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| author | Christophe Besson <cbesson@gmail.com> | 2026-09-06 01:33:16 +0200 |
|---|---|---|
| committer | Christophe Besson <cbesson@gmail.com> | 2026-09-06 01:33:37 +0200 |
| commit | f2da33a648f86e34ddbbb5f6bec124828ef2a847 (patch) | |
| tree | 670cbf62ff92598847e067b5835713dfd854dfb5 /docs/indexing-v2.md | |
| parent | fff1974edf19cf1186e0f49da5f8a4d237bcb13e (diff) | |
| download | meshbay-f2da33a648f86e34ddbbb5f6bec124828ef2a847.tar.gz | |
feat(node): indexing v2 — partial-read hashing for files above 40 MB
Files above 40 MB are no longer read in full. Instead, blake3 hashes
45 MB of samples (first 20 MB + last 20 MB + 5 MB at 50% offset).
Files at or below 40 MB are unchanged (full read, hash_version 1).
A new `hash_version` field on IndexEntry (default 1) travels on the
wire and through the cache so both versions coexist without breaking
existing nodes or clients.
The IndexCache auto-migrates its schema on open (ALTER TABLE), so no
manual step is required on upgrade. A standalone migration script is
available in QE/migration/ for operators who want to preview or force
a full re-hash.
Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Diffstat (limited to 'docs/indexing-v2.md')
| -rw-r--r-- | docs/indexing-v2.md | 312 |
1 files changed, 312 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/docs/indexing-v2.md b/docs/indexing-v2.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6fc7990 --- /dev/null +++ b/docs/indexing-v2.md @@ -0,0 +1,312 @@ +# Indexing v2 — Partial-read hashing for large files + +> Status: **plan, not built.** Decision record and implementation checklist. + +--- + +## 0. Problem + +The current indexer reads every file in full to compute its blake3 content hash (`id`). +For a large media library (multi-terabyte, thousands of files), this means: + +- **Time**: initial indexing takes tens of minutes to hours. +- **Disk I/O**: every byte of every file is read, which wears SSDs and saturates spinning + drives for the entire duration. A USB hard drive serving a 4 TB library is pegged for + over an hour. +- **Blocking**: no connected peer receives a usable index until the full scan finishes. + +The hash exists for **content identity** (deduplication, cross-group search, file +requests). A 4 GB film does not need 4 GB of I/O to be identified with overwhelming +probability — 45 MB of well-chosen samples suffice. + +--- + +## 1. Design + +### 1.1 Hashing rules + +| File size | Method | `hash_version` | +|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|-----------------| +| <= 40 MB | Full read, blake3 of entire content (unchanged) | `1` | +| > 40 MB | Partial read, blake3 of 45 MB sampled (see below) | `2` | + +**Partial-read algorithm (hash_version 2):** + +Given a file of `S` bytes where `S > 40 MB`: + +1. Read the first **20 MB** (bytes `[0, 20 MB)`). +2. Append the last **20 MB** (bytes `[S - 20 MB, S)`). +3. Append **5 MB** starting at **50% of the file** (bytes `[S // 2, S // 2 + 5 MB)`). +4. Compute `blake3(concatenation of the three regions)`. + +The three regions may overlap for files just above 40 MB. This is fine — the concatenation +is deterministic for a given file, which is the only property that matters. + +**Why these offsets.** Head and tail catch container headers, trailers, and the common case +of files that differ only at one end (re-encoded, re-muxed, appended). The mid-sample +catches files that share a header and trailer but differ in content (same container, +different media stream). + +**Why 40 MB threshold.** Below 40 MB the partial read would sample the entire file anyway +(head + tail >= file size), so the full-read path is both simpler and produces the same +result. The boundary is inclusive: a 40 MB file is read in full. + +### 1.2 `hash_version` field + +A new field on `IndexEntry`: + +``` +hash_version: int = 1 +``` + +- `1` — the `id` is blake3 of the full file content. This is the only value any existing + node has ever produced. +- `2` — the `id` is blake3 of the 45 MB partial sample described above. + +**For files <= 40 MB on a v2 node, `hash_version` stays `1`.