The implementation PR is here: #6566

Related namespace PR: lance-format/lance-namespace#326

Preview: https://jackye1995.github.io/lance/

This thread is for voting only. Please keep detailed design discussion in the PR.

Proposal

Refactor the published Lance format specification so the top-level structure matches the architecture more closely.

Specifically:

• promote Index Formats to a top-level section alongside file format and table format
• split Catalog Specs and Namespace Client Spec into distinct sections (related discussion: Clearly separate Lance Namespace and Lance Catalog #6109)
• assemble the multi-repo documentation site through reusable scripts instead of inline CI copy steps
• keep the website buildable when external repos are absent by using placeholder docs locally

Scope

This proposal changes the organization and publication of the Lance format specification.
It does not change the Lance on-disk file format, table manifest semantics, or index binary formats.

Motivation

The existing documentation structure mixed index formats under the table format section and bundled catalog and namespace material together. This refactor makes the specification easier to navigate, aligns the published documentation with the architecture, and simplifies cross-repo maintenance of the Lance format docs.

Backward Compatibility

• No storage format change
• No wire protocol change
• No runtime behavior change implied by the spec reorganization itself
• Documentation paths for index specifications move from /format/table/index/... to /format/index/...

Vote

Please vote with one of the following:

• +1 approve
• 0 abstain / no strong opinion
• -1 do not approve

If you vote -1, please include the blocking concern.

Vote Duration: If there are enough binding votes and no vetoes, the vote will end at 2026-04-25 (07:27:05 UTC 2026-04-25 00:27:05 PDT).