Add ALTER TABLE ... MATERIALIZE COLUMN Query

Why it matters

This feature allows users to materialize columns in existing tables on demand. It helps in cases where columns have been added without immediate data population or have been modified, enabling efficient backfilling or recalculating of column values without requiring a full table rewrite or re-import.

How to use it

Use the ALTER TABLE [table_name] MATERIALIZE COLUMN [column_name] statement to materialize the specified column for the given table. This triggers the computation or population of the column's data in place.