feat(nodejs): surface skip_auto_cleanup on add and merge insert

### Summary 

Adds a `connectNamespace(implName, properties, options?)` to the NodeJS
SDK`. Closes #3380.

### Testing
- pnpm test
- Ran smoke test

```
import { connectNamespace } from "lancedb"
import { tmpdir } from "os";
import { mkdtempSync } from "fs";
import { join } from "path";

const dir = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "lancedb-connect-namespace-smoke-"));
console.log(`Using temp dir: ${dir}\n`);

// 1. Happy path: connect via the "dir" namespace impl, create + list a table.
console.log('Connecting via connectNamespace("dir", { root })...');
const db = await connectNamespace("dir", { root: dir });
console.log("  ✓ connected:", db.display());

console.log("Creating a table and listing it...");
await db.createTable("users", [
  { id: 1, name: "alice" },
  { id: 2, name: "bob" },
]);
console.log("  ✓ tableNames ->", await db.tableNames());

const table = await db.openTable("users");
console.log("  ✓ users.countRows ->", await table.countRows());

// 2. Storage options pass-through.
console.log("\nReconnecting with storageOptions (plumbing check)...");
const dbWithOpts = await connectNamespace(
  "dir",
  { root: dir },
  { storageOptions: { newTableDataStorageVersion: "stable" } },
);
console.log("  ✓ connected with storageOptions:", dbWithOpts.display());
await dbWithOpts.close();

// 3. Empty implName -> clear error.
console.log("\nCalling connectNamespace('', {}) (expect error)...");
try {
  await connectNamespace("", {});
  console.error("  UNEXPECTED: empty implName did not throw");
} catch (err) {
  console.log(`  ✓ Got expected error: ${err.message.split("\n")[0]}`);
}

// 4. Unknown impl -> error.
console.log("\nCalling connectNamespace('not-a-real-impl', {}) (expect error)...");
try {
  await connectNamespace("not-a-real-impl", {});
  console.error("  UNEXPECTED: unknown impl did not throw");
} catch (err) {
  console.log(`  ✓ Got expected error: ${err.message.split("\n")[0]}`);
}

// 5. Create a table inside a child namespace, then reconnect with a fresh
//    connectNamespace call and confirm the table is reachable via that
//    namespace path. (The dir+manifest impl keeps the namespace hierarchy in
//    a root manifest, so "scoping" happens via namespacePath args, not by
//    pointing root at a subdir.)
console.log("\nCreating a table inside a child namespace...");
const dir2 = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "lancedb-connect-namespace-smoke-"));
const writer = await connectNamespace("dir", {
  root: dir2,
  manifest_enabled: "true",
});
await writer.createNamespace(["analytics"]);
await writer.createTable(
  "orders",
  [
    { id: 1, total: 10 },
    { id: 2, total: 20 },
  ],
  ["analytics"],
);
console.log(
  "  ✓ writer sees tables under [analytics] ->",
  await writer.tableNames(["analytics"]),
);
await writer.close();

console.log("Reconnecting and reading the table via its namespace path...");
const reader = await connectNamespace("dir", {
  root: dir2,
  manifest_enabled: "true",
});
console.log(
  "  ✓ reader tableNames(['analytics']) ->",
  await reader.tableNames(["analytics"]),
);
const orders = await reader.openTable("orders", ["analytics"]);
console.log("  ✓ orders.countRows via reader ->", await orders.countRows());
await reader.close();

await db.close();
console.log("\nAll checks passed.");
```

```
Using temp dir: /var/folders/bj/hn6jv9c50y301d1nx0y8xmn00000gn/T/lancedb-connect-namespace-smoke-WByF1P

Connecting via connectNamespace("dir", { root })...
  ✓ connected: LanceNamespaceDatabase
Creating a table and listing it...
  ✓ tableNames -> [ 'users' ]
  ✓ users.countRows -> 2

Reconnecting with storageOptions (plumbing check)...
  ✓ connected with storageOptions: LanceNamespaceDatabase

Calling connectNamespace('', {}) (expect error)...
  ✓ Got expected error: implName must be a non-empty string

Calling connectNamespace('not-a-real-impl', {}) (expect error)...
  ✓ Got expected error: Invalid input, Failed to connect to namespace: Namespace { source: Unsupported { message: "Implementation 'not-a-real-impl' is not available. Supported: dir, rest" }, location: Location { file: "/Users/brendan/.cargo/git/checkouts/lance-8ddea23c38163eda/f693245/rust/lance-namespace-impls/src/connect.rs", line: 216, column: 14 } }

Creating a table inside a child namespace...
  ✓ writer sees tables under [analytics] -> [ 'orders' ]
Reconnecting and reading the table via its namespace path...
  ✓ reader tableNames(['analytics']) -> [ 'orders' ]
  ✓ orders.countRows via reader -> 2

All checks passed.
```

### Docs
- regenerated docs

.github/workflows/codex-fix-ci.yml

@@ -45,7 +45,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Set up Node.js
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
-          node-version: 20
+          # pnpm 11 (used by the nodejs install step below) requires
+          # Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL in October.
+          node-version: 24
 
       - name: Install Codex CLI
         run: npm install -g @openai/codex
@@ -79,10 +81,14 @@ jobs:
           java-version: '11'
           cache: maven
 
+      - name: Setup pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+        with:
+          version: 11.1.1
       - name: Install Node.js dependencies for TypeScript bindings
         run: |
           cd nodejs
-          npm ci
+          pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
 
       - name: Configure git user
         run: |
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@ jobs:
                - For Rust test failures: Run the specific test with "cargo test -p <crate> <test_name>"
                - For Python test failures: Build with "cd python && maturin develop" then run "pytest <specific_test_file>::<test_name>"
                - For Java test failures: Run "cd java && mvn test -Dtest=<TestClass>#<testMethod>"
-               - For TypeScript test failures: Run "cd nodejs && npm run build && npm test -- --testNamePattern='<test_name>'"
+               - For TypeScript test failures: Run "cd nodejs && pnpm build && pnpm test -- --testNamePattern='<test_name>'"
                - Do NOT run the full test suite - only run the tests that were failing
 
           7. If the additional guidelines are provided, follow them as well.

.github/workflows/nodejs.yml

@@ -42,11 +42,17 @@ jobs:
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
         lfs: true
+    - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+      with:
+        version: 11.1.1
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
       with:
-        node-version: 20
-        cache: 'npm'
-        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
+        # pnpm 11 requires Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL
+        # in October. The library itself still supports Node >= 18
+        # (see test matrix below).
+        node-version: 24
+        cache: 'pnpm'
+        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
     - uses: actions-rust-lang/setup-rust-toolchain@v1
       with:
         components: rustfmt, clippy
@@ -61,11 +67,13 @@ jobs:
       run: cargo clippy --profile ci --all --all-features -- -D warnings
     - name: Lint Typescript
       run: |
-        npm ci
-        npm run lint-ci
+        pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+        pnpm lint-ci
     - name: Lint examples
       working-directory: nodejs/examples
-      run: npm ci && npm run lint-ci
+      # The `@lancedb/lancedb` dep points at file:../dist; pnpm errors if
+      # that dir is missing, so create an empty one for lint-only runs.
+      run: mkdir -p ../dist && pnpm install --frozen-lockfile && pnpm lint-ci
   linux:
     name: Linux (NodeJS ${{ matrix.node-version }})
     timeout-minutes: 30
@@ -82,14 +90,18 @@ jobs:
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
         lfs: true
-    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-      name: Setup Node.js 20 for build
+    - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
       with:
-        # @napi-rs/cli v3 requires Node >= 20.12 (via @inquirer/prompts@8).
-        # Build always on Node 20; tests run on the matrix version below.
-        node-version: 20
-        cache: 'npm'
-        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
+        version: 11.1.1
+    - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+      name: Setup Node.js 24 for build
+      with:
+        # pnpm 11 requires Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL
+        # in October. Build/install runs on Node 24; tests run on the
+        # matrix version below using direct jest invocation.
+        node-version: 24
+        cache: 'pnpm'
+        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
     - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
@@ -97,45 +109,52 @@ jobs:
         sudo apt install -y protobuf-compiler libssl-dev
     - name: Build
       run: |
-        npm ci --include=optional
-        npm run build:debug -- --profile ci
+        pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+        # No `--` separator: pnpm forwards it literally, which would
+        # make napi-rs treat `--profile ci` as a cargo passthrough arg.
+        pnpm build:debug --profile ci
+        pnpm tsc
+    - name: Setup examples
+      working-directory: nodejs/examples
+      run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+    - name: Check docs
+      run: |
+        # We run this as part of the job because the binary needs to be built
+        # first to export the types of the native code.
+        set -e
+        # `pnpm docs` would invoke pnpm's built-in `docs` command, not
+        # the script — use `pnpm run docs`.
+        pnpm run docs
+        if ! git diff --exit-code -- ../ ':(exclude)Cargo.lock'; then
+          echo "Docs need to be updated"
+          echo "Run 'pnpm run docs', fix any warnings, and commit the changes."
+          exit 1
+        fi
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
       name: Setup Node.js ${{ matrix.node-version }} for test
       with:
         node-version: ${{ matrix.node-version }}
-    - name: Compile TypeScript
-      run: npm run tsc
     - name: Setup localstack
       working-directory: .
       run: docker compose up --detach --wait
     - name: Test
       env:
         S3_TEST: "1"
-      run: npm run test
-    - name: Setup examples
-      working-directory: nodejs/examples
-      run: npm ci
+        # Newer @smithy/core uses dynamic ESM imports.
+        NODE_OPTIONS: "--experimental-vm-modules"
+      # Invoke jest directly because pnpm 11 itself requires Node 22+
+      # while the matrix tests on older Node versions.
+      run: npx jest --verbose
     - name: Test examples
       working-directory: ./
       env:
         OPENAI_API_KEY: test
         OPENAI_BASE_URL: http://0.0.0.0:8000
+        NODE_OPTIONS: "--experimental-vm-modules"
       run: |
         python ci/mock_openai.py &
         cd nodejs/examples
-        npm test
-    - name: Check docs
-      run: |
-        # We run this as part of the job because the binary needs to be built
-        # first to export the types of the native code.
-        set -e
-        npm ci
-        npm run docs
-        if ! git diff --exit-code -- ../ ':(exclude)Cargo.lock'; then
-          echo "Docs need to be updated"
-          echo "Run 'npm run docs', fix any warnings, and commit the changes."
-          exit 1
-        fi
+        npx jest --testEnvironment jest-environment-node-single-context --verbose
   macos:
     timeout-minutes: 30
     runs-on: "macos-14"
@@ -148,20 +167,28 @@ jobs:
       with:
         fetch-depth: 0
         lfs: true
+    - uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+      with:
+        version: 11.1.1
     - uses: actions/setup-node@v4
       with:
-        node-version: 20
-        cache: 'npm'
-        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
+        # pnpm 11 requires Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL
+        # in October.
+        node-version: 24
+        cache: 'pnpm'
+        cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
+    - uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
     - uses: Swatinem/rust-cache@v2
     - name: Install dependencies
       run: |
         brew install protobuf
     - name: Build
       run: |
-        npm ci --include=optional
-        npm run build:debug -- --profile ci
-        npm run tsc
+        pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+        # No `--` separator: pnpm forwards it literally, which would
+        # make napi-rs treat `--profile ci` as a cargo passthrough arg.
+        pnpm build:debug --profile ci
+        pnpm tsc
     - name: Test
       run: |
-        npm run test
+        pnpm test

.github/workflows/npm-publish.yml

@@ -171,13 +171,18 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: nodejs
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Setup pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+        with:
+          version: 11.1.1
       - name: Setup node
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
-        if: ${{ !matrix.settings.docker }}
         with:
-          node-version: 20
-          cache: npm
-          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
+          # pnpm 11 requires Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL
+          # in October.
+          node-version: 24
+          cache: pnpm
+          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
       - name: Install
         uses: dtolnay/rust-toolchain@stable
         if: ${{ !matrix.settings.docker }}
@@ -195,7 +200,7 @@ jobs:
             target/
           key: nodejs-${{ matrix.settings.target }}-cargo-${{ matrix.settings.host }}
       - name: Install dependencies
-        run: npm ci
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
       - name: Install Zig
         uses: mlugg/setup-zig@v2
         if: ${{ contains(matrix.settings.target, 'musl') }}
@@ -248,7 +253,7 @@ jobs:
       # one to do the upload.
       - name: Make generic artifacts
         if: ${{ matrix.settings.target == 'aarch64-apple-darwin' }}
-        run: npm run tsc
+        run: pnpm tsc
       - name: Upload Generic Artifacts
         if: ${{ matrix.settings.target == 'aarch64-apple-darwin' }}
         uses: actions/upload-artifact@v4
@@ -283,14 +288,24 @@ jobs:
         working-directory: nodejs
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
-      - name: Setup node
+      - name: Setup pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+        with:
+          version: 11.1.1
+      - name: Setup Node.js 24 for install
+        uses: actions/setup-node@v4
+        with:
+          # pnpm 11 requires Node >= 22.13; use 24 since 22 hits EOL
+          # in October.
+          node-version: 24
+          cache: pnpm
+          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
+      - name: Install dependencies
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
+      - name: Setup Node.js ${{ matrix.node }} for test
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node }}
-          cache: npm
-          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
-      - name: Install dependencies
-        run: npm ci
       - name: Download artifacts
         uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
@@ -311,7 +326,9 @@ jobs:
       - name: Move built files
         run: cp dist/native.d.ts dist/native.js dist/*.node lancedb/
       - name: Test bindings
-        run: npm test
+        # Invoke jest directly because pnpm 11 itself requires Node 22+
+        # while the matrix tests on older Node versions.
+        run: npx jest --verbose
   publish:
     name: Publish
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
@@ -323,15 +340,19 @@ jobs:
       - test-lancedb
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - name: Setup pnpm
+        uses: pnpm/action-setup@v4
+        with:
+          version: 11.1.1
       - name: Setup node
         uses: actions/setup-node@v4
         with:
           node-version: 24
-          cache: npm
-          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/package-lock.json
+          cache: pnpm
+          cache-dependency-path: nodejs/pnpm-lock.yaml
           registry-url: "https://registry.npmjs.org"
       - name: Install dependencies
-        run: npm ci
+        run: pnpm install --frozen-lockfile
       - uses: actions/download-artifact@v4
         with:
           name: nodejs-dist
@@ -351,7 +372,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Display structure of downloaded files
         run: find dist && find nodejs-artifacts
       - name: Move artifacts
-        run: npx napi artifacts -d nodejs-artifacts
+        run: pnpm exec napi artifacts -d nodejs-artifacts
       - name: List packages
         run: find npm
       - name: Publish

Cargo.lock

@@ -5099,6 +5099,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "env_logger",
  "futures",
  "half",
+ "lance-namespace",
  "lancedb",
  "log",
  "lzma-sys",

docs/src/js/_media/CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -12,20 +12,22 @@ Typescript.
 * `src/`: Rust bindings source code
 * `lancedb/`: Typescript package source code
 * `__test__/`: Unit tests
-* `examples/`: An npm package with the examples shown in the documentation
+* `examples/`: A pnpm package with the examples shown in the documentation
 
 ## Development environment
 
 To set up your development environment, you will need to install the following:
 
-1. Node.js 14 or later
-2. Rust's package manager, Cargo. Use [rustup](https://rustup.rs/) to install.
-3. [protoc](https://grpc.io/docs/protoc-installation/) (Protocol Buffers compiler)
+1. Node.js 22 or later (required by pnpm 11)
+2. [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/installation) 11 or later (or run via `corepack enable`,
+   which uses the `packageManager` field in `package.json`)
+3. Rust's package manager, Cargo. Use [rustup](https://rustup.rs/) to install.
+4. [protoc](https://grpc.io/docs/protoc-installation/) (Protocol Buffers compiler)
 
 Initial setup:
 
 ```shell
-npm install
+pnpm install
 ```
 
 ### Commit Hooks
@@ -39,38 +41,38 @@ pre-commit install
 
 ## Development
 
-Most common development commands can be run using the npm scripts.
+Most common development commands can be run using the pnpm scripts.
 
 Build the package
 
 ```shell
-npm install
-npm run build
+pnpm install
+pnpm build
 ```
 
 Lint:
 
 ```shell
-npm run lint
+pnpm lint
 ```
 
 Format and fix lints:
 
 ```shell
-npm run lint-fix
+pnpm lint-fix
 ```
 
 Run tests:
 
 ```shell
-npm test
+pnpm test
 ```
 
 To run a single test:
 
 ```shell
 # Single file: table.test.ts
-npm test -- table.test.ts
+pnpm test -- table.test.ts
 # Single test: 'merge insert' in table.test.ts
-npm test -- table.test.ts --testNamePattern=merge\ insert
+pnpm test -- table.test.ts --testNamePattern=merge\ insert
 ```

docs/src/js/classes/Connection.md

@@ -148,6 +148,33 @@ Creates a new empty Table
 
 ***
 
+### createNamespace()
+
+```ts
+abstract createNamespace(namespacePath, options?): Promise<CreateNamespaceResponse>
+```
+
+Create a new namespace at the given path.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **namespacePath**: `string`[]
+    The namespace path to create.
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`CreateNamespaceOptions`](../interfaces/CreateNamespaceOptions.md)&gt;
+    Creation `mode`
+    ("create" | "exist_ok" | "overwrite") and optional `properties`
+    to attach to the namespace.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`CreateNamespaceResponse`](../interfaces/CreateNamespaceResponse.md)&gt;
+
+The properties of the
+  created namespace and an optional transaction id.
+
+***
+
 ### createTable()
 
 #### createTable(options, namespacePath)
@@ -230,6 +257,29 @@ Creates a new Table and initialize it with new data.
 
 ***
 
+### describeNamespace()
+
+```ts
+abstract describeNamespace(namespacePath): Promise<DescribeNamespaceResponse>
+```
+
+Describe a namespace, returning its properties.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **namespacePath**: `string`[]
+    The namespace path to describe, in
+    parent → child order, e.g. `["analytics", "sales"]`.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`DescribeNamespaceResponse`](../interfaces/DescribeNamespaceResponse.md)&gt;
+
+The namespace's properties
+  (may be undefined if the namespace has none).
+
+***
+
 ### display()
 
 ```ts
@@ -263,6 +313,36 @@ Drop all tables in the database.
 
 ***
 
+### dropNamespace()
+
+```ts
+abstract dropNamespace(namespacePath, options?): Promise<DropNamespaceResponse>
+```
+
+Drop a namespace.
+
+Use `behavior: "cascade"` to also drop everything contained in the
+namespace (sub-namespaces and tables). The default `"restrict"`
+behavior refuses to drop a non-empty namespace.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **namespacePath**: `string`[]
+    The namespace path to drop.
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`DropNamespaceOptions`](../interfaces/DropNamespaceOptions.md)&gt;
+    `mode` ("skip" | "fail"
+    for missing-namespace handling) and `behavior` ("restrict" | "cascade").
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`DropNamespaceResponse`](../interfaces/DropNamespaceResponse.md)&gt;
+
+Any properties returned by
+  the server and an optional transaction id.
+
+***
+
 ### dropTable()
 
 ```ts
@@ -299,6 +379,36 @@ Return true if the connection has not been closed
 
 ***
 
+### listNamespaces()
+
+```ts
+abstract listNamespaces(namespacePath?, options?): Promise<ListNamespacesResponse>
+```
+
+List the immediate child namespaces under the given parent.
+
+Results may be paginated. To retrieve subsequent pages, pass the
+`pageToken` returned by a previous call.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **namespacePath?**: `string`[]
+    The parent namespace path. Defaults
+    to the root namespace if omitted.
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`ListNamespacesOptions`](../interfaces/ListNamespacesOptions.md)&gt;
+    Pagination options
+    (`pageToken`, `limit`).
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`ListNamespacesResponse`](../interfaces/ListNamespacesResponse.md)&gt;
+
+Child namespace names and
+  an optional token for fetching the next page.
+
+***
+
 ### openTable()
 
 ```ts

docs/src/js/functions/connectNamespace.md

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / connectNamespace
+
+# Function: connectNamespace()
+
+## connectNamespace(implName, config, options)
+
+```ts
+function connectNamespace(
+   implName,
+   config,
+   options?): Promise<Connection>
+```
+
+Connect to a LanceDB database through a namespace.
+
+Unlike [connect](connect.md), which routes by URI scheme (local path vs.
+`db://` cloud), `connectNamespace` always returns a namespace-backed
+connection. The `implName` selects the namespace implementation:
+
+- `"dir"` — directory namespace, configured with [DirNamespaceConfig](../interfaces/DirNamespaceConfig.md).
+- `"rest"` — remote REST catalog, configured with [RestNamespaceConfig](../interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md).
+- Any other string — full module path for a custom implementation,
+  configured with a free-form string-keyed `properties` map.
+
+### Parameters
+
+* **implName**: `"dir"`
+
+* **config**: [`DirNamespaceConfig`](../interfaces/DirNamespaceConfig.md)
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`ConnectNamespaceOptions`](../interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md)&gt;
+
+### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`Connection`](../classes/Connection.md)&gt;
+
+### Examples
+
+```ts
+const db = await connectNamespace("dir", { root: "/path/to/db" });
+await db.createTable("users", [{ id: 1 }]);
+```
+
+```ts
+const db = await connectNamespace("rest", {
+  uri: "https://catalog.example.com",
+  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.CATALOG_KEY ?? "" },
+});
+```
+
+```ts
+const db = await connectNamespace("my.custom.Namespace", {
+  endpoint: "...",
+});
+```
+
+## connectNamespace(implName, config, options)
+
+```ts
+function connectNamespace(
+   implName,
+   config,
+   options?): Promise<Connection>
+```
+
+Connect through the built-in REST namespace.
+
+Configured with [RestNamespaceConfig](../interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md). See the function-level
+documentation above for the full surface, examples, and how this
+relates to [connect](connect.md).
+
+### Parameters
+
+* **implName**: `"rest"`
+
+* **config**: [`RestNamespaceConfig`](../interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md)
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`ConnectNamespaceOptions`](../interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md)&gt;
+
+### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`Connection`](../classes/Connection.md)&gt;
+
+### Example
+
+```ts
+const db = await connectNamespace("rest", {
+  uri: "https://catalog.example.com",
+  headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.CATALOG_KEY ?? "" },
+});
+```
+
+## connectNamespace(implName, properties, options)
+
+```ts
+function connectNamespace(
+   implName,
+   properties,
+   options?): Promise<Connection>
+```
+
+Connect through a custom namespace implementation by full module path,
+configured with a free-form string-keyed `properties` map. Use the
+typed overloads above for the built-in `"dir"` and `"rest"` impls.
+
+See the function-level documentation above for examples and how this
+relates to [connect](connect.md).
+
+### Parameters
+
+* **implName**: `string`
+
+* **properties**: `Record`&lt;`string`, `string`&gt;
+
+* **options?**: `Partial`&lt;[`ConnectNamespaceOptions`](../interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md)&gt;
+
+### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;[`Connection`](../classes/Connection.md)&gt;
+
+### Example
+
+```ts
+const db = await connectNamespace("my.custom.Namespace", {
+  endpoint: "...",
+});
+```

docs/src/js/globals.md

@@ -51,10 +51,17 @@
 - [ClientConfig](interfaces/ClientConfig.md)
 - [ColumnAlteration](interfaces/ColumnAlteration.md)
 - [CompactionStats](interfaces/CompactionStats.md)
+- [ConnectNamespaceOptions](interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md)
 - [ConnectionOptions](interfaces/ConnectionOptions.md)
+- [CreateNamespaceOptions](interfaces/CreateNamespaceOptions.md)
+- [CreateNamespaceResponse](interfaces/CreateNamespaceResponse.md)
 - [CreateTableOptions](interfaces/CreateTableOptions.md)
 - [DeleteResult](interfaces/DeleteResult.md)
+- [DescribeNamespaceResponse](interfaces/DescribeNamespaceResponse.md)
+- [DirNamespaceConfig](interfaces/DirNamespaceConfig.md)
 - [DropColumnsResult](interfaces/DropColumnsResult.md)
+- [DropNamespaceOptions](interfaces/DropNamespaceOptions.md)
+- [DropNamespaceResponse](interfaces/DropNamespaceResponse.md)
 - [ExecutableQuery](interfaces/ExecutableQuery.md)
 - [FragmentStatistics](interfaces/FragmentStatistics.md)
 - [FragmentSummaryStats](interfaces/FragmentSummaryStats.md)
@@ -69,12 +76,15 @@
 - [IvfFlatOptions](interfaces/IvfFlatOptions.md)
 - [IvfPqOptions](interfaces/IvfPqOptions.md)
 - [IvfRqOptions](interfaces/IvfRqOptions.md)
+- [ListNamespacesOptions](interfaces/ListNamespacesOptions.md)
+- [ListNamespacesResponse](interfaces/ListNamespacesResponse.md)
 - [MergeResult](interfaces/MergeResult.md)
 - [OpenTableOptions](interfaces/OpenTableOptions.md)
 - [OptimizeOptions](interfaces/OptimizeOptions.md)
 - [OptimizeStats](interfaces/OptimizeStats.md)
 - [QueryExecutionOptions](interfaces/QueryExecutionOptions.md)
 - [RemovalStats](interfaces/RemovalStats.md)
+- [RestNamespaceConfig](interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md)
 - [RetryConfig](interfaces/RetryConfig.md)
 - [ShuffleOptions](interfaces/ShuffleOptions.md)
 - [SplitCalculatedOptions](interfaces/SplitCalculatedOptions.md)
@@ -107,6 +117,7 @@
 
 - [RecordBatchIterator](functions/RecordBatchIterator.md)
 - [connect](functions/connect.md)
+- [connectNamespace](functions/connectNamespace.md)
 - [makeArrowTable](functions/makeArrowTable.md)
 - [packBits](functions/packBits.md)
 - [permutationBuilder](functions/permutationBuilder.md)

docs/src/js/interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / ConnectNamespaceOptions
+
+# Interface: ConnectNamespaceOptions
+
+## Properties
+
+### namespaceClientProperties?
+
+```ts
+optional namespaceClientProperties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Extra properties for the backing namespace client.
+
+***
+
+### readConsistencyInterval?
+
+```ts
+optional readConsistencyInterval: number;
+```
+
+The interval, in seconds, at which to check for updates to the table
+from other processes. If None, then consistency is not checked. For
+performance reasons, this is the default. For strong consistency, set
+this to zero seconds. Then every read will check for updates from other
+processes. As a compromise, you can set this to a non-zero value for
+eventual consistency.
+
+***
+
+### session?
+
+```ts
+optional session: Session;
+```
+
+The session to use for this connection. Holds shared caches and other
+session-specific state.
+
+***
+
+### storageOptions?
+
+```ts
+optional storageOptions: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Configuration for object storage. The available options are described
+at https://docs.lancedb.com/storage/

docs/src/js/interfaces/CreateNamespaceOptions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / CreateNamespaceOptions
+
+# Interface: CreateNamespaceOptions
+
+## Properties
+
+### mode?
+
+```ts
+optional mode: "overwrite" | "create" | "exist_ok";
+```
+
+Creation mode.
+
+***
+
+### properties?
+
+```ts
+optional properties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Properties to set on the new namespace.

docs/src/js/interfaces/CreateNamespaceResponse.md

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / CreateNamespaceResponse
+
+# Interface: CreateNamespaceResponse
+
+## Properties
+
+### properties?
+
+```ts
+optional properties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+***
+
+### transactionId?
+
+```ts
+optional transactionId: string;
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/DescribeNamespaceResponse.md

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / DescribeNamespaceResponse
+
+# Interface: DescribeNamespaceResponse
+
+## Properties
+
+### properties?
+
+```ts
+optional properties: Record<string, string>;
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/DirNamespaceConfig.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / DirNamespaceConfig
+
+# Interface: DirNamespaceConfig
+
+Configuration for the built-in directory namespace (`"dir"`).
+
+The directory namespace stores tables under a single root path (local
+filesystem or object storage URI). See
+[https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces](https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces) for the documented surface;
+less-common knobs live under [DirNamespaceConfig.extraProperties](DirNamespaceConfig.md#extraproperties).
+
+## Properties
+
+### extraProperties?
+
+```ts
+optional extraProperties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Additional raw properties passed verbatim to the namespace
+implementation (e.g. `storage.*`, `credential_vendor.*`). Typed
+fields above take precedence on key collision.
+
+***
+
+### manifestEnabled?
+
+```ts
+optional manifestEnabled: boolean;
+```
+
+Whether to maintain a namespace manifest at the root. Required for
+child namespaces. Defaults to true on the impl side.
+
+***
+
+### root
+
+```ts
+root: string;
+```
+
+Root path or URI containing the LanceDB tables.

docs/src/js/interfaces/DropNamespaceOptions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / DropNamespaceOptions
+
+# Interface: DropNamespaceOptions
+
+## Properties
+
+### behavior?
+
+```ts
+optional behavior: "restrict" | "cascade";
+```
+
+Refuse to drop if non-empty (restrict) or drop recursively (cascade).
+
+***
+
+### mode?
+
+```ts
+optional mode: "fail" | "skip";
+```
+
+Whether to skip if the namespace doesn't exist, or fail.

docs/src/js/interfaces/DropNamespaceResponse.md

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / DropNamespaceResponse
+
+# Interface: DropNamespaceResponse
+
+## Properties
+
+### properties?
+
+```ts
+optional properties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+***
+
+### transactionId?
+
+```ts
+optional transactionId: string[];
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/ListNamespacesOptions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / ListNamespacesOptions
+
+# Interface: ListNamespacesOptions
+
+## Properties
+
+### limit?
+
+```ts
+optional limit: number;
+```
+
+An optional limit to the number of results to return.
+
+***
+
+### pageToken?
+
+```ts
+optional pageToken: string;
+```
+
+Token from a previous response for pagination.

docs/src/js/interfaces/ListNamespacesResponse.md

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / ListNamespacesResponse
+
+# Interface: ListNamespacesResponse
+
+## Properties
+
+### namespaces
+
+```ts
+namespaces: string[];
+```
+
+***
+
+### pageToken?
+
+```ts
+optional pageToken: string;
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md

@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / RestNamespaceConfig
+
+# Interface: RestNamespaceConfig
+
+Configuration for the built-in REST namespace (`"rest"`).
+
+The REST namespace talks to a remote catalog server over HTTP. See
+[https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces](https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces) for the documented surface;
+less-common knobs (TLS, metrics) live under
+[RestNamespaceConfig.extraProperties](RestNamespaceConfig.md#extraproperties).
+
+## Properties
+
+### extraProperties?
+
+```ts
+optional extraProperties: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Additional raw properties passed verbatim to the namespace
+implementation (e.g. `tls.*`, `ops_metrics_enabled`, `delimiter`).
+Typed fields above take precedence on key collision.
+
+***
+
+### headers?
+
+```ts
+optional headers: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+HTTP headers forwarded with each request. Keys are passed through
+as-is (e.g. `"x-api-key"`, `"Authorization"`).
+
+***
+
+### uri
+
+```ts
+uri: string;
+```
+
+Catalog endpoint URL.

nodejs/AGENTS.md

@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@ The core Rust library is in the `../rust/lancedb` directory, the rust binding
 code is in the `src/` directory and the typescript bindings are in
 the `lancedb/` directory.
 
-Whenever you change the Rust code, you will need to recompile: `npm run build`.
+Whenever you change the Rust code, you will need to recompile: `pnpm build`.
 
 Common commands:
-* Build: `npm run build`
-* Lint: `npm run lint`
-* Fix lints: `npm run lint-fix`
-* Test: `npm test`
-* Run single test file: `npm test __test__/arrow.test.ts`
+* Build: `pnpm build`
+* Lint: `pnpm lint`
+* Fix lints: `pnpm lint-fix`
+* Test: `pnpm test`
+* Run single test file: `pnpm test __test__/arrow.test.ts`

nodejs/CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -12,20 +12,22 @@ Typescript.
 * `src/`: Rust bindings source code
 * `lancedb/`: Typescript package source code
 * `__test__/`: Unit tests
-* `examples/`: An npm package with the examples shown in the documentation
+* `examples/`: A pnpm package with the examples shown in the documentation
 
 ## Development environment
 
 To set up your development environment, you will need to install the following:
 
-1. Node.js 14 or later
-2. Rust's package manager, Cargo. Use [rustup](https://rustup.rs/) to install.
-3. [protoc](https://grpc.io/docs/protoc-installation/) (Protocol Buffers compiler)
+1. Node.js 22 or later (required by pnpm 11)
+2. [pnpm](https://pnpm.io/installation) 11 or later (or run via `corepack enable`,
+   which uses the `packageManager` field in `package.json`)
+3. Rust's package manager, Cargo. Use [rustup](https://rustup.rs/) to install.
+4. [protoc](https://grpc.io/docs/protoc-installation/) (Protocol Buffers compiler)
 
 Initial setup:
 
