session: Session, optional
         (For LanceDB OSS only)
         A session to use for this connection. Sessions allow you to configure
@@ -158,11 +163,11 @@ def connect(
     conn : DBConnection
         A connection to a LanceDB database.
     """
-    if namespace_client_impl is not None or namespace_client_properties is not None:
-        if namespace_client_impl is None or namespace_client_properties is None:
+    if namespace_client_impl is not None:
+        if namespace_client_properties is None:
             raise ValueError(
-                "Both namespace_client_impl and "
-                "namespace_client_properties must be provided"
+                "namespace_client_properties must be provided when "
+                "namespace_client_impl is set"
             )
         if kwargs:
             raise ValueError(f"Unknown keyword arguments: {kwargs}")
@@ -175,6 +180,12 @@ def connect(
             namespace_client_pushdown_operations=namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
         )
 
+    if namespace_client_properties is not None and not manifest_enabled:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "namespace_client_impl must be provided when using "
+            "namespace_client_properties unless manifest_enabled=True"
+        )
+
     if namespace_client_pushdown_operations is not None:
         raise ValueError(
             "namespace_client_pushdown_operations is only valid when "
@@ -212,6 +223,8 @@ def connect(
         read_consistency_interval=read_consistency_interval,
         storage_options=storage_options,
         session=session,
+        manifest_enabled=manifest_enabled,
+        namespace_client_properties=namespace_client_properties,
     )
 
 
@@ -289,6 +302,8 @@ def deserialize_conn(
             parsed["uri"],
             read_consistency_interval=rci,
             storage_options=storage_options,
+            manifest_enabled=parsed.get("manifest_enabled", False),
+            namespace_client_properties=parsed.get("namespace_client_properties"),
         )
     else:
         raise ValueError(f"Unknown connection_type: {connection_type}")
@@ -304,6 +319,8 @@ async def connect_async(
     client_config: Optional[Union[ClientConfig, Dict[str, Any]]] = None,
     storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
     session: Optional[Session] = None,
+    manifest_enabled: bool = False,
+    namespace_client_properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
 ) -> AsyncConnection:
     """Connect to a LanceDB database.
 
@@ -343,6 +360,13 @@ async def connect_async(
         cache sizes for index and metadata caches, which can significantly
         impact memory use and performance. They can also be re-used across
         multiple connections to share the same cache state.
+    manifest_enabled : bool, default False
+        When true for local/native connections, use directory namespace
+        manifests as the source of truth for table metadata. Existing
+        directory-listed root tables are migrated into the manifest on access.
+    namespace_client_properties : dict, optional
+        Additional directory namespace client properties to use with
+        ``manifest_enabled=True``.
 
     Examples
     --------
@@ -385,6 +409,8 @@ async def connect_async(
             client_config,
             storage_options,
             session,
+            manifest_enabled,
+            namespace_client_properties,
         )
     )
 

python/python/lancedb/_lancedb.pyi

@@ -242,6 +242,8 @@ async def connect(
     client_config: Optional[Union[ClientConfig, Dict[str, Any]]],
     storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]],
     session: Optional[Session],
+    manifest_enabled: bool = False,
+    namespace_client_properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
 ) -> Connection: ...
 
 class RecordBatchStream:

python/python/lancedb/db.py

@@ -590,8 +590,13 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         read_consistency_interval: Optional[timedelta] = None,
         storage_options: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
         session: Optional[Session] = None,
+        manifest_enabled: bool = False,
+        namespace_client_properties: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
         _inner: Optional[LanceDbConnection] = None,
     ):
+        self.storage_options = storage_options
+        self._manifest_enabled = manifest_enabled
+        self._namespace_client_properties = namespace_client_properties
         if _inner is not None:
             self._conn = _inner
             self._cached_namespace_client = None
@@ -633,6 +638,8 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
                 None,
                 storage_options,
                 session,
+                manifest_enabled,
+                namespace_client_properties,
             )
 