** The hash is identical to +what a v1 node produces, because both read the file in full. This preserves cross-group +search compatibility for small files across v1 and v2 nodes. + +**For files > 40 MB on a v2 node, `hash_version` is `2`.** The hash is different from +what a v1 node would produce for the same file. This is the accepted side effect. + +### 1.3 Backward compatibility + +| Scenario | Behaviour | +|---|---| +| v2 node sends `hash_version` to v1 client | Client ignores unknown field (JS objects are open) | +| v1 node sends entries without `hash_version` | Client/consumer treats it as `1` (dataclass default) | +| v2 `IndexEntry(**e)` where `e` lacks `hash_version` | Uses default `1` — existing serialized indexes deserialize correctly | +| Cross-group search: same file, one node v1, one node v2 | Different `id` for files > 40 MB — not merged. Accepted | +| Cross-group search: same small file, mixed nodes | Same `id` (both `hash_version=1`) — merged correctly | +| Hub tables (`swarm_sources`, `content_blocklist`, `content_reports`) | Store `content_hash` as an opaque string. No change needed | +| `GroupIndex.serialize()` / `deserialize()` | `asdict(e)` includes `hash_version`; `IndexEntry(**e)` with default handles missing field | + +**Nothing breaks.** A v1 node's data remains valid. A v2 node produces correct new hashes. +Mixed v1/v2 environments work, with the documented search side effect. + +--- + +## 2. Affected components + +### 2.1 `meshbay_common` — `protocol.py` + +| Change | Detail | +|---|---| +| `IndexEntry` dataclass | Add `hash_version: int = 1` field | +| `index_entry_wire()` | Add `"hash_version": e.hash_version` to the wire dict | + +### 2.2 `meshbay_node` — `indexer/indexer.py` + +| Change | Detail | +|---|---| +| Constants | `_PARTIAL_THRESHOLD = 40 * 1024 * 1024`, `_PARTIAL_HEAD = 20 * 1024 * 1024`, `_PARTIAL_TAIL = 20 * 1024 * 1024`, `_PARTIAL_MID = 5 * 1024 * 1024` | +| `_scan_file()` | After stat, if `size > _PARTIAL_THRESHOLD`: use partial-read blake3. Set `hash_version=2` on the returned `IndexEntry`. Otherwise: unchanged (full read, `hash_version=1`) | +| `_hash_or_cached()` | Compute expected `hash_version` from file size. Pass it to cache `lookup()`. Store it in cache `put()`. Set it on the returned `IndexEntry` | + +**`_scan_file` partial-read implementation:** + +```python +def _partial_hash(file_path: Path, size: int) -> str: + hasher = blake3.blake3() + with open(long_path(file_path), "rb") as f: + _feed(hasher, f, _PARTIAL_HEAD) + f.seek(size - _PARTIAL_TAIL) + _feed(hasher, f, _PARTIAL_TAIL) + f.seek(size // 2) + _feed(hasher, f, _PARTIAL_MID) + return hasher.hexdigest() + +def _feed(hasher, f, nbytes: int) -> None: + remaining = nbytes + while remaining > 0: + chunk = f.read(min(_HASH_CHUNK, remaining)) + if not chunk: + break + hasher.update(chunk) + remaining -= len(chunk) +``` + +### 2.3 `meshbay_node` — `indexer/cache.py` + +| Change | Detail | +|---|---| +| Schema | Add `hash_version INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1` column to `files` table | +| `_SCHEMA` | New databases get the column via `CREATE TABLE` | +| `_MIGRATE_V2` | `ALTER TABLE files ADD COLUMN hash_version INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1` — applied on `open()` if the column does not exist | +| `lookup()` | Add `hash_version` parameter. WHERE clause becomes `path = ? AND size = ? AND mtime = ? AND hash_version = ?` | +| `put()` | Add `hash_version` parameter. INSERT includes `hash_version` | +| `CachedEntry` | Add `hash_version: int` field | + +**Auto-migration on open:** `IndexCache.open()` runs the ALTER TABLE inside a try/except +(column already exists → no-op). This way a node upgrade just works — no manual step +needed for the cache. + +### 2.4 `meshbay_node` — `indexer/group_index.py` + +No code change needed. `serialize()` calls `asdict(e)` which includes `hash_version`. +`deserialize()` calls `IndexEntry(**e)` which uses the default `1` for entries written +before v2. + +### 2.5 `meshbay_node` — `transport/wire.py` + +No code change needed. `index_sync_message()` and `index_delta_message()` call +`index_entry_wire()` which is updated in §2.1. + +### 2.6 Client side (browser / desktop) + +**No code changes required.