`DuckDBPyRelation.query()`: reusing a virtual table name silently changes the result of an existing relation
- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
- 187
- Forks
- 112
- Avg merge
- 13h 29m
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 17
Description
### What happens?
`rel.query(virtual_table_name, sql)` returns a lazy relation that re-resolves `virtual_table_name` through the connection's catalog on **every** execution. Registering the same name again from a different relation therefore changes what an already-constructed relation returns, with no error, even after that relation has been executed once.
### Why it matters
Wrong data rather than an error. For a library this rules out any fixed name, so we generate a unique random name per call, which then accumulates.
### What I would expect
One of:
1. the derived relation binds the virtual table once, at construction, so it is unaffected by later registrations; or
2. re-registering a name that a live relation depends on raises; or
3. if this is intended, a note on the [relational API docs](https://duckdb.org/docs/stable/clients/python/relational_api) saying that the name is resolved late and must not be reused.
### To Reproduce
import duckdb
con = duckdb.connect()
a = con.sql("select 1 as a")
b = con.sql("select 999 as a")
first = a.query("v", "select a from v")
print(first.fetchall()) # [(1,)]
second = b.query("v", "select a from v") # same name, unrelated relation
print(second.fetchall()) # [(999,)]
print(first.fetchall()) # [(999,)] <- silently changed
### OS:
Darwin, arm64
### DuckDB Package Version:
1.1.0, 1.2.2 and 1.5.5.
### Python Version:
3.12
### Full Name:
Francesco Bruzzesi
### Affiliation:
narwhals-dev
### What is the latest build you tested with? If possible, we recommend testing with the latest nightly build.
I have tested with a stable release
### Did you include all relevant data sets for reproducing the issue?
Not applicable - the reproduction does not require a data set
### Did you include all code required to reproduce the issue?
- [x] Yes, I have
### Did you include all relevant configuration to reproduce the issue?
- [x] Yes, I have
Contributor guide
Assessment
This issue has not been assessed yet.