chore: update lance dependency to v7.1.0-beta.2

Previously `check_lance_release.py` used `git/refs/tags` with
`--paginate --jq`, which drops the last page in some `gh` versions. The
7.x Lance tags all landed on the final (partial) page, causing the
script to report `v6.0.1` as the latest and never triggering an update.

Switch to the releases API with `per_page=20`, which returns the 20 most
recent releases sorted newest-first — one API call, no pagination
needed.

Co-authored-by: Claude Sonnet 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>

.bumpversion.toml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tool.bumpversion]
-current_version = "0.28.0-beta.11"
+current_version = "0.30.0-beta.1"
 parse = """(?x)
     (?P<major>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.
     (?P<minor>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.

.github/dependabot.yml

@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: weekly
     open-pull-requests-limit: 10
+    # Only update Cargo.lock, never widen/raise the version requirements in
+    # Cargo.toml. The goal is keeping the lockfile (and the binaries we ship)
+    # current on security fixes, not forcing our library's consumers onto
+    # newer minimum versions.
+    versioning-strategy: lockfile-only
     groups:
       rust-minor-patch:
         update-types:

.github/workflows/nodejs.yml

@@ -157,7 +157,10 @@ jobs:
         npx jest --testEnvironment jest-environment-node-single-context --verbose
   macos:
     timeout-minutes: 30
-    runs-on: "macos-14"
+    # macos-15 ships a newer linker; the older macos-14 linker fails to insert
+    # branch islands when the debug cdylib's __text section exceeds the 128 MB
+    # AArch64 B/BL branch range.
+    runs-on: "macos-15"
     defaults:
       run:
         shell: bash

.github/workflows/python.yml

@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ jobs:
       - name: Delete wheels
         run: rm -rf target/wheels
   pydantic1x:
-    timeout-minutes: 30
+    timeout-minutes: 60
     runs-on: "ubuntu-24.04"
     defaults:
       run:

.github/workflows/rust.yml

@@ -233,6 +233,26 @@ jobs:
           cargo update -p aws-sdk-sso --precise 1.62.0
           cargo update -p aws-sdk-ssooidc --precise 1.63.0
           cargo update -p aws-sdk-sts --precise 1.63.0
+          # aws-runtime/sigv4/credential-types/types and the aws-smithy-*
+          # crates bumped their MSRV to 1.91.1 in late 2026; pin to the last
+          # 1.91.0-compatible versions. The order matters — each downgrade
+          # only succeeds once everything that still pins it at a higher
+          # version has itself been downgraded.
+          cargo update -p aws-runtime --precise 1.5.12
+          cargo update -p aws-types --precise 1.3.9
+          cargo update -p aws-sigv4 --precise 1.3.5
+          cargo update -p aws-credential-types --precise 1.2.8
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-checksums --precise 0.63.9
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-runtime --precise 1.9.3
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-http --precise 0.62.4
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-eventstream --precise 0.60.12
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-http-client --precise 1.1.3
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-observability --precise 0.1.4
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-query --precise 0.60.8
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-runtime-api --precise 1.9.1
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-async --precise 1.2.6
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-types --precise 1.3.5
+          cargo update -p aws-smithy-xml --precise 0.60.11
           cargo update -p home --precise 0.5.9
       - name: cargo +${{ matrix.msrv }} check
         env:

AGENTS.md

@@ -17,9 +17,33 @@ Common commands:
 * Run tests: `cargo test --quiet --features remote --tests`
 * Run specific test: `cargo test --quiet --features remote -p <package_name> --test <test_name>`
 * Lint: `cargo clippy --quiet --features remote --tests --examples`
-* Format: `cargo fmt --all`
+* Format Rust: `cargo fmt --all`
+* Format Python: `ruff format .`
+* Lint Python: `ruff check .`
+* Bootstrap Python dev env: `cd python && uv run --extra tests --extra dev maturin develop --extras tests,dev`
+* Run Python tests: `cd python && uv run --extra tests pytest python/tests -vv --durations=10 -m "not slow and not s3_test"`
+* Run specific Python test: `cd python && uv run --extra tests pytest python/tests/<test_file>.py::<test_name> -q`
 
-Before committing changes, run formatting.
+For Python validation, prefer the uv-managed environment declared by `python/uv.lock`.
+Do not treat system `python`, global `pytest`, or missing editable-install errors as
+final blockers; bootstrap or enter the uv environment instead. If `lancedb._lancedb`
+is missing or stale, or if Rust/PyO3 binding code changed, rebuild the Python
+extension with the bootstrap command above before running tests.
+
+Before committing changes, run formatting for every language you touched. At minimum:
+
+* Rust changes: run `cargo fmt --all`.
+* Python changes: run `ruff format .` and `ruff check .` from the repository root,
+  and run targeted tests through `cd python && uv run ...`.
+* TypeScript changes: run the relevant `npm`/`pnpm` lint, format, build, and docs commands in `nodejs`.
+
+Before creating a PR, the exact value passed to `gh pr create --title` must follow
+Conventional Commits, such as `fix: support nested field paths in native index creation`
+or `feat(python): add dataset multiprocessing support`. Do not use a plain natural
+language summary like `Support nested field paths in native index creation` as the PR
+title. The semantic-release check uses the PR title and body as the merge commit message,
+so a non-conventional PR title will fail CI. After creating a PR, read the remote PR title
+back and fix it immediately if it is not conventional.
 
 ## Coding tips
 

Cargo.toml

@@ -13,20 +13,20 @@ categories = ["database-implementations"]
 rust-version = "1.91.0"
 
 [workspace.dependencies]
-lance = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-core = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-datagen = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-file = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-io = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-index = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-linalg = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-namespace = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-namespace-impls = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-table = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-testing = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-datafusion = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-encoding = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
-lance-arrow = { "version" = "=7.0.0-beta.7", "tag" = "v7.0.0-beta.7", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-core = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-datagen = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-file = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-io = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-index = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-linalg = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-namespace = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-namespace-impls = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", default-features = false, "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-table = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-testing = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-datafusion = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-encoding = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
+lance-arrow = { "version" = "=7.1.0-beta.2", "tag" = "v7.1.0-beta.2", "git" = "https://github.com/lance-format/lance.git" }
 ahash = "0.8"
 # Note that this one does not include pyarrow
 arrow = { version = "58.0.0", optional = false }

ci/check_lance_release.py

@@ -112,25 +112,25 @@ def fetch_remote_tags() -> List[TagInfo]:
             "api",
             "-X",
             "GET",
-            f"repos/{LANCE_REPO}/git/refs/tags",
-            "--paginate",
+            f"repos/{LANCE_REPO}/releases",
             "--jq",
-            ".[].ref",
+            ".[].tag_name",
+            "-F",
+            "per_page=20",
         ]
     )
     tags: List[TagInfo] = []
     for line in output.splitlines():
-        ref = line.strip()
-        if not ref.startswith("refs/tags/v"):
+        tag = line.strip()
+        if not tag.startswith("v"):
             continue
-        tag = ref.split("refs/tags/")[-1]
         version = tag.lstrip("v")
         try:
             tags.append(TagInfo(tag=tag, version=version, semver=parse_semver(version)))
         except ValueError:
             continue
     if not tags:
-        raise RuntimeError("No Lance tags could be parsed from GitHub API output")
+        raise RuntimeError("No Lance releases could be parsed from GitHub API output")
     return tags
 
 

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.11</version>
+    <version>0.30.0-beta.1</version>
 </dependency>
 ```
 

docs/src/js/classes/Connection.md

@@ -441,18 +441,28 @@ Open a table in the database.
 
 ```ts
 abstract renameTable(
-   oldName,
+   currentName,
    newName,
-   namespacePath?): Promise<void>
+   options?): Promise<void>
 ```
 
+Rename a table.
+
+Currently only supported by LanceDB Cloud. Local OSS connections and
+namespace-backed connections (via [connectNamespace](../functions/connectNamespace.md)) reject with
+a "not supported" error.
+
 #### Parameters
 
-* **oldName**: `string`
+* **currentName**: `string`
+    The current name of the table.
 
 * **newName**: `string`
+    The new name for the table.
 
-* **namespacePath?**: `string`[]
+* **options?**: [`RenameTableOptions`](../interfaces/RenameTableOptions.md)
+    Optional namespace paths. When
+    `newNamespacePath` is omitted the table stays in `namespacePath`.
 
 #### Returns
 

docs/src/js/classes/Query.md

@@ -343,6 +343,30 @@ This is useful for pagination.
 
 ***
 
+### orderBy()
+
+```ts
+orderBy(ordering): this
+```
+
+Sort the results by the specified column(s).
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **ordering**: [`ColumnOrdering`](../interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md) \| [`ColumnOrdering`](../interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md)[]
+
+#### Returns
+
+`this`
+
+This query builder.
+
+#### Inherited from
+
+`StandardQueryBase.orderBy`
+
+***
+
 ### outputSchema()
 
 ```ts

docs/src/js/classes/Table.md

@@ -690,6 +690,74 @@ of the given query
 
 ***
 
+### setLsmWriteSpec()
+
+```ts
+abstract setLsmWriteSpec(spec): Promise<void>
+```
+
+Install an [LsmWriteSpec](../interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.md) on this table, selecting Lance's MemWAL
+LSM-style write path for future `mergeInsert` calls.
+
+`LsmWriteSpec` chooses one of three sharding strategies via `specType`:
+
+- `"bucket"` — hash-bucket writes by the single-column unenforced primary
+  key (`column` and `numBuckets` required).
+- `"identity"` — shard by the raw value of a scalar `column`.
+- `"unsharded"` — route every write to a single shard.
+
+All variants require the table to have an unenforced primary key
+([Table#setUnenforcedPrimaryKey](Table.md#setunenforcedprimarykey)); bucket sharding additionally
+requires it to be the single column being bucketed.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **spec**: [`LsmWriteSpec`](../interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.md)
+    The sharding spec to install.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`void`&gt;
+
+#### Example
+
+```ts
+await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+await table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+  specType: "bucket",
+  column: "id",
+  numBuckets: 16,
+  maintainedIndexes: ["id_idx"],
+});
+```
+
+***
+
+### setUnenforcedPrimaryKey()
+
+```ts
+abstract setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(columns): Promise<void>
+```
+
+Set the unenforced primary key for this table to a single column.
+
+"Unenforced" means LanceDB does not check uniqueness on writes; the
+column is recorded in the schema as the primary key for use by features
+such as `merge_insert`. Only single-column primary keys are supported,
+and the key cannot be changed once set.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **columns**: `string` \| `string`[]
+    The primary key column. A one-element
+    array is also accepted; passing more than one column is rejected.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`void`&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### stats()
 
 ```ts
@@ -793,6 +861,23 @@ Return the table as an arrow table
 
 ***
 
+### unsetLsmWriteSpec()
+
+```ts
+abstract unsetLsmWriteSpec(): Promise<void>
+```
+
+Remove the [LsmWriteSpec](../interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.md) from this table, reverting to the standard
+`mergeInsert` write path.
+
+Errors if no spec is currently set.
+
+#### Returns
+
+`Promise`&lt;`void`&gt;
+
+***
+
 ### update()
 
 #### update(opts)

docs/src/js/classes/VectorQuery.md

@@ -498,6 +498,30 @@ This is useful for pagination.
 
 ***
 
+### orderBy()
+
+```ts
+orderBy(ordering): this
+```
+
+Sort the results by the specified column(s).
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **ordering**: [`ColumnOrdering`](../interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md) \| [`ColumnOrdering`](../interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md)[]
+
+#### Returns
+
+`this`
+
+This query builder.
+
+#### Inherited from
+
+`StandardQueryBase.orderBy`
+
+***
+
 ### outputSchema()
 
 ```ts

docs/src/js/globals.md

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
 - [AlterColumnsResult](interfaces/AlterColumnsResult.md)
 - [ClientConfig](interfaces/ClientConfig.md)
 - [ColumnAlteration](interfaces/ColumnAlteration.md)
+- [ColumnOrdering](interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md)
 - [CompactionStats](interfaces/CompactionStats.md)
 - [ConnectNamespaceOptions](interfaces/ConnectNamespaceOptions.md)
 - [ConnectionOptions](interfaces/ConnectionOptions.md)
@@ -79,12 +80,14 @@
 - [IvfRqOptions](interfaces/IvfRqOptions.md)
 - [ListNamespacesOptions](interfaces/ListNamespacesOptions.md)
 - [ListNamespacesResponse](interfaces/ListNamespacesResponse.md)
+- [LsmWriteSpec](interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.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)
+- [RenameTableOptions](interfaces/RenameTableOptions.md)
 - [RestNamespaceConfig](interfaces/RestNamespaceConfig.md)
 - [RetryConfig](interfaces/RetryConfig.md)
 - [ScannableOptions](interfaces/ScannableOptions.md)
@@ -102,6 +105,7 @@
 - [UpdateResult](interfaces/UpdateResult.md)
 - [Version](interfaces/Version.md)
 - [WriteExecutionOptions](interfaces/WriteExecutionOptions.md)
+- [WriteProgress](interfaces/WriteProgress.md)
 
 ## Type Aliases
 

docs/src/js/interfaces/AddDataOptions.md

@@ -19,3 +19,39 @@ mode: "append" | "overwrite";
 If "append" (the default) then the new data will be added to the table
 
 If "overwrite" then the new data will replace the existing data in the table.
+
+***
+
+### progress()
+
+```ts
+progress: (progress) => void;
+```
+
+Optional callback invoked periodically with write progress.
+
+The callback is fired once per batch written and once more with
+`done: true` when the write completes. Calls are dispatched
+asynchronously to the JS event loop and never block the write — a slow
+callback will queue events rather than back-pressure the writer.
+
+Errors thrown from the callback are logged with `console.warn` and
+swallowed — they do not abort the write.
+
+#### Parameters
+
+* **progress**: [`WriteProgress`](WriteProgress.md)
+
+#### Returns
+
+`void`
+
+#### Example
+
+```ts
+await table.add(data, {
+  progress: (p) => {
+    console.log(`${p.outputRows}/${p.totalRows ?? "?"} rows`);
+  },
+});
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/ColumnOrdering.md

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / ColumnOrdering
+
+# Interface: ColumnOrdering
+
+## Properties
+
+### ascending?
+
+```ts
+optional ascending: boolean;
+```
+
+***
+
+### columnName
+
+```ts
+columnName: string;
+```
+
+***
+
+### nullsFirst?
+
+```ts
+optional nullsFirst: boolean;
+```

docs/src/js/interfaces/LsmWriteSpec.md

@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / LsmWriteSpec
+
+# Interface: LsmWriteSpec
+
+Specification selecting Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for
+`mergeInsert`.
+
+`specType` is `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`. For `"bucket"`,
+`column` and `numBuckets` are required; for `"identity"`, `column` is
+required.
+
+## Properties
+
+### column?
+
+```ts
+optional column: string;
+```
+
+Bucket and identity variants: the sharding column.
+
+***
+
+### maintainedIndexes?
+
+```ts
+optional maintainedIndexes: string[];
+```
+
+Names of indexes the MemWAL should keep up to date during writes.
+
+***
+
+### numBuckets?
+
+```ts
+optional numBuckets: number;
+```
+
+Bucket variant: the number of buckets, in `[1, 1024]`.
+
+***
+
+### specType
+
+```ts
+specType: "bucket" | "identity" | "unsharded";
+```
+
+One of `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`.
+
+***
+
+### writerConfigDefaults?
+
+```ts
+optional writerConfigDefaults: Record<string, string>;
+```
+
+Default `ShardWriter` configuration recorded in the MemWAL index.

docs/src/js/interfaces/RenameTableOptions.md

@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / RenameTableOptions
+
+# Interface: RenameTableOptions
+
+## Properties
+
+### namespacePath?
+
+```ts
+optional namespacePath: string[];
+```
+
+The namespace path of the table being renamed. Defaults to the root
+namespace (`[]`) when omitted.
+
+***
+
+### newNamespacePath?
+
+```ts
+optional newNamespacePath: string[];
+```
+
+The namespace path to move the table to as part of the rename. When
+omitted the table stays in `namespacePath`.

docs/src/js/interfaces/WriteProgress.md

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+[**@lancedb/lancedb**](../README.md) • **Docs**
+
+***
+
+[@lancedb/lancedb](../globals.md) / WriteProgress
+
+# Interface: WriteProgress
+
+Progress snapshot for a write operation, delivered to the `progress`
+callback passed to [Table.add](../classes/Table.md#add).
+
+## Properties
+
+### activeTasks
+
+```ts
+activeTasks: number;
+```
+
+Number of parallel write tasks currently in flight.
+
+***
+
+### done
+
+```ts
+done: boolean;
+```
+
+`true` for the final callback; `false` otherwise.
+
+***
+
+### elapsedSeconds
+
+```ts
+elapsedSeconds: number;
+```
+
+Wall-clock seconds since the write started.
+
+***
+
+### outputBytes
+
+```ts
+outputBytes: number;
+```
+
+Number of bytes written so far.
+
+***
+
+### outputRows
+
+```ts
+outputRows: number;
+```
+
+Number of rows written so far.
+
+***
+
+### totalRows?
+
+```ts
+optional totalRows: number;
+```
+
+Total rows expected, when the input source reports it.
+
+Always set on the final callback (the one with `done: true`), falling
+back to the actual number of rows written when the source could not
+report a row count up front.
+
+***
+
+### totalTasks
+
+```ts
+totalTasks: number;
+```
+
+Total number of parallel write tasks (the write parallelism).

docs/src/python/python.md

@@ -166,6 +166,12 @@ lists the indices that LanceDb supports.
 
 ::: lancedb.index.IvfFlat
 
+::: lancedb.index.IvfSq
+
+::: lancedb.index.IvfRq
+
+::: lancedb.index.HnswFlat
+
 ::: lancedb.table.IndexStatistics
 
 ## Querying (Asynchronous)

java/lancedb-core/pom.xml

@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
     <parent>
       <groupId>com.lancedb</groupId>
       <artifactId>lancedb-parent</artifactId>
-      <version>0.28.0-beta.11</version>
+      <version>0.30.0-beta.1</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.11</version>
+    <version>0.30.0-beta.1</version>
     <packaging>pom</packaging>
     <name>${project.artifactId}</name>
     <description>LanceDB Java SDK Parent POM</description>
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
     <properties>
         <project.build.sourceEncoding>UTF-8</project.build.sourceEncoding>
         <arrow.version>15.0.0</arrow.version>
-        <lance-core.version>7.0.0-beta.7</lance-core.version>
+        <lance-core.version>7.1.0-beta.2</lance-core.version>
         <spotless.skip>false</spotless.skip>
         <spotless.version>2.30.0</spotless.version>
         <spotless.java.googlejavaformat.version>1.7</spotless.java.googlejavaformat.version>

nodejs/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 [package]
 name = "lancedb-nodejs"
 edition.workspace = true
-version = "0.28.0-beta.11"
+version = "0.30.0-beta.1"
 publish = false
 license.workspace = true
 description.workspace = true

nodejs/__test__/connection.test.ts

@@ -47,6 +47,14 @@ describe("given a connection", () => {
     await db.close();
     expect(db.isOpen()).toBe(false);
     await expect(db.tableNames()).rejects.toThrow("Connection is closed");
+    await expect(db.renameTable("a", "b")).rejects.toThrow(
+      "Connection is closed",
+    );
+  });
+
+  it("should report renameTable as unsupported on an OSS connection", async () => {
+    await db.createTable("a", [{ id: 1 }]);
+    await expect(db.renameTable("a", "b")).rejects.toThrow(/not supported/);
   });
   it("should be able to create a table from an object arg `createTable(options)`, or args `createTable(name, data, options)`", async () => {
     let tbl = await db.createTable("test", [{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }]);
@@ -81,16 +89,6 @@ describe("given a connection", () => {
     await db.createTable("test4", [{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }]);
   });
 
