Introduction to GitHub Actions Part 2: GitHub-hosted runners

In this article, you’ll learn about the many options for using a GitHub-hosted runner, including Docker.

SQL STRING_AGG Function Use and Examples

The STRING_AGG function concatenates strings separated by a specified separator. This was introduced with SQL Server 2017.

Securing the DevOps Pipeline Part 2: Hardening Kubernetes and Cloud Security

In Part 2, we shift our focus to securing containerized deployments and cloud infrastructure. We will cover Kubernetes security hardening, real-time monitoring, infrastructure as code (IaC) security, and shifting security left to catch misconfigurations early. These strategies will help your team secure workloads in production and respond to potential threats before they lead to a security breach.

SQL ASCII Function Use and Examples

The ASCII function is used to return the ASCII value for the first character in a string.

Your SQL Server Needs Spring Cleaning, Too.

First things first: pick up that filthy keyboard, take it over to the trash can, turn it upside down, and give it a good, vigorous shake.

Evaluating the Randomness of SQL Server Random Number Functions

Microsoft provides T-SQL developers with three functions (rand, newid, and crypt_gen_random) for generating random numbers. Each of these functions is effective at returning random values, but feature sets associated with each function make them best suited to different use cases. This tip’s Solution section presents an overview of common use cases for random numbers in SQL Server along with references to learn more about random numbers in SQL Server.

Exploring the SQL Server CHOOSE Function

I preface a lot of what I write with whether or not it is for a “practical” use. One of the Simple Talk authors used this function in a forthcoming article. and I realized I hadn’t heard of it before (or I forgot about it… which is not completely unlikely.) The practical use was to generate some data and have at least a little variety to the values.

SQL Server Cursor Example

I know SQL cursors exist, but I am not sure how or why to use them. Can you provide a SQL cursor example? Can you give any guidance on when to use a SQL Server cursor?

Deciphering Data Architectures

Data fabric, data lakehouse, and data mesh have recently appeared as viable alternatives to the modern data warehouse. These new architectures have solid benefits, but they're also surrounded by a lot of hyperbole and confusion. This practical book provides a guided tour of these architectures to help data professionals understand the pros and cons of each.

• Printed book:
  • US
• Kindle book:
  • US

Building AI Calls into the First Responder Kit

No, that isn’t an April 1st joke, heh. I know a lot of vendors are shoving AI down your throat, but I can think of a few ways I actually want to get quick, easy advice from large language models (LLM) when I’m calling the sp_Blitz scripts: