Bad Habits : Abusing bit columns
I talk a bit about bit columns: names with negative context, allowing NULLs, and using cryptic BITWISE operators instead of readable, self-documenting expressions.
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 #143 : Preparing for the Worst… Metadata
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, I talk about the scripts I use to keep a local system with all kinds of oddball metadata scenarios.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #13
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #13 is available, with 38 enhancements (19 public). The build number is 15.0.4178.1.
Yes, data type names can still be case sensitive
In this tip, I use specific examples to counter assumptions that data types are always case insensitive.
Refreshing Tables with Less Interruption
I talk about using partition switching to load in fresh versions of staging tables with the least impact to current users.
Consolidating links and resources
I made some landing pages here, with simple and easy-to-remember URLs, presenting sets of links to very frequently-discussed topics around SQL Server.
SQL Server 2016 Service Pack 3
Service Pack 3 is now available; the build is 13.0.6300.2 and there are 43 enhancements.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #26
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #26 is available, with 31 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3411.3.
Why I don't like the WHILE (1=1) pattern
In this tip, I discuss one way to help avoid infinite loops in common while loop patterns.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 4
In part 4, I show how to include ad hoc DML queries in the analysis.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 3
In part 3, I tie it together and show how to use relational logic to further eliminate false positives.
T-SQL Tuesday #141 : Work/Life Balance
For this month's T-SQL Tuesday, TJay Belt asks us to talk about how we manage work/life balance.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #12
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #12 is available, with 40 enhancements (29 public). The build number is 15.0.4153.1.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 2
In part 2, I show how to identify problematic NOLOCK patterns across multiple databases and multiple instances.
Finding problematic NOLOCK patterns – Part 1
I start a new series on identifying and removing problematic NOLOCK hints from update and delete statements.
Minimizing PAGELATCH_EX waits in SQL Server 2019
In this tip, I show how you can evaluate a new index option in SQL Server 2019 aimed at reducing PAGELATCH_EX waits: OPTIMIZE_FOR_SEQUENTIAL_KEY.
T-SQL Tuesday #140 : What have you been up to with containers?
For T-SQL Tuesday #140, Anthony Nocentino asks us what we have been up to with containers.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #25
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #25 is available, with 19 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3401.7.
Deprecated features to take out of your toolbox – Part 3
I explain why you should eliminate the data types text, ntext, and image from your environment.
SQL Server 2019 Adventures on CentOS 7.5
After thinking setting up SQL Server 2019 on CentOS 7.5 was going to be a piece of cake, I explain how my team helped resolve a TLS issue preventing remote connections.