A method and computer program for optimizing computation and data retrieval of join operations from a multi-node log-structure database system. The database system has one or more data tables each having a plurality of columns. A join index is created for one or more join key columns, with optionally one or more secondary columns, of one of the data tables. The join index is partitioned across at least one computing node, and each join index partition reproduces the log structure storage of the data table. The join index is maintained in a series of incremental operations by replicating the creation or deletion of data segments from the log structure storage of the data table to the join index partitions.