1) For distributed tables that are not colocated.
2) When joining on a non-distribution column for colocated tables.
3) When merging into a distributed table using reference or citus-local tables as the data source.
This is accomplished primarily through the implementation of the following two strategies.
Repartition: Plan the source query independently,
execute the results into intermediate files, and repartition the files to
co-locate them with the merge-target table. Subsequently, compile a final
merge query on the target table using the intermediate results as the data
source.
Pull-to-coordinator: Execute the plan that requires evaluation at the coordinator,
run the query on the coordinator, and redistribute the resulting rows to ensure
colocation with the target shards. Direct the MERGE SQL operation to the worker
nodes' target shards, using the intermediate files colocated with the data as the
data source.
Add a second implementation of INSERT INTO distributed_table SELECT ... that is used if
the query cannot be pushed down. The basic idea is to execute the SELECT query separately
and pass the results into the distributed table using a CopyDestReceiver, which is also
used for COPY and create_distributed_table. When planning the SELECT, we go through
planner hooks again, which means the SELECT can also be a distributed query.
EXPLAIN is supported, but EXPLAIN ANALYZE is not because preventing double execution was
a lot more complicated in this case.