Working with SQL Cursors

In SQL cursors serve as a pointer that enables application programming language to deal with query results one row at a time. This article quickly explores the concept behind and show how to declare cursors, open, retrieve data from them, and then close them

Database DevOps is gaining popularity

Fourty-six percent of the State of Database DevOps survey respondents advised they are performing some form of deployment automation. This figure has risen year on year as the conversation of DevOps in Database development continues, and the benefits become more apparent. If you are interested in more insight, you can download a copy of the 2020 State of Database DevOps report here.

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The Staging Phase of Deployment

Despite some humorous examples of deployments gone wrong, failures are not funny. William Brewer explains why staging is so important and how it can help avoid the types of disasters he recalls in this article.

Database Reliability Engineer- The new DBA?

The role of the DBA is evolving! With automated builds, cloud and DevOps being the new A,B,C,Ds in the day to day management of databases, you need to up-skill and learn about Database Reliability Engineering. Join Microsoft MVP Hamish Watson to find out more.

DevOps is Essential for Analytics

Database DevOps means accurate and consistent data which is critical for analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.

SQL Server and Undocumented Extended Procedures

Smart DBAs automate tasks whenever possible. In this article, Greg Moore shows the need to use caution when using undocumented procedures for automating tasks, and that PowerShell may have what you need instead.

How to Track Performance of Queries That Use RECOMPILE Hints

Say we have a stored procedure that has two queries in it, the first query will always get the same plan, but the second query will get different plans and return different numbers of rows depending on which reputation we pass in.

“Working” From Home? Watch A Bunch of Free SQL Server Videos on YouTube.

You’re new at this working from home thing, and you’re trying to put Game of Thrones up on a second monitor while you work? Listen, that’s not gonna play out well. You’re gonna get distracted and you’re not gonna get any work done. Instead, if you’re gonna have something in the background, learn about SQL Server.

Never Create Columns with ANSI_PADDING set to OFF

There is no good reason for having ANSI_PADDING set to OFF when you create tables in SQL Server. It was provided purely for legacy databases that had code that assumed the old CHAR behavior for dealing with padding, and its use has now been deprecated.

Build and fill a SQL Server Database using SQL Compare CLI and a Batch Script

Phil Factor provides a powerful DOS batch script which, when coupled with SQL Compare CLI, allows you to build databases from source, during development, and fill them with the specific datasets required for testing.