Refactor `Kmer`, `SuperKmer`, and chunk reader into optimized, generic representations with compile-time length parameters and bitwise operations. Update the pipeline and scheduler to support batch processing, 1→N flat transformations, and multi-source merging. Introduce an approximate evidence mode using b-bit fingerprints and `.idx` files, alongside existing exact mode. Update CLI documentation, minimizer selection, and query output schema accordingly.
Introduces a new `merge` CLI subcommand and underlying implementation to consolidate multiple pre-indexed k-mer indexes into a single output. Adds `append_column` methods to persistent bit and int matrices to enable incremental genome column expansion without rebuilding the MPHF. Includes new error variants for index readiness and configuration mismatches, adds a `--force` flag to the index command, and updates documentation and navigation structure accordingly.
Eric Coissac