Something’s Up with Parallelism in Azure SQL DB Serverless

Or perhaps another way to phrase that is, Microsoft is up to something with parallelism. I don’t know how long it’s been this way – could even be since the launch of Azure SQL DB Serverless – but I just now noticed it while helping a client with a slow query.

SQL Server and Python Tutorial

This article will show the basic outline for how Python scripts can access and work with data in SQL Server.

Don’t use DISTINCT as a “join-fixer”

I’ve quietly resolved performance issues by re-writing slow queries to avoid DISTINCT. Often, the DISTINCT is there only to serve as a “join-fixer,” and I can explain what that means using an example.

Five database DevOps practices for boosting team productivity

Speed of delivery and protecting data can often feel incompatible, but there are industry-proven database DevOps practices that bring them together in harmony.

Across each of these five key practices, there’s a theme of removing barriers and cognitive load for teams; but crucially, they are also putting safeguards in place to reduce the risks to production environments.

Trigger the Execution of an ADF Pipeline from an Email

Learn how you can configure an Azure Data Factory pipeline that is triggered by an email being sent to an address.

SQL Server Fragmentation Impact with Modern Hardware

Read this article to find out if you still need to worry about SQL Server index fragmentation with modern hardware.

SQL Server Central Is Upgrading Our Servers

The SQL Server Central database servers are being upgraded on Thursday, Nov 2.

Using Pipeline Return Value in Azure Data Factory and Azure Synapse Analytics

Learn how you can return data from one ADF pipeline for use in another.

Normalize strings to optimize space and searches

While this article is specifically geared to SQL Server, the concepts apply to any relational database platform. The Stack Exchange network logs a lot of web traffic – even compressed, we average well over a terabyte per month.

Why Database Discussions Have Moved From the Backroom to the Boardroom

There are good reasons why business leaders should care about their databases—and hidden costs for neglecting them. Our CMO, Kate Duggan, wrote about the risks and potential costs in this article on Bloomberg.