-  it("should expose renameTable and reject on OSS listing DB", async () => {
-    await db.createTable("old_name", [{ id: 1 }]);
-
-    await expect(db.renameTable("old_name", "new_name")).rejects.toThrow(
-      "rename_table is not supported in LanceDB OSS",
-    );
-
-    await expect(db.tableNames()).resolves.toEqual(["old_name"]);
-  });
-
   it("should fail if creating table twice, unless overwrite is true", async () => {
     let tbl = await db.createTable("test", [{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }]);
     await expect(tbl.countRows()).resolves.toBe(2);

nodejs/__test__/query.test.ts

@@ -109,3 +109,209 @@ describe("Query outputSchema", () => {
     expect(schema.fields.length).toBe(3);
   });
 });
+
+describe("Query orderBy", () => {
+  let tmpDir: tmp.DirResult;
+  let table: Table;
+
+  beforeEach(async () => {
+    tmpDir = tmp.dirSync({ unsafeCleanup: true });
+    const db = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+
+    // Create table with numeric data for sorting
+    const schema = new Schema([
+      new Field("id", new Int64(), true),
+      new Field("score", new Float32(), true),
+      new Field("name", new Utf8(), true),
+    ]);
+
+    const data = makeArrowTable(
+      [
+        { id: 1n, score: 3.5, name: "charlie" },
+        { id: 2n, score: 1.2, name: "alice" },
+        { id: 3n, score: 2.8, name: "bob" },
+        { id: 4n, score: 0.5, name: "david" },
+        { id: 5n, score: 4.1, name: "eve" },
+      ],
+      { schema },
+    );
+    table = await db.createTable("test", data);
+  });
+
+  afterEach(() => {
+    tmpDir.removeCallback();
+  });
+
+  it("should sort by single column ascending", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score", ascending: true, nullsFirst: false })
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(5);
+    // Verify ascending order
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(0.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(1.2, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(results[3].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[4].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should sort by single column descending", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score", ascending: false, nullsFirst: false })
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(5);
+    // Verify descending order
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(results[3].score).toBeCloseTo(1.2, 0.001);
+    expect(results[4].score).toBeCloseTo(0.5, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should use ascending as default direction", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score" })
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(5);
+    // Verify ascending order (default)
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(0.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(1.2, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(results[3].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[4].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should sort by string column", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "name" })
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(5);
+    // Verify alphabetical order
+    expect(results[0].name).toBe("alice");
+    expect(results[1].name).toBe("bob");
+    expect(results[2].name).toBe("charlie");
+    expect(results[3].name).toBe("david");
+    expect(results[4].name).toBe("eve");
+  });
+
+  it("should support method chaining with where", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .where("score > 2.0")
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score" })
+      .toArray();
+    expect(results.length).toBe(3);
+    // Verify filtered and sorted
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should support method chaining with limit", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score", ascending: false })
+      .limit(3)
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(3);
+    // Verify top 3 in descending order
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should support method chaining with offset", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score" })
+      .offset(2)
+      .limit(2)
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(2);
+    // Verify results skip first 2 and take next 2
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+  });
+
+  it("should support method chaining with select", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "name" })
+      .select(["name", "score"])
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(5);
+    // Verify only selected columns are present
+    expect(Object.keys(results[0])).toEqual(["name", "score"]);
+    expect(Object.keys(results[4])).toEqual(["name", "score"]);
+    // Verify sorted by name
+    expect(results[0].name).toBe("alice");
+    expect(results[4].name).toBe("eve");
+  });
+
+  it("should support complex method chaining", async () => {
+    const results = await table
+      .query()
+      .where("score > 1.0")
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "score", ascending: false })
+      .limit(3)
+      .select(["id", "score", "name"])
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.length).toBe(3);
+    // Verify filtered, sorted, limited, and projected
+    expect(results[0].score).toBeCloseTo(4.1, 0.001);
+    expect(results[1].score).toBeCloseTo(3.5, 0.001);
+    expect(results[2].score).toBeCloseTo(2.8, 0.001);
+    expect(Object.keys(results[0])).toEqual(["id", "score", "name"]);
+  });
+
+  it("should support multi-column ordering and null placement", async () => {
+    const schema = new Schema([
+      new Field("group", new Int64(), true),
+      new Field("score", new Float32(), true),
+      new Field("name", new Utf8(), true),
+    ]);
+
+    const data = makeArrowTable(
+      [
+        { group: 1n, score: null, name: "z" },
+        { group: 1n, score: 1.0, name: "b" },
+        { group: 1n, score: 1.0, name: "a" },
+        { group: 2n, score: 0.5, name: "c" },
+      ],
+      { schema },
+    );
+    const nullTable = await (await connect(tmpDir.name)).createTable(
+      "test_multi_order",
+      data,
+      { mode: "overwrite" },
+    );
+
+    const results = await nullTable
+      .query()
+      .orderBy([
+        { columnName: "group", ascending: true, nullsFirst: false },
+        { columnName: "score", ascending: true, nullsFirst: true },
+        { columnName: "name", ascending: true, nullsFirst: false },
+      ])
+      .toArray();
+
+    expect(results.map((r) => [r.group, r.score, r.name])).toEqual([
+      [1n, null, "z"],
+      [1n, 1.0, "a"],
+      [1n, 1.0, "b"],
+      [2n, 0.5, "c"],
+    ]);
+  });
+});

nodejs/__test__/remote.test.ts

@@ -617,4 +617,68 @@ describe("remote connection", () => {
       );
     });
   });
+
+  describe("renameTable", () => {
+    async function captureRenameRequest(
+      call: (db: Connection) => Promise<void>,
+    ): Promise<{ url: string; body: Record<string, unknown> }> {
+      let captured: { url: string; body: Record<string, unknown> } | undefined;
+      await withMockDatabase((req, res) => {
+        let raw = "";
+        req.on("data", (chunk) => {
+          raw += chunk;
+        });
+        req.on("end", () => {
+          captured = {
+            url: req.url ?? "",
+            body: raw ? JSON.parse(raw) : {},
+          };
+          res.writeHead(200, { "Content-Type": "application/json" }).end("");
+        });
+      }, call);
+      if (!captured) {
+        throw new Error("mock server never saw a request");
+      }
+      return captured;
+    }
+
+    it("sends rename request for a table in the root namespace", async () => {
+      const { url, body } = await captureRenameRequest(async (db) => {
+        await db.renameTable("table1", "table2");
+      });
+      expect(url).toBe("/v1/table/table1/rename/");
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: snake_case mandated by the server wire format
+      expect(body).toEqual({ new_table_name: "table2" });
+    });
+
+    it("omits new_namespace when only the current namespace is supplied", async () => {
+      // Safe-default check: passing namespacePath alone must not send
+      // `new_namespace`, so the server keeps the table in its current
+      // namespace instead of silently moving it to root.
+      const { url, body } = await captureRenameRequest(async (db) => {
+        await db.renameTable("table1", "table2", {
+          namespacePath: ["ns1"],
+        });
+      });
+      expect(url).toBe("/v1/table/ns1$table1/rename/");
+      // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: snake_case mandated by the server wire format
+      expect(body).toEqual({ new_table_name: "table2" });
+    });
+
+    it("includes new_namespace in the body for a cross-namespace rename", async () => {
+      const { url, body } = await captureRenameRequest(async (db) => {
+        await db.renameTable("table1", "table2", {
+          namespacePath: ["ns1"],
+          newNamespacePath: ["ns2"],
+        });
+      });
+      expect(url).toBe("/v1/table/ns1$table1/rename/");
+      expect(body).toEqual({
+        // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: snake_case mandated by the server wire format
+        new_table_name: "table2",
+        // biome-ignore lint/style/useNamingConvention: snake_case mandated by the server wire format
+        new_namespace: ["ns2"],
+      });
+    });
+  });
 });

nodejs/__test__/table.test.ts

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import {
   List,
   Schema,
   SchemaLike,
+  Struct,
   Type,
   Uint8,
   Utf8,
@@ -115,6 +116,48 @@ describe.each([arrow15, arrow16, arrow17, arrow18])(
       await expect(table.countRows()).resolves.toBe(1);
     });
 
+    it("should invoke the progress callback", async () => {
+      const events: import("../lancedb").WriteProgress[] = [];
+      await table.add([{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }, { id: 3 }], {
+        progress: (p) => events.push(p),
+      });
+
+      expect(events.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+      const last = events[events.length - 1];
+      expect(last.done).toBe(true);
+      // Earlier callbacks must have done=false.
+      for (const ev of events.slice(0, -1)) {
+        expect(ev.done).toBe(false);
+      }
+      // outputRows reflects the rows added in this call, not table size.
+      expect(last.outputRows).toBe(3);
+      // The input source (an array) reports a row count, so totalRows is set.
+      expect(last.totalRows).toBe(3);
+      // outputRows is monotonic.
+      for (let i = 1; i < events.length; i++) {
+        expect(events[i].outputRows).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(
+          events[i - 1].outputRows,
+        );
+      }
+    });
+
+    it("should swallow errors thrown from the progress callback", async () => {
+      const warn = jest
+        .spyOn(console, "warn")
+        .mockImplementation(() => undefined);
+      try {
+        const res = await table.add([{ id: 1 }, { id: 2 }], {
+          progress: () => {
+            throw new Error("callback bomb");
+          },
+        });
+        expect(res.version).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+        expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalled();
+      } finally {
+        warn.mockRestore();
+      }
+    });
+
     it("should let me close the table", async () => {
       expect(table.isOpen()).toBe(true);
       table.close();
@@ -738,6 +781,113 @@ describe("When creating an index", () => {
     expect(indices2.length).toBe(0);
   });
 
+  it("should create and search a nested vector index", async () => {
+    const db = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const nestedSchema = new Schema([
+      new Field("id", new Int32(), true),
+      new Field(
+        "image",
+        new Struct([
+          new Field(
+            "embedding",
+            new FixedSizeList(2, new Field("item", new Float32(), true)),
+            true,
+          ),
+        ]),
+        true,
+      ),
+    ]);
+    const nestedTable = await db.createTable(
+      "nested_vector",
+      makeArrowTable(
+        Array.from({ length: 300 }, (_, id) => ({
+          id,
+          image: { embedding: [id, id + 1] },
+        })),
+        { schema: nestedSchema },
+      ),
+    );
+
+    await nestedTable.createIndex("image.embedding", {
+      name: "image_embedding_idx",
+    });
+    const indices = await nestedTable.listIndices();
+    expect(indices).toContainEqual({
+      name: "image_embedding_idx",
+      indexType: "IvfPq",
+      columns: ["image.embedding"],
+    });
+
+    const explicit = await nestedTable
+      .query()
+      .nearestTo([0.0, 1.0])
+      .column("image.embedding")
+      .limit(1)
+      .toArray();
+    const inferred = await nestedTable
+      .query()
+      .nearestTo([0.0, 1.0])
+      .limit(1)
+      .toArray();
+    expect(inferred[0].id).toEqual(explicit[0].id);
+  });
+
+  it("should report multiple nested vector candidates", async () => {
+    const db = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const nestedSchema = new Schema([
+      new Field(
+        "image",
+        new Struct([
+          new Field(
+            "embedding",
+            new FixedSizeList(2, new Field("item", new Float32(), true)),
+            true,
+          ),
+        ]),
+        true,
+      ),
+      new Field(
+        "text",
+        new Struct([
+          new Field(
+            "embedding",
+            new FixedSizeList(2, new Field("item", new Float32(), true)),
+            true,
+          ),
+        ]),
+        true,
+      ),
+    ]);
+    const nestedTable = await db.createTable(
+      "multiple_nested_vectors",
+      makeArrowTable(
+        [
+          {
+            image: { embedding: [0.0, 1.0] },
+            text: { embedding: [2.0, 3.0] },
+          },
+        ],
+        { schema: nestedSchema },
+      ),
+    );
+
+    await expect(
+      nestedTable.query().nearestTo([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).toArray(),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/image\.embedding.*text\.embedding/);
+  });
+
+  it("should report when no default vector column exists", async () => {
+    const db = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const noVectorTable = await db.createTable(
+      "no_vector",
+      makeArrowTable([{ id: 0, label: "cat" }]),
+    );
+
+    await expect(
+      noVectorTable.query().nearestTo([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).toArray(),
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/No vector column/);
+  });
+
   it("should wait for index readiness", async () => {
     // Create an index and then wait for it to be ready
     await tbl.createIndex("vec");
@@ -2348,3 +2498,130 @@ describe("when creating a table with Float32Array vectors", () => {
     expect((fsl.children[0].type as Float32).precision).toBe(1);
   });
 });
+
+describe("setUnenforcedPrimaryKey", () => {
+  let tmpDir: tmp.DirResult;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tmpDir = tmp.dirSync({ unsafeCleanup: true });
+  });
+  afterEach(() => tmpDir.removeCallback());
+
+  it("sets a single-column primary key (string or one-element array)", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const schema = new arrow.Schema([
+      new arrow.Field("id", new arrow.Int64(), false),
+    ]);
+    const t1 = await conn.createEmptyTable("t1", schema);
+    await t1.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+
+    const t2 = await conn.createEmptyTable("t2", schema);
+    await t2.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(["id"]);
+  });
+
+  it("rejects a compound primary key", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await conn.createEmptyTable(
+      "t",
+      new arrow.Schema([
+        new arrow.Field("id", new arrow.Int64(), false),
+        new arrow.Field("name", new arrow.Utf8(), false),
+      ]),
+    );
+    await expect(
+      table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(["id", "name"]),
+    ).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects changing the primary key once set", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await conn.createEmptyTable(
+      "t",
+      new arrow.Schema([
+        new arrow.Field("id", new arrow.Int64(), false),
+        new arrow.Field("name", new arrow.Utf8(), false),
+      ]),
+    );
+    await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+    await expect(table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("name")).rejects.toThrow();
+    await expect(table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id")).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+});
+
+describe("setLsmWriteSpec / unsetLsmWriteSpec", () => {
+  let tmpDir: tmp.DirResult;
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    tmpDir = tmp.dirSync({ unsafeCleanup: true });
+  });
+  afterEach(() => tmpDir.removeCallback());
+
+  async function makeTable(conn: Connection): Promise<Table> {
+    return await conn.createEmptyTable(
+      "t",
+      new arrow.Schema([new arrow.Field("id", new arrow.Int64(), false)]),
+    );
+  }
+
+  it("installs and removes a bucket spec", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await makeTable(conn);
+
+    await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+    await table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+      specType: "bucket",
+      column: "id",
+      numBuckets: 4,
+    });
+    await table.unsetLsmWriteSpec();
+    // A second unset errors — there is no spec left to remove.
+    await expect(table.unsetLsmWriteSpec()).rejects.toThrow();
+    // A fresh spec can be installed after unset.
+    await table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+      specType: "bucket",
+      column: "id",
+      numBuckets: 8,
+    });
+  });
+
+  it("installs an unsharded spec", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await makeTable(conn);
+
+    await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+    await table.setLsmWriteSpec({ specType: "unsharded" });
+    await table.unsetLsmWriteSpec();
+  });
+
+  it("installs an identity spec", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await makeTable(conn);
+
+    await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+    await table.setLsmWriteSpec({ specType: "identity", column: "id" });
+    await table.unsetLsmWriteSpec();
+  });
+
+  it("rejects an invalid spec", async () => {
+    const conn = await connect(tmpDir.name);
+    const table = await makeTable(conn);
+
+    await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+    // num_buckets out of range.
+    await expect(
+      table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+        specType: "bucket",
+        column: "id",
+        numBuckets: 0,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow();
+    // Column mismatch.
+    await expect(
+      table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+        specType: "bucket",
+        column: "missing",
+        numBuckets: 4,
+      }),
+    ).rejects.toThrow();
+  });
+});

nodejs/examples/filtering.test.ts

@@ -38,5 +38,14 @@ test("filtering examples", async () => {
     // --8<-- [start:sql_search]
     await tbl.query().where("id = 10").limit(10).toArray();
     // --8<-- [end:sql_search]
+
+    // --8<-- [start:orderby_search]
+    await tbl
+      .query()
+      .where("id > 10")
+      .orderBy({ columnName: "id", ascending: false })
+      .limit(5)
+      .toArray();
+    // --8<-- [end:orderby_search]
   });
 });

nodejs/lancedb/connection.ts

@@ -144,6 +144,19 @@ export interface DropNamespaceOptions {
   behavior?: "restrict" | "cascade";
 }
 
+export interface RenameTableOptions {
+  /**
+   * The namespace path of the table being renamed. Defaults to the root
+   * namespace (`[]`) when omitted.
+   */
+  namespacePath?: string[];
+  /**
+   * The namespace path to move the table to as part of the rename. When
+   * omitted the table stays in `namespacePath`.
+   */
+  newNamespacePath?: string[];
+}
+
 /**
  * A LanceDB Connection that allows you to open tables and create new ones.
  *
@@ -296,12 +309,6 @@ export abstract class Connection {
    */
   abstract dropTable(name: string, namespacePath?: string[]): Promise<void>;
 
-  abstract renameTable(
-    oldName: string,
-    newName: string,
-    namespacePath?: string[],
-  ): Promise<void>;
-
   /**
    * Drop all tables in the database.
    * @param {string[]} namespacePath The namespace path to drop tables from (defaults to root namespace).
@@ -397,6 +404,24 @@ export abstract class Connection {
       isShallow?: boolean;
     },
   ): Promise<Table>;
+
+  /**
+   * Rename a table.
+   *
+   * Currently only supported by LanceDB Cloud. Local OSS connections and
+   * namespace-backed connections (via {@link connectNamespace}) reject with
+   * a "not supported" error.
+   *
+   * @param {string} currentName - The current name of the table.
+   * @param {string} newName - The new name for the table.
+   * @param {RenameTableOptions} options - Optional namespace paths. When
+   *   `newNamespacePath` is omitted the table stays in `namespacePath`.
+   */
+  abstract renameTable(
+    currentName: string,
+    newName: string,
+    options?: RenameTableOptions,
+  ): Promise<void>;
 }
 
 /** @hideconstructor */
@@ -615,14 +640,6 @@ export class LocalConnection extends Connection {
     return this.inner.dropTable(name, namespacePath ?? []);
   }
 
-  async renameTable(
-    oldName: string,
-    newName: string,
-    namespacePath?: string[],
-  ): Promise<void> {
-    return this.inner.renameTable(oldName, newName, namespacePath ?? []);
-  }
-
   async dropAllTables(namespacePath?: string[]): Promise<void> {
     return this.inner.dropAllTables(namespacePath ?? []);
   }
@@ -665,6 +682,19 @@ export class LocalConnection extends Connection {
       options?.behavior,
     );
   }
+
+  async renameTable(
+    currentName: string,
+    newName: string,
+    options?: RenameTableOptions,
+  ): Promise<void> {
+    return this.inner.renameTable(
+      currentName,
+      newName,
+      options?.namespacePath ?? [],
+      options?.newNamespacePath,
+    );
+  }
 }
 
 /**

nodejs/lancedb/index.ts

@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@ export {
   CreateNamespaceResponse,
   DropNamespaceResponse,
   DescribeNamespaceResponse,
+  RenameTableOptions,
 } from "./connection";
 
 export { Session } from "./native.js";
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@ export {
   VectorQuery,
   TakeQuery,
   QueryExecutionOptions,
+  ColumnOrdering,
   FullTextSearchOptions,
   RecordBatchIterator,
   FullTextQuery,
@@ -112,6 +114,8 @@ export {
   UpdateOptions,
   OptimizeOptions,
   Version,
+  WriteProgress,
+  LsmWriteSpec,
   ColumnAlteration,
 } from "./table";
 

nodejs/lancedb/query.ts

@@ -79,6 +79,12 @@ export interface QueryExecutionOptions {
   timeoutMs?: number;
 }
 
+export interface ColumnOrdering {
+  columnName: string;
+  ascending?: boolean;
+  nullsFirst?: boolean;
+}
+
 /**
  * Options that control the behavior of a full text search
  */
@@ -417,6 +423,21 @@ export class StandardQueryBase<
     return this;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Sort the results by the specified column(s).
+   * @returns This query builder.
+   */
+  orderBy(ordering: ColumnOrdering | ColumnOrdering[]): this {
+    const orderings = Array.isArray(ordering) ? ordering : [ordering];
+    const normalized = orderings.map((o) => ({
+      columnName: o.columnName,
+      ascending: o.ascending ?? true,
+      nullsFirst: o.nullsFirst ?? false,
+    }));
+    this.doCall((inner) => inner.orderBy(normalized));
+    return this;
+  }
+
   /**
    * Skip searching un-indexed data. This can make search faster, but will miss
    * any data that is not yet indexed.

nodejs/lancedb/table.ts

@@ -46,6 +46,33 @@ import { sanitizeType } from "./sanitize";
 import { IntoSql, toSQL } from "./util";
 export { IndexConfig } from "./native";
 
+/**
+ * Progress snapshot for a write operation, delivered to the `progress`
+ * callback passed to {@link Table.add}.
+ */
+export interface WriteProgress {
+  /** Number of rows written so far. */
+  outputRows: number;
+  /** Number of bytes written so far. */
+  outputBytes: number;
+  /**
+   * Total rows expected, when the input source reports it.
+   *
+   * Always set on the final callback (the one with `done: true`), falling
+   * back to the actual number of rows written when the source could not
+   * report a row count up front.
+   */
+  totalRows?: number;
+  /** Wall-clock seconds since the write started. */
+  elapsedSeconds: number;
+  /** Number of parallel write tasks currently in flight. */
+  activeTasks: number;
+  /** Total number of parallel write tasks (the write parallelism). */
+  totalTasks: number;
+  /** `true` for the final callback; `false` otherwise. */
+  done: boolean;
+}
+
 /**
  * Options for adding data to a table.
  */
@@ -56,6 +83,28 @@ export interface AddDataOptions {
    * If "overwrite" then the new data will replace the existing data in the table.
    */
   mode: "append" | "overwrite";
+
+  /**
+   * Optional callback invoked periodically with write progress.
+   *
+   * The callback is fired once per batch written and once more with
+   * `done: true` when the write completes. Calls are dispatched
+   * asynchronously to the JS event loop and never block the write — a slow
+   * callback will queue events rather than back-pressure the writer.
+   *
+   * Errors thrown from the callback are logged with `console.warn` and
+   * swallowed — they do not abort the write.
+   *
+   * @example
+   * ```ts
+   * await table.add(data, {
+   *   progress: (p) => {
+   *     console.log(`${p.outputRows}/${p.totalRows ?? "?"} rows`);
+   *   },
+   * });
+   * ```
+   */
+  progress: (progress: WriteProgress) => void;
 }
 
 export interface UpdateOptions {
@@ -106,6 +155,27 @@ export interface Version {
   metadata: Record<string, string>;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Specification selecting Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for
+ * `mergeInsert`.
+ *
+ * `specType` is `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`. For `"bucket"`,
+ * `column` and `numBuckets` are required; for `"identity"`, `column` is
+ * required.
+ */
+export interface LsmWriteSpec {
+  /** One of `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`. */
+  specType: "bucket" | "identity" | "unsharded";
+  /** Bucket and identity variants: the sharding column. */
+  column?: string;
+  /** Bucket variant: the number of buckets, in `[1, 1024]`. */
+  numBuckets?: number;
+  /** Names of indexes the MemWAL should keep up to date during writes. */
+  maintainedIndexes?: string[];
+  /** Default `ShardWriter` configuration recorded in the MemWAL index. */
+  writerConfigDefaults?: Record<string, string>;
+}
+
 /**
  * A Table is a collection of Records in a LanceDB Database.
  *
@@ -449,6 +519,54 @@ export abstract class Table {
    * containing the new version number of the table after dropping the columns.
    */
   abstract dropColumns(columnNames: string[]): Promise<DropColumnsResult>;
+  /**
+   * Set the unenforced primary key for this table to a single column.
+   *
+   * "Unenforced" means LanceDB does not check uniqueness on writes; the
+   * column is recorded in the schema as the primary key for use by features
+   * such as `merge_insert`. Only single-column primary keys are supported,
+   * and the key cannot be changed once set.
+   * @param {string | string[]} columns The primary key column. A one-element
+   * array is also accepted; passing more than one column is rejected.
+   * @returns {Promise<void>}
+   */
+  abstract setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(columns: string | string[]): Promise<void>;
+  /**
+   * Install an {@link LsmWriteSpec} on this table, selecting Lance's MemWAL
+   * LSM-style write path for future `mergeInsert` calls.
+   *
+   * `LsmWriteSpec` chooses one of three sharding strategies via `specType`:
+   *
+   * - `"bucket"` — hash-bucket writes by the single-column unenforced primary
+   *   key (`column` and `numBuckets` required).
+   * - `"identity"` — shard by the raw value of a scalar `column`.
+   * - `"unsharded"` — route every write to a single shard.
+   *
+   * All variants require the table to have an unenforced primary key
+   * ({@link Table#setUnenforcedPrimaryKey}); bucket sharding additionally
+   * requires it to be the single column being bucketed.
+   * @param {LsmWriteSpec} spec The sharding spec to install.
+   * @returns {Promise<void>}
+   * @example
+   * ```ts
+   * await table.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey("id");
+   * await table.setLsmWriteSpec({
+   *   specType: "bucket",
+   *   column: "id",
+   *   numBuckets: 16,
+   *   maintainedIndexes: ["id_idx"],
+   * });
+   * ```
+   */
+  abstract setLsmWriteSpec(spec: LsmWriteSpec): Promise<void>;
+  /**
+   * Remove the {@link LsmWriteSpec} from this table, reverting to the standard
+   * `mergeInsert` write path.
+   *
+   * Errors if no spec is currently set.
+   * @returns {Promise<void>}
+   */
+  abstract unsetLsmWriteSpec(): Promise<void>;
   /** Retrieve the version of the table */
 
   abstract version(): Promise<number>;
@@ -636,7 +754,20 @@ export class LocalTable extends Table {
     const schema = await this.schema();
 
     const buffer = await fromDataToBuffer(data, undefined, schema);
-    return await this.inner.add(buffer, mode);
+    // Wrap the user callback so a thrown error doesn't surface as an
+    // unhandled exception (the callback fires from a napi threadsafe
+    // function — exceptions there crash the process).
+    const userProgress = options?.progress;
+    const progress = userProgress
+      ? (p: WriteProgress) => {
+          try {
+            userProgress(p);
+          } catch (e) {
+            console.warn("Table.add progress callback threw:", e);
+          }
+        }
+      : undefined;
+    return await this.inner.add(buffer, mode, progress);
   }
 
   async update(
@@ -897,6 +1028,19 @@ export class LocalTable extends Table {
     return await this.inner.dropColumns(columnNames);
   }
 
