diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
index 0c2eeba..f8e84ad 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/optimizer/rules/ConstantFoldingRule.java
@@ -233,12 +233,15 @@
 
             try {
                 if (expr.getFunctionIdentifier().equals(BuiltinFunctions.FIELD_ACCESS_BY_NAME)) {
-                    ARecordType rt = (ARecordType) _emptyTypeEnv.getType(expr.getArguments().get(0).getValue());
-                    String str = ConstantExpressionUtil.getStringConstant(expr.getArguments().get(1).getValue());
-                    int k = rt.getFieldIndex(str);
-                    if (k >= 0) {
-                        // wait for the ByNameToByIndex rule to apply
-                        return new Pair<>(changed, expr);
+                    IAType argType = (IAType) _emptyTypeEnv.getType(expr.getArguments().get(0).getValue());
+                    if (argType.getTypeTag() == ATypeTag.OBJECT) {
+                        ARecordType rt = (ARecordType) argType;
+                        String str = ConstantExpressionUtil.getStringConstant(expr.getArguments().get(1).getValue());
+                        int k = rt.getFieldIndex(str);
+                        if (k >= 0) {
+                            // wait for the ByNameToByIndex rule to apply
+                            return new Pair<>(changed, expr);
+                        }
                     }
                 }
                 IAObject c = FUNC_ID_TO_CONSTANT.get(expr.getFunctionIdentifier());
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/CompiledStatements.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/CompiledStatements.java
index e85fec8..088676c 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/CompiledStatements.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/CompiledStatements.java
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@
         DataverseName getDataverseName();
 
         String getDatasetName();
+
+        byte getCategory();
     }
 
     public static class CompiledCreateIndexStatement extends AbstractCompiledStatement
@@ -227,6 +229,11 @@
         public Statement.Kind getKind() {
             return Statement.Kind.CREATE_INDEX;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public byte getCategory() {
+            return Statement.Category.DDL;
+        }
     }
 
     public static class CompiledLoadFromFileStatement extends AbstractCompiledStatement
@@ -272,6 +279,11 @@
         public Statement.Kind getKind() {
             return Statement.Kind.LOAD;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public byte getCategory() {
+            return Statement.Category.UPDATE;
+        }
     }
 
     public static class CompiledInsertStatement extends AbstractCompiledStatement implements ICompiledDmlStatement {
@@ -322,6 +334,11 @@
         public Statement.Kind getKind() {
             return Statement.Kind.INSERT;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public byte getCategory() {
+            return Statement.Category.UPDATE;
+        }
     }
 
     public static class CompiledUpsertStatement extends CompiledInsertStatement {
@@ -370,6 +387,11 @@
         public Statement.Kind getKind() {
             return Statement.Kind.SUBSCRIBE_FEED;
         }
+
+        @Override
+        public byte getCategory() {
+            return Statement.Category.UPDATE;
+        }
     }
 
     public static class CompiledDeleteStatement extends AbstractCompiledStatement implements ICompiledDmlStatement {
@@ -415,6 +437,10 @@
             return Statement.Kind.DELETE;
         }
 
+        @Override
+        public byte getCategory() {
+            return Statement.Category.UPDATE;
+        }
     }
 
     public static class CompiledCompactStatement extends AbstractCompiledStatement {
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/SessionConfig.java b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/SessionConfig.java
index de31277..33646f0 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/SessionConfig.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-algebra/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/translator/SessionConfig.java
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@
     private PlanFormat planFormat;
 
     // Standard execution flags.
-    private final boolean executeQuery;
+    private boolean executeQuery;
     private final boolean generateJobSpec;
     private final boolean optimize;
     private long maxWarnings;
@@ -217,6 +217,10 @@
         return executeQuery;
     }
 
+    public void setExecuteQuery(boolean executeQuery) {
+        this.executeQuery = executeQuery;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Retrieve the value of the "optimize" flag.
      */
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceRequestParameters.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceRequestParameters.java
index feb48df..412e5c5 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceRequestParameters.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceRequestParameters.java
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
         LOGICAL_PLAN("logical-plan"),
         OPTIMIZED_LOGICAL_PLAN("optimized-logical-plan"),
         PARSE_ONLY("parse-only"),
+        COMPILE_ONLY("compile-only"),
         READ_ONLY("readonly"),
         JOB("job"),
         PROFILE("profile"),
@@ -127,6 +128,7 @@
     private boolean pretty = false;
     private boolean expressionTree = false;
     private boolean parseOnly = false; // don't execute; simply check for syntax correctness and named parameters.
+    private boolean compileOnly = false; // don't execute; compile only.
     private boolean readOnly = false; // only allow statements belonging to QUERY category, fail for other categories.
     private boolean rewrittenExpressionTree = false;
     private boolean logicalPlan = false;
@@ -290,6 +292,14 @@
         return parseOnly;
     }
 
