GENERATE_SERIES : My new go-to to build a set
I show how GENERATE_SERIES makes for easier set building, and decent alternatives while you're still stuck on older versions.
Refresh views automatically after schema changes
While it might promote less than ideal practices, I show how to use a DDL trigger to keep views in sync with a volatile schema.
Building Visual Calendars with SQL and CSS – Part 3
In the final part of this series, I convert my T-SQL code to MySQL, so you can build a fancy archives page in WordPress.
Simulating TRY_PARSE in SQL Server 2008
Certainly not to encourage people to stay on ancient versions if they don't have to, I took a crack at replicating TRY_PARSE on older versions.
Regular SQL Server on Apple Silicon? Yes you can!
I show that a new experimental feature in Docker 4.16+ lets you run "real" SQL Server on Apple M1+ chips.
Find 40 Problems in this Stored Procedure
For my first post on Simple Talk, I rip apart a made-up stored procedure as if I had encountered it during a code review.
Building Visual Calendars with SQL and CSS – Part 2
In the second part of this series, I show how to use a calendar table to simplify rendering an archives page.
A Minor Bandwidth Upgrade
I recently added a switch and an adapter to take much better advantage of AT&T's 5-gig service.
February 2023 : Many updates for SQL Server
A good round of updates for most modern versions of SQL Server, including the first cumulative update for SQL Server 2022.
Building Visual Calendars with SQL and CSS – Part 1
I started a short series on building visual calendars, like those seen in the monthly archives page here.
Protecting personal information in the GDPR era
I discuss an organization’s responsibility for protecting personal information.
T-SQL Tuesday #158 : Worst Practices
For T-SQL Tuesday #158, I talk about a couple of justifiable worst practices.
And then there were shirts…
The story behind new SQLBlog-branded clothing (with proceeds going to The Trevor Project and Black Lives Matter).
Stack Overflow's path to the cloud
I talk about some of the pivotal criteria guiding how Stack Overflow will migrate to Azure.
2022 : Community Influencer of the Year
I recognize this year's recipient of my Community Influence of the Year award.
Being a Technical Mentor for a Career, not a Role
I talk about my foray into mentoring, and how you should mentor for a career, not just for a role.
SQL Server at Scale – Using an Archive Table, Part 3
In part 3, I show how to automate creating new tables, dropping old tables, and adjusting the view.
SQL Server at Scale – Using an Archive Table, Part 2
In part 2, I look at general strategies for partitioning an archive table (even without Enterprise!) to reduce long-term data movement.
T-SQL Tuesday #156 : Production Code
For T-SQL Tuesday #156, I talk about the qualities I expect in T-SQL code before I consider it "production quality."
Bad Habits and Best Practices
Over a decade of posts and videos involving bad habits and best practices in SQL Server.
SQL Server at Scale – Using an Archive Table, Part 1
In this series, I look at strategies for archiving data and how it can impact your entire infrastructure.
T-SQL Tuesday #155 – Do X to all the databases
For October's T-SQL Tuesday, Steve Jones asks us to talk about ways we've used dynamic SQL to solve problems.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #18
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #18 is available, with 26 enhancements. The build number is 15.0.4261.1.
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.
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.
Why is SQL Server's internal database version important?
In this tip, I talk about the compatibility between major versions and SQL Server's internal database version.
Obscure Changes in SQL Server 2022, Part 3 : ShowPlan
I continue looking at some of the changes in SQL Server 2022 that aren't on the marketing slides.
How to be a more productive DBA / DBRE
I talk about some of the things I do to be more productive, and hopefully some of these can help you in your role, too.
Obscure Changes in SQL Server 2022, Part 2 : Setup
I warn about a cumbersome change to setup, where something is checked by default when it shouldn't be.
New features in T-SQL for SQL Server 2022
The first public preview of SQL Server 2022 is here! Read about my favorite T-SQL enhancements.
Some of the more obscure changes in SQL Server 2022, Part 1
I take a look at some of the underlying changes in SQL Server 2022, as reflected in system metadata.
Leadership Award from MSSQLTips.com
Today I received a mind-blowing award for my 200th tip at MSSQLTips.com.