+  async setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(columns: string | string[]): Promise<void> {
+    const cols = typeof columns === "string" ? [columns] : columns;
+    return await this.inner.setUnenforcedPrimaryKey(cols);
+  }
+
+  async setLsmWriteSpec(spec: LsmWriteSpec): Promise<void> {
+    return await this.inner.setLsmWriteSpec(spec);
+  }
+
+  async unsetLsmWriteSpec(): Promise<void> {
+    return await this.inner.unsetLsmWriteSpec();
+  }
+
   async version(): Promise<number> {
     return await this.inner.version();
   }

nodejs/npm/darwin-arm64/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-darwin-arm64",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"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.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"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.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"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.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"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.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"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.11",
+  "version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
   "os": [
     "win32"
   ],

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

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
 	"name": "@lancedb/lancedb-win32-x64-msvc",
-	"version": "0.28.0-beta.11",
+	"version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
 	"os": ["win32"],
 	"cpu": ["x64"],
 	"main": "lancedb.win32-x64-msvc.node",

nodejs/package.json

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     "ann"
   ],
   "private": false,
-  "version": "0.28.0-beta.11",
+  "version": "0.30.0-beta.1",
   "main": "dist/index.js",
   "exports": {
     ".": "./dist/index.js",

nodejs/src/connection.rs

@@ -328,20 +328,6 @@ impl Connection {
             .default_error()
     }
 
-    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
-    pub async fn rename_table(
-        &self,
-        old_name: String,
-        new_name: String,
-        namespace_path: Option<Vec<String>>,
-    ) -> napi::Result<()> {
-        let ns = namespace_path.unwrap_or_default();
-        self.get_inner()?
-            .rename_table(&old_name, &new_name, &ns, &ns)
-            .await
-            .default_error()
-    }
-
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
     pub async fn drop_all_tables(&self, namespace_path: Option<Vec<String>>) -> napi::Result<()> {
         let ns = namespace_path.unwrap_or_default();
@@ -473,4 +459,23 @@ impl Connection {
             transaction_id: resp.transaction_id,
         })
     }
+
+    /// Rename a table. `current_namespace_path` and `new_namespace_path` default to
+    /// the root namespace when omitted; the caller is expected to either pass both
+    /// or pass neither.
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn rename_table(
+        &self,
+        current_name: String,
+        new_name: String,
+        current_namespace_path: Option<Vec<String>>,
+        new_namespace_path: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    ) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        let cur_ns = current_namespace_path.unwrap_or_default();
+        let new_ns = new_namespace_path.unwrap_or_default();
+        self.get_inner()?
+            .rename_table(&current_name, &new_name, &cur_ns, &new_ns)
+            .await
+            .default_error()
+    }
 }

nodejs/src/query.rs

@@ -3,6 +3,12 @@
 
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
+use crate::error::NapiErrorExt;
+use crate::error::convert_error;
+use crate::iterator::RecordBatchIterator;
+use crate::rerankers::RerankHybridCallbackArgs;
+use crate::rerankers::Reranker;
+use crate::util::{parse_distance_type, schema_to_buffer};
 use arrow_array::{
     Array, Float16Array as ArrowFloat16Array, Float32Array as ArrowFloat32Array,
     Float64Array as ArrowFloat64Array, UInt8Array as ArrowUInt8Array,
@@ -19,16 +25,27 @@ use lancedb::query::QueryBase;
 use lancedb::query::QueryExecutionOptions;
 use lancedb::query::Select;
 use lancedb::query::TakeQuery as LanceDbTakeQuery;
-use lancedb::query::VectorQuery as LanceDbVectorQuery;
+use lancedb::query::{ColumnOrdering as LanceDbColumnOrdering, VectorQuery as LanceDbVectorQuery};
 use napi::bindgen_prelude::*;
 use napi_derive::napi;
 
-use crate::error::NapiErrorExt;
-use crate::error::convert_error;
-use crate::iterator::RecordBatchIterator;
-use crate::rerankers::RerankHybridCallbackArgs;
-use crate::rerankers::Reranker;
-use crate::util::{parse_distance_type, schema_to_buffer};
+#[napi(object)]
+pub struct ColumnOrdering {
+    pub ascending: bool,
+    pub nulls_first: bool,
+    pub column_name: String,
+}
+
+impl From<ColumnOrdering> for LanceDbColumnOrdering {
+    fn from(value: ColumnOrdering) -> Self {
+        match (value.ascending, value.nulls_first) {
+            (true, true) => Self::asc_nulls_first(value.column_name),
+            (true, false) => Self::asc_nulls_last(value.column_name),
+            (false, true) => Self::desc_nulls_first(value.column_name),
+            (false, false) => Self::desc_nulls_last(value.column_name),
+        }
+    }
+}
 
 fn bytes_to_arrow_array(data: Uint8Array, dtype: String) -> napi::Result<Arc<dyn Array>> {
     let buf = arrow_buffer::Buffer::from(data.to_vec());
@@ -128,6 +145,18 @@ impl Query {
         self.inner = self.inner.clone().with_row_id();
     }
 
+    #[napi]
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<ColumnOrdering>>) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        let ordering = ordering.map(|ordering| {
+            ordering
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(LanceDbColumnOrdering::from)
+                .collect()
+        });
+        self.inner = self.inner.clone().order_by(ordering);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
     pub async fn output_schema(&self) -> napi::Result<Buffer> {
         let schema = self.inner.output_schema().await.default_error()?;
@@ -328,6 +357,18 @@ impl VectorQuery {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    #[napi]
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<ColumnOrdering>>) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        let ordering = ordering.map(|ordering| {
+            ordering
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(LanceDbColumnOrdering::from)
+                .collect()
+        });
+        self.inner = self.inner.clone().order_by(ordering);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
     pub async fn output_schema(&self) -> napi::Result<Buffer> {
         let schema = self.inner.output_schema().await.default_error()?;

nodejs/src/table.rs

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ use lancedb::table::{
     OptimizeAction, OptimizeOptions, Table as LanceDbTable,
 };
 use napi::bindgen_prelude::*;
+use napi::threadsafe_function::{ThreadsafeFunction, ThreadsafeFunctionCallMode};
 use napi_derive::napi;
 
 use crate::error::NapiErrorExt;
@@ -67,8 +68,16 @@ impl Table {
         schema_to_buffer(&schema)
     }
 
-    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
-    pub async fn add(&self, buf: Buffer, mode: String) -> napi::Result<AddResult> {
+    #[napi(
+        catch_unwind,
+        ts_args_type = "buf: Buffer, mode: string, progressCallback?: (progress: WriteProgressInfo) => void"
+    )]
+    pub async fn add(
+        &self,
+        buf: Buffer,
+        mode: String,
+        progress_callback: Option<ProgressFn>,
+    ) -> 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 +101,19 @@ impl Table {
             return Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!("Invalid mode: {}", mode)));
         };
 
+        if let Some(tsfn) = progress_callback {
+            op = op.progress(move |p| {
+                // NonBlocking: dispatch onto the JS event loop without
+                // blocking the writer thread.  With napi-rs's default
+                // unbounded queue, events are not dropped — a slow JS
+                // callback will just queue them.
+                tsfn.call(
+                    WriteProgressInfo::from(p),
+                    ThreadsafeFunctionCallMode::NonBlocking,
+                );
+            });
+        }
+
         let res = op.execute().await.default_error()?;
         Ok(res.into())
     }
@@ -344,6 +366,31 @@ impl Table {
         Ok(res.into())
     }
 
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn set_unenforced_primary_key(&self, columns: Vec<String>) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        self.inner_ref()?
+            .set_unenforced_primary_key(columns)
+            .await
+            .default_error()
+    }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn set_lsm_write_spec(&self, spec: LsmWriteSpec) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        let native_spec = lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::try_from(spec)?;
+        self.inner_ref()?
+            .set_lsm_write_spec(native_spec)
+            .await
+            .default_error()
+    }
+
+    #[napi(catch_unwind)]
+    pub async fn unset_lsm_write_spec(&self) -> napi::Result<()> {
+        self.inner_ref()?
+            .unset_lsm_write_spec()
+            .await
+            .default_error()
+    }
+
     #[napi(catch_unwind)]
     pub async fn version(&self) -> napi::Result<i64> {
         self.inner_ref()?
@@ -538,6 +585,63 @@ impl From<lancedb::index::IndexConfig> for IndexConfig {
     }
 }
 
+/// Specification selecting Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for
+/// `mergeInsert`.
+///
+/// `specType` must be `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`. For
+/// `"bucket"`, `column` and `numBuckets` are required; for `"identity"`,
+/// `column` is required.
+#[napi(object)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct LsmWriteSpec {
+    /// One of `"bucket"`, `"identity"`, or `"unsharded"`.
+    pub spec_type: String,
+    /// Bucket and identity variants: the sharding column.
+    pub column: Option<String>,
+    /// Bucket variant: the number of buckets, in `[1, 1024]`.
+    pub num_buckets: Option<u32>,
+    /// Names of indexes the MemWAL should keep up to date during writes.
+    pub maintained_indexes: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    /// Default `ShardWriter` configuration recorded in the MemWAL index.
+    pub writer_config_defaults: Option<HashMap<String, String>>,
+}
+
+impl TryFrom<LsmWriteSpec> for lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec {
+    type Error = napi::Error;
+
+    fn try_from(value: LsmWriteSpec) -> napi::Result<Self> {
+        let maintained = value.maintained_indexes.unwrap_or_default();
+        let writer_config_defaults = value.writer_config_defaults.unwrap_or_default();
+        let spec = match value.spec_type.as_str() {
+            "bucket" => {
+                let column = value.column.ok_or_else(|| {
+                    napi::Error::from_reason("LsmWriteSpec bucket requires `column`")
+                })?;
+                let num_buckets = value.num_buckets.ok_or_else(|| {
+                    napi::Error::from_reason("LsmWriteSpec bucket requires `numBuckets`")
+                })?;
+                Self::bucket(column, num_buckets)
+            }
+            "identity" => {
+                let column = value.column.ok_or_else(|| {
+                    napi::Error::from_reason("LsmWriteSpec identity requires `column`")
+                })?;
+                Self::identity(column)
+            }
+            "unsharded" => Self::unsharded(),
+            other => {
+                return Err(napi::Error::from_reason(format!(
+                    "LsmWriteSpec `specType` must be 'bucket', 'identity', or 'unsharded', got '{}'",
+                    other
+                )));
+            }
+        };
+        Ok(spec
+            .with_maintained_indexes(maintained)
+            .with_writer_config_defaults(writer_config_defaults))
+    }
+}
+
 /// Statistics about a compaction operation.
 #[napi(object)]
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
@@ -572,6 +676,44 @@ pub struct OptimizeStats {
     pub prune: RemovalStats,
 }
 
+/// Progress snapshot for a write operation, delivered to the JS callback
+/// passed to `Table.add`.
+#[napi(object)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct WriteProgressInfo {
+    /// Number of rows written so far.
+    pub output_rows: i64,
+    /// Number of bytes written so far.
+    pub output_bytes: i64,
+    /// Total rows expected, if the input source reports it.
+    /// Always set on the final callback (where `done` is `true`).
+    pub total_rows: Option<i64>,
+    /// Wall-clock seconds since monitoring started.
+    pub elapsed_seconds: f64,
+    /// Number of parallel write tasks currently in flight.
+    pub active_tasks: i64,
+    /// Total number of parallel write tasks (the write parallelism).
+    pub total_tasks: i64,
+    /// `true` for the final callback; `false` otherwise.
+    pub done: bool,
+}
+
+impl From<&lancedb::table::write_progress::WriteProgress> for WriteProgressInfo {
+    fn from(p: &lancedb::table::write_progress::WriteProgress) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            output_rows: p.output_rows() as i64,
+            output_bytes: p.output_bytes() as i64,
+            total_rows: p.total_rows().map(|n| n as i64),
+            elapsed_seconds: p.elapsed().as_secs_f64(),
+            active_tasks: p.active_tasks() as i64,
+            total_tasks: p.total_tasks() as i64,
+            done: p.done(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+type ProgressFn = ThreadsafeFunction<WriteProgressInfo, (), WriteProgressInfo, Status, false>;
+
 ///  A definition of a column alteration. The alteration changes the column at
 /// `path` to have the new name `name`, to be nullable if `nullable` is true,
 /// and to have the data type `data_type`. At least one of `rename` or `nullable`

python/.bumpversion.toml

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 [tool.bumpversion]
-current_version = "0.31.0-beta.11"
+current_version = "0.33.0-beta.1"
 parse = """(?x)
     (?P<major>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.
     (?P<minor>0|[1-9]\\d*)\\.

python/AGENTS.md

@@ -4,16 +4,26 @@ code is in the `src/` directory and the Python bindings are in the `lancedb/` di
 
 Common commands:
 
+* Bootstrap dev env: `uv run --extra tests --extra dev maturin develop --extras tests,dev`
 * Build: `make develop`
 * Format: `make format`
 * Lint: `make check`
 * Fix lints: `make fix`
-* Test: `make test`
-* Doc test: `make doctest`
+* Test: `uv run --extra tests pytest python/tests -vv --durations=10 -m "not slow and not s3_test"`
+* Run specific test: `uv run --extra tests pytest python/tests/<test_file>.py::<test_name> -q`
+* Doc test: `uv run --extra tests pytest --doctest-modules python/lancedb`
+
+Use the uv-managed environment declared by `uv.lock` for Python validation. Do
+not treat system `python`, global `pytest`, or missing editable-install errors
+as final blockers; bootstrap or enter the uv environment instead. `make test`
+and `make doctest` assume the development environment is already prepared.
 
 Before committing changes, run lints and then formatting.
 
-When you change the Rust code, you will need to recompile the Python bindings: `make develop`.
+When you change the Rust code, PyO3 binding code, or see a missing/stale
+`lancedb._lancedb`, recompile the Python bindings with
+`uv run --extra tests --extra dev maturin develop --extras tests,dev` before
+running tests.
 
 When you export new types from Rust to Python, you must manually update `python/lancedb/_lancedb.pyi`
 with the corresponding type hints. You can run `pyright` to check for type errors in the Python code.

python/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "lancedb-python"
-version = "0.31.0-beta.11"
+version = "0.33.0-beta.1"
 publish = false
 edition.workspace = true
 description = "Python bindings for LanceDB"

python/python/lancedb/__init__.py

@@ -147,6 +147,13 @@ def connect(
     >>> db = lancedb.connect("s3://my-bucket/lancedb",
     ...                      storage_options={"aws_access_key_id": "***"})
 
+    For tests and temporary data, use an in-memory database:
+
+    >>> db = lancedb.connect("memory://")
+
+    In-memory databases are not persisted. Tables are dropped when the last
+    connection or table handle referencing them is closed.
+
     Connect to LanceDB cloud:
 
     >>> db = lancedb.connect("db://my_database", api_key="ldb_...",
@@ -378,6 +385,8 @@ async def connect_async(
     ...     db = await lancedb.connect_async("s3://my-bucket/lancedb",
     ...                                      storage_options={
     ...                                          "aws_access_key_id": "***"})
+    ...     # For tests and temporary data, use an in-memory database
+    ...     db = await lancedb.connect_async("memory://")
     ...     # Connect to LanceDB cloud
     ...     db = await lancedb.connect_async("db://my_database", api_key="ldb_...",
     ...                                      client_config={

python/python/lancedb/_lancedb.pyi

@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ class Table:
     async def uri(self) -> str: ...
     async def initial_storage_options(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, str]]: ...
     async def latest_storage_options(self) -> Optional[Dict[str, str]]: ...
+    async def set_unenforced_primary_key(self, columns: List[str]) -> None: ...
+    async def set_lsm_write_spec(self, spec: LsmWriteSpec) -> None: ...
+    async def unset_lsm_write_spec(self) -> None: ...
     @property
     def tags(self) -> Tags: ...
     def query(self) -> Query: ...
@@ -255,6 +258,11 @@ class RecordBatchStream:
     def __aiter__(self) -> "RecordBatchStream": ...
     async def __anext__(self) -> pa.RecordBatch: ...
 
+class ColumnOrdering(TypedDict):
+    column_name: str
+    ascending: bool
+    nulls_first: bool
+
 class Query:
     def where(self, filter: str): ...
     def where_expr(self, expr: PyExpr): ...
@@ -268,6 +276,7 @@ class Query:
     def postfilter(self): ...
     def nearest_to(self, query_vec: pa.Array) -> VectorQuery: ...
     def nearest_to_text(self, query: dict) -> FTSQuery: ...
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]): ...
     async def output_schema(self) -> pa.Schema: ...
     async def execute(
         self, max_batch_length: Optional[int], timeout: Optional[timedelta]
@@ -296,6 +305,7 @@ class FTSQuery:
     def get_query(self) -> str: ...
     def add_query_vector(self, query_vec: pa.Array) -> None: ...
     def nearest_to(self, query_vec: pa.Array) -> HybridQuery: ...
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]): ...
     async def output_schema(self) -> pa.Schema: ...
     async def execute(
         self, max_batch_length: Optional[int], timeout: Optional[timedelta]
@@ -321,6 +331,7 @@ class VectorQuery:
     def maximum_nprobes(self, maximum_nprobes: int): ...
     def bypass_vector_index(self): ...
     def nearest_to_text(self, query: dict) -> HybridQuery: ...
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]): ...
     def to_query_request(self) -> PyQueryRequest: ...
 
 class HybridQuery:
@@ -339,6 +350,7 @@ class HybridQuery:
     def minimum_nprobes(self, minimum_nprobes: int): ...
     def maximum_nprobes(self, maximum_nprobes: int): ...
     def bypass_vector_index(self): ...
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]): ...
     def to_vector_query(self) -> VectorQuery: ...
     def to_fts_query(self) -> FTSQuery: ...
     def get_limit(self) -> int: ...
@@ -368,6 +380,7 @@ class PyQueryRequest:
     bypass_vector_index: Optional[bool]
     postfilter: Optional[bool]
     norm: Optional[str]
+    order_by: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]
 
 class CompactionStats:
     fragments_removed: int
@@ -408,6 +421,37 @@ class MergeResult:
     num_deleted_rows: int
     num_attempts: int
 
+class LsmWriteSpec:
+    """Specification selecting Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for
+    `merge_insert`."""
+
+    @staticmethod
+    def bucket(column: str, num_buckets: int) -> "LsmWriteSpec": ...
+    @staticmethod
+    def identity(column: str) -> "LsmWriteSpec": ...
+    @staticmethod
+    def unsharded() -> "LsmWriteSpec": ...
+    def with_maintained_indexes(self, indexes: List[str]) -> "LsmWriteSpec":
+        """Return a copy of this spec asking the MemWAL to keep the named
+        indexes up to date as rows are appended."""
+        ...
+    def with_writer_config_defaults(self, defaults: Dict[str, str]) -> "LsmWriteSpec":
+        """Return a copy of this spec recording the given default
+        `ShardWriter` configuration in the MemWAL index."""
+        ...
+    @property
+    def spec_type(self) -> str:
+        """One of 'bucket', 'identity', or 'unsharded'."""
+        ...
+    @property
+    def column(self) -> Optional[str]: ...
+    @property
+    def num_buckets(self) -> Optional[int]: ...
+    @property
+    def maintained_indexes(self) -> List[str]: ...
+    @property
+    def writer_config_defaults(self) -> Dict[str, str]: ...
+
 class AddColumnsResult:
     version: int
 

python/python/lancedb/db.py

@@ -8,7 +8,17 @@ from abc import abstractmethod
 from datetime import timedelta
 from pathlib import Path
 import sys
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, Dict, Iterable, List, Literal, Optional, Union
+from typing import (
+    TYPE_CHECKING,
+    Any,
+    Dict,
+    Generator,
+    Iterable,
+    List,
+    Literal,
+    Optional,
+    Union,
+)
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 12):
     from typing import override
@@ -313,7 +323,7 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
         >>> data = [{"vector": [1.1, 1.2], "lat": 45.5, "long": -122.7},
         ...         {"vector": [0.2, 1.8], "lat": 40.1, "long":  -74.1}]
         >>> db.create_table("my_table", data)
-        LanceTable(name='my_table', version=1, ...)
+        LanceTable(name='my_table', ...)
         >>> db["my_table"].head()
         pyarrow.Table
         vector: fixed_size_list<item: float>[2]
@@ -334,7 +344,7 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
         ...    "long": [-122.7, -74.1]
         ... })
         >>> db.create_table("table2", data)
-        LanceTable(name='table2', version=1, ...)
+        LanceTable(name='table2', ...)
         >>> db["table2"].head()
         pyarrow.Table
         vector: fixed_size_list<item: float>[2]
@@ -357,7 +367,7 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
         ...   pa.field("long", pa.float32())
         ... ])
         >>> db.create_table("table3", data, schema = custom_schema)
-        LanceTable(name='table3', version=1, ...)
+        LanceTable(name='table3', ...)
         >>> db["table3"].head()
         pyarrow.Table
         vector: fixed_size_list<item: float>[2]
@@ -391,7 +401,7 @@ class DBConnection(EnforceOverrides):
         ...     pa.field("price", pa.float32()),
         ... ])
         >>> db.create_table("table4", make_batches(), schema=schema)
-        LanceTable(name='table4', version=1, ...)
+        LanceTable(name='table4', ...)
 
