Extend CTE search optimisation to projects

When we use the `search` param on an `IssuableFinder`, we can run into
issues. We have trigram indexes to support these searches. On
GitLab.com, we often see Postgres's optimiser prioritise the (global)
trigram indexes over the index on `project_id`. For group and project
searches, we know that it will be quicker to filter by `project_id`
first, as it returns fewer rows in most cases.

For group issues search, we ran into this issue previously, and went
through the following iterations:

1. Use a CTE on the project IDs as an optimisation fence. This prevents
   the planner from disregarding the index on `project_id`.
   Unfortunately it breaks some types of sorting, like priority and
   popularity, as they sort on a joined table.
2. Use a subquery for listing issues, and a CTE for counts. The subquery
   - in the case of group lists - didn't help as much as the CTE, but
   was faster than not including it. We can safely use a CTE for counts
   as they don't have sorting.

Now, however, we're seeing the same issue in a project context. The
subquery doesn't help at all there (it would only return one row, after
all). In an attempt to keep total code complexity under control, this
commit removes the subquery optimisation and applies the CTE
optimisation only for sorts we know that are safe.

This means that for more complicated sorts (like priority and
popularity), the search will continue to be very slow. If this is a
high-priority issue, we can consider introducing further optimisations,
but this finder is already very complicated and additional complexity
has a cost.

The group CTE optimisation is controlled by the same feature flag as
before, `attempt_group_search_optimizations`, which is enabled by
default. The new project CTE optimisation is controlled by a new feature
flag, `attempt_project_search_optimizations`, which is disabled by
default.

app/controllers/concerns/issuable_collections.rb

@@ -100,6 +100,7 @@ module IssuableCollections
 
     if @project
       options[:project_id] = @project.id
+      options[:attempt_project_search_optimizations] = true
     elsif @group
       options[:group_id] = @group.id
       options[:include_subgroups] = true

app/finders/issuable_finder.rb

@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ class IssuableFinder
     # https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/static/queries-with.html
     items = by_search(items)
 
-    items = sort(items) unless use_cte_for_count?
+    items = sort(items)
 
     items
   end
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ class IssuableFinder
   def filter_items(items)
     items = by_project(items)
     items = by_group(items)
-    items = by_subquery(items)
     items = by_scope(items)
     items = by_created_at(items)
     items = by_updated_at(items)
@@ -132,10 +131,12 @@ class IssuableFinder
     # This does not apply when we are using a CTE for the search, as the labels
     # GROUP BY is inside the subquery in that case, so we set labels_count to 1.
     #
-    # We always use CTE when searching in Groups if the feature flag is enabled,
-    # but never when searching in Projects.
+    # Groups and projects have separate feature flags to suggest the use
+    # of a CTE. The CTE will not be used if the sort doesn't support it,
+    # but will always be used for the counts here as we ignore sorting
+    # anyway.
     labels_count = label_names.any? ? label_names.count : 1
-    labels_count = 1 if use_cte_for_count?
+    labels_count = 1 if use_cte_for_search?
 
     finder.execute.reorder(nil).group(:state).count.each do |key, value|
       counts[count_key(key)] += value / labels_count
@@ -309,15 +310,14 @@ class IssuableFinder
   end
   # rubocop: enable CodeReuse/ActiveRecord
 
-  def use_subquery_for_search?
-    strong_memoize(:use_subquery_for_search) do
-      !force_cte? && attempt_group_search_optimizations?
-    end
-  end
+  def use_cte_for_search?
+    strong_memoize(:use_cte_for_search) do
+      next false unless search
+      next false unless Gitlab::Database.postgresql?
+      # Only simple unsorted & simple sorts can use CTE
+      next false if params[:sort].present? && !params[:sort].in?(klass.simple_sorts.keys)
 
-  def use_cte_for_count?
-    strong_memoize(:use_cte_for_count) do
-      force_cte? && attempt_group_search_optimizations?
+      attempt_group_search_optimizations? || attempt_project_search_optimizations?
     end
   end
 
@@ -332,12 +332,15 @@ class IssuableFinder
   end
 
   def attempt_group_search_optimizations?
-    search &&
-      Gitlab::Database.postgresql? &&
-      params[:attempt_group_search_optimizations] &&
+    params[:attempt_group_search_optimizations] &&
       Feature.enabled?(:attempt_group_search_optimizations, default_enabled: true)
   end
 