         # TODO: It would be nice if we didn't store self.storage_options but it is
@@ -640,7 +647,6 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
         # work because some paths like LanceDBConnection.from_inner will lose the
         # storage_options.  Also, this class really shouldn't be holding any state
         # beyond _conn.
-        self.storage_options = storage_options
         self._conn = AsyncConnection(LOOP.run(do_connect()))
         self._cached_namespace_client: Optional[LanceNamespace] = None
 
@@ -677,6 +683,8 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
                 "connection_type": "local",
                 "uri": self.uri,
                 "storage_options": self.storage_options,
+                "manifest_enabled": self._manifest_enabled,
+                "namespace_client_properties": self._namespace_client_properties,
                 "read_consistency_interval_seconds": (
                     rci.total_seconds() if rci else None
                 ),

python/python/lancedb/permutation.py

@@ -425,6 +425,35 @@ class Permutation:
         """
         return Permutation.from_tables(table, None, None)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def from_table(cls, table: LanceTable) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        """
+        Create a permutation directly from a base table, with HuggingFace /
+        PyTorch-style chaining for ``shuffle``, ``filter``, and ``split_*``.
+
+        This is a convenience wrapper that hides the two-step
+        ``permutation_builder(table).shuffle().execute()`` /
+        ``Permutation.from_tables(table, perm_tbl)`` dance. The returned object
+        accumulates builder operations and only materializes the underlying
+        permutation table on first read (any access of an attribute that is
+        not a builder operation), so chained calls do not pay an extra
+        ``execute()`` for each step.
+
+        After the first read all ``Permutation`` methods (``select_columns``,
+        ``with_format``, ``map``, ``__iter__``, ``fetch``, ``num_rows``, ...)
+        are forwarded transparently.
+
+        Examples
+        --------
+        >>> import lancedb
+        >>> db = lancedb.connect("memory:///")
+        >>> tbl = db.create_table("tbl", data=[{"x": x} for x in range(100)])
+        >>> perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).shuffle(seed=42)
+        >>> perm.num_rows
+        100
+        """
+        return _PermutationFromTable(table)
+
     @classmethod
     def from_tables(
         cls,
@@ -842,3 +871,85 @@ class Permutation:
         Repeat the permutation `times` times
         """
         raise Exception("with_repeat is not yet implemented")
+
+
+class _PermutationFromTable:
+    """
+    Result of [Permutation.from_table](#from_table).
+
+    Records pending builder operations (``shuffle``, ``filter``, ``split_*``)
+    and lazily executes them on first read. After materialization all
+    Permutation reads / transforms (``select_columns``, ``with_format``,
+    ``map``, ``__iter__``, ``fetch``, ``num_rows``, ...) are forwarded to the
+    underlying [Permutation].
+    """
+
+    __slots__ = ("_base_table", "_pending_ops", "_materialized")
+
+    def __init__(
+        self,
+        base_table: LanceTable,
+        _pending_ops: Optional[list[tuple[str, tuple, dict]]] = None,
+    ):
+        self._base_table = base_table
+        self._pending_ops: list[tuple[str, tuple, dict]] = (
+            list(_pending_ops) if _pending_ops is not None else []
+        )
+        self._materialized: Optional[Permutation] = None
+
+    def _with_op(
+        self, name: str, args: tuple, kwargs: dict
+    ) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return _PermutationFromTable(
+            self._base_table, _pending_ops=self._pending_ops + [(name, args, kwargs)]
+        )
+
+    def shuffle(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("shuffle", args, kwargs)
+
+    def filter(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("filter", args, kwargs)
+
+    def split_random(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("split_random", args, kwargs)
+
+    def split_sequential(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("split_sequential", args, kwargs)
+
+    def split_hash(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("split_hash", args, kwargs)
+
+    def split_calculated(self, *args, **kwargs) -> "_PermutationFromTable":
+        return self._with_op("split_calculated", args, kwargs)
+
+    def _materialize(self) -> Permutation:
+        if self._materialized is None:
+            if self._pending_ops:
+                builder = permutation_builder(self._base_table)
+                for name, args, kwargs in self._pending_ops:
+                    builder = getattr(builder, name)(*args, **kwargs)
+                perm_tbl = builder.execute()
+                self._materialized = Permutation.from_tables(
+                    self._base_table, perm_tbl
+                )
+            else:
+                self._materialized = Permutation.identity(self._base_table)
+        return self._materialized
+
+    def __getattr__(self, name: str) -> Any:
+        # Avoid recursion on dunder/private state.
+        if name.startswith("_"):
+            raise AttributeError(name)
+        return getattr(self._materialize(), name)
+
+    def __iter__(self):
+        return iter(self._materialize())
+
+    def __len__(self) -> int:
+        return len(self._materialize())
+
+    def __getitem__(self, index):
+        return self._materialize()[index]
+
+    def __getitems__(self, indices):
+        return self._materialize().__getitems__(indices)