+    public void setCompileOnly(boolean compileOnly) {
+        this.compileOnly = compileOnly;
+    }
+
+    public boolean isCompileOnly() {
+        return compileOnly;
+    }
+
     public void setReadOnly(boolean readOnly) {
         this.readOnly = readOnly;
     }
@@ -442,6 +452,7 @@
                 parseBoolean(req, Parameter.REWRITTEN_EXPRESSION_TREE.str(), valGetter, isRewrittenExpressionTree()));
         setLogicalPlan(parseBoolean(req, Parameter.LOGICAL_PLAN.str(), valGetter, isLogicalPlan()));
         setParseOnly(parseBoolean(req, Parameter.PARSE_ONLY.str(), valGetter, isParseOnly()));
+        setCompileOnly(parseBoolean(req, Parameter.COMPILE_ONLY.str, valGetter, isCompileOnly()));
         setReadOnly(parseBoolean(req, Parameter.READ_ONLY.str(), valGetter, isReadOnly()));
         setOptimizedLogicalPlan(
                 parseBoolean(req, Parameter.OPTIMIZED_LOGICAL_PLAN.str(), valGetter, isOptimizedLogicalPlan()));
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceServlet.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceServlet.java
index f66403d..74682cf 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceServlet.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/api/http/server/QueryServiceServlet.java
@@ -484,6 +484,7 @@
         sessionConfig.setFmt(format);
         sessionConfig.setPlanFormat(planFormat);
         sessionConfig.setMaxWarnings(param.getMaxWarnings());
+        sessionConfig.setExecuteQuery(!param.isCompileOnly());
         sessionConfig.set(SessionConfig.FORMAT_WRAPPER_ARRAY, true);
         sessionConfig.set(SessionConfig.OOB_EXPR_TREE, param.isExpressionTree());
         sessionConfig.set(SessionConfig.OOB_REWRITTEN_EXPR_TREE, param.isRewrittenExpressionTree());
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/translator/QueryTranslator.java b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/translator/QueryTranslator.java
index 2fa4c7b..0baf2b2 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/translator/QueryTranslator.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/app/translator/QueryTranslator.java
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.expression.IndexedTypeExpression;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.expression.TypeExpression;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.expression.TypeReferenceExpression;
+import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.expression.VariableExpr;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.statement.AdapterDropStatement;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.statement.CompactStatement;
 import org.apache.asterix.lang.common.statement.ConnectFeedStatement;
@@ -193,6 +194,7 @@
 import org.apache.asterix.metadata.utils.MetadataConstants;
 import org.apache.asterix.metadata.utils.MetadataUtil;
 import org.apache.asterix.metadata.utils.TypeUtil;
+import org.apache.asterix.om.base.ANull;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.base.IAObject;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.types.ARecordType;
 import org.apache.asterix.om.types.ATypeTag;
@@ -443,10 +445,10 @@
                             metadataProvider.setMaxResultReads(maxResultReads);
                         }
                         handleInsertUpsertStatement(metadataProvider, stmt, hcc, resultSet, resultDelivery, outMetadata,
-                                stats, false, requestParameters, stmtParams, stmtRewriter);
+                                stats, requestParameters, stmtParams, stmtRewriter);
                         break;
                     case DELETE:
-                        handleDeleteStatement(metadataProvider, stmt, hcc, false, stmtParams, stmtRewriter);
+                        handleDeleteStatement(metadataProvider, stmt, hcc, stmtParams, stmtRewriter);
                         break;
                     case CREATE_FEED:
                         handleCreateFeedStatement(metadataProvider, stmt);
@@ -3418,7 +3420,7 @@
             afterCompile();
             MetadataManager.INSTANCE.commitTransaction(mdTxnCtx);
             bActiveTxn = false;
-            if (spec != null) {
+            if (spec != null && sessionConfig.isExecuteQuery()) {
                 runJob(hcc, spec);
             }
         } catch (Exception e) {
@@ -3433,7 +3435,7 @@
 
