SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #31
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #31 is available, with 24 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3456.2. This is the last mainstream cumulative update for SQL Server 2017!
Find the 3rd Tuesday or last non-weekday in a month
In this tip, I show how to simplify calculations involving nth weekday or non-weekday, with and without a calendar table.
T-SQL Tuesday #154 : SQL Server 2022
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about a not-quite-yet-announced feature in SQL Server 2022 that has the potential to function as a low-effort bad habit logger.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #17
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #17 is available, with 43 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4249.2.
Comparing DBA / DBRE / SRE roles
I look at DBA, DBRE, and SRE roles and share how they have differed in my experience.
Overcoming Challenges with GENERATE_SERIES
I talk about ways to use wrapper functions to work around tedious syntax required by the new function, GENERATE_SERIES.
T-SQL Tuesday #153 : The Community Event that Changed My Life
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about the community event that had the most profound impact on my career and, more importantly, my life.
My 10 Favorite SQLPerformance Posts Over 10 Years
On the 10th anniversary of SQLPerformance.com, I look back on my favorite posts – one from each year.
T-SQL Tuesday #152 : Soapboxing
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, Deb Melkin asks us get up on our favorite soapbox. I have so many, but this time I picked a new one…
Using a “Goal Posts” Table to Reduce Scan Impact
Logging tables can grow unchecked for years, and date range queries against them get more and more expensive if they don't use the clustered index. Read about one way I've mitigated this problem.
On Cumulative Updates and GDRs
Using a fictitious future timeline, I explain how CUs and GDRs differ and why build number alone might not tell the whole story.
Who benefits from your technical blog? You do!
In this article, I discuss several advantages to maintaining a technical blog.
What I did in my first month at Stack Overflow
I talk about a few of the things I worked on in my first month as a DBRE at Stack Overflow.
Why shouldn't I create 15,000 partitions in advance?
In this tip, I show some real-life reasons why you may not want to create all the partitions you'll ever need up front.
Bad Habits and Best Practices
An index of over a decade's worth of posts and videos involving bad habits and best practices in SQL Server.
T-SQL Tuesday #151 : Controversial Coding Conventions
I talk about why I prefer CONVERT over CAST to be consistent. Basically, if you sometimes HAVE to use only one, why not just ALWAYS use that one?
SQL Server 2019 Security Update, June 2022
A new build is available for SQL Server 2019 (GDR = 15.0.2095.3, CU = 15.0.4236.7). From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
SQL Server 2017 Security Update, June 2022
A new build is available for SQL Server 2017 (GDR = 14.0.2042.3, CU = 14.0.3445.2). From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
SQL Server 2016 Security Update, June 2022
A new build is available for SQL Server 2016 SP2 and SP3. From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
SQL Server 2014 Security Update, June 2022
A new build is available for SQL Server 2014 SP3. From the CVE: "An authenticated attacker could exploit the vulnerability by executing a specially crafted query using $ partition against a table with a Column Store index."
T-SQL Can Be Expressive Without Sacrificing Performance
There are often multiple ways to express a query and get the same results, often without any change in performance. Learn about one example.