Frequently Asked Questions


Will Isofold break my queries?

No. Isofold is designed to preserve semantics and results.

  • All rewrites are semantically equivalent
  • You can enable verification mode to run both the original and rewritten versions
  • If a query can’t be safely rewritten, it’s passed through untouched

Can I see what changed in my query?

Yes. You can:

  • View a diff of original vs rewritten query in the dashboard
  • Fetch it via the API
  • Enable logs for inline comparison
export ISOFOLD_LOG_LEVEL=debug

What if a rewrite goes wrong?

Enable ISOFOLD_VERIFY_MODE to catch it:

export ISOFOLD_VERIFY_MODE=true

This ensures both queries are executed and results compared. If they differ, Isofold logs the mismatch and can halt or fallback based on your config.


Can I disable rewriting for certain queries?

Yes.

  • Add a comment to skip:
-- isofold:skip
SELECT * FROM sensitive_table
  • Or create passthrough rules for tables, schemas, or patterns

How much latency does Isofold add?

Minimal:

  • Hosted mode (Fly.io): ~5–10ms median
  • Self-hosted mode: typically sub-2ms if colocated
  • No added latency for passthrough queries

What permissions does Isofold need?

Hosted mode:

  • Access to submit queries to your warehouse on your behalf (e.g., BigQuery service account)

Self-hosted:

  • Network access to your database
  • Optional: Prometheus or logging sinks

Can I host Isofold myself?

Absolutely.

  • Use the self-hosted setup
  • Deploy via Docker, Fly.io, or GCP Marketplace
  • Maintain full control over network, logs, and TLS

How is billing calculated?

You’re only charged on actual cost savings, never on raw usage.


Does Isofold support data warehouses other than BigQuery, Snowflake, or Aurora?

Support is being actively expanded. Planned targets include:

  • ClickHouse
  • Redshift
  • MotherDuck
  • Postgres (native mode)

Let us know if you’d like to request support: support@isofold.com


Need help with anything else? Contact support@isofold.com