**Strategies**: (1) Schema-on-read (Parquet, JSON)—flexible; add columns at read. (2) Additive evolution—add column with default; deprecated columns ignored. (3) Schema registry (Avro)—compatibility checks. (4) Versioned datasets (v1, v2)—backfill or dual-read. **Best practice**: Additive preferred; avoid breaking changes; compatibility mode (backward/forward). **Backfill**: New columns; backfill historical or NULL....
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