[bvolpato]

The mixed-table streaming test can read an initial empty side-input pane before valid metadata arrives (example failure). Writers support this through catalog fallback, so first-pane completeness is not a valid test assumption.

Assert that emitted snapshots eventually contain the valid table with the expected identity and schema, and never cache the missing destination. Keep the checks that consumers receive a readable view and both rows proceed.

Reproduced the original failure locally. The revised metadata tests pass under Hadoop 3.3.6 and 3.4.1, along with repeated execution, formatting, and Checkstyle. Negative fixtures confirm that missing valid metadata and an incorrectly cached destination still fail.

[github-actions]

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R: @chamikaramj for label iceberg.
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[codecov]

Codecov Report

✅ All modified and coverable lines are covered by tests.
✅ Project coverage is 0.00%. Comparing base (a8d6afd) to head (55b53af).
⚠️ Report is 74 commits behind head on master.

Additional details and impacted files

@@             Coverage Diff             @@
##           master   #40781       +/-   ##
===========================================
- Coverage   80.04%        0   -80.05%     
===========================================
  Files         490        0      -490     
  Lines       82916        0    -82916     
===========================================
- Hits        66373        0    -66373     
+ Misses      16543        0    -16543     

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