NEW_MODE

Explains the `NEW_MODE` system variable (from MariaDB 11.4), which lets you opt in to new behaviors and optimizations in otherwise stable versions.

The NEW_MODE system variable and command line switch were introduced in MariaDB 11.4 to provide a way to enable new behavior in otherwise stable versions. Specifying a flag in the NEW_MODE variable enables the corresponding new behavior; otherwise, the old (stable) behavior is used. This can be useful to preserve execution plans in stable versions that may change when the new behavior is active.

A sample usage scenario is:

• a fix (new behavior) is pushed into stable releases (for example, MariaDB 11.4 and MariaDB 11.8). It becomes available in NEW_MODE but isn't enabled by default.

• in MariaDB 12.1, the fix (new behavior) is enabled without the switch. There's no way to turn it off.

  • NEW_MODE does not list the fix as something that can be turned on.

  • if you specify fix_X that is no longer switchable, a warning is printed. However, if you specify fix_that_never_existed, an error is produced.

Syntax

You can set NEW_MODE from the command line using the --new-mode option, or by setting the new_mode system variable.

SET [GLOBAL|SESSION] new_mode = 'fix_1[,fix_2]...';

The session value only affects the current client and can be changed by the client when required. Setting the global value requires the SUPER privilege, and the change will affect any clients that connect from that point forward.

Example

SET GLOBAL new_mode = 'FIX_DISK_TMPTABLE_COSTS';
...
SET new_mode = 'FIX_DISK_TMPTABLE_COSTS,FIX_INDEX_STATS_FOR_ALL_NULLS';
...
SET SESSION new_mode = 'FIX_INDEX_STATS_FOR_ALL_NULLS';

SET new_mode = '';

Available NEW_MODE Flags

1. FIX_DISK_TMPTABLE_COSTS

2. FIX_INDEX_STATS_FOR_ALL_NULLS

FIX_DISK_TMPTABLE_COSTS

From MariaDB 11.8.4 to MariaDB 12.0. Starting from MariaDB 12.1.2, this behavior is enabled by default.

This flag improves the cost computation for using temporary tables in certain cases, including semi-join subquery materialization (MDEV-37723).

FIX_INDEX_STATS_FOR_ALL_NULLS

From MariaDB 11.4.9 to MariaDB 12.0.

This flag improves the selection of execution plans when indexed columns contain only NULL values (MDEV-36761). Starting from MariaDB 12.1.2, this behavior is enabled by default.

For proper application of the fix, engine-independent statistics must be collected for tables having columns with only NULL values:

ANALYZE TABLE table_name PERSISTENT FOR ALL;

or at least for indexed columns with only NULL values:

ANALYZE TABLE table_name PERSISTENT FOR COLUMNS (b) INDEXES (key_b);