**Why it matters**: At scale, design choices directly impact reliability, latency, and cost. Wrong decisions compound across jobs and teams.
VACUUM removes old Delta files beyond retention; reclaims storage. ANALYZE TABLE collects statistics for query optimization. Vacuum impact: can improve read performance by reducing files; run during low traffic. Analyze impact: helps Catalyst choose better plans; run after large writes....
The complete answer continues with detailed implementation patterns, architectural trade-offs, and production-grade considerations. It covers performance optimization strategies, common pitfalls to avoid, and real-world examples from companies like Capco. The answer also includes follow-up discussion points that interviewers commonly explore.
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