 ```shell
-npm install
+pnpm install
 ```
 
 ### Commit Hooks
@@ -39,38 +41,38 @@ pre-commit install
 
 ## Development
 
-Most common development commands can be run using the npm scripts.
+Most common development commands can be run using the pnpm scripts.
 
 Build the package
 
 ```shell
-npm install
-npm run build
+pnpm install
+pnpm build
 ```
 
 Lint:
 
 ```shell
-npm run lint
+pnpm lint
 ```
 
 Format and fix lints:
 
 ```shell
-npm run lint-fix
+pnpm lint-fix
 ```
 
 Run tests:
 
 ```shell
-npm test
+pnpm test
 ```
 
 To run a single test:
 
 ```shell
 # Single file: table.test.ts
-npm test -- table.test.ts
+pnpm test -- table.test.ts
 # Single test: 'merge insert' in table.test.ts
-npm test -- table.test.ts --testNamePattern=merge\ insert
+pnpm test -- table.test.ts --testNamePattern=merge\ insert
 ```

nodejs/Cargo.toml

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ arrow-schema.workspace = true
 env_logger.workspace = true
 futures.workspace = true
 lancedb = { path = "../rust/lancedb", default-features = false }
+lance-namespace.workspace = true
 napi = { version = "3.8.3", default-features = false, features = [
     "napi9",
     "async"

nodejs/__test__/connection.test.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 import { readdirSync } from "fs";
 import { Field, Float64, Schema } from "apache-arrow";
 import * as tmp from "tmp";
-import { Connection, Table, connect } from "../lancedb";
+import { Connection, Table, connect, connectNamespace } from "../lancedb";
 import { LocalTable } from "../lancedb/table";
 
 describe("when connecting", () => {
@@ -306,3 +306,186 @@ describe("clone table functionality", () => {
     ).rejects.toThrow("Deep clone is not yet implemented");
   });
 });
+
+describe("namespaces", () => {
+  let tmpDir: tmp.DirResult;
+  let db: Connection;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    tmpDir = tmp.dirSync({ unsafeCleanup: true });
+    // The local DirectoryNamespace backend only supports child namespaces
+    // when manifest mode is enabled (see lance-namespace-impls/src/dir.rs).
+    db = await connect(tmpDir.name, {
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: opaque backend property key, must match Rust
+      namespaceClientProperties: { manifest_enabled: "true" },
+    });
+  });
+  afterEach(() => tmpDir.removeCallback());
+
+  it("should create and describe a namespace", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["myns"]);
+    const desc = await db.describeNamespace(["myns"]);
+    expect(desc).toBeDefined();
+  });
+
+  it("should list namespaces created at the root", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["alpha"]);
+    await db.createNamespace(["beta"]);
+    const list = await db.listNamespaces();
+    expect(list.namespaces).toEqual(expect.arrayContaining(["alpha", "beta"]));
+  });
+
+  it("should list child namespaces under a parent", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["parent"]);
+    await db.createNamespace(["parent", "child"]);
+    const list = await db.listNamespaces(["parent"]);
+    expect(list.namespaces).toContain("child");
+  });
+
+  it("should drop a namespace", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["ephemeral"]);
+    await db.dropNamespace(["ephemeral"]);
+    const list = await db.listNamespaces();
+    expect(list.namespaces).not.toContain("ephemeral");
+  });
+
+  it("should raise an error on any namespace op after close", async () => {
+    await db.close();
+    await expect(db.describeNamespace(["foo"])).rejects.toThrow(
+      "Connection is closed",
+    );
+    await expect(db.listNamespaces()).rejects.toThrow("Connection is closed");
+    await expect(db.createNamespace(["foo"])).rejects.toThrow(
+      "Connection is closed",
+    );
+    await expect(db.dropNamespace(["foo"])).rejects.toThrow(
+      "Connection is closed",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("should raise an understandable error when describing a non-existent namespace", async () => {
+    await expect(db.describeNamespace(["does-not-exist"])).rejects.toThrow(
+      /not found/i,
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("should raise an error when creating a namespace that already exists", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["dup"]);
+    await expect(db.createNamespace(["dup"])).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("should reject an unrecognized createNamespace mode with a clear error", async () => {
+    await expect(
+      // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noExplicitAny: deliberately bypass TS to test runtime validation
+      db.createNamespace(["x"], { mode: "frobnicate" as any }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/Invalid mode 'frobnicate'/);
+  });
+
+  it("should reject an unrecognized dropNamespace mode with a clear error", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["x"]);
+    await expect(
+      // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noExplicitAny: deliberately bypass TS to test runtime validation
+      db.dropNamespace(["x"], { mode: "frobnicate" as any }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/Invalid mode 'frobnicate'/);
+  });
+
+  it("should reject an unrecognized dropNamespace behavior with a clear error", async () => {
+    await db.createNamespace(["x"]);
+    await expect(
+      // biome-ignore lint/suspicious/noExplicitAny: deliberately bypass TS to test runtime validation
+      db.dropNamespace(["x"], { behavior: "frobnicate" as any }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/Invalid behavior 'frobnicate'/);
+  });
+});
+
+describe("connectNamespace", () => {
+  let tmpDir: tmp.DirResult;
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tmpDir = tmp.dirSync({ unsafeCleanup: true });
+  });
+  afterEach(() => tmpDir.removeCallback());
+
+  it("connects via the dir implementation and supports table ops", async () => {
+    const db = await connectNamespace("dir", { root: tmpDir.name });
+    await db.createTable("users", [{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }]);
+    await expect(db.tableNames()).resolves.toContain("users");
+  });
+
+  it("throws a clear error when implName is empty", async () => {
+    await expect(connectNamespace("", {})).rejects.toThrow(
+      "implName must be a non-empty string",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("throws when the namespace implementation is unknown", async () => {
+    await expect(connectNamespace("not-a-real-impl", {})).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("passes storage options through to the namespace", async () => {
+    const db = await connectNamespace(
+      "dir",
+      { root: tmpDir.name },
+      { storageOptions: { newTableDataStorageVersion: "stable" } },
+    );
+    await db.createTable("plumbing", [{ id: 1 }]);
+    await expect(db.tableNames()).resolves.toContain("plumbing");
+  });
+
+  it("supports child namespaces when manifestEnabled is true on the dir config", async () => {
+    const writer = await connectNamespace("dir", {
+      root: tmpDir.name,
+      manifestEnabled: true,
+    });
+    await writer.createNamespace(["analytics"]);
+    await writer.createTable("orders", [{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }], ["analytics"]);
+    await writer.close();
+
+    const reader = await connectNamespace("dir", {
+      root: tmpDir.name,
+      manifestEnabled: true,
+    });
+    await expect(reader.tableNames(["analytics"])).resolves.toContain("orders");
+    const orders = await reader.openTable("orders", ["analytics"]);
+    await expect(orders.countRows()).resolves.toBe(2);
+  });
+
+  it("merges extraProperties into the dir config and is overridden by typed fields", async () => {
+    // Two observable assertions:
+    // - Typed `root` overrides extraProperties.root: createTable would fail
+    //   under the bogus path if the override didn't happen.
+    // - extraProperties.manifest_enabled="false" is honored end-to-end. Child
+    //   namespaces require manifest mode (default true), so explicitly
+    //   disabling it via extraProperties must make createNamespace reject. If
+    //   extraProperties pass-through were silently broken, the default would
+    //   let createNamespace succeed.
+    const db = await connectNamespace("dir", {
+      root: tmpDir.name,
+      extraProperties: {
+        root: "/should/be/overridden",
+        // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: backend property key
+        manifest_enabled: "false",
+      },
+    });
+    await db.createTable("base", [{ id: 1 }]);
+    await expect(db.tableNames()).resolves.toContain("base");
+    await expect(db.createNamespace(["analytics"])).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("flows unknown top-level keys through when implName is dynamic (no silent drop)", async () => {
+    // Routes via the third overload because `impl` is `string`, not the
+    // literal `"dir"`. The dispatcher still notices the runtime value is
+    // "dir", but unknown keys like `manifest_enabled` must not be silently
+    // dropped during the conversion.
+    //
+    // Asserting a *negative* outcome (manifest disabled -> createNamespace
+    // rejects) is required for observability, since the backend default for
+    // `manifest_enabled` is true.
+    const impl: string = "dir";
+    const db = await connectNamespace(impl, {
+      root: tmpDir.name,
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: backend property key
+      manifest_enabled: "false",
+    });
+    await expect(db.createNamespace(["mixed"])).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+});

nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts

@@ -115,6 +115,12 @@ describe.each([arrow15, arrow16, arrow17, arrow18])(
       await expect(table.countRows()).resolves.toBe(1);
     });
 