** Entries are JavaScript objects; the extra `hash_version` +field is carried through without needing explicit handling: + +- `transport.js` — `_applyIndexMessage()` passes the opened payload through. `hash_version` + rides along on each entry object. +- `group-page.js` — `applyIndex()` / `applyIndexDelta()` store entries as-is in state + and in IndexedDB. +- `hub-client.js` — IndexedDB cache stores entry objects verbatim. +- `source-merge.js` — merges by `id`. Different hashes naturally don't merge. +- `search-page.js` — aggregates entries from cached indexes. No change. +- `files-app.js` — renders entries. `hash_version` is ignored. + +### 2.7 Hub side + +**No code changes required.** `swarm_sources.content_hash`, `content_reports.content_hash`, +`content_blocklist.content_hash` are opaque `String(64)` columns. They store whatever +blake3 hex the node provides. No hub migration needed. + +### 2.8 Tests + +| Test | What it verifies | +|---|---| +| `test_indexer.py` — new cases | Partial hash for file > 40 MB produces `hash_version=2`. File <= 40 MB produces `hash_version=1`. Partial hash is deterministic. Partial hash differs from full hash for the same large file | +| `test_indexer.py` — existing cases | All existing tests still pass (small files, type detection, enrichment, etc.) | +| `test_index_cache.py` — new cases | Cache lookup with `hash_version` match. Cache miss when `hash_version` differs. Schema migration from v1 cache | +| `test_index_cache.py` — existing cases | Unchanged behaviour for v1 entries | +| `test_indexer.py` — round-trip | `GroupIndex.serialize()` → `deserialize()` preserves `hash_version` on entries | +| `test_index_seal_client.py` | Wire format includes `hash_version`, old entries without it deserialize as v1 | + +--- + +## 3. Migration + +### 3.1 What actually needs migrating + +The node has two relevant stores: + +| Store | Location | Content | Migration | +|---|---|---|---| +| `index_cache.db` | `data_dir/index_cache.db` | `(path, size, mtime) → hash` accelerator | Add `hash_version` column | +| In-memory `GroupIndex` | rebuilt from disk on every startup | Current file listing | No migration — rebuilt on next scan | + +**The IndexCache is the only persistent store that needs a schema change.** The GroupIndex +is rebuilt by scanning the filesystem on every daemon start. Once the code uses v2 hashing, +the next startup produces v2 hashes for large files automatically. + +**The cache auto-migrates.** `IndexCache.open()` adds the `hash_version` column if missing. +Existing rows get `DEFAULT 1`. When the v2 indexer looks up a large file with +`hash_version=2`, the cached v1 entry won't match (different hash_version in WHERE), so +the file is re-hashed with the partial algorithm and the new entry is written with +`hash_version=2`. + +This means: **large files are re-hashed lazily on first scan after upgrade.** The first +scan after upgrading to v2 re-reads 45 MB per large file instead of the full content — +already much faster than v1's full read. + +### 3.2 Migration script — `QE/migration/migrate_index_v2.sh` + +A standalone bash script (not in git — QE/ is gitignored) that: + +1. Detects the node's `data_dir` from `node.toml` (default `~/.local/share/meshbay-node/`) +2. Checks that `index_cache.db` exists +3. Runs `ALTER TABLE files ADD COLUMN hash_version INTEGER NOT NULL DEFAULT 1` +4. Optionally (`--purge-large`) deletes cache entries for files > 40 MB, forcing immediate + re-hash on next scan instead of lazy migration +5. Reports what it did + +**Works on Ubuntu and Fedora** — uses only `sqlite3` (present by default on both) and +standard bash. + +**Not strictly required** if the code's auto-migration in `IndexCache.open()` is +implemented. The script exists for operators who want to: +- Verify the schema change before restarting +- Force a clean re-hash of all large files in one pass +- Run the migration on a machine where the node isn't installed yet (preparing a data dir) + +### 3.3 What the operator does + +1. Update the node package (or `pip install -e` in dev) +2. (Optional) Run `QE/migration/migrate_index_v2.sh` to