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
@@ -568,15 +578,15 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
     >>> db = lancedb.connect("./.lancedb")
     >>> db.create_table("my_table", data=[{"vector": [1.1, 1.2], "b": 2},
     ...                                   {"vector": [0.5, 1.3], "b": 4}])
-    LanceTable(name='my_table', version=1, ...)
+    LanceTable(name='my_table', ...)
     >>> db.create_table("another_table", data=[{"vector": [0.4, 0.4], "b": 6}])
-    LanceTable(name='another_table', version=1, ...)
+    LanceTable(name='another_table', ...)
     >>> sorted(db.table_names())
     ['another_table', 'my_table']
     >>> len(db)
     2
     >>> db["my_table"]
-    LanceTable(name='my_table', version=1, ...)
+    LanceTable(name='my_table', ...)
     >>> "my_table" in db
     True
     >>> db.drop_table("my_table")
@@ -847,11 +857,20 @@ class LanceDBConnection(DBConnection):
             )
         )
 
+    def _all_table_names(self) -> Generator[str, None, None]:
+        page_token = None
+        while True:
+            response = self.list_tables(page_token=page_token)
+            yield from response.tables
+            page_token = response.page_token
+            if not page_token:
+                return
+
     def __len__(self) -> int:
-        return len(self.table_names())
+        return sum(1 for _ in self._all_table_names())
 
     def __contains__(self, name: str) -> bool:
-        return name in self.table_names()
+        return name in self._all_table_names()
 
     @override
     def create_table(

python/python/lancedb/permutation.py

@@ -968,22 +968,32 @@ class Permutation:
         new.transform_fn = transform
         return new
 
+    def take_offsets(self, offsets: list[int]) -> Any:
+        """
+        Take rows from the permutation by offset
+
+        The returned value is passed through the permutation's current transform,
+        so `with_format` and `with_transform` affect this method in the same way
+        they affect iteration.
+        """
+
+        async def do_take_offsets():
+            return await self.reader.take_offsets(offsets, selection=self.selection)
+
+        batch = LOOP.run(do_take_offsets())
+        return self.transform_fn(batch)
+
     def __getitem__(self, index: int) -> Any:
         """
         Returns a single row from the permutation by offset
         """
-        return self.__getitems__([index])
+        return self.take_offsets([index])
 
     def __getitems__(self, indices: list[int]) -> Any:
         """
         Returns rows from the permutation by offset
         """
-
-        async def do_getitems():
-            return await self.reader.take_offsets(indices, selection=self.selection)
-
-        batch = LOOP.run(do_getitems())
-        return self.transform_fn(batch)
+        return self.take_offsets(indices)
 
     @deprecated(details="Use with_skip instead")
     def skip(self, skip: int) -> "Permutation":

python/python/lancedb/query.py

@@ -3,12 +3,14 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import asyncio
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 from concurrent.futures import ThreadPoolExecutor
-from enum import Enum
 from datetime import timedelta
+from enum import Enum
 from typing import (
     TYPE_CHECKING,
+    Any,
     Dict,
     List,
     Literal,
@@ -17,41 +19,40 @@ from typing import (
     Type,
     TypeVar,
     Union,
-    Any,
 )
 
-import asyncio
 import deprecation
 import numpy as np
 import pyarrow as pa
 import pyarrow.compute as pc
 import pydantic
+from typing_extensions import Annotated
 
-from lancedb.pydantic import PYDANTIC_VERSION
+from lancedb._lancedb import fts_query_to_json
 from lancedb.background_loop import LOOP
+from lancedb.pydantic import PYDANTIC_VERSION
 
 from . import __version__
 from .arrow import AsyncRecordBatchReader
 from .dependencies import pandas as pd
+from .expr import Expr
 from .rerankers.base import Reranker
 from .rerankers.rrf import RRFReranker
 from .rerankers.util import check_reranker_result
 from .util import flatten_columns
-from .expr import Expr
-from lancedb._lancedb import fts_query_to_json
-from typing_extensions import Annotated
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
     import sys
+
     import PIL
     import polars as pl
 
-    from ._lancedb import Query as LanceQuery
     from ._lancedb import FTSQuery as LanceFTSQuery
     from ._lancedb import HybridQuery as LanceHybridQuery
-    from ._lancedb import VectorQuery as LanceVectorQuery
-    from ._lancedb import TakeQuery as LanceTakeQuery
     from ._lancedb import PyQueryRequest
+    from ._lancedb import Query as LanceQuery
+    from ._lancedb import TakeQuery as LanceTakeQuery
+    from ._lancedb import VectorQuery as LanceVectorQuery
     from .common import VEC
     from .pydantic import LanceModel
     from .table import Table
@@ -92,6 +93,12 @@ def ensure_vector_query(
         return val
 
 
+class ColumnOrdering(pydantic.BaseModel):
+    column_name: str
+    ascending: bool = True
+    nulls_first: bool = False
+
+
 class FullTextQueryType(str, Enum):
     MATCH = "match"
     MATCH_PHRASE = "match_phrase"
@@ -504,6 +511,8 @@ class Query(pydantic.BaseModel):
     # Bypass the vector index and use a brute force search
     bypass_vector_index: Optional[bool] = None
 
+    order_by: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]] = None
+
     @classmethod
     def from_inner(cls, req: PyQueryRequest) -> Self:
         query = cls()
@@ -524,6 +533,8 @@ class Query(pydantic.BaseModel):
         query.refine_factor = req.refine_factor
         query.bypass_vector_index = req.bypass_vector_index
         query.postfilter = req.postfilter
+        if req.order_by is not None:
+            query.order_by = [ColumnOrdering(**o) for o in req.order_by]
         if req.full_text_search is not None:
             query.full_text_query = FullTextSearchQuery(
                 columns=None,
@@ -572,9 +583,22 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
             If "auto", the query type is inferred based on the query.
         vector_column_name: str
             The name of the vector column to use for vector search.
+        ordering_field_name: Optional[str]
+            .. deprecated:: 0.27.0
+                Use ``order_by()`` method instead.
+        fts_columns: Optional[Union[str, List[str]]]
+            The columns to search in for full text search.
         fast_search: bool
             Skip flat search of unindexed data.
         """
+        if ordering_field_name is not None:
+            import warnings
+
+            warnings.warn(
+                "ordering_field_name is deprecated, use .order_by() method instead.",
+                DeprecationWarning,
+                stacklevel=2,
+            )
         # Check hybrid search first as it supports empty query pattern
         if query_type == "hybrid":
             # hybrid fts and vector query
@@ -671,6 +695,7 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
         self._text = None
         self._ef = None
         self._bypass_vector_index = None
+        self._order_by = None
 
     @deprecation.deprecated(
         deprecated_in="0.3.1",
@@ -694,6 +719,7 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
         flatten: Optional[Union[int, bool]] = None,
         *,
         timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        **kwargs,
     ) -> "pd.DataFrame":
         """
         Execute the query and return the results as a pandas DataFrame.
@@ -711,9 +737,12 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
         timeout: Optional[timedelta]
             The maximum time to wait for the query to complete.
             If None, wait indefinitely.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to pyarrow.Table.to_pandas after query execution and
+            optional flattening.
         """
         tbl = flatten_columns(self.to_arrow(timeout=timeout), flatten)
-        return tbl.to_pandas()
+        return tbl.to_pandas(**kwargs)
 
     @abstractmethod
     def to_arrow(self, *, timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None) -> pa.Table:
@@ -947,6 +976,24 @@ class LanceQueryBuilder(ABC):
         """  # noqa: E501
         return self._table._explain_plan(self.to_query_object(), verbose=verbose)
 
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]) -> Self:
+        """
+        Set the ordering for the results.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]
+            The ordering to use for the results.  If None, then the default ordering
+            will be used.
+
+        Returns
+        -------
+        LanceQueryBuilder
+            The LanceQueryBuilder object.
+        """
+        self._order_by = ordering
+        return self
+
     def analyze_plan(self) -> str:
         """
         Run the query and return its execution plan with runtime metrics.
@@ -1314,6 +1361,7 @@ class LanceVectorQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
             fast_search=self._fast_search,
             ef=self._ef,
             bypass_vector_index=self._bypass_vector_index,
+            order_by=self._order_by,
         )
 
     def to_batches(
@@ -1465,7 +1513,9 @@ class LanceFtsQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
         super().__init__(table)
         self._query = query
         self._phrase_query = False
-        self.ordering_field_name = ordering_field_name
+        # Deprecated compatibility parameter. Native FTS ordering is now
+        # configured through order_by(); LanceQueryBuilder.create emits the warning.
+        _ = ordering_field_name
         self._reranker = None
         self._fast_search = fast_search
         if isinstance(fts_columns, str):
@@ -1514,6 +1564,7 @@ class LanceFtsQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
             ),
             offset=self._offset,
             fast_search=self._fast_search,
+            order_by=self._order_by,
         )
 
     def output_schema(self) -> pa.Schema:
@@ -1579,6 +1630,7 @@ class LanceEmptyQueryBuilder(LanceQueryBuilder):
             limit=self._limit,
             with_row_id=self._with_row_id,
             offset=self._offset,
+            order_by=self._order_by,
         )
 
     def output_schema(self) -> pa.Schema:
@@ -2305,6 +2357,7 @@ class AsyncQueryBase(object):
         self,
         flatten: Optional[Union[int, bool]] = None,
         timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        **kwargs,
     ) -> "pd.DataFrame":
         """
         Execute the query and collect the results into a pandas DataFrame.
@@ -2337,10 +2390,13 @@ class AsyncQueryBase(object):
             The maximum time to wait for the query to complete.
             If not specified, no timeout is applied. If the query does not
             complete within the specified time, an error will be raised.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to pyarrow.Table.to_pandas after query execution and
+            optional flattening.
         """
         return (
             flatten_columns(await self.to_arrow(timeout=timeout), flatten)
-        ).to_pandas()
+        ).to_pandas(**kwargs)
 
     async def to_polars(
         self,
@@ -2502,6 +2558,27 @@ class AsyncStandardQuery(AsyncQueryBase):
         self._inner.offset(offset)
         return self
 
+    def order_by(self, ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]) -> Self:
+        """
+        Set the ordering for the results.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        ordering: Optional[List[ColumnOrdering]]
+            The ordering to use for the results.  If None, then the default ordering
+            will be used.
+        """
+        if ordering is None:
+            self._inner.order_by(None)
+        else:
+            self._inner.order_by(
+                [
+                    o.model_dump() if hasattr(o, "model_dump") else o.dict()
+                    for o in ordering
+                ]
+            )
+        return self
+
     def fast_search(self) -> Self:
         """
         Skip searching un-indexed data.
@@ -3272,16 +3349,18 @@ class BaseQueryBuilder(object):
             If not specified, no timeout is applied. If the query does not
             complete within the specified time, an error will be raised.
         """
-        async_iter = LOOP.run(self._inner.execute(max_batch_length, timeout))
+        async_reader = LOOP.run(
+            self._inner.to_batches(max_batch_length=max_batch_length, timeout=timeout)
+        )
 
         def iter_sync():
             try:
                 while True:
-                    yield LOOP.run(async_iter.__anext__())
+                    yield LOOP.run(async_reader.__anext__())
             except StopAsyncIteration:
                 return
 
-        return pa.RecordBatchReader.from_batches(async_iter.schema, iter_sync())
+        return pa.RecordBatchReader.from_batches(async_reader.schema, iter_sync())
 
     def to_arrow(self, timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None) -> pa.Table:
         """
@@ -3321,6 +3400,7 @@ class BaseQueryBuilder(object):
         self,
         flatten: Optional[Union[int, bool]] = None,
         timeout: Optional[timedelta] = None,
+        **kwargs,
     ) -> "pd.DataFrame":
         """
         Execute the query and collect the results into a pandas DataFrame.
@@ -3353,8 +3433,11 @@ class BaseQueryBuilder(object):
             The maximum time to wait for the query to complete.
             If not specified, no timeout is applied. If the query does not
             complete within the specified time, an error will be raised.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to pyarrow.Table.to_pandas after query execution and
+            optional flattening.
         """
-        return LOOP.run(self._inner.to_pandas(flatten, timeout))
+        return LOOP.run(self._inner.to_pandas(flatten, timeout, **kwargs))
 
     def to_polars(
         self,

python/python/lancedb/remote/table.py

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ from lancedb._lancedb import (
     DeleteResult,
     DropColumnsResult,
     IndexConfig,
+    LsmWriteSpec,
     MergeResult,
     UpdateResult,
 )
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ from lancedb.embeddings import EmbeddingFunctionRegistry
 from lancedb.table import _normalize_progress
 
 from ..query import LanceVectorQueryBuilder, LanceQueryBuilder, LanceTakeQueryBuilder
-from ..table import AsyncTable, IndexStatistics, Query, Table, Tags
+from ..table import AsyncTable, BlobMode, IndexStatistics, Query, Table, Tags
 from ..types import BaseTokenizerType
 
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
         """to_arrow() is not yet supported on LanceDB cloud."""
         raise NotImplementedError("to_arrow() is not yet supported on LanceDB cloud.")
 
-    def to_pandas(self):
+    def to_pandas(self, blob_mode: BlobMode = "lazy", **kwargs):
         """to_pandas() is not yet supported on LanceDB cloud."""
         raise NotImplementedError("to_pandas() is not yet supported on LanceDB cloud.")
 
@@ -655,6 +656,18 @@ class RemoteTable(Table):
     def drop_columns(self, columns: Iterable[str]) -> DropColumnsResult:
         return LOOP.run(self._table.drop_columns(columns))
 
+    def set_unenforced_primary_key(self, columns: Union[str, Iterable[str]]) -> None:
+        """Not supported on LanceDB Cloud."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.set_unenforced_primary_key(columns))
+
+    def set_lsm_write_spec(self, spec: "LsmWriteSpec") -> None:
+        """Not supported on LanceDB Cloud."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.set_lsm_write_spec(spec))
+
+    def unset_lsm_write_spec(self) -> None:
+        """Not supported on LanceDB Cloud."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.unset_lsm_write_spec())
+
     def drop_index(self, index_name: str):
         return LOOP.run(self._table.drop_index(index_name))
 

python/python/lancedb/table.py

@@ -87,6 +87,8 @@ from .util import (
 )
 from .index import lang_mapping
 
+BlobMode = Literal["lazy", "bytes", "descriptions"]
+
 _MODEL_BACKED_TOKENIZER_PREFIXES = ("jieba", "lindera")
 _MODEL_BACKED_TOKENIZER_ERRORS = (
     "unknown base tokenizer",
@@ -154,6 +156,7 @@ if TYPE_CHECKING:
         AlterColumnsResult,
         DeleteResult,
         DropColumnsResult,
+        LsmWriteSpec,
         MergeResult,
         UpdateResult,
     )
@@ -759,14 +762,22 @@ class Table(ABC):
         """
         raise NotImplementedError
 
-    def to_pandas(self) -> "pandas.DataFrame":
+    def to_pandas(self, blob_mode: BlobMode = "lazy", **kwargs) -> "pandas.DataFrame":
         """Return the table as a pandas DataFrame.
 
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        blob_mode: str, default "lazy"
+            Controls how blob columns are returned for backends that support
+            Lance blob-aware pandas conversion.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to PyArrow / Lance pandas conversion.
+
         Returns
         -------
         pd.DataFrame
         """
-        return self.to_arrow().to_pandas()
+        return self.to_arrow().to_pandas(**kwargs)
 
     @abstractmethod
     def to_arrow(self) -> pa.Table:
@@ -2167,7 +2178,7 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
         return LOOP.run(self._table.count_rows(filter))
 
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
-        val = f"{self.__class__.__name__}(name={self.name!r}, version={self.version}"
+        val = f"{self.__class__.__name__}(name={self.name!r}"
         if self._conn.read_consistency_interval is not None:
             val += ", read_consistency_interval={!r}".format(
                 self._conn.read_consistency_interval
@@ -2182,14 +2193,27 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
         """Return the first n rows of the table."""
         return LOOP.run(self._table.head(n))
 
-    def to_pandas(self) -> "pd.DataFrame":
+    def to_pandas(self, blob_mode: BlobMode = "lazy", **kwargs) -> "pd.DataFrame":
         """Return the table as a pandas DataFrame.
 
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        blob_mode: str, default "lazy"
+            Controls how Lance blob columns are returned.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to Lance pandas conversion.
+
         Returns
         -------
         pd.DataFrame
         """
-        return self.to_arrow().to_pandas()
+        if blob_mode == "lazy" and (
+            self._namespace_client is not None
+            or get_uri_scheme(self._dataset_path) == "memory"
+        ):
+            return self.to_arrow().to_pandas(**kwargs)
+
+        return self.to_lance().to_pandas(blob_mode=blob_mode, **kwargs)
 
     def to_arrow(self) -> pa.Table:
         """Return the table as a pyarrow Table.
@@ -2518,11 +2542,6 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
                 "at a time. To search over multiple text fields, create a "
                 "separate FTS index for each field."
             )
-        if "." in field_names:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Native FTS indexes can only be created on top-level fields. "
-                f"Received nested field path: {field_names!r}."
-            )
 
         if tokenizer_name is None:
             tokenizer_configs = {
@@ -3263,6 +3282,21 @@ class LanceTable(Table):
     def drop_columns(self, columns: Iterable[str]) -> DropColumnsResult:
         return LOOP.run(self._table.drop_columns(columns))
 
+    def set_unenforced_primary_key(self, columns: Union[str, Iterable[str]]) -> None:
+        """Set the unenforced primary key. See
+        [`AsyncTable.set_unenforced_primary_key`][lancedb.AsyncTable.set_unenforced_primary_key]."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.set_unenforced_primary_key(columns))
+
+    def set_lsm_write_spec(self, spec: "LsmWriteSpec") -> None:
+        """Install an LsmWriteSpec. See
+        [`AsyncTable.set_lsm_write_spec`][lancedb.AsyncTable.set_lsm_write_spec]."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.set_lsm_write_spec(spec))
+
+    def unset_lsm_write_spec(self) -> None:
+        """Remove the LsmWriteSpec. See
+        [`AsyncTable.unset_lsm_write_spec`][lancedb.AsyncTable.unset_lsm_write_spec]."""
+        return LOOP.run(self._table.unset_lsm_write_spec())
+
     def uses_v2_manifest_paths(self) -> bool:
         """
         Check if the table is using the new v2 manifest paths.
@@ -3808,6 +3842,69 @@ class AsyncTable:
         Any attempt to use the table after it has been closed will raise an error."""
         return self._inner.close()
 
+    async def set_unenforced_primary_key(
+        self, columns: Union[str, Iterable[str]]
+    ) -> None:
+        """Set the unenforced primary key for this table to the given
+        ordered list of columns.
+
+        "Unenforced" means LanceDB does not check uniqueness on writes; the
+        columns are recorded in the schema as the primary key so that
+        features such as `merge_insert` can use them. Calling this again
+        replaces any previously-set primary key.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        columns : str or Iterable[str]
+            Either a single column name (single-column key) or an ordered
+            iterable of column names (composite key). Each column dtype
+            must be one of: int32, int64, utf8, large_utf8, binary,
+            large_binary, fixed_size_binary.
+        """
+        if isinstance(columns, str):
+            columns = [columns]
+        else:
+            columns = list(columns)
+        await self._inner.set_unenforced_primary_key(columns)
+
+    async def set_lsm_write_spec(self, spec: "LsmWriteSpec") -> None:
+        """Install an LsmWriteSpec on this table.
+
+        The spec selects Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for future
+        `merge_insert` calls. ``LsmWriteSpec`` chooses one of three sharding
+        strategies:
+
+        - ``LsmWriteSpec.bucket(column, num_buckets)`` — hash-bucket writes by
+          the single-column unenforced primary key.
+        - ``LsmWriteSpec.identity(column)`` — shard by the raw value of a
+          scalar column.
+        - ``LsmWriteSpec.unsharded()`` — route every write to a single shard.
+
+        All variants require the table to have an unenforced primary key set
+        via [`set_unenforced_primary_key`]; bucket sharding additionally
+        requires it to be the single column being bucketed.
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        spec : LsmWriteSpec
+            The sharding spec to install.
+
+        Examples
+        --------
+        >>> from lancedb._lancedb import LsmWriteSpec
+        >>> # table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+        >>> # table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 16))
+        """
+        await self._inner.set_lsm_write_spec(spec)
+
+    async def unset_lsm_write_spec(self) -> None:
+        """Remove the LsmWriteSpec from this table.
+
+        Reverts to the standard `merge_insert` write path. Errors if no spec
+        is currently set.
+        """
+        await self._inner.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+
     @property
     def name(self) -> str:
         """The name of the table."""
@@ -3866,14 +3963,39 @@ class AsyncTable:
         """
         return AsyncQuery(self._inner.query())
 
-    async def to_pandas(self) -> "pd.DataFrame":
+    async def _to_lance(self, **kwargs) -> lance.LanceDataset:
+        try:
+            import lance
+        except ImportError:
+            raise ImportError(
+                "The lance library is required to use this function. "
+                "Please install with `pip install pylance`."
+            )
+
+        return lance.dataset(
+            await self.uri(),
+            version=await self.version(),
+            storage_options=await self.latest_storage_options(),
+            **kwargs,
+        )
+
+    async def to_pandas(self, blob_mode: BlobMode = "lazy", **kwargs) -> "pd.DataFrame":
         """Return the table as a pandas DataFrame.
 
