Efficient Optimization of Iterative Queries

This paper presents a new query algebra based on fold iterations that facilitates database implementation. An algebraic normalization algorithm is introduced that reduces any program expressed in this algebra to a canonical form that generates no intermediate data structures and has no more nested iterations than the initial program. Given any inductive data type, our system can automatically synthesize the definition of the fold operator that traverses instances of this type, and, more importantly, it can produce the necessary transformations for optimizing expressions involving this fold operator.