Atomic processing of compound database transactions that modify a metadata entity

A server comprising a processing unit and memory, wherein the server is configured to operate a coordinator node of a database system, the coordinator node being in communication with one or more worker nodes, wherein the server is further configured to perform a method for facilitating database transaction processing within a database environment, the method comprising:

• receiving a database transaction that includes an operation to modify or delete a metadata entity of the database system;
• creating an updated version of the metadata entity;
• assigning a version timestamp to the updated version;
• sending the version timestamp to at least one of the one or more worker nodes, wherein the version timestamp invalidates a cached version of the metadata entity stored at the at least one worker node;
• and
• committing the database transaction.

One or more tangible computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for causing a server programmed thereby to perform a method for facilitating database transaction processing within a database environment using data manipulation language (DML) statements and data definition language (DDL) statements and implementing a coordinator node of a database system, the coordinator node being in communication with at least one worker node, the method comprising:

• receiving a transaction from a database client comprising a first DDL statement and at least one of at least a first DML statement and at least a second DDL statement, wherein the first DDL statement modifies or deletes a metadata entity of the database system, the metadata entity being a first version associated with a first version timestamp;
• creating a second version of the metadata entity in response to the first DDL statement;
• assigning a second version timestamp to the second version of the metadata entity;
• and
• committing the transaction;
• wherein the first and second versions are concurrently maintained on the server for a time period.