+  def attempt_project_search_optimizations?
+    params[:attempt_project_search_optimizations] &&
+      Feature.enabled?(:attempt_project_search_optimizations)
+  end
+
   def count_key(value)
     Array(value).last.to_sym
   end
@@ -408,20 +411,11 @@ class IssuableFinder
   end
   # rubocop: enable CodeReuse/ActiveRecord
 
-  # Wrap projects and groups in a subquery if the conditions are met.
-  def by_subquery(items)
-    if use_subquery_for_search?
-      klass.where(id: items.select(:id)) # rubocop: disable CodeReuse/ActiveRecord
-    else
-      items
-    end
-  end
-
   # rubocop: disable CodeReuse/ActiveRecord
   def by_search(items)
     return items unless search
 
-    if use_cte_for_count?
+    if use_cte_for_search?
       cte = Gitlab::SQL::RecursiveCTE.new(klass.table_name)
       cte << items
 

app/models/concerns/issuable.rb

@@ -172,6 +172,10 @@ module Issuable
       fuzzy_search(query, matched_columns)
     end
 
+    def simple_sorts
+      super.except('name_asc', 'name_desc')
+    end
+
     def sort_by_attribute(method, excluded_labels: [])
       sorted =
         case method.to_s

app/models/concerns/sortable.rb

@@ -21,19 +21,21 @@ module Sortable
 
   class_methods do
     def order_by(method)
-      case method.to_s
-      when 'created_asc'  then order_created_asc
-      when 'created_date' then order_created_desc
-      when 'created_desc' then order_created_desc
-      when 'id_asc'       then order_id_asc
-      when 'id_desc'      then order_id_desc
-      when 'name_asc'     then order_name_asc
-      when 'name_desc'    then order_name_desc
-      when 'updated_asc'  then order_updated_asc
-      when 'updated_desc' then order_updated_desc
-      else
-        all
-      end
+      simple_sorts.fetch(method.to_s, -> { all }).call
+    end
+
+    def simple_sorts
+      {
+        'created_asc' => -> { order_created_asc },
+        'created_date' => -> { order_created_desc },
+        'created_desc' => -> { order_created_desc },
+        'id_asc' => -> { order_id_asc },
+        'id_desc' => -> { order_id_desc },
+        'name_asc' => -> { order_name_asc },
+        'name_desc' => -> { order_name_desc },
+        'updated_asc' => -> { order_updated_asc },
+        'updated_desc' => -> { order_updated_desc }
+      }
     end
 
     private

changelogs/unreleased/extend-cte-optimisations-to-projects.yml

+---
+title: Speed up filtering issues in a project when searching
+merge_request:
+author:
+type: performance

spec/finders/issues_finder_spec.rb

@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ describe IssuesFinder do
     end
   end
 
-  describe '#use_subquery_for_search?' do
+  describe '#use_cte_for_search?' do
     let(:finder) { described_class.new(nil, params) }
 
     before do
@@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ describe IssuesFinder do
       let(:params) { { attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
 
       it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_falsey
+        expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_falsey
       end
     end
 
@@ -743,15 +743,15 @@ describe IssuesFinder do
       end
 
       it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_falsey
+        expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_falsey
       end
     end
 
-    context 'when the attempt_group_search_optimizations param is falsey' do
+    context 'when the force_cte param is falsey' do
       let(:params) { { search: 'foo' } }
 
       it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_falsey
+        expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_falsey
       end
     end
 
@@ -763,80 +763,39 @@ describe IssuesFinder do
       end
 
       it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_falsey
+        expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_falsey
       end
     end
 
-    context 'when force_cte? is true' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', attempt_group_search_optimizations: true, force_cte: true } }
-
-      it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_falsey
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'when all conditions are met' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
-
-      it 'returns true' do
-        expect(finder.use_subquery_for_search?).to be_truthy
-      end
-    end
-  end
+    context 'when attempt_group_search_optimizations is unset and attempt_project_search_optimizations is set' do
+      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', attempt_project_search_optimizations: true } }
 
-  describe '#use_cte_for_count?' do
-    let(:finder) { described_class.new(nil, params) }
-
-    before do
-      allow(Gitlab::Database).to receive(:postgresql?).and_return(true)
-      stub_feature_flags(attempt_group_search_optimizations: true)
-    end
-
-    context 'when there is no search param' do
-      let(:params) { { attempt_group_search_optimizations: true, force_cte: true } }
-
-      it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_cte_for_count?).to be_falsey
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'when the database is not Postgres' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', force_cte: true, attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
-
-      before do
-        allow(Gitlab::Database).to receive(:postgresql?).and_return(false)
-      end
-
-      it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_cte_for_count?).to be_falsey
-      end
-    end
-
-    context 'when the force_cte param is falsey' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo' } }
+      context 'and the corresponding feature flag is disabled' do
+        before do
+          stub_feature_flags(attempt_project_search_optimizations: false)
+        end
 
-      it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_cte_for_count?).to be_falsey
+        it 'returns false' do
+          expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_falsey
+        end
       end
-    end
 
-    context 'when the attempt_group_search_optimizations flag is disabled' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', force_cte: true, attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
-
-      before do
-        stub_feature_flags(attempt_group_search_optimizations: false)
-      end
+      context 'and the corresponding feature flag is enabled' do
+        before do
+          stub_feature_flags(attempt_project_search_optimizations: true)
+        end
 
-      it 'returns false' do
-        expect(finder.use_cte_for_count?).to be_falsey
+        it 'returns true' do
+          expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_truthy
+        end
       end
     end
 
     context 'when all conditions are met' do
-      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', force_cte: true, attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
+      let(:params) { { search: 'foo', attempt_group_search_optimizations: true } }
 
       it 'returns true' do
-        expect(finder.use_cte_for_count?).to be_truthy
+        expect(finder.use_cte_for_search?).to be_truthy
       end
     end
   end

spec/support/shared_examples/issuables_list_metadata_shared_examples.rb

 shared_examples 'issuables list meta-data' do |issuable_type, action = nil|
   include ProjectForksHelper
 
-  def get_action(action, project)
+  def get_action(action, project, extra_params = {})
     if action
-      get action, params: { author_id: project.creator.id }
+      get action, params: { author_id: project.creator.id }.merge(extra_params)
     else
-      get :index, params: { namespace_id: project.namespace, project_id: project }
+      get :index, params: { namespace_id: project.namespace, project_id: project }.merge(extra_params)
     end
   end
 
@@ -17,23 +17,44 @@ shared_examples 'issuables list meta-data' do |issuable_type, action = nil|
     end
   end
 
-  before do
-    @issuable_ids = %w[fix improve/awesome].map do |source_branch|
-      create_issuable(issuable_type, project, source_branch: source_branch).id
+  let!(:issuables) do
+    %w[fix improve/awesome].map do |source_branch|
+      create_issuable(issuable_type, project, source_branch: source_branch)
     end
   end
 
+  let(:issuable_ids) { issuables.map(&:id) }
+
   it "creates indexed meta-data object for issuable notes and votes count" do
     get_action(action, project)
 
     meta_data = assigns(:issuable_meta_data)
 
     aggregate_failures do
-      expect(meta_data.keys).to match_array(@issuable_ids)
+      expect(meta_data.keys).to match_array(issuables.map(&:id))
       expect(meta_data.values).to all(be_kind_of(Issuable::IssuableMeta))
     end
   end
 
+  context 'searching' do
+    let(:result_issuable) { issuables.first }
+    let(:search) { result_issuable.title }
+
+    before do
+      stub_feature_flags(attempt_project_search_optimizations: true)
+    end
+
+    # .simple_sorts is the same across all Sortable classes
+    sorts = ::Issue.simple_sorts.keys + %w[popularity priority label_priority]
+    sorts.each do |sort|
+      it "works when sorting by #{sort}" do
+        get_action(action, project, search: search, sort: sort)
+
+        expect(assigns(:issuable_meta_data).keys).to include(result_issuable.id)
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
   it "avoids N+1 queries" do
     control = ActiveRecord::QueryRecorder.new { get_action(action, project) }
     issuable = create_issuable(issuable_type, project, source_branch: 'csv')