What SQL Server Sites do you use?

Question

What SQL Server Sites do you use?

Lynn Pettis

SSC Guru

Points: 442467
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June 5, 2009 at 1:29 pm

#210331

I am curious, which sites do you use or frequent either asking for help or helping others?

Viewing 15 posts - 1 through 15 (of 53 total)

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 1

99.99% SQLServerCentral.com - I like folks like you and the others I've come to know and some of the other sites just seem to bloody rude at times.

You have my curiosity up... why do you want to know?

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 2

SSC and SQLTeam mostly, though far more here than there. Mostly I just watch the corruption-related forum there. On the non-SQL specific also SADeveloper.net (when it's up) and ServerFault.com

Edit: I read articles on Simple Talk, but don't use their forums at all.

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

WayneS SSC Guru Points: 95409 More actions · Answer 3

Jeff Moden (6/5/2009)
99.99% SQLServerCentral.com - I like folks like you and the others I've come to know and some of the other sites just seem to bloody rude at times.
You have my curiosity up... why do you want to know?

Jeff, as much as you post on this site, I seriously doubt you would have the time to visit the other sites. 🙂

Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes

If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!

Links:
For better assistance in answering your questions
Performance Problems
Common date/time routines
Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

WayneS SSC Guru Points: 95409 More actions · Answer 4

Like Jeff, it's usually reserved to this site. Though simple-talk has some great articles, esp those by Phil Factor.

Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes

If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!

Links:
For better assistance in answering your questions
Performance Problems
Common date/time routines
Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2

sachinsamuel1 SSC-Addicted Points: 422 More actions · Answer 5

Most of the time sql server central. This is the first website comes to my mind when it comes to sql server online community.

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 6

Jeff Moden (6/5/2009)
99.99% SQLServerCentral.com - I like folks like you and the others I've come to know and some of the other sites just seem to bloody rude at times.
You have my curiosity up... why do you want to know?

For just that reason, Jeff, curiosity. I've lurked on a couple other sites and I have agree with you, some of the other sites do seem to be rude at times.

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 7

Lynn Pettis (6/6/2009)
Jeff Moden (6/5/2009)
99.99% SQLServerCentral.com - I like folks like you and the others I've come to know and some of the other sites just seem to bloody rude at times.
You have my curiosity up... why do you want to know?
For just that reason, Jeff, curiosity. I've lurked on a couple other sites and I have agree with you, some of the other sites do seem to be rude at times.

Whew! Thought you might have been looking for another home. We'd miss the heck out of our favorite "green guy". 🙂

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Lynn Pettis SSC Guru Points: 442467 More actions · Answer 8

Jeff Moden (6/6/2009)
Whew! Thought you might have been looking for another home. We'd miss the heck out of our favorite "green guy". 🙂

Why would I leave SSC? This is more than a SQL Server Forum, it is a SQL Server Community. I may never meet most of the regulars here on SSC, but I count every one you as friends and mentors.

I have learned so much more about SQL Server since becoming an active participant on this site then I have from working with SQL Server in 1997 and through books. I have tried my best to pass on this same knowledge where ever possible, wether here on SSC or at work. I have started to find a voice by writing articles and blogs. And I hope others have learned from me as well. And it seems that I have built a unique persona here on SSC as "The Saint".

So, I ask, why would I leave? :smooooth:

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 9

Mostly here. But sometimes I go over to the MSDN forums because they get some questions over there that I do not see much here (like Service Broker). I've also been trying StackOverflow lately, partly out of curiosity, and partly because I like the developer oriented questions.

Though honestly, I've been finding both of these sites increasingly frustrating. The flaws of the "points for 'best' answers" systems they use becomes more evident the more I try to contribute there. Bleah.

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

Gail Shaw SSC Guru Points: 1004504 More actions · Answer 10

RBarryYoung (6/6/2009)
Though honestly, I've been finding both of these sites increasingly frustrating. The flaws of the "points for 'best' answers" systems they use becomes more evident the more I try to contribute there.

Curious to know what flaws you're thinking about?

