Abstract: Methods, computer program products, and systems are presented. The method computer program products, and systems can include, for instance: receiving an incoming query statement, wherein the incoming query statement comprises a query statement expression that includes an input variable; predicting an input variable value associated to the input variable; selecting an access path for runtime execution of the query statement in dependence on the predicted input variable value; and performing runtime execution of the query statement using the selected access path.

Abstract: A method for storage and retrieval of information includes coupling a plurality of clients to communicate with a storage device via a network, and reading out data from a selected location on the storage device to a memory of one of the clients. After the client has modified the data in the memory, the storage device determines whether the modified data can be written back to the selected location as part of an atomic operation together with the reading out and modifying of the data. The modified data is stored in the selected location only after verifying that the modified data can be written back to the selected location as part of the atomic operation.