In March 2025, Seba Peluso developed the parse_duration function for the IBM/velox repository, enhancing the Presto SQL dialect by enabling direct parsing of duration strings into milliseconds. This backend feature accepts multiple time units and incorporates comprehensive error validation to handle invalid formats and out-of-range values, improving the reliability of time-based queries. Seba’s work focused on C++ and SQL, leveraging backend development and database function expertise to streamline duration parsing within Velox. The implementation reduced the need for external parsing logic, aligning Velox more closely with Presto semantics and contributing a well-scoped, robust feature through a single targeted commit.