Gail Shaw
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server, MVP, M.Sc (Comp Sci)
SQL In The Wild: Discussions on DB performance with occasional diversions into recoverability

We walk in the dark places no others will enter
We stand on the bridge and no one may pass

D.Oc SSCrazy Points: 2875 More actions · Answer 11

Lynn Pettis (6/5/2009)
I am curious, which sites do you use or frequent either asking for help or helping others?

I don't use them, I'm just regularly visit them all, forums that you mentioned in the poll.

And I'm regular visitor of some 100 SQL blogs there is on the net 😀

My theory about asking questions is that it should be my last resort before searching the net and all the forums, it's very big chance that someone already asked the same question that I'm looking for and someone already answered it.

I think this makes me a one big LURKER 😛

-------------------------------------------------------------
"It takes 15 minutes to learn the game and a lifetime to master"
"Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality."

Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1003863 More actions · Answer 12

Doc (6/7/2009)
Lynn Pettis (6/5/2009)
I am curious, which sites do you use or frequent either asking for help or helping others?
I don't use them, I'm just regularly visit them all, forums that you mentioned in the poll.
And I'm regular visitor of some 100 SQL blogs there is on the net 😀
My theory about asking questions is that it should be my last resort before searching the net and all the forums, it's very big chance that someone already asked the same question that I'm looking for and someone already answered it.
I think this makes me a one big LURKER 😛

Doc for President! 🙂

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 13

GilaMonster (6/7/2009)
RBarryYoung (6/6/2009)
Though honestly, I've been finding both of these sites increasingly frustrating. The flaws of the "points for 'best' answers" systems they use becomes more evident the more I try to contribute there.
Curious to know what flaws you're thinking about?

I don't really want to rant about this (someone from MSDN once made that mistake here 🙂 ), and if I get into right now I am sure that I will. If you have access to StackOverflow, here is a thread that demonstrates my frustration: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/961389/is-inconsistent-state-allowed-in-a-transaction/961426#961426

Long story short:

1) Real discussions and conversations do not happen (at least not visible to "peons" like me) and are NOT encouraged. In fact that are actively discouraged on StackOverflow.

2) The OP's have way too much power: Asking for clarification is a waste of time and effort. Even worse is trying to educate an OP that they are looking at things the wrong way or asking the wrong question. They reject it out of hand and NOBODY backs you up. Mind you they don't contradict you, they just abandon ship (I presume because they know that an angry OP is unlikely to give out the big "Answer" points that they want, so best to move on to more productive threads).

3) Wrong answers awarded ALL THE TIME! Now granted, this is worse at StackOverflow than at MSDN, but I regularly see Moderators, MVPs and even MSFT's give out wrong answers that never get corrected. And I am not even talking about subjective things or matters of opinion.

Like the link above: OP asks how to get around FK's in the middle of a transaction on SQL 2000. Apparently he thinks that Atomicity means that when he is in a transaction, no rules should apply. I say "1) Atomicity has nothing to do with that and 2) you can use NOCHECK (on 2005, not sure about 2000), but the recommended way is to update in the correct order". So he starts dinging me for points and then marks the "Use FKs with Deferrable" as the answer (this is an Oracle feature).

ARRGGHH!! :angry:

and seriously, this is only the tip of the iceberg...

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]

RBarryYoung SSC Guru Points: 143329 More actions · Answer 14

Heh, thanks for the assist, Gail. 🙂

As you can see, the very structured nature of the "threads" as StackOverflow (SO) make it very hard to carry on any kind of clarifying discussion or conversation. Worse, there is no concept of a subscription to a thread: you get no notice when it is updated. If someone adds a comment specifically to one of your posts, then you get a fleeting little flash at the top of your screen. And if you post a comment (as opposed to a real post), you can't edit it or correct it later.

[font="Times New Roman"]-- RBarryYoung[/font], [font="Times New Roman"] (302)375-0451[/font] blog: MovingSQL.com, Twitter: @RBarryYoung [font="Arial Black"]
Proactive Performance Solutions, Inc. [/font][font="Verdana"] "Performance is our middle name."[/font]