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        blob_mode: str, default "lazy"
+            Controls how Lance blob columns are returned.
+        **kwargs
+            Forwarded to PyArrow / Lance pandas conversion.
+
         Returns
         -------
         pd.DataFrame
         """
-        return (await self.to_arrow()).to_pandas()
+        if blob_mode == "lazy":
+            return (await self.to_arrow()).to_pandas(**kwargs)
+        return (await self._to_lance()).to_pandas(blob_mode=blob_mode, **kwargs)
 
     async def to_arrow(self) -> pa.Table:
         """Return the table as a pyarrow Table.
@@ -4512,6 +4634,8 @@ class AsyncTable:
             async_query = async_query.fast_search()
         if query.with_row_id:
             async_query = async_query.with_row_id()
+        if query.order_by:
+            async_query = async_query.order_by(query.order_by)
 
         if query.vector:
             async_query = async_query.nearest_to(query.vector).distance_range(

python/python/lancedb/util.py

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import pathlib
 import warnings
 from datetime import date, datetime
 from functools import singledispatch
-from typing import Tuple, Union, Optional, Any
+from typing import Tuple, Union, Optional, Any, List
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
 import numpy as np
@@ -189,7 +189,33 @@ def flatten_columns(tbl: pa.Table, flatten: Optional[Union[int, bool]] = None):
     return tbl
 
 
-def inf_vector_column_query(schema: pa.Schema) -> str:
+def _format_field_path(path: List[str]) -> str:
+    def format_segment(segment: str) -> str:
+        if all(char.isalnum() or char == "_" for char in segment):
+            return segment
+        return f"`{segment.replace('`', '``')}`"
+
+    return ".".join(format_segment(segment) for segment in path)
+
+
+def _iter_vector_columns(
+    field: pa.Field, path: List[str], dim: Optional[int] = None
+) -> List[str]:
+    field_path = [*path, field.name]
+    if is_vector_column(field.type):
+        vector_dim = infer_vector_column_dim(field.type)
+        if dim is None or vector_dim == dim:
+            return [_format_field_path(field_path)]
+        return []
+    if pa.types.is_struct(field.type):
+        columns = []
+        for idx in range(field.type.num_fields):
+            columns.extend(_iter_vector_columns(field.type.field(idx), field_path, dim))
+        return columns
+    return []
+
+
+def inf_vector_column_query(schema: pa.Schema, dim: Optional[int] = None) -> str:
     """
     Get the vector column name
 
@@ -202,26 +228,21 @@ def inf_vector_column_query(schema: pa.Schema) -> str:
     -------
     str: the vector column name.
     """
-    vector_col_name = ""
-    vector_col_count = 0
-    for field_name in schema.names:
-        field = schema.field(field_name)
-        if is_vector_column(field.type):
-            vector_col_count += 1
-            if vector_col_count > 1:
-                raise ValueError(
-                    "Schema has more than one vector column. "
-                    "Please specify the vector column name "
-                    "for vector search"
-                )
-            elif vector_col_count == 1:
-                vector_col_name = field_name
-    if vector_col_count == 0:
+    vector_col_names = []
+    for field in schema:
+        vector_col_names.extend(_iter_vector_columns(field, [], dim))
+    if len(vector_col_names) > 1:
+        raise ValueError(
+            "Schema has more than one vector column. "
+            "Please specify the vector column name "
+            f"for vector search. Candidates: {vector_col_names}"
+        )
+    if len(vector_col_names) == 0:
         raise ValueError(
             "There is no vector column in the data. "
             "Please specify the vector column name for vector search"
         )
-    return vector_col_name
+    return vector_col_names[0]
 
 
 def is_vector_column(data_type: pa.DataType) -> bool:
@@ -247,6 +268,29 @@ def is_vector_column(data_type: pa.DataType) -> bool:
     return False
 
 
+def infer_vector_column_dim(data_type: pa.DataType) -> Optional[int]:
+    if pa.types.is_fixed_size_list(data_type):
+        return data_type.list_size
+    if pa.types.is_list(data_type):
+        return infer_vector_column_dim(data_type.value_type)
+    return None
+
+
+def _query_vector_dim(query: Optional[Any]) -> Optional[int]:
+    if query is None:
+        return None
+    if isinstance(query, np.ndarray):
+        if query.ndim == 0:
+            return None
+        return query.shape[-1]
+    if isinstance(query, list) and query:
+        first = query[0]
+        if isinstance(first, (list, tuple, np.ndarray)):
+            return len(first)
+        return len(query)
+    return None
+
+
 def infer_vector_column_name(
     schema: pa.Schema,
     query_type: str,
@@ -262,7 +306,9 @@ def infer_vector_column_name(
 
     if query is not None or query_type == "hybrid":
         try:
-            vector_column_name = inf_vector_column_query(schema)
+            vector_column_name = inf_vector_column_query(
+                schema, dim=_query_vector_dim(query)
+            )
         except Exception as e:
             raise e
 

python/python/tests/models/lindera/ipadic/config.yml

@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 segmenter:
   mode: "normal"
-  dictionary:
-    path: "./python/tests/models/lindera/ipadic/main"
+  dictionary: "./python/tests/models/lindera/ipadic/main"

python/python/tests/test_db.py

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import re
 import sys
 from datetime import timedelta
 import os
+from types import SimpleNamespace
 
 import lancedb
 import numpy as np
@@ -188,6 +189,43 @@ def test_table_names(tmp_db: lancedb.DBConnection):
     assert len(result) == 3
 
 
+def test_db_contains_and_len_include_all_table_name_pages(tmp_db: lancedb.DBConnection):
+    for idx in range(20):
+        tmp_db.create_table(f"table_{idx}", data=[{"id": idx}])
+
+    assert len(tmp_db) == 20
+    for idx in range(20):
+        assert f"table_{idx}" in tmp_db
+    assert "does_not_exist" not in tmp_db
+
+
+def test_db_contains_stops_after_matching_table_page(
+    tmp_db: lancedb.DBConnection, monkeypatch
+):
+    calls = []
+    pages = {
+        None: SimpleNamespace(tables=["table_0", "table_1"], page_token="next"),
+        "next": SimpleNamespace(tables=["table_2"], page_token=None),
+    }
+
+    def list_tables(*, page_token=None, **_kwargs):
+        calls.append(page_token)
+        return pages[page_token]
+
+    monkeypatch.setattr(tmp_db, "list_tables", list_tables)
+
+    assert "table_1" in tmp_db
+    assert calls == [None]
+
+    calls.clear()
+    assert "table_2" in tmp_db
+    assert calls == [None, "next"]
+
+    calls.clear()
+    assert len(tmp_db) == 3
+    assert calls == [None, "next"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_table_names_async(tmp_path):
     db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)

python/python/tests/test_fts.py

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from lancedb.query import (
     MultiMatchQuery,
     PhraseQuery,
     BooleanQuery,
+    ColumnOrdering,
     Occur,
     LanceFtsQueryBuilder,
 )
@@ -116,8 +117,7 @@ def lindera_ipadic(language_model_home):
     config_path.write_text(
         "segmenter:\n"
         '  mode: "normal"\n'
-        "  dictionary:\n"
-        f'    path: "{extracted_model.resolve().as_posix()}"\n',
+        f'  dictionary: "{extracted_model.resolve().as_posix()}"\n',
         encoding="utf-8",
     )
 
@@ -500,6 +500,36 @@ async def test_search_fts_specify_column_async(async_table):
         pass
 
 
+def test_search_order_by_descending(table):
+    table.create_fts_index("text")
+    rows = (
+        table.search("puppy")
+        .order_by([ColumnOrdering(column_name="count", ascending=False)])
+        .limit(20)
+        .select(["text", "count"])
+        .to_list()
+    )
+
+    for r in rows:
+        assert "puppy" in r["text"]
+    assert sorted(rows, key=lambda x: x["count"], reverse=True) == rows
+
+
+def test_search_order_by_ascending(table):
+    table.create_fts_index("text")
+    rows = (
+        table.search("puppy")
+        .order_by([ColumnOrdering(column_name="count", ascending=True)])
+        .limit(20)
+        .select(["text", "count"])
+        .to_list()
+    )
+
+    for r in rows:
+        assert "puppy" in r["text"]
+    assert sorted(rows, key=lambda x: x["count"]) == rows
+
+
 def test_create_index_from_table(tmp_path, table):
     table.create_fts_index("text")
     df = table.search("puppy").limit(5).select(["text"]).to_pandas()
@@ -533,8 +563,111 @@ def test_create_index_multiple_columns(tmp_path, table):
 
 
 def test_nested_schema(tmp_path, table):
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="top-level fields"):
-        table.create_fts_index("nested.text")
+    table.create_fts_index("nested.text", with_position=True)
+    indices = table.list_indices()
+    assert len(indices) == 1
+    assert indices[0].index_type == "FTS"
+    assert indices[0].columns == ["nested.text"]
+
+    results = (
+        table.search("puppy", query_type="fts", fts_columns="nested.text")
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in results)
+
+    results = table.search(MatchQuery("puppy", "nested.text")).limit(5).to_list()
+    assert len(results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in results)
+
+    phrase_results = (
+        table.search(PhraseQuery("puppy runs", "nested.text")).limit(5).to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(phrase_results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy runs" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in phrase_results)
+
+    hybrid_results = (
+        table.search(query_type="hybrid", fts_columns="nested.text")
+        .vector([0 for _ in range(128)])
+        .text("puppy")
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(hybrid_results) > 0
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_nested_schema_async(async_table):
+    await async_table.create_index("nested.text", config=FTS(with_position=True))
+    indices = await async_table.list_indices()
+    assert len(indices) == 1
+    assert indices[0].index_type == "FTS"
+    assert indices[0].columns == ["nested.text"]
+
+    results = await (
+        async_table.query()
+        .nearest_to_text("puppy", columns="nested.text")
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in results)
+
+    results = await (
+        async_table.query()
+        .nearest_to_text(MatchQuery("puppy", "nested.text"))
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in results)
+
+    phrase_results = await (
+        async_table.query()
+        .nearest_to_text(PhraseQuery("puppy runs", "nested.text"))
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(phrase_results) > 0
+    assert all("puppy runs" in row["nested"]["text"] for row in phrase_results)
+
+    hybrid_results = await (
+        async_table.query()
+        .nearest_to([0 for _ in range(128)])
+        .nearest_to_text("puppy", columns="nested.text")
+        .limit(5)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(hybrid_results) > 0
+
+
+def test_nested_schema_rejects_invalid_fts_fields(tmp_path):
+    db = ldb.connect(tmp_path)
+    data = pa.table(
+        {
+            "payload": pa.array(
+                [
+                    {"text": "puppy runs", "count": 1},
+                    {"text": "car drives", "count": 2},
+                ]
+            ),
+            "vector": pa.array(
+                [[0.1, 0.1], [0.2, 0.2]],
+                type=pa.list_(pa.float32(), list_size=2),
+            ),
+        }
+    )
+    table = db.create_table("test", data=data)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="FTS index cannot be created.*payload"):
+        table.create_fts_index("payload")
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="FTS index cannot be created.*count"):
+        table.create_fts_index("payload.count")
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Field path `payload.missing` not found"):
+        table.create_fts_index("payload.missing")
 
 
 def test_search_index_with_filter(table):

python/python/tests/test_index.py

@@ -105,6 +105,46 @@ async def test_create_scalar_index(some_table: AsyncTable):
     assert len(indices) == 0
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_create_nested_scalar_index_lists_canonical_paths(db_async):
+    metadata_type = pa.struct(
+        [
+            pa.field("user_id", pa.int32()),
+            pa.field("user.id", pa.int32()),
+        ]
+    )
+    data = pa.Table.from_arrays(
+        [
+            pa.array([1, 2, 3], type=pa.int32()),
+            pa.array(
+                [
+                    {"user_id": 10, "user.id": 100},
+                    {"user_id": 20, "user.id": 200},
+                    {"user_id": 30, "user.id": 300},
+                ],
+                type=metadata_type,
+            ),
+        ],
+        names=["user_id", "metadata"],
+    )
+    table = await db_async.create_table("nested_scalar_index", data)
+
+    await table.create_index("user_id", config=BTree(), name="top_user_id_idx")
+    await table.create_index(
+        "metadata.user_id", config=BTree(), name="nested_user_id_idx"
+    )
+    await table.create_index(
+        "metadata.`user.id`", config=BTree(), name="escaped_user_id_idx"
+    )
+
+    columns_by_name = {
+        index.name: index.columns for index in await table.list_indices()
+    }
+    assert columns_by_name["top_user_id_idx"] == ["user_id"]
+    assert columns_by_name["nested_user_id_idx"] == ["metadata.user_id"]
+    assert columns_by_name["escaped_user_id_idx"] == ["metadata.`user.id`"]
+
+
 @pytest.mark.asyncio
 async def test_create_fixed_size_binary_index(some_table: AsyncTable):
     await some_table.create_index("fsb", config=BTree())

python/python/tests/test_lsm_write_spec.py

@@ -0,0 +1,149 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+"""Tests for installing and clearing an LsmWriteSpec via
+`Table.set_lsm_write_spec` / `Table.unset_lsm_write_spec`.
+"""
+
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+import lancedb
+import pyarrow as pa
+import pytest
+from lancedb._lancedb import LsmWriteSpec
+
+SCHEMA = pa.schema(
+    [
+        pa.field("id", pa.utf8(), nullable=False),
+        pa.field("v", pa.int32(), nullable=False),
+    ]
+)
+
+
+def _batch(ids, vs):
+    return pa.RecordBatch.from_arrays(
+        [pa.array(ids, type=pa.utf8()), pa.array(vs, type=pa.int32())],
+        schema=SCHEMA,
+    )
+
+
+def _reader(ids, vs):
+    return pa.RecordBatchReader.from_batches(SCHEMA, [_batch(ids, vs)])
+
+
+def _make_table(tmp_path):
+    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path, read_consistency_interval=timedelta(seconds=0))
+    table = db.create_table("t", _reader(["seed"], [0]))
+    return db, table
+
+
+def test_set_lsm_write_spec_validates(tmp_path):
+    _db, table = _make_table(tmp_path)
+
+    # No PK set yet.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="primary key"):
+        table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4))
+
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+
+    # Column mismatch.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="match"):
+        table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("v", 4))
+
+    # Out-of-range num_buckets.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="num_buckets"):
+        table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 0))
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="num_buckets"):
+        table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 1025))
+
+    # Happy path then mutation rejected.
+    table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4))
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="mutation"):
+        table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 8))
+
+
+def test_unset_lsm_write_spec(tmp_path):
+    _db, table = _make_table(tmp_path)
+
+    # unset errors when no spec is set.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="no LSM write spec"):
+        table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+
+    # Install a spec, then remove it; afterwards a fresh spec can be set.
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+    table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4))
+    table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+    # A second unset errors — there is no spec left to remove.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="no LSM write spec"):
+        table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+    table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 8))
+
+
+def test_set_unsharded_spec(tmp_path):
+    _db, table = _make_table(tmp_path)
+    # Lance MemWAL still requires a primary key on the dataset; Unsharded
+    # just skips per-row hashing.
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+    table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.unsharded())
+    table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+
+
+def test_lsm_write_spec_repr():
+    s = LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4)
+    assert s.spec_type == "bucket"
+    assert s.column == "id"
+    assert s.num_buckets == 4
+    assert s.maintained_indexes == []
+    assert "bucket" in repr(s)
+    assert "id" in repr(s)
+    assert "4" in repr(s)
+
+    u = LsmWriteSpec.unsharded()
+    assert u.spec_type == "unsharded"
+    assert u.column is None
+    assert u.num_buckets is None
+    assert "unsharded" in repr(u)
+
+
+def test_lsm_write_spec_with_maintained_indexes():
+    s = LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4).with_maintained_indexes(["idx_a", "idx_b"])
+    assert s.maintained_indexes == ["idx_a", "idx_b"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_async_set_unset_lsm_write_spec(tmp_path):
+    db = await lancedb.connect_async(
+        tmp_path, read_consistency_interval=timedelta(seconds=0)
+    )
+    table = await db.create_table(
+        "t",
+        pa.RecordBatchReader.from_batches(SCHEMA, [_batch(["seed"], [0])]),
+    )
+
+    await table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+    await table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.bucket("id", 4))
+    await table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+    # A second unset errors.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="no LSM write spec"):
+        await table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+
+
+def test_set_identity_spec(tmp_path):
+    _db, table = _make_table(tmp_path)
+    # Identity sharding still requires an unenforced primary key on the
+    # table; it shards by the raw value of the given column.
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+    table.set_lsm_write_spec(LsmWriteSpec.identity("v"))
+    table.unset_lsm_write_spec()
+
+
+def test_lsm_write_spec_identity_and_writer_config_defaults():
+    s = LsmWriteSpec.identity("v")
+    assert s.spec_type == "identity"
+    assert s.column == "v"
+    assert s.num_buckets is None
+    assert "identity" in repr(s)
+
+    s = s.with_writer_config_defaults({"durable_write": "false"})
+    assert s.writer_config_defaults == {"durable_write": "false"}
+    assert "durable_write" in repr(s)

python/python/tests/test_permutation.py

@@ -1080,3 +1080,29 @@ 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_take_offsets(some_permutation: Permutation):
+    result = some_permutation.take_offsets([0, 1, 2])
+
+    assert isinstance(result, list)
+    assert "id" in result[0]
+    assert "value" in result[0]
+    assert len(result) == 3
+
+
+def test_take_offsets_empty_identity_permutation(mem_db):
+    tbl = mem_db.create_table(
+        "test_table", pa.table({"id": range(10), "value": range(10)})
+    )
+    permutation = Permutation.identity(tbl)
+
+    result = permutation.take_offsets([])
+
+    assert result == []
+
+
+def test_take_offsets_empty_permutation(some_permutation: Permutation):
+    result = some_permutation.take_offsets([])
+
+    assert result == []

python/python/tests/test_primary_key.py

@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+# SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+"""Tests for Table.set_unenforced_primary_key."""
+
+from datetime import timedelta
+
+import lancedb
+import pyarrow as pa
+import pytest
+
+
+def _empty_table(path, schema):
+    db = lancedb.connect(path, read_consistency_interval=timedelta(seconds=0))
+    return db.create_table("t", schema=schema)
+
+
+def test_set_unenforced_primary_key_accepts_string_or_one_element_list(tmp_path):
+    schema = pa.schema([pa.field("id", pa.int64(), nullable=False)])
+
+    # Bare string.
+    table = _empty_table(tmp_path / "s", schema)
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")
+
+    # One-element list.
+    table = _empty_table(tmp_path / "l", schema)
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key(["id"])
+
+
+def test_set_unenforced_primary_key_rejects_compound_and_empty(tmp_path):
+    table = _empty_table(
+        tmp_path,
+        pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("a", pa.utf8(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("b", pa.int64(), nullable=False),
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+    # Compound keys are not supported.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="compound"):
+        table.set_unenforced_primary_key(["a", "b"])
+    # Empty input.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="required"):
+        table.set_unenforced_primary_key([])
+
+
+def test_set_unenforced_primary_key_is_immutable(tmp_path):
+    table = _empty_table(
+        tmp_path,
+        pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("a", pa.utf8(), nullable=False),
+                pa.field("b", pa.int64(), nullable=False),
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+    table.set_unenforced_primary_key("a")
+    # The primary key cannot be changed or re-set once installed.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="already set"):
+        table.set_unenforced_primary_key("b")
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="already set"):
+        table.set_unenforced_primary_key("a")
+
+
+def test_set_unenforced_primary_key_validates(tmp_path):
+    table = _empty_table(
+        tmp_path / "t", pa.schema([pa.field("id", pa.utf8(), nullable=False)])
+    )
+    # Unknown column.
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="not found"):
+        table.set_unenforced_primary_key("nonexistent")
+
+    # Unsupported dtype (Float32 not in the supported set).
+    bad = _empty_table(
+        tmp_path / "bad", pa.schema([pa.field("id", pa.float32(), nullable=False)])
+    )
+    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="not supported"):
+        bad.set_unenforced_primary_key("id")

python/python/tests/test_query.py

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ from lancedb.query import (
     AsyncHybridQuery,
     AsyncQueryBase,
     AsyncVectorQuery,
+    ColumnOrdering,
     LanceVectorQueryBuilder,
     MatchQuery,
     PhraseQuery,
@@ -164,6 +165,87 @@ def test_offset(table):
     assert len(results_with_offset.to_pandas()) == 1
 
 
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_query_to_pandas_kwargs(table, table_async):
+    sync_df = (
+        LanceVectorQueryBuilder(table, [0, 0], "vector")
+        .select(["id"])
+        .limit(1)
+        .to_pandas(split_blocks=True)
+    )
+    assert sync_df["id"].tolist() == [1]
+
+    async_df = await (
+        table_async.query().select(["id"]).limit(2).to_pandas(split_blocks=True)
+    )
+    assert async_df["id"].tolist() == [1, 2]
+
+
+def test_order_by_plain_query(mem_db):
+    table = mem_db.create_table(
+        "test_order_by",
+        pa.table(
+            {
+                "group": [1, 1, 1, 2],
+                "score": [None, 1.0, 1.0, 0.5],
+                "name": ["z", "b", "a", "c"],
+            }
+        ),
+    )
+
+    res = (
+        table.search()
+        .order_by(
+            [
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="group", ascending=True, nulls_first=False),
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="score", ascending=True, nulls_first=True),
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="name", ascending=True, nulls_first=False),
+            ]
+        )
+        .to_arrow()
+    )
+
+    assert res.select(["group", "score", "name"]).to_pylist() == [
+        {"group": 1, "score": None, "name": "z"},
+        {"group": 1, "score": 1.0, "name": "a"},
+        {"group": 1, "score": 1.0, "name": "b"},
+        {"group": 2, "score": 0.5, "name": "c"},
+    ]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_order_by_async_query(mem_db_async: AsyncConnection):
+    table = await mem_db_async.create_table(
+        "test_order_by_async",
+        pa.table(
+            {
+                "group": [1, 1, 1, 2],
+                "score": [None, 1.0, 1.0, 0.5],
+                "name": ["z", "b", "a", "c"],
+            }
+        ),
+    )
+
+    res = await (
+        table.query()
+        .order_by(
+            [
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="group", ascending=True, nulls_first=False),
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="score", ascending=True, nulls_first=True),
+                ColumnOrdering(column_name="name", ascending=True, nulls_first=False),
+            ]
+        )
+        .to_arrow()
+    )
+
+    assert res.select(["group", "score", "name"]).to_pylist() == [
+        {"group": 1, "score": None, "name": "z"},
+        {"group": 1, "score": 1.0, "name": "a"},
+        {"group": 1, "score": 1.0, "name": "b"},
+        {"group": 2, "score": 0.5, "name": "c"},
+    ]
+
+
 def test_query_builder(table):
     rs = (
         LanceVectorQueryBuilder(table, [0, 0], "vector")
@@ -1430,6 +1512,37 @@ def test_take_queries(tmp_path):
     ]
 
 
+def test_take_queries_to_batches(tmp_path):
+    # Regression test for the sync take-query path: `to_batches` previously
+    # raised ``AttributeError: 'AsyncTakeQuery' object has no attribute
+    # 'execute'`` because the inherited ``BaseQueryBuilder.to_batches`` called
+    # ``execute`` on the async wrapper instead of the native query.
+    db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
+    data = pa.table({"idx": list(range(100)), "label": [str(i) for i in range(100)]})
+    table = db.create_table("test", data)
+
+    # Take by offset → to_batches
+    rs = list(table.take_offsets([5, 2, 17]).to_batches())
+    assert all(isinstance(b, pa.RecordBatch) for b in rs)
+    assert sum(b.num_rows for b in rs) == 3
+    assert sorted(v for b in rs for v in b.column("idx").to_pylist()) == [2, 5, 17]
+
+    # Take by row id → to_batches
+    rs = list(table.take_row_ids([5, 2, 17]).to_batches())
+    assert all(isinstance(b, pa.RecordBatch) for b in rs)
+    assert sum(b.num_rows for b in rs) == 3
+    assert sorted(v for b in rs for v in b.column("idx").to_pylist()) == [2, 5, 17]
+
+    # Take with select projection → to_batches preserves the projection
+    rs = list(table.take_row_ids([5, 2, 17]).select(["label"]).to_batches())
+    assert all(b.schema.names == ["label"] for b in rs)
+    assert sorted(v for b in rs for v in b.column("label").to_pylist()) == [
+        "17",
+        "2",
+        "5",
+    ]
+
+
 def test_getitems(tmp_path):
     db = lancedb.connect(tmp_path)
     data = pa.table(

python/python/tests/test_remote_db.py

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ from packaging.version import Version
 
 import lancedb
 from lancedb.conftest import MockTextEmbeddingFunction
+from lancedb.query import ColumnOrdering
 from lancedb.remote import ClientConfig
 from lancedb.remote.errors import HttpError, RetryError
 import pytest
@@ -268,6 +269,25 @@ def test_table_unimplemented_functions():
             table.to_pandas()
 
