Plan for failure in automated deployments

Failures happen with manual and automated releases, they are a fact of life. Make sure you know how and when to rollback failed deployments

Actual “Number of Rows Read” in SQL Server Execution Plans

Kendra Little takes a look at the upcoming SQL Server 2016 'Number of Rows Read' feature in action.

Byte Me: Three Wise Men

Best Practices For Deleting SQL Server Data

Inevitably there comes a time where some backend data cleanup needs to be done. Ben Snaidero shares some best practices to follow when deleting data.

Declarative SQL: Using UNIQUE Constraints

In SQL, you can express the logic of what you want to accomplish without spelling out the details of how the database should do it. Nowhere is this more powerful than in constraints. SQL is declarative, and Joe Celko demonstrates, in his introduction to Declarative SQL, how you can write portable code that performs well and executes some complex logic, merely by creating unique constraints.

Read-Only Routing for Non-Microsoft Clients

An alternative read-only routing technique for non-Microsoft clients.

Azure SQL Database Resiliency - Point-in-Time Restore

Azure SQL Database provides a number of benefits that leverage resiliency and redundancy built into the underlying cloud infrastructure. You can take advantage of these features in order to perform backup, restore, and failover tasks, which help you recover from human errors, service outages, or even regional disasters. In this article, Marcin Policht provides an overview of the primary capabilities incorporated into Azure SQL Database, in particular focusing on point-in-time restore

SQL Server on Linux

A secret project is underway up in Redmond, according to sources not so high up in the development team. A port is partially working for various reasons. Read this exclusive scoop!

Oracle Error When Importing An Interval Partitioned Table

Oracle 12.1.0.2 can throw an ORA-01438 when importing an interval partitioned table. In this post, David Fitzjarrell suggests a work-around until Oracle patches the bug.

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) and Database References

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) provides, via the DacPac, interesting support for verifying not only those references within the database, but also those to other databases even if they are on other servers. Although it is adds an extra level of complexity to deployments, it can increase the probability that deployments will succeed without errors due to broken references or binding errors. Ed Elliot investigates.