COALESCE(), ISNULL() , NULLIF() and alternatives in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL
In this article we look at the SQL functions COALESCE, ISNULL, NULLIF and do a comparison between SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL.
2022-04-06
Data Platform
Choosing Snowflake vs SQL Server for a Data Warehouse
In this article we take a high level view of choosing to use Snowflake in the cloud versus SQL Server on-premises and some things to consider.
2022-03-28
Install SQL Server and Oracle using PowerShell and Windows Containers
In this article we look at how to install SQL Server and Oracle using PowerShell to create development environments using Windows Containers.
2022-01-28
Create, Populate, and Subset a Pandas Dataframe from a CSV File
In this article we demonstrate how to transfer data via a CSV file from a SQL Server database to a Pandas dataframe and then subset the dataframe in Python.
2021-09-03
SQL VIEW Comparison in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL
In this article we look at the similarities and differences for views in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL. We also look at indexed views, materialized views and updatable views.
2021-08-16
SQL Window Functions in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL
In this article we look at using Window Functions in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL to see the differences and similarities of the syntax.
2021-04-19
Delete SQL Statement in SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL
Learn about the differences and similarities when deleting data from SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL with the several examples in this article.
2021-03-16
SQL Update Statement with Join in SQL Server vs Oracle vs PostgreSQL
In this article we look at the different SQL syntax you need to use when updating data when joining tables for SQL Server, Oracle and PostgreSQL.
2021-01-29
Yes and No Questions Are Not So Simple
Joe Celko explains why questions requiring yes or no answers are more complicated than you might realize in both spoken language and computing.
2019-08-22
Blogs
Don’t Miss Out – SQL Server Query Tuning Fundamentals Starts Next Monday!
Next Monday, February 9, 2026, my one-day live online training SQL Server Query Tuning...
Monday Monitor Tips: SQL Auditing Preview
By Steve Jones
One of the features we advocates have been advocating for is a better way...
SQL Server 2025 CU1 Fixes the Docker Desktop AVX Issue on macOS
Microsoft fixed the AVX instruction issue in SQL Server 2025 CU1. The container now...
Forums
25 Years of SQL Server Central
Comments posted to this topic are about the item 25 Years of SQL Server...
The Decoded Value
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Decoded Value
Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition in Kubernetes: A Cost-Effective Alternative to RDS
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Deploying SQL Server Developer Edition...
Question of the Day
The Decoded Value
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned from this code:
DECLARE @message VARCHAR(50) = 'Hello SQL Server 2025!'; DECLARE @encoded VARCHAR(MAX); SET @encoded = BASE64_ENCODE(CAST(@message AS VARBINARY(1000))); SELECT BASE64_DECODE(@encoded)See possible answers