python/python/tests/test_permutation.py

@@ -1095,3 +1095,60 @@ def test_getitems_invalid_offset(some_permutation: Permutation):
     """Test __getitems__ with an out-of-range offset raises an error."""
     with pytest.raises(Exception):
         some_permutation.__getitems__([999999])
+
+
+def test_from_table_identity(mem_db):
+    """Permutation.from_table without ops behaves like identity."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(10)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl)
+    assert perm.num_rows == 10
+    assert perm.column_names == ["x"]
+
+
+def test_from_table_shuffle_seeded(mem_db):
+    """from_table().shuffle(seed=...) is reproducible and reorders rows."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(100)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).shuffle(seed=42)
+    rows = [r["x"] for r in perm.__getitems__(list(range(100)))]
+    assert sorted(rows) == list(range(100))
+    assert rows != list(range(100))
+
+    # Same seed → same order
+    rows2 = [
+        r["x"]
+        for r in Permutation.from_table(tbl)
+        .shuffle(seed=42)
+        .__getitems__(list(range(100)))
+    ]
+    assert rows == rows2
+
+
+def test_from_table_filter(mem_db):
+    """from_table().filter(...) limits the rows."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(100)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).filter("x < 25")
+    assert perm.num_rows == 25
+
+
+def test_from_table_chained_ops(mem_db):
+    """Chained shuffle + filter materializes once."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(100)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).filter("x >= 50").shuffle(seed=7)
+    assert perm.num_rows == 50
+    rows = [r["x"] for r in perm.__getitems__(list(range(50)))]
+    assert sorted(rows) == list(range(50, 100))
+
+
+def test_from_table_forwards_read_methods(mem_db):
+    """from_table() result transparently forwards Permutation read methods."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(10), "y": range(10)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).select_columns(["x"])
+    assert perm.column_names == ["x"]
+
+
+def test_from_table_split_random(mem_db):
+    """from_table().split_random(...) returns rows from the first split."""
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table("tbl", pa.table({"x": range(100)}))
+    perm = Permutation.from_table(tbl).split_random(ratios=[0.3, 0.7], seed=1)
+    # Default split is 0 — ratio 0.3 → ~30 rows
+    assert 25 <= perm.num_rows <= 35

python/src/connection.rs

@@ -525,7 +525,7 @@ impl Connection {
 }
 
 #[pyfunction]
-#[pyo3(signature = (uri, api_key=None, region=None, host_override=None, read_consistency_interval=None, client_config=None, storage_options=None, session=None))]
+#[pyo3(signature = (uri, api_key=None, region=None, host_override=None, read_consistency_interval=None, client_config=None, storage_options=None, session=None, manifest_enabled=false, namespace_client_properties=None))]
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 pub fn connect(
     py: Python<'_>,
@@ -537,6 +537,8 @@ pub fn connect(
     client_config: Option<PyClientConfig>,
     storage_options: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
     session: Option<crate::session::Session>,
+    manifest_enabled: bool,
+    namespace_client_properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
 ) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
     future_into_py(py, async move {
         let mut builder = lancedb::connect(&uri);
@@ -556,6 +558,12 @@ pub fn connect(
         if let Some(storage_options) = storage_options {
             builder = builder.storage_options(storage_options);
         }
+        if manifest_enabled {
+            builder = builder.manifest_enabled(true);
+        }
+        if let Some(namespace_client_properties) = namespace_client_properties {
+            builder = builder.namespace_client_properties(namespace_client_properties);
+        }
         #[cfg(feature = "remote")]
         if let Some(client_config) = client_config {
             builder = builder.client_config(client_config.into());

rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "lancedb"
-version = "0.28.0-beta.9"
+version = "0.28.0-beta.10"
 edition.workspace = true
 description = "LanceDB: A serverless, low-latency vector database for AI applications"
 license.workspace = true
@@ -111,7 +111,12 @@ default = []
 aws = ["lance/aws", "lance-io/aws", "lance-namespace-impls/dir-aws"]
 oss = ["lance/oss", "lance-io/oss", "lance-namespace-impls/dir-oss"]
 gcs = ["lance/gcp", "lance-io/gcp", "lance-namespace-impls/dir-gcp"]
-azure = ["lance/azure", "lance-io/azure", "lance-namespace-impls/dir-azure"]
+azure = [
+    "lance/azure",
+    "lance-io/azure",
+    "lance-namespace-impls/dir-azure",
+    "lance-namespace-impls/credential-vendor-azure",
+]
 huggingface = [
     "lance/huggingface",
     "lance-io/huggingface",

rust/lancedb/src/connection.rs

@@ -590,6 +590,15 @@ pub struct ConnectRequest {
     /// storage options.
     pub namespace_client_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
 
+    /// Use directory namespace manifests as the source of truth for native
+    /// LanceDB table metadata.
+    ///
+    /// When enabled for a local/native connection, LanceDB returns a
+    /// namespace-backed database directly. Directory listing fallback remains
+    /// enabled for migration, and directory-listing-to-manifest migration is
+    /// forced on.
+    pub manifest_enabled: bool,
+
     /// The interval at which to check for updates from other processes.
     ///
     /// If None, then consistency is not checked. For performance
@@ -630,6 +639,7 @@ impl ConnectBuilder {
                 read_consistency_interval: None,
                 options: HashMap::new(),
                 namespace_client_properties: HashMap::new(),
+                manifest_enabled: false,
                 session: None,
             },
             embedding_registry: None,
@@ -791,6 +801,17 @@ impl ConnectBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Enable or disable manifest-backed directory namespace mode for local
+    /// native connections.
+    ///
+    /// When enabled, the connection uses the directory namespace database
+    /// directly for all table operations and forces
+    /// `dir_listing_to_manifest_migration_enabled=true`.
+    pub fn manifest_enabled(mut self, enabled: bool) -> Self {
+        self.request.manifest_enabled = enabled;
+        self
+    }
+
     /// The interval at which to check for updates from other processes. This
     /// only affects LanceDB OSS.
     ///
@@ -886,6 +907,16 @@ impl ConnectBuilder {
     pub async fn execute(self) -> Result<Connection> {
         if self.request.uri.starts_with("db") {
             self.execute_remote()
+        } else if self.request.manifest_enabled {
+            let internal = Arc::new(
+                ListingDatabase::connect_manifest_enabled_namespace_database(&self.request).await?,
+            );
+            Ok(Connection {
+                internal,
+                embedding_registry: self
+                    .embedding_registry
+                    .unwrap_or_else(|| Arc::new(MemoryRegistry::new())),
+            })
         } else {
             let internal = Arc::new(ListingDatabase::connect_with_options(&self.request).await?);
             Ok(Connection {
@@ -1132,6 +1163,9 @@ mod tests {
     use lance_testing::datagen::{BatchGenerator, IncrementingInt32};
     use tempfile::tempdir;
 