 
+def test_table_to_pandas_not_supported():
+    def handler(request):
+        if request.path == "/v1/table/test/create/?mode=create":
+            request.send_response(200)
+            request.send_header("Content-Type", "application/json")
+            request.end_headers()
+            request.wfile.write(b"{}")
+        else:
+            request.send_response(404)
+            request.end_headers()
+
+    with mock_lancedb_connection(handler) as db:
+        table = db.create_table("test", [{"id": 1}])
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            table.to_pandas()
+        with pytest.raises(NotImplementedError):
+            table.to_pandas(blob_mode="bytes", split_blocks=True)
+
+
 def test_table_add_in_threadpool():
     def handler(request):
         if request.path == "/v1/table/test/insert/":
@@ -342,6 +362,22 @@ def test_table_create_indices():
                     schema=dict(
                         fields=[
                             dict(name="id", type={"type": "int64"}, nullable=False),
+                            dict(name="text", type={"type": "string"}, nullable=False),
+                            dict(
+                                name="vector",
+                                type={
+                                    "type": "fixed_size_list",
+                                    "fields": [
+                                        dict(
+                                            name="item",
+                                            type={"type": "float"},
+                                            nullable=True,
+                                        )
+                                    ],
+                                    "length": 2,
+                                },
+                                nullable=False,
+                            ),
                         ]
                     ),
                 )
@@ -660,6 +696,18 @@ def test_query_sync_maximal():
             "ef": None,
             "filter": "id > 0",
             "columns": ["id", "name"],
+            "order_by": [
+                {
+                    "column_name": "score",
+                    "ascending": False,
+                    "nulls_first": True,
+                },
+                {
+                    "column_name": "id",
+                    "ascending": True,
+                    "nulls_first": False,
+                },
+            ],
             "vector_column": "vector2",
             "fast_search": True,
             "with_row_id": True,
@@ -677,6 +725,14 @@ def test_query_sync_maximal():
             .refine_factor(10)
             .nprobes(5)
             .where("id > 0", prefilter=True)
+            .order_by(
+                [
+                    ColumnOrdering(
+                        column_name="score", ascending=False, nulls_first=True
+                    ),
+                    ColumnOrdering(column_name="id", ascending=True, nulls_first=False),
+                ]
+            )
             .with_row_id(True)
             .select(["id", "name"])
             .to_list()

python/python/tests/test_table.py

@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def test_basic(mem_db: DBConnection):
     table = mem_db.create_table("test", data=data)
 
     assert table.name == "test"
-    assert "LanceTable(name='test', version=1, _conn=LanceDBConnection(" in repr(table)
+    assert "LanceTable(name='test', _conn=LanceDBConnection(" in repr(table)
     expected_schema = pa.schema(
         {
             "vector": pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2),
@@ -47,6 +47,85 @@ def test_basic(mem_db: DBConnection):
     assert table.to_arrow() == expected_data
 
 
+def test_table_to_pandas_default_matches_arrow(tmp_db: DBConnection):
+    pd = pytest.importorskip("pandas")
+    data = pa.table({"id": [1, 2], "text": ["one", "two"]})
+    table = tmp_db.create_table("test_to_pandas_old_call", data=data)
+
+    expected = data.to_pandas()
+    pd.testing.assert_frame_equal(table.to_pandas(), expected)
+
+
+def test_table_to_pandas_blob_bytes(tmp_db: DBConnection):
+    pytest.importorskip("lance")
+    data = pa.table(
+        {
+            "id": pa.array([1, 2], pa.int64()),
+            "blob": pa.array([b"hello", b"world"], pa.large_binary()),
+        },
+        schema=pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
+                pa.field(
+                    "blob", pa.large_binary(), metadata={"lance-encoding:blob": "true"}
+                ),
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+    table = tmp_db.create_table("test_to_pandas_blob_bytes", data=data)
+
+    df = table.to_pandas(blob_mode="bytes")
+
+    assert df["blob"].tolist() == [b"hello", b"world"]
+
+
+def test_table_to_pandas_kwargs(tmp_db: DBConnection):
+    pd = pytest.importorskip("pandas")
+    data = pa.table({"id": pa.array([1, 2], pa.int64())})
+    table = tmp_db.create_table("test_to_pandas_kwargs", data=data)
+
+    df = table.to_pandas(types_mapper=pd.ArrowDtype)
+
+    assert str(df["id"].dtype) == "int64[pyarrow]"
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_async_table_to_pandas_blob_bytes(tmp_db_async: AsyncConnection):
+    pytest.importorskip("lance")
+    data = pa.table(
+        {
+            "id": pa.array([1, 2], pa.int64()),
+            "blob": pa.array([b"hello", b"world"], pa.large_binary()),
+        },
+        schema=pa.schema(
+            [
+                pa.field("id", pa.int64()),
+                pa.field(
+                    "blob", pa.large_binary(), metadata={"lance-encoding:blob": "true"}
+                ),
+            ]
+        ),
+    )
+    table = await tmp_db_async.create_table(
+        "test_async_to_pandas_blob_bytes", data=data
+    )
+
+    df = await table.to_pandas(blob_mode="bytes")
+
+    assert df["blob"].tolist() == [b"hello", b"world"]
+
+
+@pytest.mark.asyncio
+async def test_async_table_to_pandas_kwargs(tmp_db_async: AsyncConnection):
+    pd = pytest.importorskip("pandas")
+    data = pa.table({"id": pa.array([1, 2], pa.int64())})
+    table = await tmp_db_async.create_table("test_async_to_pandas_kwargs", data=data)
+
+    df = await table.to_pandas(types_mapper=pd.ArrowDtype)
+
+    assert str(df["id"].dtype) == "int64[pyarrow]"
+
+
 def test_create_table_infers_large_int_vectors(mem_db: DBConnection):
     data = [{"vector": [0, 300]}]
 
@@ -1811,6 +1890,59 @@ def test_create_scalar_index(mem_db: DBConnection):
     assert scalar_index.name == "custom_y_index"
 
 
+def test_create_index_nested_field_paths(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    schema = pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("metadata", pa.struct([pa.field("user_id", pa.int32())])),
+            pa.field(
+                "image",
+                pa.struct([pa.field("embedding", pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2))]),
+            ),
+        ]
+    )
+    data = pa.Table.from_pylist(
+        [
+            {
+                "metadata": {"user_id": i},
+                "image": {"embedding": [float(i), float(i + 1)]},
+            }
+            for i in range(256)
+        ],
+        schema=schema,
+    )
+    table = mem_db.create_table("nested_index_paths", data=data)
+
+    table.create_scalar_index("metadata.user_id", name="metadata_user_id_idx")
+    table.create_index(
+        vector_column_name="image.embedding",
+        num_partitions=1,
+        num_sub_vectors=1,
+        name="image_embedding_idx",
+    )
+
+    indices = sorted(table.list_indices(), key=lambda idx: idx.name)
+    assert [(idx.name, idx.index_type, idx.columns) for idx in indices] == [
+        ("image_embedding_idx", "IvfPq", ["image.embedding"]),
+        ("metadata_user_id_idx", "BTree", ["metadata.user_id"]),
+    ]
+
+    vector_results = (
+        table.search([0.0, 1.0], vector_column_name="image.embedding")
+        .limit(1)
+        .to_list()
+    )
+    assert len(vector_results) == 1
+    assert vector_results[0]["metadata"]["user_id"] == 0
+
+    default_vector_results = table.search([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).to_list()
+    assert len(default_vector_results) == 1
+    assert default_vector_results[0]["metadata"]["user_id"] == 0
+
+    filtered_results = table.search().where("metadata.user_id = 42").limit(1).to_list()
+    assert len(filtered_results) == 1
+    assert filtered_results[0]["metadata"]["user_id"] == 42
+
+
 def test_empty_query(mem_db: DBConnection):
     table = mem_db.create_table(
         "my_table",
@@ -1885,6 +2017,74 @@ def test_search_with_schema_inf_multiple_vector(mem_db: DBConnection):
         table.search(q).limit(1).to_arrow()
 
 
+def test_search_infers_single_nested_vector(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    schema = pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("id", pa.int32()),
+            pa.field(
+                "image",
+                pa.struct([pa.field("embedding", pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2))]),
+            ),
+        ]
+    )
+    data = pa.Table.from_pylist(
+        [
+            {"id": 0, "image": {"embedding": [0.0, 1.0]}},
+            {"id": 1, "image": {"embedding": [10.0, 11.0]}},
+        ],
+        schema=schema,
+    )
+    table = mem_db.create_table("nested_vector_default_search", data=data)
+
+    result = table.search([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).to_list()
+    assert result[0]["id"] == 0
+
+
+def test_search_nested_vector_multiple_candidates(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    schema = pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field(
+                "image",
+                pa.struct([pa.field("embedding", pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2))]),
+            ),
+            pa.field(
+                "text",
+                pa.struct([pa.field("embedding", pa.list_(pa.float32(), 2))]),
+            ),
+        ]
+    )
+    data = pa.Table.from_pylist(
+        [
+            {
+                "image": {"embedding": [0.0, 1.0]},
+                "text": {"embedding": [2.0, 3.0]},
+            }
+        ],
+        schema=schema,
+    )
+    table = mem_db.create_table("nested_vector_multiple_candidates", data=data)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="image.embedding.*text.embedding"):
+        table.search([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).to_arrow()
+
+
+def test_search_nested_vector_no_candidates(mem_db: DBConnection):
+    schema = pa.schema(
+        [
+            pa.field("id", pa.int32()),
+            pa.field("metadata", pa.struct([pa.field("label", pa.string())])),
+        ]
+    )
+    data = pa.Table.from_pylist(
+        [{"id": 0, "metadata": {"label": "cat"}}],
+        schema=schema,
+    )
+    table = mem_db.create_table("nested_vector_no_candidates", data=data)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="no vector column"):
+        table.search([0.0, 1.0]).limit(1).to_arrow()
+
+
 def test_compact_cleanup(tmp_db: DBConnection):
     pytest.importorskip("lance")
     table = tmp_db.create_table(

python/src/lib.rs

@@ -15,8 +15,8 @@ use pyo3::{
 use query::{FTSQuery, HybridQuery, Query, VectorQuery};
 use session::Session;
 use table::{
-    AddColumnsResult, AddResult, AlterColumnsResult, DeleteResult, DropColumnsResult, MergeResult,
-    Table, UpdateResult,
+    AddColumnsResult, AddResult, AlterColumnsResult, DeleteResult, DropColumnsResult, LsmWriteSpec,
+    MergeResult, Table, UpdateResult,
 };
 
 pub mod arrow;
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ pub fn _lancedb(_py: Python, m: &Bound<'_, PyModule>) -> PyResult<()> {
     m.add_class::<AlterColumnsResult>()?;
     m.add_class::<AddResult>()?;
     m.add_class::<MergeResult>()?;
+    m.add_class::<LsmWriteSpec>()?;
     m.add_class::<DeleteResult>()?;
     m.add_class::<DropColumnsResult>()?;
     m.add_class::<UpdateResult>()?;

python/src/query.rs

@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ use lancedb::query::QueryBase;
 use lancedb::query::QueryExecutionOptions;
 use lancedb::query::QueryFilter;
 use lancedb::query::{
-    ExecutableQuery, Query as LanceDbQuery, Select, TakeQuery as LanceDbTakeQuery,
+    ColumnOrdering, ExecutableQuery, Query as LanceDbQuery, Select, TakeQuery as LanceDbTakeQuery,
     VectorQuery as LanceDbVectorQuery,
 };
 use lancedb::table::AnyQuery;
@@ -207,6 +207,48 @@ impl<'py> IntoPyObject<'py> for PyLanceDB<FtsQuery> {
 #[derive(Clone)]
 pub struct PyQueryVectors(Vec<Arc<dyn Array>>);
 
+#[derive(Clone, FromPyObject)]
+#[pyo3(from_item_all)]
+pub struct PyColumnOrdering {
+    pub column_name: String,
+    pub ascending: bool,
+    pub nulls_first: bool,
+}
+
+impl From<ColumnOrdering> for PyColumnOrdering {
+    fn from(ordering: ColumnOrdering) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            column_name: ordering.column_name,
+            ascending: ordering.ascending,
+            nulls_first: ordering.nulls_first,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<PyColumnOrdering> for ColumnOrdering {
+    fn from(ordering: PyColumnOrdering) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            column_name: ordering.column_name,
+            ascending: ordering.ascending,
+            nulls_first: ordering.nulls_first,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<'py> IntoPyObject<'py> for PyColumnOrdering {
+    type Target = PyDict;
+    type Output = Bound<'py, Self::Target>;
+    type Error = PyErr;
+
+    fn into_pyobject(self, py: pyo3::Python<'py>) -> PyResult<Self::Output> {
+        let dict = PyDict::new(py);
+        dict.set_item("column_name", self.column_name)?;
+        dict.set_item("ascending", self.ascending)?;
+        dict.set_item("nulls_first", self.nulls_first)?;
+        Ok(dict)
+    }
+}
+
 impl<'py> IntoPyObject<'py> for PyQueryVectors {
     type Target = PyList;
     type Output = Bound<'py, Self::Target>;
@@ -246,6 +288,7 @@ pub struct PyQueryRequest {
     pub bypass_vector_index: Option<bool>,
     pub postfilter: Option<bool>,
     pub norm: Option<String>,
+    pub order_by: Option<Vec<PyColumnOrdering>>,
 }
 
 impl From<AnyQuery> for PyQueryRequest {
@@ -273,6 +316,9 @@ impl From<AnyQuery> for PyQueryRequest {
                 bypass_vector_index: None,
                 postfilter: None,
                 norm: None,
+                order_by: query_request
+                    .order_by
+                    .map(|order_by| order_by.into_iter().map(PyColumnOrdering::from).collect()),
             },
             AnyQuery::VectorQuery(vector_query) => Self {
                 limit: vector_query.base.limit,
@@ -297,6 +343,10 @@ impl From<AnyQuery> for PyQueryRequest {
                 bypass_vector_index: Some(!vector_query.use_index),
                 postfilter: Some(!vector_query.base.prefilter),
                 norm: vector_query.base.norm.map(|n| n.to_string()),
+                order_by: vector_query
+                    .base
+                    .order_by
+                    .map(|order_by| order_by.into_iter().map(PyColumnOrdering::from).collect()),
             },
         }
     }
@@ -475,6 +525,13 @@ impl Query {
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<PyColumnOrdering>>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        let ordering =
+            ordering.map(|ordering| ordering.into_iter().map(ColumnOrdering::from).collect());
+        self.inner = self.inner.clone().order_by(ordering);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     #[pyo3(signature = ())]
     pub fn output_schema(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.inner.clone();
@@ -647,6 +704,13 @@ impl FTSQuery {
         self.inner = self.inner.clone().offset(offset as usize);
     }
 
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<PyColumnOrdering>>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        let ordering =
+            ordering.map(|ordering| ordering.into_iter().map(ColumnOrdering::from).collect());
+        self.inner = self.inner.clone().order_by(ordering);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn fast_search(&mut self) {
         self.inner = self.inner.clone().fast_search();
     }
@@ -782,6 +846,13 @@ impl VectorQuery {
         self.inner = self.inner.clone().offset(offset as usize);
     }
 
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<PyColumnOrdering>>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        let ordering =
+            ordering.map(|ordering| ordering.into_iter().map(ColumnOrdering::from).collect());
+        self.inner = self.inner.clone().order_by(ordering);
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn fast_search(&mut self) {
         self.inner = self.inner.clone().fast_search();
     }
@@ -954,6 +1025,12 @@ impl HybridQuery {
         self.inner_fts.offset(offset);
     }
 
+    pub fn order_by(&mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<PyColumnOrdering>>) -> PyResult<()> {
+        self.inner_vec.order_by(ordering.clone())?;
+        self.inner_fts.order_by(ordering)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     pub fn fast_search(&mut self) {
         self.inner_vec.fast_search();
         self.inner_fts.fast_search();

python/src/table.rs

@@ -171,6 +171,141 @@ impl From<lancedb::table::MergeResult> for MergeResult {
     }
 }
 
+/// Specification selecting Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for
+/// `merge_insert`.
+///
+/// Constructed via the `bucket(...)`, `identity(...)`, or `unsharded()`
+/// classmethods, then optionally chain `with_maintained_indexes(...)` and
+/// `with_writer_config_defaults(...)`.
+#[pyclass(from_py_object)]
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct LsmWriteSpec {
+    inner: lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec,
+}
+
+#[pymethods]
+impl LsmWriteSpec {
+    /// Hash-bucket sharding by the unenforced primary key column.
+    #[staticmethod]
+    pub fn bucket(column: String, num_buckets: u32) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::bucket(column, num_buckets),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Identity sharding — shard by the raw value of `column`.
+    #[staticmethod]
+    pub fn identity(column: String) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::identity(column),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// No sharding — every `merge_insert` call writes to a single
+    /// MemWAL shard.
+    #[staticmethod]
+    pub fn unsharded() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::unsharded(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Replace the list of indexes the MemWAL should keep up to date as
+    /// rows are appended. Each name must reference an index that
+    /// already exists on the table at the time `set_lsm_write_spec`
+    /// is called.
+    pub fn with_maintained_indexes(&self, indexes: Vec<String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: self.inner.clone().with_maintained_indexes(indexes),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Replace the default `ShardWriter` configuration recorded in the
+    /// MemWAL index, so every writer starts from the same defaults.
+    pub fn with_writer_config_defaults(&self, defaults: HashMap<String, String>) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            inner: self.inner.clone().with_writer_config_defaults(defaults),
+        }
+    }
+
+    pub fn __repr__(&self) -> String {
+        match &self.inner {
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Bucket {
+                column,
+                num_buckets,
+                maintained_indexes,
+                writer_config_defaults,
+            } => format!(
+                "LsmWriteSpec.bucket(column={:?}, num_buckets={}, maintained_indexes={:?}, writer_config_defaults={:?})",
+                column, num_buckets, maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults,
+            ),
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Identity {
+                column,
+                maintained_indexes,
+                writer_config_defaults,
+            } => format!(
+                "LsmWriteSpec.identity(column={:?}, maintained_indexes={:?}, writer_config_defaults={:?})",
+                column, maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults,
+            ),
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Unsharded {
+                maintained_indexes,
+                writer_config_defaults,
+            } => format!(
+                "LsmWriteSpec.unsharded(maintained_indexes={:?}, writer_config_defaults={:?})",
+                maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults,
+            ),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Discriminator string identifying the variant ("bucket", "identity",
+    /// or "unsharded").
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn spec_type(&self) -> &'static str {
+        match &self.inner {
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Bucket { .. } => "bucket",
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Identity { .. } => "identity",
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Unsharded { .. } => "unsharded",
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Bucket and identity variants: the sharding column. `None` for unsharded.
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn column(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Bucket { column, .. }
+            | lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Identity { column, .. } => Some(column.clone()),
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Unsharded { .. } => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Bucket variant only: the number of buckets.
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn num_buckets(&self) -> Option<u32> {
+        match &self.inner {
+            lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::Bucket { num_buckets, .. } => Some(*num_buckets),
+            _ => None,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Names of indexes the MemWAL should keep up to date during writes.
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn maintained_indexes(&self) -> Vec<String> {
+        self.inner.maintained_indexes().to_vec()
+    }
+
+    /// Default `ShardWriter` configuration recorded by this spec.
+    #[getter]
+    pub fn writer_config_defaults(&self) -> HashMap<String, String> {
+        self.inner.writer_config_defaults().clone()
+    }
+}
+
+impl From<LsmWriteSpec> for lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec {
+    fn from(spec: LsmWriteSpec) -> Self {
+        spec.inner
+    }
+}
+
 #[pyclass(get_all, from_py_object)]
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct AddColumnsResult {
@@ -805,6 +940,37 @@ impl Table {
         })
     }
 
+    pub fn set_unenforced_primary_key<'a>(
+        self_: PyRef<'a, Self>,
+        columns: Vec<String>,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'a, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner
+                .set_unenforced_primary_key(columns)
+                .await
+                .infer_error()
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_lsm_write_spec<'a>(
+        self_: PyRef<'a, Self>,
+        spec: LsmWriteSpec,
+    ) -> PyResult<Bound<'a, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
+        let native_spec = lancedb::table::LsmWriteSpec::from(spec);
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner.set_lsm_write_spec(native_spec).await.infer_error()
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn unset_lsm_write_spec(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
+        let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
+        future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {
+            inner.unset_lsm_write_spec().await.infer_error()
+        })
+    }
+
     pub fn uses_v2_manifest_paths(self_: PyRef<'_, Self>) -> PyResult<Bound<'_, PyAny>> {
         let inner = self_.inner_ref()?.clone();
         future_into_py(self_.py(), async move {

rust/lancedb/Cargo.toml

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 [package]
 name = "lancedb"
-version = "0.28.0-beta.11"
+version = "0.30.0-beta.1"
 edition.workspace = true
 description = "LanceDB: A serverless, low-latency vector database for AI applications"
 license.workspace = true
@@ -104,6 +104,7 @@ datafusion.workspace = true
 http-body = "1"                                        # Matching reqwest
 rstest = "0.23.0"
 test-log = "0.2"
+serial_test = "3"
 
