2025-10-29
Articles
Docker Advice for SQL Server in Production
Introduction Nowadays, with the widespread adoption of microservices across major companies, using Windows Server to host SQL Server remains the gold standard. However, there are still certain scenarios—or even specific environments—where deploying SQL Server in containerized setups using the Docker engine becomes necessary. In this article, I will offer practical tips based on my hands-on […]
2025-10-27
4,907 reads
Managing Underused Indexes in SQL Server Availability Groups – Part 2
Knowing the usage from all workloads is definitely better than focusing on only the primary or a single secondary. But what if I want to make more informed decisions, incorporating row counts, size, and index columns into this output?
2025-10-27
How Implicit Transactions Hurt SQL Server Performance Without You Knowing
Learn about implicit transaction and why you might not want to enable this setting.
2025-10-24
6,677 reads
Memories of Andrew Clarke, by Simon Galbraith
Simon Galbraith, co-founder of Redgate and one of the creators of Simple Talk, remembers Andrew Clarke
2025-10-24
DIY Database Clones
This article explores the 'shadow copy' and 'disk virtualization' services built into the Windows operating system and explains a basic solution demonstrating how the technology is used to copy the data and log files for a live SQL Server database into an 'image', from which we can create multiple, lightweight copies, or clones, of the original database.
2025-10-22 (first published: 2021-04-29)
6,192 reads
Why Indexes are Important Beyond Faster Execution of Queries
Learn how indexes can help you with more than just querying data.
2025-10-22
17,941 reads
SQL EXISTS Use Cases and Examples
I’ve seen the SQL EXISTS keyword in Microsoft SQL Server T-SQL code and don’t understand it well. What does it do? How do I use it? Are there best practices around SQL IF EXISTS?
2025-10-22
Database Ledger in SQL Server 2022
Learn how ledger databases and ledger tables work in SQL Server 2022.
2025-10-20
17,585 reads
Mastering SQL VIEWs: Syntax, Use Cases, and Best Practices
VIEWs are an undervalued and underused feature in SQL. They basically consist of a query that has been given a name, and a parameter list, so can be used like an inline macro. Technically, you’re supposed to think of it as a virtual table.
2025-10-20
Blogs
Data Skew in Data Engineering: What It Is and How to Fix It
You kick off a distributed job expecting it to finish in minutes — but...
SQL Server instance metadata inventory with PowerShell and SMO
By SQLPals
SQL Server instance metadata inventory with PowerShell and SMO The purpose...
5 SQL Tricks Worth Remembering Before You Close the Laptop
Disclosure: this post may contain links to books as an affiliate link. If you...
Forums
Fuzzy String Matching in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Fuzzy String Matching in SQL...
Representing Money
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Representing Money
Celebrating 30 years of PostgreSQL, A Thank you message
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Celebrating 30 years of PostgreSQL,...
Question of the Day
Representing Money
Which types of currency does the money data type represent?
See possible answers