+    use crate::database::listing::{ListingDatabaseOptions, OPT_NEW_TABLE_V2_MANIFEST_PATHS};
+    use crate::database::namespace::LanceNamespaceDatabase;
+    use crate::table::NativeTable;
     use crate::test_utils::connection::new_test_connection;
 
     use super::*;
@@ -1204,6 +1238,147 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_connect_with_manifest_enabled_uses_directory_namespace() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
+
+        let db = connect(uri)
+            .manifest_enabled(true)
+            .storage_option("timeout", "30s")
+            .namespace_client_property("manifest_enabled", "false")
+            .namespace_client_property("dir_listing_to_manifest_migration_enabled", "false")
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert!(
+            db.database()
+                .as_any()
+                .downcast_ref::<LanceNamespaceDatabase>()
+                .is_some()
+        );
+        assert_eq!(db.uri(), uri);
+
+        let (ns_impl, properties) = db.namespace_client_config().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(ns_impl, "dir");
+        assert_eq!(properties.get("root"), Some(&uri.to_string()));
+        assert_eq!(
+            properties.get("manifest_enabled"),
+            Some(&"true".to_string())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(
+            properties.get("dir_listing_to_manifest_migration_enabled"),
+            Some(&"true".to_string())
+        );
+        assert_eq!(properties.get("storage.timeout"), Some(&"30s".to_string()));
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_manifest_enabled_rejects_commit_engine_uri() {
+        let Err(err) = connect("s3+ddb://bucket/db?ddbTableName=manifest")
+            .manifest_enabled(true)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+        else {
+            panic!("expected manifest-enabled s3+ddb connection to fail");
+        };
+        assert!(
+            matches!(err, Error::NotSupported { message } if message.contains("commit engine URI schemes"))
+        );
+
+        let Err(err) = connect("s3://bucket/db?engine=ddb&ddbTableName=manifest")
+            .manifest_enabled(true)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+        else {
+            panic!("expected manifest-enabled engine query connection to fail");
+        };
+        assert!(
+            matches!(err, Error::NotSupported { message } if message.contains("commit engine"))
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_manifest_enabled_connection_migrates_root_listing_table() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("x", DataType::Int32, false)]));
+
+        connect(uri)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .create_empty_table("legacy", schema)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let db = connect(uri).manifest_enabled(true).execute().await.unwrap();
+        let tables = db.table_names().execute().await.unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(tables, vec!["legacy".to_string()]);
+        db.open_table("legacy").execute().await.unwrap();
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_manifest_enabled_preserves_new_table_options() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
+        let options = ListingDatabaseOptions::builder()
+            .enable_v2_manifest_paths(true)
+            .build();
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("x", DataType::Int32, false)]));
+
+        let table = connect(uri)
+            .manifest_enabled(true)
+            .database_options(&options)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .create_empty_table("v1_manifest", schema)
+            .storage_option(OPT_NEW_TABLE_V2_MANIFEST_PATHS, "false")
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let native_table = table
+            .base_table()
+            .as_any()
+            .downcast_ref::<NativeTable>()
+            .unwrap();
+        assert!(!native_table.uses_v2_manifest_paths().await.unwrap());
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_manifest_enabled_vend_input_storage_options() {
+        let tmp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("x", DataType::Int32, false)]));
+
+        let table = connect(uri)
+            .manifest_enabled(true)
+            .storage_option("test_storage_option", "test_value")
+            .namespace_client_property("vend_input_storage_options", "true")
+            .namespace_client_property(
+                "vend_input_storage_options_refresh_interval_millis",
+                "60000",
+            )
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .create_empty_table("vended", schema)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let storage_options = table.latest_storage_options().await.unwrap().unwrap();
+        assert_eq!(
+            storage_options.get("test_storage_option"),
+            Some(&"test_value".to_string())
+        );
+        assert!(storage_options.contains_key("expires_at_millis"));
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_table_names() {
         let tc = new_test_connection().await.unwrap();

rust/lancedb/src/database/listing.rs

@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ const MIRRORED_STORE: &str = "mirroredStore";
 
