Steve,

Encouraging the community to contribute and help improve SQL Server is great for everyone. I think the community is one of reasons the product continues to grow so dynamically. Allow me to highlight another area that has tremendous potential to improve SQL Server and the workload borne by SQL Server professionals; third party software. The tools and applications created by independent software vendors are helping to bring innovation, efficiency and more to SQL Server DBAs and Developers around the world. The “roll up your sleeves” attitude that has helped build the SQL Server community is now facing the challenge of ever increasing workload. I would like to encourage the community to take a moment and check for third party software to tackle some of those daily chores they face with SQL Server. Sure, there is a pride of ownership in crafting your own solutions to a problem. Remember to ask yourself “is this an efficient use of my time” or could I be focusing on more strategic work and grow my skills.

Thanks,

Peter Shire

SQL Sentry, Inc.