Why scan all columns when we select distinct c1?

From: Yongtao Huang <yongtaoh2022(at)gmail(dot)com>
To: pgsql-general(at)postgresql(dot)org
Subject: Why scan all columns when we select distinct c1?
Date: 2024-01-14 11:17:48
Message-ID: CAOe1Go3uHkTrgBMm1O2pVWQAV09ZxVW_vaKM1GeAkAu_RByt2A@mail.gmail.com
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PostgreSQL version: 16.1
Operating system: centos7
Description:

Let me show these explain results first, in PG9.4 and PG16.1.

### Behavior in PG9.4
``` SQL
gpadmin=# create table t1 (c1 int, c2 text);
CREATE TABLE
gpadmin=# explain (costs off, verbose) select distinct c1 from t1;
QUERY PLAN
-----------------------------
HashAggregate
Output: c1
Group Key: t1.c1
-> Seq Scan on public.t1
Output: c1 <---- pay attention <---- !!!
(5 rows)
```

### Behavior in PG 16.1
``` SQL
gpadmin=# create table t1 (c1 int, c2 text);
CREATE TABLE
gpadmin=# explain (costs off, verbose) select distinct c1 from t1;
QUERY PLAN
-----------------------------
HashAggregate
Output: c1
Group Key: t1.c1
-> Seq Scan on public.t1
Output: c1, c2 <---- pay attention <---- !!!
(5 rows)
```

My question is why scan all columns in PG 16.01?
If `select distinct c1`, scan the column `c1` is enough, like PG 9.4.

Related GPDB issue link: https://github.com/greenplum-db/gpdb/issues/15266

Reporter: David Kimura and Yongtao Huang

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