 /// A connection to LanceDB
 impl ListingDatabase {
-    fn build_namespace_client_properties(
+    pub(crate) fn build_namespace_client_properties(
         uri: &str,
         storage_options: &HashMap<String, String>,
         namespace_client_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
@@ -298,6 +298,24 @@ impl ListingDatabase {
         properties
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn build_manifest_enabled_namespace_client_properties(
+        uri: &str,
+        storage_options: &HashMap<String, String>,
+        namespace_client_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
+    ) -> HashMap<String, String> {
+        let mut properties = Self::build_namespace_client_properties(
+            uri,
+            storage_options,
+            namespace_client_properties,
+        );
+        properties.insert("manifest_enabled".to_string(), "true".to_string());
+        properties.insert(
+            "dir_listing_to_manifest_migration_enabled".to_string(),
+            "true".to_string(),
+        );
+        properties
+    }
+
     async fn connect_namespace_database(
         uri: &str,
         storage_options: HashMap<String, String>,
@@ -323,6 +341,119 @@ impl ListingDatabase {
         ))
     }
 
+    async fn prepare_namespace_root(
+        uri: &str,
+        storage_options: &HashMap<String, String>,
+        session: Arc<lance::session::Session>,
+    ) -> Result<String> {
+        match url::Url::parse(uri) {
+            Ok(url) if url.scheme().len() == 1 && cfg!(windows) => {
+                let (object_store, _) = ObjectStore::from_uri_and_params(
+                    session.store_registry(),
+                    uri,
+                    &ObjectStoreParams::default(),
+                )
+                .await?;
+                if object_store.is_local() {
+                    Self::try_create_dir(uri).context(CreateDirSnafu { path: uri })?;
+                }
+                Ok(uri.to_string())
+            }
+            Ok(mut url) => {
+                if url.scheme().contains('+') {
+                    return Err(Error::NotSupported {
+                        message: "commit engine URI schemes are not supported for manifest-enabled namespace connections".to_string(),
+                    });
+                }
+
+                for (key, value) in url.query_pairs() {
+                    if key == ENGINE {
+                        return Err(Error::NotSupported {
+                            message: format!(
+                                "commit engine '{}' is not supported for manifest-enabled namespace connections",
+                                value
+                            ),
+                        });
+                    } else if key == MIRRORED_STORE {
+                        return Err(Error::NotSupported {
+                            message: "mirrored store is not supported for manifest-enabled namespace connections"
+                                .to_string(),
+                        });
+                    }
+                }
+
+                url.set_query(None);
+                let plain_uri = url.to_string();
+
+                let os_params = ObjectStoreParams {
+                    storage_options_accessor: if storage_options.is_empty() {
+                        None
+                    } else {
+                        Some(Arc::new(StorageOptionsAccessor::with_static_options(
+                            storage_options.clone(),
+                        )))
+                    },
+                    ..Default::default()
+                };
+                let (object_store, _) = ObjectStore::from_uri_and_params(
+                    session.store_registry(),
+                    &plain_uri,
+                    &os_params,
+                )
+                .await?;
+                if object_store.is_local() {
+                    Self::try_create_dir(&plain_uri).context(CreateDirSnafu {
+                        path: plain_uri.clone(),
+                    })?;
+                }
+
+                Ok(plain_uri)
+            }
+            Err(_) => {
+                let (object_store, _) = ObjectStore::from_uri_and_params(
+                    session.store_registry(),
+                    uri,
+                    &ObjectStoreParams::default(),
+                )
+                .await?;
+                if object_store.is_local() {
+                    Self::try_create_dir(uri).context(CreateDirSnafu { path: uri })?;
+                }
+                Ok(uri.to_string())
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) async fn connect_manifest_enabled_namespace_database(
+        request: &ConnectRequest,
+    ) -> Result<LanceNamespaceDatabase> {
+        let options = ListingDatabaseOptions::parse_from_map(&request.options)?;
+        let session = request
+            .session
+            .clone()
+            .unwrap_or_else(|| Arc::new(lance::session::Session::default()));
+        let namespace_root =
+            Self::prepare_namespace_root(&request.uri, &options.storage_options, session.clone())
+                .await?;
+        let ns_properties = Self::build_manifest_enabled_namespace_client_properties(
+            &namespace_root,
+            &options.storage_options,
+            request.namespace_client_properties.clone(),
+        );
+
+        LanceNamespaceDatabase::connect_with_new_table_config(
+            "dir",
+            ns_properties,
+            options.storage_options,
+            request.read_consistency_interval,
+            Some(session),
+            HashSet::new(),
+            options.new_table_config,
+        )
+        .await
+        .map(|db| db.with_uri(request.uri.clone()))
+    }
+
     /// Connect to a listing database
     ///
     /// The URI should be a path to a directory where the tables are stored.
@@ -690,15 +821,12 @@ impl ListingDatabase {
             store_params.storage_options_accessor = Some(Arc::new(accessor));
         }
 
