SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #29
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #29 is available, with 18 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3436.1.
Interview with Kevin Kline for Orange Matter
I recently sat down with long-time friend Kevin Kline, who grilled me a little about my new role at Stack Overflow, our industry in general, and why we sometimes stay in jobs we don't enjoy.
Advanced report examples using PIVOT and GROUPING SETS
In this tip I show how I combine GROUPING SETS and PIVOT to get crosstab-style reports without Excel.
FORMAT is a convenient but expensive function, part 2
In the second part of this series, I show two ways to shift expensive computations to write time.
String Aggregation Over the Years in SQL Server
I talk about progress in aggregating strings – both in the functionality offered by SQL Server and the quality of my own code samples.
FORMAT is a convenient but expensive function, part 1
In this tip I confirm that FORMAT is still a dog compared to even very complex expressions using CONCAT_WS, DATENAME, DATEPART, and CONVERT.
Mixed Extents Podcast – 2022.02.14
I was honored to be a guest on the most recent Mixed Extents podcast, along with my friend and colleague Andy Mallon, where we talked about patching SQL Server.
Performance Testing Docker Between Intel and M1 MacBooks
I harassed Erik Ejlskov Jensen enough to make me a universal command-line version of SqlQueryStress, and walk you through setting up a performance test between an Intel and M1 MacBook.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #15
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #15 is available, with 39 enhancements (35 public). The build number is 15.0.4198.2.
Just Enable Indirect Checkpoints on All Databases, Please
In this tip I show how indirect checkpoints can help improve performance and stability of more than just checkpoint operations themselves, and stifle some (but not all) problems. I conclude that you should proactively change this setting everywhere.
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #28
SQL Server 2017 Cumulative Update #28 is available, with 10 enhancements. The build number is 14.0.3430.2.
T-SQL Tuesday #146 : Preconceived Notions
For T-SQL Tuesday #146, I talk about a couple of crazy ideas I had in my head about filtered indexes.
Testing Azure SQL Edge and Docker on the latest MacBooks
I show how I set up Azure SQL Edge in a Docker container on the new M1 MacBook.
Serializing Clustered Columnstore Deletes
See one way to use a queue table to spread out spiky, ad hoc deletes from a clustered columnstore index.
2021 : Community Influencer of the Year
I recognize this year's recipient of my Community Influence of the Year award.
Using GREATEST and LEAST in Azure SQL Database
These functions aren't brand new, but they're in Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance, and they're coming to SQL Server 2022 soon.
Unboxing the MacBook Pro M1 Max
I open up a new MacBook Pro M1 Max and note a few of my initial observations.
Funemployment : Making a tidy workspace
I show how I turned a country buffet of cables and external storage into an almost wire-free workspace.
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #14
SQL Server 2019 Cumulative Update #14 is available, with 38 enhancements (19 public). The build number is 15.0.4188.2.
Trusting STRING_SPLIT() order in Azure SQL Database
See the new overloaded STRING_SPLIT() function with its enable_ordinal parameter, now available in an Azure SQL Database near you.
Ordered string splitting in SQL Server with OPENJSON
Every time I write a post about splitting strings, I promise myself it's the last one. I need to stop making that promise. In this tip, I show how I compared my previous favorite ordered splitting function to a different technique using OPENJSON().