     public JobSpecification handleInsertUpsertStatement(MetadataProvider metadataProvider, Statement stmt,
             IHyracksClientConnection hcc, IResultSet resultSet, ResultDelivery resultDelivery,
-            ResultMetadata outMetadata, Stats stats, boolean compileOnly, IRequestParameters requestParameters,
+            ResultMetadata outMetadata, Stats stats, IRequestParameters requestParameters,
             Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams, IStatementRewriter stmtRewriter) throws Exception {
         InsertStatement stmtInsertUpsert = (InsertStatement) stmt;
         String datasetName = stmtInsertUpsert.getDatasetName();
@@ -3463,7 +3465,7 @@
                         rewriteCompileInsertUpsert(hcc, metadataProvider, stmtInsertUpsert, stmtParams);
                 MetadataManager.INSTANCE.commitTransaction(mdTxnCtx);
                 bActiveTxn = false;
-                return jobSpec;
+                return !sessionConfig.isExecuteQuery() ? null : jobSpec;
             } catch (Exception e) {
                 if (bActiveTxn) {
                     abort(e, e, mdTxnCtx);
@@ -3471,14 +3473,6 @@
                 throw e;
             }
         };
-        if (compileOnly) {
-            locker.lock();
-            try {
-                return compiler.compile();
-            } finally {
-                locker.unlock();
-            }
-        }
 
         if (stmtInsertUpsert.getReturnExpression() != null) {
             deliverResult(hcc, resultSet, compiler, metadataProvider, locker, resultDelivery, outMetadata, stats,
@@ -3499,8 +3493,8 @@
     }
 
     public JobSpecification handleDeleteStatement(MetadataProvider metadataProvider, Statement stmt,
-            IHyracksClientConnection hcc, boolean compileOnly, Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams,
-            IStatementRewriter stmtRewriter) throws Exception {
+            IHyracksClientConnection hcc, Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams, IStatementRewriter stmtRewriter)
+            throws Exception {
         DeleteStatement stmtDelete = (DeleteStatement) stmt;
         String datasetName = stmtDelete.getDatasetName();
         metadataProvider.validateDatabaseObjectName(stmtDelete.getDataverseName(), datasetName,
@@ -3522,7 +3516,7 @@
             MetadataManager.INSTANCE.commitTransaction(mdTxnCtx);
             bActiveTxn = false;
 
-            if (jobSpec != null && !compileOnly) {
+            if (jobSpec != null && sessionConfig.isExecuteQuery()) {
                 runJob(hcc, jobSpec);
             }
             return jobSpec;
@@ -3542,7 +3536,7 @@
             Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams, IRequestParameters requestParameters)
             throws AlgebricksException, ACIDException {
 
-        Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> externalVars = createExternalVariables(stmtParams);
+        Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> externalVars = createExternalVariables(query, stmtParams);
 
         // Query Rewriting (happens under the same ongoing metadata transaction)
         Pair<IReturningStatement, Integer> rewrittenResult = apiFramework.reWriteQuery(declaredFunctions, null,
@@ -3559,7 +3553,7 @@
             throws AlgebricksException, ACIDException {
         SourceLocation sourceLoc = insertUpsert.getSourceLocation();
 
-        Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> externalVars = createExternalVariables(stmtParams);
+        Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> externalVars = createExternalVariables(insertUpsert, stmtParams);
 
         // Insert/upsert statement rewriting (happens under the same ongoing metadata transaction)
         Pair<IReturningStatement, Integer> rewrittenResult = apiFramework.reWriteQuery(declaredFunctions, null,
@@ -4612,16 +4606,31 @@
         return i == 0;
     }
 
