SQL Server Management Studio uses the Visual Studio installer
Yes, SSMS 21 uses the Visual Studio installer. No, you don’t need to download it every time. No, you don’t need a Visual Studio license to use it.
The post...
2025-08-14
21 reads
Blog Posts
DBCC CHECKDB: Just Because It’s Quiet Doesn’t Mean It’s Safe
Corruption isn’t a “maybe someday” problem – what you need to do now. Stop. Don’t panic. You just ran DBCC CHECKDB for the first time in a while (or...
2025-08-13
21 reads
From AI to JSON: What’s New in SQL Server 2025 Data Types (With Scripts)
🚀 Introduction SQL Server 2025 is a landmark release that redefines how developers and data professionals interact with data. With the rise of AI, unstructured data, and real-time analytics,...
2025-08-13 (first published: 2025-07-29)
1,904 reads
SQL Server 2025: Not Just a Database; A Data Engine Reimagined
Let us be honest; most database upgrades feel like a patchwork of performance tweaks and security updates. But SQL Server 2025? It is not just an upgrade. It is...
2025-08-13 (first published: 2025-07-29)
2,537 reads
Terraform Commands
I realized I never created a post to show how to deploy Terraform from VS Code. I haven’t done that in a while because I don’t do it at...
2025-08-13
41 reads
TSQL Tuesday #189: How is AI changing our careers
This month’s TSQL Tuesday invite is from my good friend, long standing MVP and community volunteer Taiob Ali – Taiob’s call is to blog on how AI, (the biggest...
2025-08-13
10 reads
T-SQL Tuesday #189–AI and your Career
I’m late to the party this month. Taiob Ali has a great invite for a topic that is likely on most people’s minds: AI and your career. I constantly...
2025-08-13
51 reads
Using SQL Compare to Revert a Stored Procedure
Imagine this situation, someone edits a stored procedure on a production server to “fix” something. However, they broke the procedure and you find out the next day. How do...
2025-08-13
123 reads
Boost SQL Server Security with gMSA: Real-World Examples & PowerShell Scripts
When deploying SQL Server in enterprise environments, choosing the right service account model is critical for security, manageability, and scalability. Traditionally, DBAs have relied on standard domain accounts with static passwords,...
2025-08-12
26 reads
Andreas Wolter on Evading Data Access Auditing
There are always bad actors who will seek to get access to and, likely, exfiltrate (exfil) the data. But they don't want to get caught; they don't want to...
2025-08-11
17 reads
Blogs
Self-Hosting a Photo Server the Whole Family Can Use
By Bert Wagner
Until recently, my family's 90,000+ photos have been hidden away in the depths of...
Start with the FabricTools PowerShell module
By Kamil
Managing Microsoft Fabric at scale quickly becomes painful if you rely only on the...
Enterprise AI Operating Rhythm – Top 5 practices for 2026
2025 exposed a growing gap between AI ambition and operational reality. As budgets tightened...
Forums
UNISTR Escape
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Celebrating Tomorrow
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SQL Art: I Made a Christmas Card In SSMS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art: I Made a...
Question of the Day
UNISTR Escape
In SQL Server 2025, I run this command:
SELECT UNISTR('*3041*308A*304C\3068 and good night', '*') as "A Classic";
What is returned? (assume the database has an appropriate collation)
A: 
B: 
C: 
See possible answers