During December 2025, Bastien Penava enhanced query performance in the elixir-ecto/ecto repository by optimizing how exists? queries interact with database indexes. He removed the exclusion of the order_by clause, allowing the database to leverage index-based query plans and avoid full table scans, particularly on large datasets. By aligning the exists? implementation with the select(1) and limit(1) pattern, Bastien ensured efficient existence checks while maintaining consistent query behavior. He updated tests to verify that order_by is retained, demonstrating a strong focus on database optimization and query performance using Elixir, and delivering measurable improvements in resource utilization.