Extended Events: Avoid the XML
One story I hear over and over goes like this: I tried setting up Extended Events, but then I saw the output was XML so I stopped. Look, I...
2021-04-08 (first published: 2021-03-29)
371 reads
The Scary DBA
Query Store as an Upgrade Tool
There are a lot of uses for Query Store, but one of the most interesting is as an upgrade tool. We all know that upgrades in SQL Server can...
2021-03-29 (first published: 2021-03-22)
315 reads
Apologies
Hello all! I wanted to apologize to you. I haven’t been keeping up with the blog well at all over the last couple of months. I have simply been...
2021-03-15
30 reads
Learning A Little Oracle
As part of my job, I’ve been tasked with doing some of my work in Oracle, so I’m learning Oracle. Allow me to share a little of my pain...
2021-02-19 (first published: 2021-02-15)
336 reads
SELECT * Hurts Performance, Badly
Quite a few years ago, I wrote a post about SELECT * and performance. That post had a bit of a click-bait title (freely admitted). I wrote the post...
2021-02-01 (first published: 2021-01-25)
697 reads
Getting Started Reading Execution Plans: Highest Cost Operator
Reading execution plans in SQL Server is just hard. There’s a lot to learn and understand. I previously outlined the basics I use to get started when I’m looking...
2020-12-22 (first published: 2020-12-14)
663 reads
Why Aren’t You Automating Database Deployments?
Building out processes and mechanisms for automated code deployments and testing can be quite a lot of work and isn’t easy. Now, try the same thing with data, and...
2020-12-03 (first published: 2020-11-23)
525 reads
The Learning Curve for DevOps
If you’re attempting to implement automation in and around your deployments, you’re going to find there is quite a steep learning curve for DevOps and DevOps-style implementations. Since adopting...
2020-11-25 (first published: 2020-11-16)
274 reads
Database Fundamentals #29: Create Foreign Keys With Table Designer
The purpose of a foreign key is to ensure data integrity by making sure that data added to a child table actually exists in the parent table and preventing...
2020-11-09 (first published: 2020-11-02)
263 reads
Most Costly Statement in a Stored Procedure
A lot of stored procedures have multiple statements and determining the most costly statement in a given proc is a very common task. After all, you want to focus...
2020-10-19 (first published: 2020-10-12)
892 reads
Blogs
“We love to debate minutiae”
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
Advice I Like: Knots
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
Shifting Mindsets: Why FinOps is Essential for Cloud Efficiency
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
Forums
Windows logins for users migrated from DomainA to DomainB
Hi, I have a SQL Server instance where users connect to via Windows Authentication,...
Multiple Deployment Processes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Deployment Processes
How to Use sqlpackage to Detect Schema Drift Between Azure SQL Databases
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How to Use sqlpackage to...
Question of the Day
Upgrading Admin Queries
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
See possible answers