+    it("should accept skipAutoCleanup on add()", async () => {
+      await table.add([{ id: 1 }], { skipAutoCleanup: true });
+      await table.add([{ id: 2 }], { skipAutoCleanup: true });
+      await expect(table.countRows()).resolves.toBe(2);
+    });
+
     it("should let me close the table", async () => {
       expect(table.isOpen()).toBe(true);
       table.close();

nodejs/examples/package.json

@@ -11,16 +11,17 @@
     "test": "node --experimental-vm-modules node_modules/.bin/jest --testEnvironment jest-environment-node-single-context --verbose",
     "lint": "biome check *.ts && biome format *.ts",
     "lint-ci": "biome ci .",
-    "lint-fix": "biome check --write *.ts && npm run format",
+    "lint-fix": "biome check --write *.ts && pnpm format",
     "format": "biome format --write *.ts"
   },
   "author": "Lance Devs",
   "license": "Apache-2.0",
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@11.1.1",
   "dependencies": {
-    "@huggingface/transformers": "^3.0.2",
+    "@huggingface/transformers": "3.0.2",
     "@lancedb/lancedb": "file:../dist",
-    "openai": "^4.29.2",
-    "sharp": "^0.33.5"
+    "openai": "4.29.2",
+    "sharp": "0.33.5"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "@biomejs/biome": "^1.7.3",

nodejs/examples/pnpm-workspace.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Block resolution of versions less than 24h old (Shai-Hulud window).
+# This is the pnpm 11 default but pinned here so it's visible to
+# reviewers and survives a future pnpm major flipping the default.
+minimumReleaseAge: 1440
+
+# Fail install if a transitive dep tries to run an unapproved script.
+strictDepBuilds: true
+
+allowBuilds:
+  '@biomejs/biome': true
+  onnxruntime-node: true
+  protobufjs: true
+  sharp: true

nodejs/lancedb/connection.ts

@@ -16,6 +16,18 @@ import {
 } from "./arrow";
 import { EmbeddingFunctionConfig, getRegistry } from "./embedding/registry";
 import { Connection as LanceDbConnection } from "./native";
+import type {
+  CreateNamespaceResponse,
+  DescribeNamespaceResponse,
+  DropNamespaceResponse,
+  ListNamespacesResponse,
+} from "./native";
+export type {
+  CreateNamespaceResponse,
+  DescribeNamespaceResponse,
+  DropNamespaceResponse,
+  ListNamespacesResponse,
+};
 import { sanitizeTable } from "./sanitize";
 import { LocalTable, Table } from "./table";
 
@@ -110,6 +122,28 @@ export interface TableNamesOptions {
   /** An optional limit to the number of results to return. */
   limit?: number;
 }
+
+export interface ListNamespacesOptions {
+  /** Token from a previous response for pagination. */
+  pageToken?: string;
+  /** An optional limit to the number of results to return. */
+  limit?: number;
+}
+
+export interface CreateNamespaceOptions {
+  /** Creation mode. */
+  mode?: "create" | "exist_ok" | "overwrite";
+  /** Properties to set on the new namespace. */
+  properties?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+export interface DropNamespaceOptions {
+  /** Whether to skip if the namespace doesn't exist, or fail. */
+  mode?: "skip" | "fail";
+  /** Refuse to drop if non-empty (restrict) or drop recursively (cascade). */
+  behavior?: "restrict" | "cascade";
+}
+
 /**
  * A LanceDB Connection that allows you to open tables and create new ones.
  *
@@ -268,6 +302,69 @@ export abstract class Connection {
    */
   abstract dropAllTables(namespacePath?: string[]): Promise<void>;
 
+  /**
+   * Describe a namespace, returning its properties.
+   *
+   * @param {string[]} namespacePath - The namespace path to describe, in
+   *   parent → child order, e.g. `["analytics", "sales"]`.
+   * @returns {Promise<DescribeNamespaceResponse>} The namespace's properties
+   *   (may be undefined if the namespace has none).
+   */
+  abstract describeNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+  ): Promise<DescribeNamespaceResponse>;
+
+  /**
+   * List the immediate child namespaces under the given parent.
+   *
+   * Results may be paginated. To retrieve subsequent pages, pass the
+   * `pageToken` returned by a previous call.
+   *
+   * @param {string[]} namespacePath - The parent namespace path. Defaults
+   *   to the root namespace if omitted.
+   * @param {Partial<ListNamespacesOptions>} options - Pagination options
+   *   (`pageToken`, `limit`).
+   * @returns {Promise<ListNamespacesResponse>} Child namespace names and
+   *   an optional token for fetching the next page.
+   */
+  abstract listNamespaces(
+    namespacePath?: string[],
+    options?: Partial<ListNamespacesOptions>,
+  ): Promise<ListNamespacesResponse>;
+
+  /**
+   * Create a new namespace at the given path.
+   *
+   * @param {string[]} namespacePath - The namespace path to create.
+   * @param {Partial<CreateNamespaceOptions>} options - Creation `mode`
+   *   ("create" | "exist_ok" | "overwrite") and optional `properties`
+   *   to attach to the namespace.
+   * @returns {Promise<CreateNamespaceResponse>} The properties of the
+   *   created namespace and an optional transaction id.
+   */
+  abstract createNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+    options?: Partial<CreateNamespaceOptions>,
+  ): Promise<CreateNamespaceResponse>;
+
+  /**
+   * Drop a namespace.
+   *
+   * Use `behavior: "cascade"` to also drop everything contained in the
+   * namespace (sub-namespaces and tables). The default `"restrict"`
+   * behavior refuses to drop a non-empty namespace.
+   *
+   * @param {string[]} namespacePath - The namespace path to drop.
+   * @param {Partial<DropNamespaceOptions>} options - `mode` ("skip" | "fail"
+   *   for missing-namespace handling) and `behavior` ("restrict" | "cascade").
+   * @returns {Promise<DropNamespaceResponse>} Any properties returned by
+   *   the server and an optional transaction id.
+   */
+  abstract dropNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+    options?: Partial<DropNamespaceOptions>,
+  ): Promise<DropNamespaceResponse>;
+
   /**
    * Clone a table from a source table.
    *
@@ -515,6 +612,45 @@ export class LocalConnection extends Connection {
   async dropAllTables(namespacePath?: string[]): Promise<void> {
     return this.inner.dropAllTables(namespacePath ?? []);
   }
+
+  describeNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+  ): Promise<DescribeNamespaceResponse> {
+    return this.inner.describeNamespace(namespacePath);
+  }
+
+  listNamespaces(
+    namespacePath?: string[],
+    options?: Partial<ListNamespacesOptions>,
+  ): Promise<ListNamespacesResponse> {
+    return this.inner.listNamespaces(
+      namespacePath ?? [],
+      options?.pageToken,
+      options?.limit,
+    );
+  }
+
+  createNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+    options?: Partial<CreateNamespaceOptions>,
+  ): Promise<CreateNamespaceResponse> {
+    return this.inner.createNamespace(
+      namespacePath,
+      options?.mode,
+      options?.properties,
+    );
+  }
+
+  dropNamespace(
+    namespacePath: string[],
+    options?: Partial<DropNamespaceOptions>,
+  ): Promise<DropNamespaceResponse> {
+    return this.inner.dropNamespace(
+      namespacePath,
+      options?.mode,
+      options?.behavior,
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 /**

nodejs/lancedb/index.ts

@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import {
 } from "./connection";
 
 import {
+  ConnectNamespaceOptions,
   ConnectionOptions,
   Connection as LanceDbConnection,
   JsHeaderProvider as NativeJsHeaderProvider,
@@ -22,6 +23,7 @@ export { JsHeaderProvider as NativeJsHeaderProvider } from "./native.js";
 export {
   AddColumnsSql,
   ConnectionOptions,
+  ConnectNamespaceOptions,
   IndexStatistics,
   IndexConfig,
   ClientConfig,
@@ -62,6 +64,13 @@ export {
   CreateTableOptions,
   TableNamesOptions,
   OpenTableOptions,
+  ListNamespacesOptions,
+  CreateNamespaceOptions,
+  DropNamespaceOptions,
+  ListNamespacesResponse,
+  CreateNamespaceResponse,
+  DropNamespaceResponse,
+  DescribeNamespaceResponse,
 } from "./connection";
 
 export { Session } from "./native.js";
@@ -293,3 +302,197 @@ export async function connect(
   );
   return new LocalConnection(nativeConn);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Configuration for the built-in directory namespace (`"dir"`).
+ *
+ * The directory namespace stores tables under a single root path (local
+ * filesystem or object storage URI). See
+ * {@link https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces} for the documented surface;
+ * less-common knobs live under {@link DirNamespaceConfig.extraProperties}.
+ */
+export interface DirNamespaceConfig {
+  /** Root path or URI containing the LanceDB tables. */
+  root: string;
+  /**
+   * Whether to maintain a namespace manifest at the root. Required for
+   * child namespaces. Defaults to true on the impl side.
+   */
+  manifestEnabled?: boolean;
+  /**
+   * Additional raw properties passed verbatim to the namespace
+   * implementation (e.g. `storage.*`, `credential_vendor.*`). Typed
+   * fields above take precedence on key collision.
+   */
+  extraProperties?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Configuration for the built-in REST namespace (`"rest"`).
+ *
+ * The REST namespace talks to a remote catalog server over HTTP. See
+ * {@link https://docs.lancedb.com/namespaces} for the documented surface;
+ * less-common knobs (TLS, metrics) live under
+ * {@link RestNamespaceConfig.extraProperties}.
+ */
+export interface RestNamespaceConfig {
+  /** Catalog endpoint URL. */
+  uri: string;
+  /**
+   * HTTP headers forwarded with each request. Keys are passed through
+   * as-is (e.g. `"x-api-key"`, `"Authorization"`).
+   */
+  headers?: Record<string, string>;
+  /**
+   * Additional raw properties passed verbatim to the namespace
+   * implementation (e.g. `tls.*`, `ops_metrics_enabled`, `delimiter`).
+   * Typed fields above take precedence on key collision.
+   */
