Accessing the Data API Builder MCP Server from VS Code

I recently started playing with the MCP Server for SQL Server, which is a part of the Data API Builder (DAB). I’m not sure why there wasn’t a separate...

From DBA or Data Engineer to AI Engineer: A Realistic Path

If you spend your days tuning queries, managing pipelines, or keeping a production database alive, you already carry most of what an AI engineering role needs. What is missing...

Asynchronous Replication of Snapshots from an ActiveCluster Pod to a Third Array

I’ve been rebuilding my three-site SQL Server demo lab, and I ran into something I’ve wanted for a long time. If you’ve ever designed a SQL Server environment on...

SQL Server gMSA: Why So Many DBAs Still Aren't Using It in 2026

SQL Server gMSA: Why DBAs Still Aren't Using It in 2026

Group Managed Service Accounts (gMSAs) solve the classic service-account password problem - just look at...

Take Time to Gain Perspective

Probably the best piece of advice I ever received is to take time to gain perspective.

The Fringe Festival

I was lucky enough to take a vacation a decade ago in Edinburgh with my wife. She came over to the UK with me for a quick trip. We...

Demo for Parameter Sniffing and Memory Grant Feedback

Disclaimer: The following is built with Claude Code. Just need to justify my $100/mo subscription cost. This was meant for a private demo so I can learn more about...

My Social Media Rules

I developed these rules a while back, before COVID. I had a period of self-reflection when I realized I was spending time wastefully arguing with folks on the various...

Why Use TRY_PARSE(): #SQLNewBlogger

Someone asked why I would use TRY_PARSE after I posted a question at SQL Server Central: Getting the Average. Isn’t is slower? A fair question. This quick post looks...

A Guatemalan's Guide to Drinking Coffee Properly

My mugI grew up surrounded by coffee farms in Guatemala and somehow spent most of my adult life drinking whatever was closest, usually instant, usually while standing over the...