preview or force the migration +3. Restart the node daemon +4. The first scan re-hashes files > 40 MB with partial reads — much faster than before + +No client-side action needed. No hub-side action needed. + +--- + +## 4. What does NOT change + +- **Files <= 40 MB** — identical hashing, identical `id`, `hash_version=1`. +- **Enrichment** (thumbnails, duration, metadata) — unchanged, still runs after hashing. +- **File downloads** — `file_req` uses the current `id` from the index. After re-indexing, + clients get the new index with new hashes and request accordingly. +- **Watchdog / reconciliation** — filesystem events trigger the same code paths. New or + modified files are hashed with the appropriate method based on size. +- **Index encryption / signing** — `GroupIndex.serialize()` and the GEK-sealed wire + messages are unchanged. `hash_version` rides inside each entry via `asdict()`. +- **Index delta computation** — `GroupIndex.diff()` compares entries by all fields + (dataclass `__eq__`). A re-indexed file whose hash changed (v1 → v2) appears as a + deletion of the old id + addition of the new id, which is correct. +- **Hub tables** — opaque content_hash storage, untouched. +- **MNP version** — this is an additive field on index entries. No protocol version bump + needed. An older node that doesn't send `hash_version` is handled by the default. + +--- + +## 5. Side effects — documented and accepted + +1. **Cross-group search**: a file > 40 MB indexed on a v1 node and a v2 node produces + different `id`s. The search page will not merge them as the same file. The user sees + two entries instead of one, each from its own group. This resolves itself when both + nodes upgrade. + +2. **First scan after upgrade**: files > 40 MB are re-hashed. With v2 this reads 45 MB + per file (not the full content), so the re-index is fast — but it is not instant. A + 4 TB library with 1000 large files reads ~44 GB instead of 4 TB. + +3. **`content_hash` drift on hub tables**: if a public group's node upgrades, the hashes + it registers in `swarm_sources` change for large files. Old entries with v1 hashes + become stale. The swarm registration mechanism's `last_seen` update handles this — stale + entries age out. No explicit cleanup needed. + +4. **Index version bump**: re-indexing sets `GroupIndex.version = int(time.time())`, + which triggers a full `index_sync` to all connected peers. This is the normal path for + any index change — it is not new load. + +--- + +## 6. Indexing trigger points — verified safe + +| Trigger | Location | Impact of v2 | +|---|---|---| +| Daemon startup — initial scan | `daemon.py:648-674` | Uses `_hash_or_cached()` which applies v2 rules. Safe | +| Create Group wizard — Step 3 | `create-group-page.js:244-248` polls `index-status` | No change — polls progress, doesn't control hashing | +| Settings — add root | `group-settings.js:909-927` | Triggers `retarget()` → scan → `_hash_or_cached()`. Safe | +| Watchdog — file created/modified | `indexer.py:797-816` | Calls `_update_entry()` → `_hash_or_cached()`. Safe | +| Reconciliation loop | `indexer.py:513-650` | Calls `_sweep_available_roots()` → `_hash_or_cached()`. Safe | +| Hot reload — `_reload_config()` | `daemon.py:790-829` | Creates new `DirectoryIndexer` with v2 code. Safe | + +--- + +## 7. Implementation order + +1. **`protocol.py`** — add `hash_version` field to `IndexEntry` and `index_entry_wire()` +2. **`cache.py`** — add `hash_version` to schema, auto-migrate on open, update lookup/put +3. **`indexer.py`** — implement `_partial_hash()`, update `_scan_file()` and + `_hash_or_cached()` +4. **Tests** — new test cases for partial hashing, cache versioning, wire round-trip +5. **`QE/migration/migrate_index_v2.sh`** — standalone migration script +6. **Manual test** — run a node with a mixed library (small + large files), verify: + - Small files: same hash as before, `hash_version=1` + - Large files: different hash, `hash_version=2`, 45 MB read + - Cross-group search: small files merge, large files don't (across v1/v2 nodes) + - Cache hit on second scan: no re-read + - Index sync to connected peers: entries carry `hash_version` |