+  extraProperties?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
+function dirConfigToProperties(
+  config: DirNamespaceConfig,
+): Record<string, string> {
+  // Spread the whole input so that unknown keys (e.g. a raw `manifest_enabled`
+  // passed via the dynamic-impl path) flow through instead of being dropped.
+  // Typed transformations layer on top.
+  const { manifestEnabled, extraProperties, ...rest } = config;
+  const properties: Record<string, string> = {
+    ...(extraProperties ?? {}),
+    ...(rest as Record<string, string>),
+  };
+  if (manifestEnabled !== undefined) {
+    properties.manifest_enabled = String(manifestEnabled);
+  }
+  return properties;
+}
+
+function restConfigToProperties(
+  config: RestNamespaceConfig,
+): Record<string, string> {
+  const { headers, extraProperties, ...rest } = config;
+  const properties: Record<string, string> = {
+    ...(extraProperties ?? {}),
+    ...(rest as Record<string, string>),
+  };
+  if (headers) {
+    for (const [name, value] of Object.entries(headers)) {
+      properties[`headers.${name}`] = value;
+    }
+  }
+  return properties;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Connect to a LanceDB database through a namespace.
+ *
+ * Unlike {@link connect}, which routes by URI scheme (local path vs.
+ * `db://` cloud), `connectNamespace` always returns a namespace-backed
+ * connection. The `implName` selects the namespace implementation:
+ *
+ * - `"dir"` — directory namespace, configured with {@link DirNamespaceConfig}.
+ * - `"rest"` — remote REST catalog, configured with {@link RestNamespaceConfig}.
+ * - Any other string — full module path for a custom implementation,
+ *   configured with a free-form string-keyed `properties` map.
+ *
+ * @example Typed dir namespace
+ * ```ts
+ * const db = await connectNamespace("dir", { root: "/path/to/db" });
+ * await db.createTable("users", [{ id: 1 }]);
+ * ```
+ *
+ * @example Typed REST namespace with auth headers
+ * ```ts
+ * const db = await connectNamespace("rest", {
+ *   uri: "https://catalog.example.com",
+ *   headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.CATALOG_KEY ?? "" },
+ * });
+ * ```
+ *
+ * @example Custom implementation with raw properties
+ * ```ts
+ * const db = await connectNamespace("my.custom.Namespace", {
+ *   endpoint: "...",
+ * });
+ * ```
+ */
+export function connectNamespace(
+  implName: "dir",
+  config: DirNamespaceConfig,
+  options?: Partial<ConnectNamespaceOptions>,
+): Promise<Connection>;
+/**
+ * Connect through the built-in REST namespace.
+ *
+ * Configured with {@link RestNamespaceConfig}. See the function-level
+ * documentation above for the full surface, examples, and how this
+ * relates to {@link connect}.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * const db = await connectNamespace("rest", {
+ *   uri: "https://catalog.example.com",
+ *   headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.CATALOG_KEY ?? "" },
+ * });
+ * ```
+ */
+export function connectNamespace(
+  implName: "rest",
+  config: RestNamespaceConfig,
+  options?: Partial<ConnectNamespaceOptions>,
+): Promise<Connection>;
+/**
+ * Connect through a custom namespace implementation by full module path,
+ * configured with a free-form string-keyed `properties` map. Use the
+ * typed overloads above for the built-in `"dir"` and `"rest"` impls.
+ *
+ * See the function-level documentation above for examples and how this
+ * relates to {@link connect}.
+ *
+ * @example
+ * ```ts
+ * const db = await connectNamespace("my.custom.Namespace", {
+ *   endpoint: "...",
+ * });
+ * ```
+ */
+export function connectNamespace(
+  implName: string,
+  properties: Record<string, string>,
+  options?: Partial<ConnectNamespaceOptions>,
+): Promise<Connection>;
+export async function connectNamespace(
+  implName: string,
+  configOrProperties:
+    | DirNamespaceConfig
+    | RestNamespaceConfig
+    | Record<string, string>,
+  options?: Partial<ConnectNamespaceOptions>,
+): Promise<Connection> {
+  let properties: Record<string, string>;
+  if (implName === "dir") {
+    properties = dirConfigToProperties(
+      configOrProperties as DirNamespaceConfig,
+    );
+  } else if (implName === "rest") {
+    properties = restConfigToProperties(
+      configOrProperties as RestNamespaceConfig,
+    );
+  } else {
+    properties = configOrProperties as Record<string, string>;
+  }
+
+  const finalOptions: ConnectNamespaceOptions = (options ??
+    {}) as ConnectNamespaceOptions;
+  finalOptions.storageOptions = cleanseStorageOptions(
+    finalOptions.storageOptions,
+  );
+
+  const nativeConn = await LanceDbConnection.newWithNamespace(
+    implName,
+    properties,
+    finalOptions,
+  );
+  return new LocalConnection(nativeConn);
+}

nodejs/lancedb/merge.ts

@@ -87,6 +87,23 @@ export class MergeInsertBuilder {
       this.#schema,
     );
   }
+
+  /**
+   * Skip the automatic cleanup of old dataset versions that would otherwise
+   * run as part of this merge insert's commit. Forwards to
+   * `MergeInsertBuilder::skip_auto_cleanup` in lance-core.
+   *
+   * Useful for high-frequency writers that prefer to manage version cleanup
+   * themselves, or writers without delete permissions on the underlying storage.
+   *
+   * @param skip - If true, the auto-cleanup step is skipped at commit time.
+   */
+  skipAutoCleanup(skip: boolean): MergeInsertBuilder {
+    return new MergeInsertBuilder(
+      this.#native.skipAutoCleanup(skip),
+      this.#schema,
+    );
+  }
   /**
    * Executes the merge insert operation
    *

nodejs/lancedb/table.ts

@@ -56,6 +56,18 @@ export interface AddDataOptions {
    * If "overwrite" then the new data will replace the existing data in the table.
    */
   mode: "append" | "overwrite";
+  /**
+   * If true, skip the automatic cleanup of old dataset versions that would
+   * otherwise run as part of this write's commit. Forwards to
+   * `WriteParams.skip_auto_cleanup` in lance-core.
+   *
+   * Useful for high-frequency writers that prefer to manage version cleanup
+   * themselves (for example, via a separate periodic optimize job), or for
+   * writers that don't have delete permissions on the underlying storage.
+   *
+   * Defaults to false.
+   */
+  skipAutoCleanup?: boolean;
 }
 
 export interface UpdateOptions {
@@ -636,7 +648,7 @@ export class LocalTable extends Table {
     const schema = await this.schema();
 
     const buffer = await fromDataToBuffer(data, undefined, schema);
-    return await this.inner.add(buffer, mode);
+    return await this.inner.add(buffer, mode, options?.skipAutoCleanup);
   }
 
   async update(

nodejs/package.json

@@ -38,15 +38,15 @@
     "url": "https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
-    "@aws-sdk/client-dynamodb": "^3.33.0",
-    "@aws-sdk/client-kms": "^3.33.0",
-    "@aws-sdk/client-s3": "^3.33.0",
+    "@aws-sdk/client-dynamodb": "3.1003.0",
+    "@aws-sdk/client-kms": "3.1003.0",
+    "@aws-sdk/client-s3": "3.1003.0",
     "@biomejs/biome": "^1.7.3",
     "@jest/globals": "^29.7.0",
-    "@napi-rs/cli": "^3.5.1",
+    "@napi-rs/cli": "3.5.1",
     "@types/axios": "^0.14.0",
     "@types/jest": "^29.1.2",
-    "@types/node": "^22.7.4",
+    "@types/node": "22.7.4",
     "@types/tmp": "^0.2.6",
     "apache-arrow-15": "npm:apache-arrow@15.0.0",
     "apache-arrow-16": "npm:apache-arrow@16.0.0",
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@
     "shx": "^0.3.4",
     "tmp": "^0.2.3",
     "ts-jest": "^29.1.2",
-    "typedoc": "^0.26.4",
-    "typedoc-plugin-markdown": "^4.2.1",
-    "typescript": "^5.5.4",
+    "typedoc": "0.26.4",
+    "typedoc-plugin-markdown": "4.2.1",
+    "typescript": "5.5.4",
     "typescript-eslint": "^7.1.0"
   },
   "ava": {
@@ -68,15 +68,16 @@
   "engines": {
     "node": ">= 18"
   },
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@11.1.1",
   "cpu": ["x64", "arm64"],
   "os": ["darwin", "linux", "win32"],
   "scripts": {
     "artifacts": "napi artifacts",
     "build:debug": "napi build --platform --dts ../lancedb/native.d.ts --js ../lancedb/native.js --output-dir lancedb",
-    "postbuild:debug": "shx mkdir -p dist && shx cp lancedb/*.node dist/",
+    "postbuild:debug": "shx mkdir -p dist && shx cp lancedb/*.node dist/ && node -e \"require('fs').writeFileSync('dist/package.json', JSON.stringify({name:'@lancedb/lancedb',type:'commonjs'}))\"",
     "build:release": "napi build --platform --release --dts ../lancedb/native.d.ts --js ../lancedb/native.js --output-dir dist",
-    "build": "npm run build:debug && npm run tsc",
-    "build-release": "npm run build:release && npm run tsc",
+    "build": "pnpm build:debug && pnpm tsc",
+    "build-release": "pnpm build:release && pnpm tsc",
     "tsc": "tsc -b",
     "posttsc": "shx cp lancedb/native.d.ts dist/native.d.ts",
     "lint-ci": "biome ci .",
@@ -86,7 +87,7 @@
     "lint-fix": "biome check --write . && biome format --write .",
     "prepublishOnly": "napi prepublish -t npm",
     "test": "jest --verbose",
-    "integration": "S3_TEST=1 npm run test",
+    "integration": "S3_TEST=1 pnpm test",
     "universal": "napi universalize",
     "version": "napi version"
   },
@@ -94,8 +95,8 @@
     "reflect-metadata": "^0.2.2"
   },
   "optionalDependencies": {
-    "@huggingface/transformers": "^3.0.2",
-    "openai": "^4.29.2"
+    "@huggingface/transformers": "3.0.2",
+    "openai": "4.29.2"
   },
   "peerDependencies": {
     "apache-arrow": ">=15.0.0 <=18.1.0"

nodejs/pnpm-workspace.yaml

@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# Flat node_modules layout. The @napi-rs/cli build step fails to locate
+# the cdylib artifact under pnpm's isolated layout; the hoisted linker
+# mirrors npm's structure and unblocks the native build.
+nodeLinker: hoisted
+
+# Block resolution of versions less than 24h old (Shai-Hulud window).
+# This is the pnpm 11 default but pinned here so it's visible to
