Articles

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How to Confuse the SQL Server Query Optimizer

Want to 'trick' SQL Server into performing millions of logical reads to return data, when only are few thousand were really required? In this article, Gail Shaw examines three common forms of generic SQL that can and will confuse the SQL Server Optimizer to the point that it generates and reuses very inefficient execution plans.

2015-09-21

3,875 reads

External Article

T-SQL Window Functions Speed Phreakery

Before SQL Server had SQL window functions, SQL Server developers had to use all manner of tricks and algorithms to come up with ways to rapidly process large amounts of data. Do we need these techniques now that we can express a SQL task in terms of window functions? Kathi revisits a famous SQL challenge to find out.

2015-09-18

4,213 reads

External Article

The Zen of Code Reviews: Best Practices

If you don't feel that you are getting helpful and comprehensive feedback from code reviews, it may well be your fault. Unless you are considerate to your reviewers in a number of ways, they might find it difficult to check your code and provide helpful advice. What ways? Michael Sorens outlines the eight golden rules that, if you follow them, might even even make your code a pleasure to review!

2015-09-15

6,927 reads

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Fun with JSON

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Creating JSON II

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Engineer Lessons

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Question of the Day

Creating JSON II

On SQL Server 2025, what happens when I run this code:

SELECT JSON_OBJECTAGG( N'City':N'Denver' RETURNING JSON)
GO

See possible answers