-    private Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> createExternalVariables(Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams) {
-        if (stmtParams == null || stmtParams.isEmpty()) {
-            return Collections.emptyMap();
+    private Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> createExternalVariables(IReturningStatement stmt,
+            Map<String, IAObject> stmtParams) throws CompilationException {
+        if (sessionConfig.isExecuteQuery()) {
+            if (stmtParams == null || stmtParams.isEmpty()) {
+                return Collections.emptyMap();
+            }
+            IQueryRewriter queryRewriter = rewriterFactory.createQueryRewriter();
+            Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> result = new HashMap<>();
+            for (Map.Entry<String, IAObject> me : stmtParams.entrySet()) {
+                result.put(queryRewriter.toExternalVariableName(me.getKey()), me.getValue());
+            }
+            return result;
+        } else {
+            // compile only. extract statement parameters from the statement body and bind to NULL
+            IQueryRewriter queryRewriter = rewriterFactory.createQueryRewriter();
+            Set<VariableExpr> extVars = queryRewriter.getExternalVariables(stmt.getBody());
+            if (extVars.isEmpty()) {
+                return Collections.emptyMap();
+            }
+            Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> result = new HashMap<>();
+            for (VariableExpr extVar : extVars) {
+                result.put(extVar.getVar(), ANull.NULL);
+            }
+            return result;
         }
-        IQueryRewriter queryRewriter = rewriterFactory.createQueryRewriter();
-        Map<VarIdentifier, IAObject> m = new HashMap<>();
-        for (Map.Entry<String, IAObject> me : stmtParams.entrySet()) {
-            m.put(queryRewriter.toExternalVariableName(me.getKey()), me.getValue());
-        }
-        return m;
     }
 
     protected void validateDatasetState(MetadataProvider metadataProvider, Dataset dataset, SourceLocation sourceLoc)
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.plans.sqlpp b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.plans.sqlpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6095b26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/queries_sqlpp/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.plans.sqlpp
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+/*
+ * Licensed to the Apache Software Foundation (ASF) under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements.  See the NOTICE file
+ * distributed with this work for additional information
+ * regarding copyright ownership.  The ASF licenses this file
+ * to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the
+ * "License"); you may not use this file except in compliance
+ * with the License.  You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing,
+ * software distributed under the License is distributed on an
+ * "AS IS" BASIS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.  See the License for the
+ * specific language governing permissions and limitations
+ * under the License.
+ */
+
+-- param compile-only:string=true
+-- param logical-plan:string=true
+-- param plan-format:string=json
+
+select value v from range(1,2) v where v > ?;
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.regexjson b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.regexjson
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..40a764c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/results/api/compileonly/compileonly.1.regexjson
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{
+	"logicalPlan": {
+	  "operator":"distribute-result",
+	  "expressions":"R{.*}",
+	  "operatorId":"R{.*}",
+	  "execution-mode":"R{.*}",
+	  "inputs":"R{.*}"
+  }
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
index 3871f40..d32fafe 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-app/src/test/resources/runtimets/testsuite_sqlpp.xml
@@ -29,6 +29,11 @@
   &TemporalQueries;
   <test-group name="api">
     <test-case FilePath="api">
+      <compilation-unit name="compileonly">
+        <output-dir compare="Text">compileonly</output-dir>
+      </compilation-unit>
+    </test-case>
+    <test-case FilePath="api">
       <compilation-unit name="multiple-param-values">
         <output-dir compare="Text">multiple-param-values</output-dir>
       </compilation-unit>
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-lang-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/lang/common/base/Statement.java b/asterixdb/asterix-lang-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/lang/common/base/Statement.java
index 663074e..2594cdd 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-lang-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/lang/common/base/Statement.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-lang-common/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/lang/common/base/Statement.java
@@ -46,6 +46,21 @@
 
         private Category() {
         }
+
+        public static String toString(byte category) {
+            switch (category) {
+                case QUERY:
+                    return "query";
+                case UPDATE:
+                    return "update";
+                case DDL:
+                    return "ddl";
+                case PROCEDURE:
+                    return "procedure";
+                default:
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException(String.valueOf(category));
+            }
+        }
     }
 
     enum Kind {
diff --git a/asterixdb/asterix-om/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java b/asterixdb/asterix-om/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
index 8b332cc..ca3552b 100644
--- a/asterixdb/asterix-om/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
+++ b/asterixdb/asterix-om/src/main/java/org/apache/asterix/om/base/temporal/ATimeParserFactory.java
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@
         }
 
         if (length > offset) {
-            timezone = parseTimezonePart(timeString, start + offset);
+            parseTimezonePart(timeString, start + offset); // parsed, then ignored
         }
 
         return GregorianCalendarSystem.getInstance().getChronon(hour, min, sec, millis);