+# reviewers and survives a future pnpm major flipping the default.
+minimumReleaseAge: 1440
+
+# Fail install if a transitive dep tries to run an unapproved script.
+strictDepBuilds: true
+
+allowBuilds:
+  '@biomejs/biome': true
+  onnxruntime-node: true
+  protobufjs: true
+  sharp: true

nodejs/src/connection.rs

@@ -8,12 +8,16 @@ use lancedb::database::{CreateTableMode, Database};
 use napi::bindgen_prelude::*;
 use napi_derive::*;
 
+use crate::ConnectNamespaceOptions;
 use crate::ConnectionOptions;
 use crate::error::NapiErrorExt;
 use crate::header::JsHeaderProvider;
 use crate::table::Table;
-use lancedb::connection::{ConnectBuilder, Connection as LanceDBConnection};
+use lancedb::connection::{ConnectBuilder, Connection as LanceDBConnection, connect_namespace};
 
+use lance_namespace::models::{
+    CreateNamespaceRequest, DescribeNamespaceRequest, DropNamespaceRequest, ListNamespacesRequest,
+};
 use lancedb::ipc::{ipc_file_to_batches, ipc_file_to_schema};
 
 #[napi]
@@ -21,6 +25,29 @@ pub struct Connection {
     inner: Option<LanceDBConnection>,
 }
 
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct DescribeNamespaceResponse {
+    pub properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+}
+
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct ListNamespacesResponse {
+    pub namespaces: Vec<String>,
+    pub page_token: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct CreateNamespaceResponse {
+    pub properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    pub transaction_id: Option<String>,
+}
+
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct DropNamespaceResponse {
+    pub properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    pub transaction_id: Option<Vec<String>>,
+}
+
 impl Connection {
     pub(crate) fn inner_new(inner: LanceDBConnection) -> Self {
         Self { inner: Some(inner) }
@@ -106,6 +133,39 @@ impl Connection {
         Ok(Self::inner_new(builder.execute().await.default_error()?))
     }
 
+    /// Create a new Connection instance backed by a namespace implementation.
+    #[napi(factory)]
+    pub async fn new_with_namespace(
+        impl_name: String,
+        properties: HashMap<String, String>,
+        options: ConnectNamespaceOptions,
+    ) -> napi::Result<Self> {
+        if impl_name.is_empty() {
+            return Err(napi::Error::from_reason(
+                "implName must be a non-empty string",
+            ));
+        }
+
+        let mut builder = connect_namespace(&impl_name, properties);
+        if let Some(interval) = options.read_consistency_interval {
+            builder =
+                builder.read_consistency_interval(std::time::Duration::from_secs_f64(interval));
+        }
+        if let Some(storage_options) = options.storage_options {
+            for (key, value) in storage_options {
+                builder = builder.storage_option(key, value);
+            }
+        }
+        if let Some(namespace_client_properties) = options.namespace_client_properties {
+            builder = builder.namespace_client_properties(namespace_client_properties);
+        }
+        if let Some(session) = options.session {
+            builder = builder.session(session.inner.clone());
+        }
+
+        Ok(Self::inner_new(builder.execute().await.default_error()?))
+    }
+
     #[napi]
     pub fn display(&self) -> napi::Result<String> {
         Ok(self.get_inner()?.to_string())
@@ -273,4 +333,130 @@ impl Connection {
         let ns = namespace_path.unwrap_or_default();
         self.get_inner()?.drop_all_tables(&ns).await.default_error()
     }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    /// Describe a namespace and return its properties.
+    pub async fn describe_namespace(
+        &self,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<DescribeNamespaceResponse> {
+        let req = DescribeNamespaceRequest {
+            id: Some(namespace_path),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let resp = self
+            .get_inner()?
+            .describe_namespace(req)
+            .await
+            .default_error()?;
+        Ok(DescribeNamespaceResponse {
+            properties: resp.properties,
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    /// List child namespaces under the given namespace path
+    pub async fn list_namespaces(
+        &self,
+        namespace_path: Option<Vec<String>>,
+        page_token: Option<String>,
+        limit: Option<u32>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<ListNamespacesResponse> {
+        let req = ListNamespacesRequest {
+            id: namespace_path,
+            page_token,
+            limit: limit.map(|l| l as i32),
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let resp = self
+            .get_inner()?
+            .list_namespaces(req)
+            .await
+            .default_error()?;
+        Ok(ListNamespacesResponse {
+            namespaces: resp.namespaces,
+            page_token: resp.page_token,
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    /// Create a new namespace with optional properties.
+    pub async fn create_namespace(
+        &self,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+        mode: Option<String>,
+        properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<CreateNamespaceResponse> {
+        let mode_str = mode
+            .map(|m| match m.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+                "create" => Ok("Create".to_string()),
+                "exist_ok" => Ok("ExistOk".to_string()),
+                "overwrite" => Ok("Overwrite".to_string()),
+                _ => Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!(
+                    "Invalid mode '{}': expected one of 'create', 'exist_ok', 'overwrite'",
+                    m
+                ))),
+            })
+            .transpose()?;
+        let req = CreateNamespaceRequest {
+            id: Some(namespace_path),
+            mode: mode_str,
+            properties,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let resp = self
+            .get_inner()?
+            .create_namespace(req)
+            .await
+            .default_error()?;
+        Ok(CreateNamespaceResponse {
+            properties: resp.properties,
+            transaction_id: resp.transaction_id,
+        })
+    }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    /// Drop a namespace.
+    pub async fn drop_namespace(
+        &self,
+        namespace_path: Vec<String>,
+        mode: Option<String>,
+        behavior: Option<String>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<DropNamespaceResponse> {
+        let mode_str = mode
+            .map(|m| match m.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+                "skip" => Ok("Skip".to_string()),
+                "fail" => Ok("Fail".to_string()),
+                _ => Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!(
+                    "Invalid mode '{}': expected one of 'skip', 'fail'",
+                    m
+                ))),
+            })
+            .transpose()?;
+        let behavior_str = behavior
+            .map(|b| match b.to_lowercase().as_str() {
+                "restrict" => Ok("Restrict".to_string()),
+                "cascade" => Ok("Cascade".to_string()),
+                _ => Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!(
+                    "Invalid behavior '{}': expected one of 'restrict', 'cascade'",
+                    b
+                ))),
+            })
+            .transpose()?;
+        let req = DropNamespaceRequest {
+            id: Some(namespace_path),
+            mode: mode_str,
+            behavior: behavior_str,
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+        let resp = self
+            .get_inner()?
+            .drop_namespace(req)
+            .await
+            .default_error()?;
+        Ok(DropNamespaceResponse {
+            properties: resp.properties,
+            transaction_id: resp.transaction_id,
+        })
+    }
 }

nodejs/src/lib.rs

@@ -67,6 +67,26 @@ pub struct OpenTableOptions {
     pub storage_options: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
 }
 
+#[napi(object)]
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct ConnectNamespaceOptions {
+    /// The interval, in seconds, at which to check for updates to the table
+    /// from other processes. If None, then consistency is not checked. For
+    /// performance reasons, this is the default. For strong consistency, set
+    /// this to zero seconds. Then every read will check for updates from other
+    /// processes. As a compromise, you can set this to a non-zero value for
+    /// eventual consistency.
+    pub read_consistency_interval: Option<f64>,
+    /// Configuration for object storage. The available options are described
+    /// at https://docs.lancedb.com/storage/
+    pub storage_options: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    /// Extra properties for the backing namespace client.
+    pub namespace_client_properties: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+    /// The session to use for this connection. Holds shared caches and other
+    /// session-specific state.
+    pub session: Option<session::Session>,
+}
+
 #[napi_derive::module_init]
 fn init() {
     let env = Env::new()

nodejs/src/merge.rs

@@ -50,6 +50,13 @@ impl NativeMergeInsertBuilder {
         this
     }
 
+    #[napi]
+    pub fn skip_auto_cleanup(&self, skip: bool) -> Self {
+        let mut this = self.clone();
+        this.inner.skip_auto_cleanup(skip);
+        this
+    }
+
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
     pub async fn execute(&self, buf: Buffer) -> napi::Result<MergeResult> {
         let data = ipc_file_to_batches(buf.to_vec())

nodejs/src/table.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ use std::collections::HashMap;
