`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
Research direction
Start at the DuckDBPyRelation.query() entry point and run the supplied Python reproduction across the listed package versions. Trace when the virtual table name is resolved, then add a regression test for the chosen behavior: an existing relation must not silently change after the name is reused, or the late-resolution contract must be documented in the relational API docs.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python, sql
- Domain
- api, database
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Active
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 45/100