How to force iceberg table to create an empty snapshot

[fusion2222]

Question

Hello. I have a function which creates a new iceberg table. Now is there any possibility how to force an iceberg table to create initial snapshot? Even if there are no data present.

Simplified code:

catalog = catalog.load_table(...)
table = catalog.create_table(...)
table.snapshots()  # returns empty list

(Rationale is, that I am using a 3rd party tool, which fails if there is no snapshot yet present. I also have no power over this 3rd party tool).

[geruh]

Hey @fusion2222,

usually when we insert/modify table data in iceberg snapshots get produced, but.... it looks like this can be forced in both libraries (java/python) by committing an empty append operation.

tbl = catalog.create_table(table_ident, schema)
empty_df = schema.as_arrow().empty_table()
tbl.append(empty_df)