-        write_params.data_storage_version = self
-            .new_table_config
-            .data_storage_version
-            .or(storage_version_override);
+        write_params.data_storage_version = storage_version_override
+            .or(write_params.data_storage_version)
+            .or(self.new_table_config.data_storage_version);
 
-        if let Some(enable_v2_manifest_paths) = self
-            .new_table_config
-            .enable_v2_manifest_paths
-            .or(v2_manifest_override)
+        if let Some(enable_v2_manifest_paths) =
+            v2_manifest_override.or(self.new_table_config.enable_v2_manifest_paths)
         {
             write_params.enable_v2_manifest_paths = enable_v2_manifest_paths;
         }
@@ -1158,6 +1286,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options: Default::default(),
             namespace_client_properties: Default::default(),
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };
@@ -1292,6 +1421,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options: options.clone(),
             namespace_client_properties: Default::default(),
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };
@@ -1827,6 +1957,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options,
             namespace_client_properties: Default::default(),
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };
@@ -1933,6 +2064,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options,
             namespace_client_properties: Default::default(),
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };
@@ -2005,6 +2137,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options,
             namespace_client_properties: Default::default(),
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };
@@ -2202,6 +2335,7 @@ mod tests {
             client_config: Default::default(),
             options: Default::default(),
             namespace_client_properties,
+            manifest_enabled: false,
             read_consistency_interval: None,
             session: None,
         };

rust/lancedb/src/database/namespace.rs

@@ -24,6 +24,10 @@ use lance_table::io::commit::external_manifest::ExternalManifestCommitHandler;
 
 use crate::connection::NamespaceClientPushdownOperation;
 use crate::database::ReadConsistency;
+use crate::database::listing::{
+    NewTableConfig, OPT_NEW_TABLE_ENABLE_STABLE_ROW_IDS, OPT_NEW_TABLE_STORAGE_VERSION,
+    OPT_NEW_TABLE_V2_MANIFEST_PATHS,
+};
 use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 use crate::table::NativeTable;
 use lance::dataset::WriteMode;
@@ -50,6 +54,8 @@ pub struct LanceNamespaceDatabase {
     ns_impl: String,
     // Namespace properties used to construct the namespace client
     ns_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
+    // Options for tables created by this connection
+    new_table_config: NewTableConfig,
 }
 
 impl LanceNamespaceDatabase {
@@ -71,9 +77,15 @@ impl LanceNamespaceDatabase {
             pushdown_operations: namespace_client_pushdown_operations,
             ns_impl: namespace_client_impl,
             ns_properties: namespace_client_properties,
+            new_table_config: NewTableConfig::default(),
         }
     }
 
