Redistributing table data in a database cluster

A distributed database, comprising:

• a plurality of data storage nodes;
• a memory storage comprising instructions;
• and
• one or more processors in communication with the memory, wherein the one or more processors execute the instructions to perform:
• creating a second table in the distributed database, the second table including all columns from a first table;
• copying a first set of tuples from the first table to the second table;
• modifying during the copying of the first set of tuples, data of the first table according to a modification;
• after the copying of the first set of tuples, modifying data of the second table according to the modification;
• and
• switching the second table for the first table in a catalog of the distributed database.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer instructions for locating data in a distributed database, that when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform steps of:

• creating a second table in the distributed database, the second table including all columns from a first table;
• copying a first set of tuples from the first table to the second table;
• modifying during the copying of the first set of tuples, data of the first table according to a modification;
• after the copying of the first set of tuples, modifying data of the second table according to the modification;
• and
• switching the second table for the first table in a catalog of the distributed database.