 
 [features]

rust/lancedb/src/data/scannable.rs

@@ -271,15 +271,26 @@ impl Scannable for WithEmbeddingsScannable {
                 .map_err(|e| Error::Runtime {
                     message: format!("Task panicked during embedding computation: {}", e),
                 })??;
-                // Cast columns to match the declared output schema. The data is
-                // identical but field metadata (e.g. nested nullability) may
-                // differ between the embedding function output and the table.
-                let columns: Vec<ArrayRef> = result
-                    .columns()
+                // Look up columns by name (not position) so the result matches
+                // the output schema even when columns appear in a different
+                // order — e.g. `add_columns` placed a new column after the
+                // embedding column, but the computed batch appends embeddings
+                // at the end. Cast per-column because field metadata (e.g.
+                // nested nullability) may also differ between the embedding
+                // function output and the table.
+                let columns: Vec<ArrayRef> = output_schema
+                    .fields()
                     .iter()
-                    .enumerate()
-                    .map(|(i, col)| {
-                        let target_type = output_schema.field(i).data_type();
+                    .map(|field| {
+                        let col = result.column_by_name(field.name()).ok_or_else(|| {
+                            Error::InvalidInput {
+                                message: format!(
+                                    "Column '{}' required by the table schema was not present in the input batch",
+                                    field.name()
+                                ),
+                            }
+                        })?;
+                        let target_type = field.data_type();
                         if col.data_type() == target_type {
                             Ok(col.clone())
                         } else {
@@ -964,5 +975,118 @@ mod tests {
                 "Expected EmbeddingFunctionNotFound"
             );
         }
+
+        /// Regression test for https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3136.
+        ///
+        /// When a column is added to the table after the embedding column via
+        /// schema evolution, the table schema becomes
+        /// `[..., embedding, extra]`. The input batch (without the embedding)
+        /// is `[..., extra]`, and `compute_embeddings_for_batch` appends the
+        /// embedding at the end giving `[..., extra, embedding]`. A positional
+        /// cast to the output schema would map `extra` onto `embedding` and
+        /// fail with a CastError. Columns must be matched by name.
+        #[tokio::test]
+        async fn test_with_embeddings_scannable_column_added_after_embedding() {
+            let input_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+                Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+                Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true),
+            ]));
+            let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+                input_schema.clone(),
+                vec![
+                    Arc::new(StringArray::from(vec!["hello", "world"])) as ArrayRef,
+                    Arc::new(arrow_array::Float64Array::from(vec![1.0, 2.0])) as ArrayRef,
+                ],
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+            let mock_embedding: Arc<dyn EmbeddingFunction> = Arc::new(MockEmbed::new("mock", 4));
+            let embedding_def = EmbeddingDefinition::new("text", "mock", Some("text_vec"));
+
+            // Table schema: embedding column is BEFORE `score`, as would
+            // happen if `score` was added via `add_columns` after creating
+            // the table with an embedding on `text`.
+            let output_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+                Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+                Field::new(
+                    "text_vec",
+                    DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                        Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)),
+                        4,
+                    ),
+                    false,
+                ),
+                Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true),
+            ]));
+
+            let mut scannable = WithEmbeddingsScannable::with_schema(
+                Box::new(batch),
+                vec![(embedding_def, mock_embedding)],
+                output_schema.clone(),
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+            let stream = scannable.scan_as_stream();
+            let results: Vec<RecordBatch> = stream.try_collect().await.unwrap();
+            assert_eq!(results.len(), 1);
+
+            let result_batch = &results[0];
+            assert_eq!(result_batch.schema(), output_schema);
+            assert_eq!(result_batch.num_rows(), 2);
+            // Position 1 must actually hold the FixedSizeList embedding —
+            // not the score column reinterpreted by a permissive cast.
+            let embedding = result_batch
+                .column(1)
+                .as_any()
+                .downcast_ref::<arrow_array::FixedSizeListArray>()
+                .expect("position 1 should be a FixedSizeList embedding");
+            assert_eq!(embedding.value_length(), 4);
+            assert_eq!(embedding.null_count(), 0);
+        }
+
+        /// If the input batch is missing a non-embedding column required by
+        /// the table schema, we should return a clear error rather than
+        /// silently producing a malformed batch.
+        #[tokio::test]
+        async fn test_with_embeddings_scannable_missing_required_column() {
+            let input_schema =
+                Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false)]));
+            let batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+                input_schema,
+                vec![Arc::new(StringArray::from(vec!["hello", "world"])) as ArrayRef],
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+            let mock_embedding: Arc<dyn EmbeddingFunction> = Arc::new(MockEmbed::new("mock", 4));
+            let embedding_def = EmbeddingDefinition::new("text", "mock", Some("text_vec"));
+
+            let output_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+                Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+                Field::new(
+                    "text_vec",
+                    DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                        Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)),
+                        4,
+                    ),
+                    false,
+                ),
+                Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true),
+            ]));
+
+            let mut scannable = WithEmbeddingsScannable::with_schema(
+                Box::new(batch),
+                vec![(embedding_def, mock_embedding)],
+                output_schema,
+            )
+            .unwrap();
+
+            let stream = scannable.scan_as_stream();
+            let results: Result<Vec<RecordBatch>> = stream.try_collect().await;
+            let err = results.expect_err("expected an error");
+            assert!(
+                matches!(&err, Error::InvalidInput { message } if message.contains("score")),
+                "expected InvalidInput about missing 'score' column, got: {err:?}"
+            );
+        }
     }
 }

rust/lancedb/src/dataloader/permutation/reader.rs

@@ -450,6 +450,10 @@ impl PermutationReader {
     }
 
     pub async fn take_offsets(&self, offsets: &[u64], selection: Select) -> Result<RecordBatch> {
+        if offsets.is_empty() {
+            return Ok(RecordBatch::new_empty(self.output_schema(selection).await?));
+        }
+
         if let Some(permutation_table) = &self.permutation_table {
             let offset_map = self.get_offset_map(permutation_table).await?;
             let row_ids = offsets
@@ -955,4 +959,62 @@ mod tests {
             .to_vec();
         assert_eq!(idx_values, &all_idx_values[4997..5000]);
     }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_take_offsets_empty_identity_reader() {
+        let base_table = lance_datagen::gen_batch()
+            .col("idx", lance_datagen::array::step::<Int32Type>())
+            .into_mem_table("tbl", RowCount::from(10), BatchCount::from(1))
+            .await;
+
+        let reader = PermutationReader::identity(base_table.base_table().clone()).await;
+
+        let batch = reader.take_offsets(&[], Select::All).await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(batch.num_rows(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(batch.num_columns(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(batch.schema().field(0).name(), "idx");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_take_offsets_empty_with_permutation_table() {
+        let (base_table, row_ids_table, _) = setup_permutation_tables(5).await;
+
+        let reader = PermutationReader::try_from_tables(
+            base_table.base_table().clone(),
+            row_ids_table.base_table().clone(),
+            0,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let batch = reader.take_offsets(&[], Select::All).await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(batch.num_rows(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(batch.schema().fields().len(), 2);
+        assert_eq!(batch.schema().field(0).name(), "idx");
+        assert_eq!(batch.schema().field(1).name(), "other_col");
+    }
+
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_take_offsets_empty_with_column_selection() {
+        let (base_table, row_ids_table, _) = setup_permutation_tables(5).await;
+
+        let reader = PermutationReader::try_from_tables(
+            base_table.base_table().clone(),
+            row_ids_table.base_table().clone(),
+            0,
+        )
+        .await
+        .unwrap();
+
+        let batch = reader
+            .take_offsets(&[], Select::Columns(vec!["idx".to_string()]))
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(batch.num_rows(), 0);
+        assert_eq!(batch.num_columns(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(batch.schema().field(0).name(), "idx");
+    }
 }

rust/lancedb/src/index/vector.rs

@@ -23,17 +23,12 @@ impl VectorIndex {
             .fields
             .iter()
             .map(|field_id| {
-                manifest
-                    .schema
-                    .field_by_id(*field_id)
-                    .unwrap_or_else(|| {
-                        panic!(
-                            "field {field_id} of index {} must exist in schema",
-                            index.name
-                        )
-                    })
-                    .name
-                    .clone()
+                manifest.schema.field_path(*field_id).unwrap_or_else(|_| {
+                    panic!(
+                        "field {field_id} of index {} must exist in schema",
+                        index.name
+                    )
+                })
             })
             .collect();
         Self {

rust/lancedb/src/query.rs

@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ use datafusion_expr::Expr;
 use datafusion_physical_plan::ExecutionPlan;
 use futures::{FutureExt, TryFutureExt, TryStreamExt, stream, try_join};
 use half::f16;
+/// Re-export Lance ColumnOrdering type for use in query ordering
+pub use lance::dataset::scanner::ColumnOrdering;
 use lance::dataset::{ROW_ID, scanner::DatasetRecordBatchStream};
 use lance_arrow::RecordBatchExt;
 use lance_datafusion::exec::execute_plan;
@@ -510,6 +512,11 @@ pub trait QueryBase {
     /// the scores are converted to ranks and then normalized. If "Score", the
     /// scores are normalized directly.
     fn norm(self, norm: NormalizeMethod) -> Self;
+
+    /// Sort the results by the specified column(s).
+    ///
+    /// This allows ordering query results by one or more columns in either ascending or descending order.
+    fn order_by(self, ordering: Option<Vec<ColumnOrdering>>) -> Self;
 }
 
 pub trait HasQuery {
@@ -574,6 +581,11 @@ impl<T: HasQuery> QueryBase for T {
         self.mut_query().norm = Some(norm);
         self
     }
+
+    fn order_by(mut self, ordering: Option<Vec<ColumnOrdering>>) -> Self {
+        self.mut_query().order_by = ordering;
+        self
+    }
 }
 
 /// Options for controlling the execution of a query
@@ -750,6 +762,11 @@ pub struct QueryRequest {
     ///
     /// By default, this is false (scoring columns are auto-projected for backward compatibility).
     pub disable_scoring_autoprojection: bool,
+
+    /// Sort the results by the specified column(s).
+    ///
+    /// This allows ordering query results by one or more columns in either ascending or descending order.
+    pub order_by: Option<Vec<ColumnOrdering>>,
 }
 
 impl Default for QueryRequest {
@@ -766,6 +783,7 @@ impl Default for QueryRequest {
             reranker: None,
             norm: None,
             disable_scoring_autoprojection: false,
+            order_by: None,
         }
     }
 }

rust/lancedb/src/remote/client.rs

@@ -888,6 +888,7 @@ pub mod test_utils {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
+    use serial_test::serial;
     use std::time::Duration;
 
     #[test]
@@ -1143,6 +1144,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
+    #[serial(user_id_env)]
     fn test_resolve_user_id_none() {
         let config = ClientConfig::default();
         // Clear env vars that might be set from other tests
@@ -1155,6 +1157,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
+    #[serial(user_id_env)]
     fn test_resolve_user_id_from_env() {
         // SAFETY: This is only called in tests
         unsafe {
@@ -1169,6 +1172,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
+    #[serial(user_id_env)]
     fn test_resolve_user_id_from_env_key() {
         // SAFETY: This is only called in tests
         unsafe {
@@ -1189,6 +1193,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
+    #[serial(user_id_env)]
     fn test_resolve_user_id_direct_takes_precedence() {
         // SAFETY: This is only called in tests
         unsafe {
@@ -1206,6 +1211,7 @@ mod tests {
     }
 
     #[test]
+    #[serial(user_id_env)]
     fn test_resolve_user_id_empty_env_ignored() {
         // SAFETY: This is only called in tests
         unsafe {

rust/lancedb/src/remote/table.rs

@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ use crate::table::UpdateResult;
 use crate::table::query::create_multi_vector_plan;
 use crate::table::{AnyQuery, Filter, PreprocessingOutput, TableStatistics};
 use crate::utils::background_cache::BackgroundCache;
-use crate::utils::{supported_btree_data_type, supported_vector_data_type};
+use crate::utils::{
+    resolve_arrow_field_path, supported_btree_data_type, supported_vector_data_type,
+};
 use crate::{DistanceType, Error};
 use crate::{
     error::Result,
@@ -518,6 +520,21 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> RemoteTable<S> {
             }
         }
 
+        if let Some(order_by) = &params.order_by {
+            body["order_by"] = serde_json::Value::Array(
+                order_by
+                    .iter()
+                    .map(|o| {
+                        serde_json::json!({
+                            "column_name": o.column_name,
+                            "ascending": o.ascending,
+                            "nulls_first": o.nulls_first,
+                        })
+                    })
+                    .collect(),
+            );
+        }
+
         Ok(())
     }
 
@@ -1511,8 +1528,10 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> BaseTable for RemoteTable<S> {
                 });
             }
         };
+        let schema = self.schema().await?;
+        let (canonical_column, field) = resolve_arrow_field_path(&schema, &column)?;
         let mut body = serde_json::json!({
-            "column": column
+            "column": canonical_column
         });
 
         // Add name parameter if provided (for backwards compatibility, only include if Some)
@@ -1547,12 +1566,6 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> BaseTable for RemoteTable<S> {
             Index::LabelList(p) => ("LABEL_LIST", Some(to_json(p)?)),
             Index::FTS(p) => ("FTS", Some(to_json(p)?)),
             Index::Auto => {
-                let schema = self.schema().await?;
-                let field = schema
-                    .field_with_name(&column)
-                    .map_err(|_| Error::InvalidInput {
-                        message: format!("Column {} not found in schema", column),
-                    })?;
                 if supported_vector_data_type(field.data_type()) {
                     body[METRIC_TYPE_KEY] =
                         serde_json::Value::String(DistanceType::L2.to_string().to_lowercase());
@@ -1652,6 +1665,24 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> BaseTable for RemoteTable<S> {
         Ok(merge_insert_response)
     }
 
+    async fn set_unenforced_primary_key(&self, _columns: &[&str]) -> Result<()> {
+        Err(Error::NotSupported {
+            message: "set_unenforced_primary_key is not supported on LanceDB cloud.".into(),
+        })
+    }
+
+    async fn set_lsm_write_spec(&self, _spec: crate::table::LsmWriteSpec) -> Result<()> {
+        Err(Error::NotSupported {
+            message: "set_lsm_write_spec is not supported on LanceDB cloud.".into(),
+        })
+    }
+
+    async fn unset_lsm_write_spec(&self) -> Result<()> {
+        Err(Error::NotSupported {
+            message: "unset_lsm_write_spec is not supported on LanceDB cloud.".into(),
+        })
+    }
+
     async fn tags(&self) -> Result<Box<dyn Tags + '_>> {
         Ok(Box::new(RemoteTags { inner: self }))
     }
@@ -1831,16 +1862,26 @@ impl<S: HttpSend> BaseTable for RemoteTable<S> {
             status_code: None,
         })?;
 
+        let schema = self.schema().await?;
+
         // Make request to get stats for each index, so we get the index type.
         // This is a bit inefficient, but it's the only way to get the index type.
         let mut futures = Vec::with_capacity(body.indexes.len());
         for index in body.indexes {
+            let columns = index
+                .columns
+                .iter()
+                .map(|column| {
+                    resolve_arrow_field_path(&schema, column)
+                        .map(|(canonical_column, _)| canonical_column)
+                })
+                .collect::<Result<Vec<_>>>()?;
             let future = async move {
                 match self.index_stats(&index.index_name).await {
                     Ok(Some(stats)) => Ok(Some(IndexConfig {
                         name: index.index_name,
                         index_type: stats.index_type,
-                        columns: index.columns,
+                        columns,
                     })),
                     Ok(None) => Ok(None), // The index must have been deleted since we listed it.
                     Err(e) => Err(e),
@@ -2078,7 +2119,7 @@ mod tests {
     use crate::{
         DistanceType, Error, Table,
         index::{Index, IndexStatistics, IndexType, vector::IvfPqIndexBuilder},
-        query::{ExecutableQuery, QueryBase},
+        query::{ColumnOrdering, ExecutableQuery, QueryBase},
         remote::ARROW_FILE_CONTENT_TYPE,
     };
 
@@ -2282,6 +2323,38 @@ mod tests {
         .unwrap()
     }
 
+    fn nested_index_schema() -> Schema {
+        let vector_type =
+            DataType::FixedSizeList(Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)), 8);
+        Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new(
+                "metadata",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("user_id", DataType::Int32, false)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "image",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("embedding", vector_type, false)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "payload",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "meta-data",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("user-id", DataType::Int32, false)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "literal",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("a.b", DataType::Int32, false)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ])
+    }
+
     #[rstest]
     #[case("", 0)]
     #[case("{}", 0)]
@@ -2988,6 +3061,18 @@ mod tests {
                 "distance_type": "cosine",
                 "bypass_vector_index": true,
                 "columns": ["a", "b"],
+                "order_by": [
+                    {
+                        "column_name": "score",
+                        "ascending": false,
+                        "nulls_first": true,
+                    },
+                    {
+                        "column_name": "id",
+                        "ascending": true,
+                        "nulls_first": false,
+                    }
+                ],
                 "nprobes": 12,
                 "minimum_nprobes": 12,
                 "maximum_nprobes": 12,
@@ -3019,6 +3104,10 @@ mod tests {
             .limit(42)
             .offset(10)
             .select(Select::columns(&["a", "b"]))
+            .order_by(Some(vec![
+                ColumnOrdering::desc_nulls_first("score".to_string()),
+                ColumnOrdering::asc_nulls_last("id".to_string()),
+            ]))
             .nearest_to(vec![0.1, 0.2, 0.3])
             .unwrap()
             .column("my_vector")
@@ -3032,6 +3121,59 @@ mod tests {
             .unwrap();
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_query_vector_nested_field_path() {
+        let expected_data = RecordBatch::try_new(
+            Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new("a", DataType::Int32, false)])),
+            vec![Arc::new(Int32Array::from(vec![1, 2, 3]))],
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        let expected_data_ref = expected_data.clone();
+
+        let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", move |request| {
+            assert_eq!(request.method(), "POST");
+            assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/my_table/query/");
+            assert_eq!(
+                request.headers().get("Content-Type").unwrap(),
+                JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
+            );
+
+            let body = request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap();
+            let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(body).unwrap();
+            let mut expected_body = serde_json::json!({
+                "vector_column": "image.embedding",
+                "prefilter": true,
+                "k": 10,
+                "nprobes": 20,
+                "minimum_nprobes": 20,
+                "maximum_nprobes": 20,
+                "lower_bound": Option::<f32>::None,
+                "upper_bound": Option::<f32>::None,
+                "ef": Option::<usize>::None,
+                "refine_factor": Option::<u32>::None,
+                "version": null,
+            });
+            expected_body["vector"] = vec![0.1f32, 0.2, 0.3].into();
+            assert_eq!(body, expected_body);
+
+            let response_body = write_ipc_file(&expected_data_ref);
+            http::Response::builder()
+                .status(200)
+                .header(CONTENT_TYPE, ARROW_FILE_CONTENT_TYPE)
+                .body(response_body)
+                .unwrap()
+        });
+
+        let _ = table
+            .query()
+            .nearest_to(vec![0.1, 0.2, 0.3])
+            .unwrap()
+            .column("image.embedding")
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_query_fts() {
         let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", |request| {
@@ -3113,7 +3255,7 @@ mod tests {
                         "query": {
                             "match": {
                                 "terms": "hello world",
-                                "column": "a",
+                                "column": "payload.text",
                                 "boost": 1.0,
                                 "fuzziness": 0,
                                 "max_expansions": 50,
@@ -3147,7 +3289,7 @@ mod tests {
             .query()
             .full_text_search(FullTextSearchQuery::new_query(
                 MatchQuery::new("hello world".to_owned())
-                    .with_column(Some("a".to_owned()))
+                    .with_column(Some("payload.text".to_owned()))
                     .into(),
             ))
             .with_row_id()
@@ -3418,32 +3560,152 @@ mod tests {
         for (index_type, expected_body, index) in cases {
             let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", move |request| {
                 assert_eq!(request.method(), "POST");
-                assert_eq!(request.url().path(), "/v1/table/my_table/create_index/");
-                assert_eq!(
-                    request.headers().get("Content-Type").unwrap(),
-                    JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
-                );
-                let body = request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap();
-                let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(body).unwrap();
-                let mut expected_body = expected_body.clone();
-                expected_body["column"] = "a".into();
-                expected_body[INDEX_TYPE_KEY] = index_type.into();
+                match request.url().path() {
+                    "/v1/table/my_table/describe/" => {
+                        let schema = Schema::new(vec![Field::new("a", DataType::Int32, false)]);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body(describe_response(&schema))
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    "/v1/table/my_table/create_index/" => {
+                        assert_eq!(
+                            request.headers().get("Content-Type").unwrap(),
+                            JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
+                        );
+                        let body = request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap();
+                        let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(body).unwrap();
+                        let mut expected_body = expected_body.clone();
+                        expected_body["column"] = "a".into();
+                        expected_body[INDEX_TYPE_KEY] = index_type.into();
 
-                assert_eq!(body, expected_body);
+                        assert_eq!(body, expected_body);
 
-                http::Response::builder().status(200).body("{}").unwrap()
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body("{}".to_string())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    path => panic!("Unexpected path: {}", path),
+                }
             });
 
             table.create_index(&["a"], index).execute().await.unwrap();
         }
     }
 
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_create_index_nested_field_paths() {
+        let schema = nested_index_schema();
+        let expected_requests = Arc::new(vec![
+            json!({
+                "column": "metadata.user_id",
+                "index_type": "BTREE",
+            }),
+            json!({
+                "column": "image.embedding",
+                "index_type": "IVF_PQ",
+                "metric_type": "l2",
+            }),
+            {
+                let mut body = serde_json::to_value(InvertedIndexParams::default()).unwrap();
+                body["column"] = "payload.text".into();
+                body["index_type"] = "FTS".into();
+                body
+            },
+            json!({
+                "column": "`meta-data`.`user-id`",
+                "index_type": "BTREE",
+            }),
+            json!({
+                "column": "literal.`a.b`",
+                "index_type": "BTREE",
+            }),
+        ]);
+        let request_idx = Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(0));
+        let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", {
+            let schema = schema.clone();
+            let expected_requests = expected_requests.clone();
+            let request_idx = request_idx.clone();
+            move |request| {
+                assert_eq!(request.method(), "POST");
+                match request.url().path() {
+                    "/v1/table/my_table/describe/" => http::Response::builder()
+                        .status(200)
+                        .body(describe_response(&schema))
+                        .unwrap(),
+                    "/v1/table/my_table/create_index/" => {
+                        assert_eq!(
+                            request.headers().get("Content-Type").unwrap(),
+                            JSON_CONTENT_TYPE
+                        );
+                        let idx = request_idx.fetch_add(1, Ordering::SeqCst);
+                        let body = request.body().unwrap().as_bytes().unwrap();
+                        let body: serde_json::Value = serde_json::from_slice(body).unwrap();
+                        assert_eq!(body, expected_requests[idx]);
+                        http::Response::builder()
+                            .status(200)
+                            .body("{}".to_string())
+                            .unwrap()
+                    }
+                    path => panic!("Unexpected path: {}", path),
+                }
+            }
+        });
+
+        table
+            .create_index(&["Metadata.USER_ID"], Index::BTree(Default::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["Image.Embedding"], Index::Auto)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["Payload.Text"], Index::FTS(Default::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["`META-DATA`.`USER-ID`"], Index::BTree(Default::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+        table
+            .create_index(&["literal.`A.B`"], Index::BTree(Default::default()))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(request_idx.load(Ordering::SeqCst), expected_requests.len());
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_list_indices() {
-        let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", |request| {
+        let schema = Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new(
+                "vector",
+                DataType::FixedSizeList(Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)), 8),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "metadata",
+                DataType::Struct(vec![Field::new("my.column", DataType::Utf8, true)].into()),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ]);
+        let table = Table::new_with_handler("my_table", move |request| {
             assert_eq!(request.method(), "POST");
 
             let response_body = match request.url().path() {
+                "/v1/table/my_table/describe/" => {
+                    return http::Response::builder()
+                        .status(200)
+                        .body(describe_response(&schema))
+                        .unwrap();
+                }
                 "/v1/table/my_table/index/list/" => {
                     serde_json::json!({
                         "indexes": [
@@ -3456,7 +3718,7 @@ mod tests {
                             {
                                 "index_name": "my_idx",
                                 "index_uuid": "34255f64-5717-4562-b3fc-2c963f66afa6",
-                                "columns": ["my_column"],
+                                "columns": ["metadata.`my.column`"],
                                 "index_status": "done",
                             },
                         ]
@@ -3495,7 +3757,7 @@ mod tests {
             IndexConfig {
                 name: "my_idx".into(),
                 index_type: IndexType::LabelList,
-                columns: vec!["my_column".into()],
+                columns: vec!["metadata.`my.column`".into()],
             },
         ];
         assert_eq!(indices, expected);
@@ -3963,6 +4225,20 @@ mod tests {
             assert_eq!(request.method(), "POST");
 
             let response_body = match request.url().path() {
+                "/v1/table/my_table/describe/" => {
+                    let schema = Schema::new(vec![
+                        Field::new(
+                            "vector",
+                            DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                                Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)),
+                                8,
+                            ),
+                            false,
+                        ),
+                        Field::new("my_column", DataType::Utf8, false),
+                    ]);
+                    serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(&describe_response(&schema)).unwrap()
+                }
                 "/v1/table/my_table/index/list/" => {
                     serde_json::json!({
                         "indexes": [
@@ -4124,13 +4400,23 @@ mod tests {
                         assert_eq!(value["index_type"], "IVF_PQ");
                     }
 