+    pub(crate) fn with_uri(mut self, uri: impl Into<String>) -> Self {
+        self.uri = uri.into();
+        self
+    }
+
     pub async fn connect(
         ns_impl: &str,
         ns_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
@@ -81,6 +93,27 @@ impl LanceNamespaceDatabase {
         read_consistency_interval: Option<std::time::Duration>,
         session: Option<Arc<lance::session::Session>>,
         pushdown_operations: HashSet<NamespaceClientPushdownOperation>,
+    ) -> Result<Self> {
+        Self::connect_with_new_table_config(
+            ns_impl,
+            ns_properties,
+            storage_options,
+            read_consistency_interval,
+            session,
+            pushdown_operations,
+            NewTableConfig::default(),
+        )
+        .await
+    }
+
+    pub(crate) async fn connect_with_new_table_config(
+        ns_impl: &str,
+        ns_properties: HashMap<String, String>,
+        storage_options: HashMap<String, String>,
+        read_consistency_interval: Option<std::time::Duration>,
+        session: Option<Arc<lance::session::Session>>,
+        pushdown_operations: HashSet<NamespaceClientPushdownOperation>,
+        new_table_config: NewTableConfig,
     ) -> Result<Self> {
         let mut builder = ConnectBuilder::new(ns_impl);
         for (key, value) in ns_properties.clone() {
@@ -102,8 +135,79 @@ impl LanceNamespaceDatabase {
             pushdown_operations,
             ns_impl: ns_impl.to_string(),
             ns_properties,
+            new_table_config,
         })
     }
+
+    fn extract_storage_overrides(
+        &self,
+        request: &DbCreateTableRequest,
+    ) -> Result<(
+        Option<lance_encoding::version::LanceFileVersion>,
+        Option<bool>,
+        Option<bool>,
+    )> {
+        let storage_options = request
+            .write_options
+            .lance_write_params
+            .as_ref()
+            .and_then(|p| p.store_params.as_ref())
+            .and_then(|sp| sp.storage_options());
+
+        let storage_version_override = storage_options
+            .and_then(|opts| opts.get(OPT_NEW_TABLE_STORAGE_VERSION))
+            .map(|s| s.parse::<lance_encoding::version::LanceFileVersion>())
+            .transpose()?;
+
+        let v2_manifest_override = storage_options
+            .and_then(|opts| opts.get(OPT_NEW_TABLE_V2_MANIFEST_PATHS))
+            .map(|s| s.parse::<bool>())
+            .transpose()
+            .map_err(|_| Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "enable_v2_manifest_paths must be a boolean".to_string(),
+            })?;
+
+        let stable_row_ids_override = storage_options
+            .and_then(|opts| opts.get(OPT_NEW_TABLE_ENABLE_STABLE_ROW_IDS))
+            .map(|s| s.parse::<bool>())
+            .transpose()
+            .map_err(|_| Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "enable_stable_row_ids must be a boolean".to_string(),
+            })?;
+
+        Ok((
+            storage_version_override,
+            v2_manifest_override,
+            stable_row_ids_override,
+        ))
+    }
+
+    fn apply_new_table_config(
+        &self,
+        params: &mut lance::dataset::WriteParams,
+        request: &DbCreateTableRequest,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let (storage_version_override, v2_manifest_override, stable_row_ids_override) =
+            self.extract_storage_overrides(request)?;
+
+        params.data_storage_version = storage_version_override
+            .or(params.data_storage_version)
+            .or(self.new_table_config.data_storage_version);
+
+        if let Some(enable_v2_manifest_paths) =
+            v2_manifest_override.or(self.new_table_config.enable_v2_manifest_paths)
+        {
+            params.enable_v2_manifest_paths = enable_v2_manifest_paths;
+        }
+
+        if let Some(enable_stable_row_ids) =
+            stable_row_ids_override.or(self.new_table_config.enable_stable_row_ids)
+        {
+            params.enable_stable_row_ids = enable_stable_row_ids;
+        }
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
 }
 
 impl std::fmt::Debug for LanceNamespaceDatabase {
@@ -299,7 +403,12 @@ impl Database for LanceNamespaceDatabase {
         };
 
         // Build write params with storage options and commit handler
-        let mut params = request.write_options.lance_write_params.unwrap_or_default();
+        let mut params = request
+            .write_options
+            .lance_write_params
+            .clone()
+            .unwrap_or_default();
+        self.apply_new_table_config(&mut params, &request)?;
 
         if matches!(request.mode, CreateTableMode::Overwrite) {
             params.mode = WriteMode::Overwrite;