 use lancedb::ipc::{ipc_file_to_batches, ipc_file_to_schema};
 use lancedb::table::{
     AddDataMode, ColumnAlteration as LanceColumnAlteration, Duration, NewColumnTransform,
-    OptimizeAction, OptimizeOptions, Table as LanceDbTable,
+    OptimizeAction, OptimizeOptions, Table as LanceDbTable, WriteOptions,
 };
 use napi::bindgen_prelude::*;
 use napi_derive::napi;
@@ -68,7 +68,12 @@ impl Table {
     }
 
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
-    pub async fn add(&self, buf: Buffer, mode: String) -> napi::Result<AddResult> {
+    pub async fn add(
+        &self,
+        buf: Buffer,
+        mode: String,
+        skip_auto_cleanup: Option<bool>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<AddResult> {
         let batches = ipc_file_to_batches(buf.to_vec())
             .map_err(|e| napi::Error::from_reason(format!("Failed to read IPC file: {}", e)))?;
         let batches = batches
@@ -92,6 +97,13 @@ impl Table {
             return Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!("Invalid mode: {}", mode)));
         };
 
+        if skip_auto_cleanup.unwrap_or(false) {
+            op = op.write_options(WriteOptions {
+                skip_auto_cleanup: true,
+                ..Default::default()
+            });
+        }
+
         let res = op.execute().await.default_error()?;
         Ok(res.into())
     }

rust/lancedb/src/database/listing.rs

@@ -849,6 +849,10 @@ impl ListingDatabase {
             write_params.mode = WriteMode::Overwrite;
         }
 
+        if request.write_options.skip_auto_cleanup {
+            write_params.skip_auto_cleanup = true;
+        }
+
         write_params.session = Some(self.session.clone());
 
         write_params
@@ -2034,6 +2038,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }),
                 ..Default::default()
             }),
+            ..Default::default()
         };
 
         let table = db
@@ -2107,6 +2112,7 @@ mod tests {
                 }),
                 ..Default::default()
             }),
+            ..Default::default()
         };
 
         let table = db

rust/lancedb/src/database/namespace.rs

@@ -414,6 +414,10 @@ impl Database for LanceNamespaceDatabase {
             params.mode = WriteMode::Overwrite;
         }
 
+        if request.write_options.skip_auto_cleanup {
+            params.skip_auto_cleanup = true;
+        }
+
         // Set up storage options if provided
         if let Some(storage_opts) = initial_storage_options {
             let store_params = params

rust/lancedb/src/io/object_store.rs

@@ -234,6 +234,7 @@ mod test {
             .create_table("test", data)
             .write_options(WriteOptions {
                 lance_write_params: Some(param),
+                ..Default::default()
             })
             .execute()
             .await;

rust/lancedb/src/table.rs

@@ -189,6 +189,18 @@ pub struct WriteOptions {
     // Coming soon: https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/992
     // /// What behavior to take if the data contains invalid vectors
     // pub on_bad_vectors: BadVectorHandling,
+    /// If true, skip the automatic cleanup of old dataset versions that would
+    /// otherwise run during the commit. This forwards to
+    /// [`WriteParams::skip_auto_cleanup`] in lance-core.
+    ///
+    /// Useful for high-frequency writers that want to manage version cleanup
+    /// themselves (e.g. via a periodic optimize job), or for writers that
+    /// lack delete permissions on the underlying storage.
+    ///
+    /// If `lance_write_params` is also set with `skip_auto_cleanup = true`,
+    /// the cleanup is skipped. Setting this field to `true` forces the flag
+    /// on regardless of `lance_write_params`.
+    pub skip_auto_cleanup: bool,
     /// Advanced parameters that can be used to customize table creation
     ///
     /// Overlapping `OpenTableBuilder` options (e.g. [AddDataBuilder::mode]) will take
@@ -2283,7 +2295,8 @@ impl BaseTable for NativeTable {
 
         let output = add.into_plan(&table_schema, &table_def)?;
 
-        let lance_params = output
+        let skip_auto_cleanup = output.write_options.skip_auto_cleanup;
+        let mut lance_params = output
             .write_options
             .lance_write_params
             .unwrap_or(WriteParams {
@@ -2293,6 +2306,9 @@ impl BaseTable for NativeTable {
                 },
                 ..Default::default()
             });
+        if skip_auto_cleanup {
+            lance_params.skip_auto_cleanup = true;
+        }
 
         // Repartition for write parallelism if beneficial.
         let plan = if num_partitions > 1 {

rust/lancedb/src/table/add_data.rs

@@ -441,6 +441,7 @@ mod tests {
             .add(new_batch.clone())
             .write_options(WriteOptions {
                 lance_write_params: Some(param),
+                ..Default::default()
             })
             .mode(AddDataMode::Append)
             .execute()
@@ -761,4 +762,56 @@ mod tests {
         table2.add(struct_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
         assert_eq!(table2.count_rows(None).await.unwrap(), 2);
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_add_skip_auto_cleanup() {
+        // Verifies WriteOptions::skip_auto_cleanup is forwarded to lance-core's
+        // WriteParams and actually suppresses the cleanup hook on commit.
+        let tmp_dir = tempfile::tempdir().unwrap();
+        let uri = tmp_dir.path().to_str().unwrap();
+        let conn = connect(uri).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        let batch = record_batch!(("id", Int64, [1, 2, 3])).unwrap();
+        let table = conn.create_table("t", batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+        // Cleanup on every commit, with `older_than = 0s` so prior versions are
+        // immediately eligible.
+        table
+            .as_native()
+            .unwrap()
+            .update_config(vec![
+                ("lance.auto_cleanup.interval".to_string(), "1".to_string()),
+                (
+                    "lance.auto_cleanup.older_than".to_string(),
+                    "0s".to_string(),
+                ),
+            ])
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Write several versions with skip_auto_cleanup; none should be removed.
+        for i in 0..3 {
+            let new_batch = record_batch!(("id", Int64, [10 + i])).unwrap();
+            table
+                .add(new_batch)
+                .write_options(WriteOptions {
+                    skip_auto_cleanup: true,
+                    ..Default::default()
+                })
+                .execute()
+                .await
+                .unwrap();
+        }
+        let versions_before = table.list_versions().await.unwrap().len();
+
+        // Now write one more without the flag; cleanup should run and prune.
+        let new_batch = record_batch!(("id", Int64, [42])).unwrap();
+        table.add(new_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+        let versions_after = table.list_versions().await.unwrap().len();
+
+        assert!(
+            versions_after < versions_before,
+            "auto-cleanup should have removed old versions once the skip flag was off \
+             (before={versions_before}, after={versions_after})"
+        );
+    }
 }

rust/lancedb/src/table/datafusion/insert.rs

@@ -219,6 +219,7 @@ impl ExecutionPlan for InsertExec {
                 && let Some(merged_txn) = merge_transactions(transactions)
             {
                 let new_dataset = CommitBuilder::new(dataset.clone())
+                    .with_skip_auto_cleanup(write_params.skip_auto_cleanup)
                     .execute(merged_txn)
                     .await?;
                 ds_wrapper.update(new_dataset);

rust/lancedb/src/table/dataset.rs

@@ -528,6 +528,7 @@ mod tests {
                     }),
                     ..Default::default()
                 }),
+                ..Default::default()
             })
             .execute()
             .await
@@ -589,6 +590,7 @@ mod tests {
                     }),
                     ..Default::default()
                 }),
+                ..Default::default()
             })
             .execute()
             .await

rust/lancedb/src/table/merge.rs

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ pub struct MergeInsertBuilder {
     pub(crate) when_not_matched_by_source_delete_filt: Option<String>,
     pub(crate) timeout: Option<Duration>,
     pub(crate) use_index: bool,
+    pub(crate) skip_auto_cleanup: bool,
 }
 
 impl MergeInsertBuilder {
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ impl MergeInsertBuilder {
             when_not_matched_by_source_delete_filt: None,
             timeout: None,
             use_index: true,
+            skip_auto_cleanup: false,
         }
     }
 
@@ -148,6 +150,17 @@ impl MergeInsertBuilder {
         self
     }
 
+    /// Skip the automatic cleanup of old dataset versions that would otherwise
+    /// run during the merge insert commit.
+    ///
+    /// This forwards to [`lance::dataset::MergeInsertBuilder::skip_auto_cleanup`]
+    /// in lance-core. Useful for high-frequency writers that want to manage
+    /// version cleanup themselves, or writers without delete permissions.
+    pub fn skip_auto_cleanup(&mut self, skip: bool) -> &mut Self {
+        self.skip_auto_cleanup = skip;
+        self
+    }
+
     /// Executes the merge insert operation
     ///
     /// Returns version and statistics about the merge operation including the number of rows
@@ -191,6 +204,9 @@ pub(crate) async fn execute_merge_insert(
         builder.when_not_matched_by_source(WhenNotMatchedBySource::Keep);
     }
     builder.use_index(params.use_index);
+    if params.skip_auto_cleanup {
+        builder.skip_auto_cleanup(true);
+    }
 
     let future = if let Some(timeout) = params.timeout {
         let future = builder