-                    http::Response::builder().status(200).body("").unwrap()
-                }
-                "/v1/table/dev$users/describe/" => {
-                    // Needed for schema check in Auto index type
                     http::Response::builder()
                         .status(200)
-                        .body(r#"{"version": 1, "schema": {"fields": [{"name": "embedding", "type": {"type": "list", "item": {"type": "float32"}}, "nullable": false}]}}"#)
+                        .body("".to_string())
+                        .unwrap()
+                }
+                "/v1/table/dev$users/describe/" => {
+                    let schema = Schema::new(vec![Field::new(
+                        "embedding",
+                        DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                            Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)),
+                            8,
+                        ),
+                        false,
+                    )]);
+                    http::Response::builder()
+                        .status(200)
+                        .body(describe_response(&schema))
                         .unwrap()
                 }
                 _ => {

rust/lancedb/src/table/add_data.rs

@@ -268,7 +268,9 @@ mod tests {
     };
     use crate::query::{ExecutableQuery, QueryBase, Select};
     use crate::table::add_data::NaNVectorBehavior;
-    use crate::table::{ColumnDefinition, ColumnKind, Table, TableDefinition, WriteOptions};
+    use crate::table::{
+        ColumnDefinition, ColumnKind, NewColumnTransform, Table, TableDefinition, WriteOptions,
+    };
     use crate::test_utils::TestCustomError;
     use crate::test_utils::embeddings::MockEmbed;
 
@@ -518,6 +520,225 @@ mod tests {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Regression test for https://github.com/lancedb/lancedb/issues/3136.
+    ///
+    /// When a column is added via `add_columns` AFTER an embedding column,
+    /// the table schema becomes `[..., embedding, extra]`. Subsequent
+    /// `table.add()` calls used to fail with a CastError because columns
+    /// were matched positionally rather than by name.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_add_with_embeddings_after_add_columns() {
+        let registry = Arc::new(MemoryRegistry::new());
+        let mock_embedding: Arc<dyn EmbeddingFunction> = Arc::new(MockEmbed::new("mock", 4));
+        registry.register("mock", mock_embedding).unwrap();
+
+        let conn = connect("memory://")
+            .embedding_registry(registry)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+            Field::new(
+                "text_vec",
+                DataType::FixedSizeList(Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)), 4),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ]));
+
+        let embedding_def = EmbeddingDefinition::new("text", "mock", Some("text_vec"));
+        let table_def = TableDefinition::new(
+            schema.clone(),
+            vec![
+                ColumnDefinition {
+                    kind: ColumnKind::Physical,
+                },
+                ColumnDefinition {
+                    kind: ColumnKind::Embedding(embedding_def),
+                },
+            ],
+        );
+        let rich_schema = table_def.into_rich_schema();
+
+        let table = conn
+            .create_empty_table("embed_evol_test", rich_schema)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Seed a row so add_columns has data to compute against.
+        let seed_batch = record_batch!(("text", Utf8, ["hello"])).unwrap();
+        table.add(seed_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        // Add a new physical column AFTER the embedding column.
+        table
+            .add_columns(
+                NewColumnTransform::SqlExpressions(vec![("score".into(), "42.0".into())]),
+                None,
+            )
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Now add data including the new column but WITHOUT the embedding.
+        // The input batch column order is [text, score]; after computing the
+        // embedding it becomes [text, score, text_vec], but the table schema
+        // is [text, text_vec, score]. Columns must be matched by name.
+        let new_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+            Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true),
+        ]));
+        let new_batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+            new_schema,
+            vec![
+                Arc::new(arrow_array::StringArray::from(vec!["foo", "bar"])),
+                Arc::new(arrow_array::Float64Array::from(vec![1.0, 2.0])),
+            ],
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        table.add(new_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(table.count_rows(None).await.unwrap(), 3);
+
+        let results: Vec<RecordBatch> = table
+            .query()
+            .select(Select::columns(&["text", "text_vec", "score"]))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .try_collect()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let total_rows: usize = results.iter().map(|b| b.num_rows()).sum();
+        assert_eq!(total_rows, 3);
+        for batch in &results {
+            // text_vec must be populated for the newly added rows too.
+            assert_eq!(batch.column(1).null_count(), 0);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Like `test_add_with_embeddings_after_add_columns`, but the column
+    /// added after the embedding is a nested struct rather than a scalar.
+    /// Verifies that name-based column matching also works when the
+    /// post-embedding column has a complex Arrow type.
+    #[tokio::test]
+    async fn test_add_with_embeddings_after_add_nested_columns() {
+        let registry = Arc::new(MemoryRegistry::new());
+        let mock_embedding: Arc<dyn EmbeddingFunction> = Arc::new(MockEmbed::new("mock", 4));
+        registry.register("mock", mock_embedding).unwrap();
+
+        let conn = connect("memory://")
+            .embedding_registry(registry)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+            Field::new(
+                "text_vec",
+                DataType::FixedSizeList(Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, true)), 4),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ]));
+
+        let embedding_def = EmbeddingDefinition::new("text", "mock", Some("text_vec"));
+        let table_def = TableDefinition::new(
+            schema,
+            vec![
+                ColumnDefinition {
+                    kind: ColumnKind::Physical,
+                },
+                ColumnDefinition {
+                    kind: ColumnKind::Embedding(embedding_def),
+                },
+            ],
+        );
+        let rich_schema = table_def.into_rich_schema();
+
+        let table = conn
+            .create_empty_table("embed_nested_test", rich_schema)
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let seed_batch = record_batch!(("text", Utf8, ["hello"])).unwrap();
+        table.add(seed_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        // Add a STRUCT column after the embedding column.
+        let meta_struct = DataType::Struct(
+            vec![
+                Field::new("source", DataType::Utf8, true),
+                Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true),
+            ]
+            .into(),
+        );
+        let nested_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![Field::new(
+            "meta",
+            meta_struct.clone(),
+            true,
+        )]));
+        table
+            .add_columns(NewColumnTransform::AllNulls(nested_schema), None)
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        // Insert with the nested struct present but the embedding column
+        // absent. The computed batch is [text, meta, text_vec], but the
+        // table schema is [text, text_vec, meta] — only name-based matching
+        // can put `meta` (a struct) in the right slot.
+        let source = Arc::new(arrow_array::StringArray::from(vec!["foo", "bar"]));
+        let score = Arc::new(arrow_array::Float64Array::from(vec![1.0, 2.0]));
+        let meta = Arc::new(arrow_array::StructArray::from(vec![
+            (
+                Arc::new(Field::new("source", DataType::Utf8, true)),
+                source as Arc<dyn arrow_array::Array>,
+            ),
+            (
+                Arc::new(Field::new("score", DataType::Float64, true)),
+                score as Arc<dyn arrow_array::Array>,
+            ),
+        ]));
+        let new_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new("text", DataType::Utf8, false),
+            Field::new("meta", meta_struct, true),
+        ]));
+        let new_batch = RecordBatch::try_new(
+            new_schema,
+            vec![
+                Arc::new(arrow_array::StringArray::from(vec!["foo", "bar"])),
+                meta,
+            ],
+        )
+        .unwrap();
+        table.add(new_batch).execute().await.unwrap();
+
+        assert_eq!(table.count_rows(None).await.unwrap(), 3);
+
+        let results: Vec<RecordBatch> = table
+            .query()
+            .select(Select::columns(&["text", "text_vec", "meta"]))
+            .execute()
+            .await
+            .unwrap()
+            .try_collect()
+            .await
+            .unwrap();
+
+        let total_rows: usize = results.iter().map(|b| b.num_rows()).sum();
+        assert_eq!(total_rows, 3);
+        for batch in &results {
+            assert_eq!(batch.schema().field(2).name(), "meta");
+            assert!(matches!(
+                batch.schema().field(2).data_type(),
+                DataType::Struct(_)
+            ));
+            // text_vec must be populated for the newly added rows too.
+            assert_eq!(batch.column(1).null_count(), 0);
+        }
+    }
+
     #[tokio::test]
     async fn test_add_casts_to_table_schema() {
         let table_schema = Arc::new(Schema::new(vec![

rust/lancedb/src/table/merge.rs

@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ use crate::error::{Error, Result};
 
 use super::{BaseTable, NativeTable};
 
+pub(crate) mod lsm;
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq, Serialize, Deserialize, Default)]
 pub struct MergeResult {
     // The commit version associated with the operation.

rust/lancedb/src/table/merge/lsm.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+//! MemWAL LSM write-path spec management.
+//!
+//! [`set_lsm_write_spec`] installs a [`super::super::LsmWriteSpec`] on a
+//! table, which selects Lance's MemWAL LSM-style write path for future
+//! `merge_insert` calls. [`unset_lsm_write_spec`] removes it. The actual
+//! `merge_insert` dispatch and writer are a follow-up.
+
+use lance::dataset::mem_wal::DatasetMemWalExt;
+use lance::index::DatasetIndexExt;
+
+use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+use crate::table::{LsmWriteSpec, NativeTable};
+
+// =============================================================================
+// set_lsm_write_spec
+// =============================================================================
+
+/// Install an [`LsmWriteSpec`] on the table.
+///
+/// The bucket / unsharded sharding spec is constructed and validated by Lance's
+/// [`InitializeMemWalBuilder`](lance::dataset::mem_wal::InitializeMemWalBuilder).
+#[allow(clippy::redundant_pub_crate)]
+pub(crate) async fn set_lsm_write_spec(table: &NativeTable, spec: LsmWriteSpec) -> Result<()> {
+    table.dataset.ensure_mutable()?;
+
+    {
+        let dataset = table.dataset.get().await?;
+        if dataset.mem_wal_index_details().await?.is_some() {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "set_lsm_write_spec: an LSM write spec is already set on this table; mutation is not supported".into(),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut dataset = (*table.dataset.get().await?).clone();
+    let mut builder = dataset.initialize_mem_wal();
+    let (maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults) = match spec {
+        LsmWriteSpec::Bucket {
+            column,
+            num_buckets,
+            maintained_indexes,
+            writer_config_defaults,
+        } => {
+            builder = builder.bucket_sharding(column, num_buckets);
+            (maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults)
+        }
+        LsmWriteSpec::Identity {
+            column,
+            maintained_indexes,
+            writer_config_defaults,
+        } => {
+            builder = builder.identity_sharding(column);
+            (maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults)
+        }
+        LsmWriteSpec::Unsharded {
+            maintained_indexes,
+            writer_config_defaults,
+        } => {
+            builder = builder.unsharded();
+            (maintained_indexes, writer_config_defaults)
+        }
+    };
+    builder = builder.maintained_indexes(maintained_indexes);
+    for (key, value) in writer_config_defaults {
+        builder = builder.add_writer_config_default(key, value);
+    }
+    builder.execute().await?;
+    table.dataset.update(dataset);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+// =============================================================================
+// unset_lsm_write_spec
+// =============================================================================
+
+/// Remove the [`LsmWriteSpec`] from the table by dropping the MemWAL index.
+///
+/// Errors if no spec is currently set.
+#[allow(clippy::redundant_pub_crate)]
+pub(crate) async fn unset_lsm_write_spec(table: &NativeTable) -> Result<()> {
+    table.dataset.ensure_mutable()?;
+
+    {
+        let dataset = table.dataset.get().await?;
+        if dataset.mem_wal_index_details().await?.is_none() {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "unset_lsm_write_spec: no LSM write spec is set on this table".into(),
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut dataset = (*table.dataset.get().await?).clone();
+    dataset
+        .drop_index(lance_index::mem_wal::MEM_WAL_INDEX_NAME)
+        .await?;
+    table.dataset.update(dataset);
+    Ok(())
+}

rust/lancedb/src/table/primary_key.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,113 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright The LanceDB Authors
+
+//! Table-level unenforced primary key support.
+//!
+//! [`set_unenforced_primary_key`] records a column as the table's primary key
+//! by writing Lance schema field metadata. "Unenforced" means LanceDB does not
+//! check uniqueness on write; the key is metadata for features such as
+//! `merge_insert` to consume.
+//!
+//! Only a single-column primary key is supported, and the key cannot be
+//! changed once set.
+
+use arrow_schema::DataType;
+use lance_core::datatypes::{LANCE_UNENFORCED_PRIMARY_KEY, LANCE_UNENFORCED_PRIMARY_KEY_POSITION};
+
+use crate::error::{Error, Result};
+use crate::table::NativeTable;
+
+/// Set the unenforced primary key on `table` to the single column in `columns`.
+///
+/// Fails if `columns` is not exactly one column (compound primary keys are not
+/// supported), if the column does not exist or has an unsupported dtype, or if
+/// the table already has an unenforced primary key (changing the primary key
+/// is not supported).
+pub(super) async fn set_unenforced_primary_key(
+    table: &NativeTable,
+    columns: &[&str],
+) -> Result<()> {
+    table.dataset.ensure_mutable()?;
+
+    if columns.is_empty() {
+        return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+            message: "set_unenforced_primary_key: a column is required".into(),
+        });
+    }
+    if columns.len() > 1 {
+        return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+            message: format!(
+                "set_unenforced_primary_key: compound primary keys are not supported, got {} columns",
+                columns.len()
+            ),
+        });
+    }
+    let column = columns[0];
+
+    let updates = {
+        let dataset = table.dataset.get().await?;
+        let schema = dataset.schema();
+
+        // The primary key is immutable once set. The Lance commit layer is the
+        // source of truth for this (it also covers the concurrent-writer race);
+        // this check just fails fast with a clear message.
+        if !schema.unenforced_primary_key().is_empty() {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: "set_unenforced_primary_key: an unenforced primary key is already set on this table; changing it is not supported".into(),
+            });
+        }
+
+        let field = schema.field(column).ok_or_else(|| Error::InvalidInput {
+            message: format!(
+                "set_unenforced_primary_key: column '{}' not found on table",
+                column
+            ),
+        })?;
+        if !is_supported_pk_dtype(&field.data_type()) {
+            return Err(Error::InvalidInput {
+                message: format!(
+                    "set_unenforced_primary_key: column '{}' has dtype {:?} which is not supported as a primary key. Supported: Int32, Int64, Utf8, LargeUtf8, Binary, LargeBinary, FixedSizeBinary",
+                    column,
+                    field.data_type()
+                ),
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Position metadata is 1-indexed; `Schema::unenforced_primary_key`
+        // treats position 0 as a legacy "no specific position" fallback.
+        let mut metadata = field.metadata.clone();
+        metadata.remove(LANCE_UNENFORCED_PRIMARY_KEY);
+        metadata.insert(
+            LANCE_UNENFORCED_PRIMARY_KEY_POSITION.to_string(),
+            "1".to_string(),
+        );
+        vec![(field_id_to_u32(field.id, &field.name)?, metadata)]
+    };
+
+    let mut dataset = (*table.dataset.get().await?).clone();
+    dataset.replace_field_metadata(updates).await?;
+    table.dataset.update(dataset);
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn field_id_to_u32(id: i32, name: &str) -> Result<u32> {
+    u32::try_from(id).map_err(|_| Error::Runtime {
+        message: format!(
+            "internal: field '{}' has unexpected negative field id {}",
+            name, id
+        ),
+    })
+}
+
+fn is_supported_pk_dtype(dtype: &DataType) -> bool {
+    matches!(
+        dtype,
+        DataType::Int32
+            | DataType::Int64
+            | DataType::Utf8
+            | DataType::LargeUtf8
+            | DataType::Binary
+            | DataType::LargeBinary
+            | DataType::FixedSizeBinary(_)
+    )
+}

rust/lancedb/src/table/query.rs

@@ -242,6 +242,10 @@ pub async fn create_plan(
         scanner.disable_scoring_autoprojection();
     }
 
+    if let Some(order_by) = &query.base.order_by {
+        scanner.order_by(Some(order_by.clone()))?;
+    }
+
     Ok(scanner.create_plan().await?)
 }
 

rust/lancedb/src/utils/mod.rs

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ pub(crate) mod background_cache;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use arrow_array::RecordBatch;
-use arrow_schema::{DataType, Schema, SchemaRef};
+use arrow_schema::{DataType, Field, Schema, SchemaRef};
 use datafusion_common::{DataFusionError, Result as DataFusionResult};
 use datafusion_execution::RecordBatchStream;
 use futures::{FutureExt, Stream};
@@ -152,14 +152,10 @@ pub fn validate_namespace(namespace: &[String]) -> Result<()> {
 /// Find one default column to create index or perform vector query.
 pub(crate) fn default_vector_column(schema: &Schema, dim: Option<i32>) -> Result<String> {
     // Try to find a vector column.
-    let candidates = schema
-        .fields()
-        .iter()
-        .filter_map(|field| match infer_vector_dim(field.data_type()) {
-            Ok(d) if dim.is_none() || dim == Some(d as i32) => Some(field.name()),
-            _ => None,
-        })
-        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let mut candidates = Vec::new();
+    for field in schema.fields() {
+        collect_vector_columns(field, &mut Vec::new(), dim, &mut candidates);
+    }
     if candidates.is_empty() {
         Err(Error::InvalidInput {
             message: format!(
@@ -180,6 +176,57 @@ pub(crate) fn default_vector_column(schema: &Schema, dim: Option<i32>) -> Result
     }
 }
 
+fn collect_vector_columns(
+    field: &Field,
+    path: &mut Vec<String>,
+    dim: Option<i32>,
+    candidates: &mut Vec<String>,
+) {
+    path.push(field.name().clone());
+    match infer_vector_dim(field.data_type()) {
+        Ok(d) if dim.is_none() || dim == Some(d as i32) => {
+            let path_segments = path.iter().map(String::as_str).collect::<Vec<_>>();
+            candidates.push(lance_core::datatypes::format_field_path(&path_segments));
+        }
+        _ => {
+            if let DataType::Struct(fields) = field.data_type() {
+                for child in fields {
+                    collect_vector_columns(child, path, dim, candidates);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+    path.pop();
+}
+
+pub(crate) fn resolve_arrow_field_path(schema: &Schema, column: &str) -> Result<(String, Field)> {
+    lance_core::datatypes::parse_field_path(column).map_err(|e| Error::InvalidInput {
+        message: format!("Invalid field path `{}`: {}", column, e),
+    })?;
+
+    let lance_schema =
+        lance_core::datatypes::Schema::try_from(schema).map_err(|e| Error::Schema {
+            message: format!("Invalid schema: {}", e),
+        })?;
+    let field_path = lance_schema
+        .resolve_case_insensitive(column)
+        .ok_or_else(|| Error::Schema {
+            message: format!(
+                "Field path `{}` not found in schema. Available field paths: {}",
+                column,
+                lance_schema.field_paths().join(", ")
+            ),
+        })?;
+    let field = field_path.last().expect("field path should be non-empty");
+    let path_segments = field_path
+        .iter()
+        .map(|field| field.name.as_str())
+        .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+    let canonical_path = lance_core::datatypes::format_field_path(&path_segments);
+
+    Ok((canonical_path, Field::from(*field)))
+}
+
 pub fn supported_btree_data_type(dtype: &DataType) -> bool {
     dtype.is_integer()
         || dtype.is_floating()
@@ -450,6 +497,49 @@ mod tests {
             "vec"
         );
 
+        let schema_with_nested_vec_col = Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new("id", DataType::Int16, true),
+            Field::new(
+                "image",
+                DataType::Struct(
+                    vec![Field::new(
+                        "embedding",
+                        DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                            Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, false)),
+                            10,
+                        ),
+                        false,
+                    )]
+                    .into(),
+                ),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            default_vector_column(&schema_with_nested_vec_col, None).unwrap(),
+            "image.embedding"
+        );
+
+        let schema_with_escaped_nested_vec_col = Schema::new(vec![Field::new(
+            "image-meta",
+            DataType::Struct(
+                vec![Field::new(
+                    "embedding.v1",
+                    DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                        Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, false)),
+                        10,
+                    ),
+                    false,
+                )]
+                .into(),
+            ),
+            false,
+        )]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            default_vector_column(&schema_with_escaped_nested_vec_col, None).unwrap(),
+            "`image-meta`.`embedding.v1`"
+        );
+
         let multi_vec_col = Schema::new(vec![
             Field::new("id", DataType::Int16, true),
             Field::new(
@@ -469,6 +559,48 @@ mod tests {
                 .to_string()
                 .contains("More than one")
         );
+
+        let multi_nested_vec_col = Schema::new(vec![
+            Field::new(
+                "image",
+                DataType::Struct(
+                    vec![Field::new(
+                        "embedding",
+                        DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                            Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, false)),
+                            10,
+                        ),
+                        false,
+                    )]
+                    .into(),
+                ),
+                false,
+            ),
+            Field::new(
+                "text",
+                DataType::Struct(
+                    vec![Field::new(
+                        "embedding",
+                        DataType::FixedSizeList(
+                            Arc::new(Field::new("item", DataType::Float32, false)),
+                            50,
+                        ),
+                        false,
+                    )]
+                    .into(),
+                ),
+                false,
+            ),
+        ]);
+        assert_eq!(
+            default_vector_column(&multi_nested_vec_col, Some(50)).unwrap(),
+            "text.embedding"
+        );
+        let err = default_vector_column(&multi_nested_vec_col, None)
+            .unwrap_err()
+            .to_string();
+        assert!(err.contains("image.embedding"));
+        assert!(err.contains("text.embedding"));
     }
 
     #[test]