2026-02-25
48 reads
Editorials
Can You Let Go of Determinism
As Steve uses AI more, it seems determinism isn't something you get out of many LLMs.
2026-02-23
81 reads
Doing Good at SQL Server Central
Steve talks about some of the charitable work at SQL Server Central.
2026-02-20
58 reads
Detecting Issues
How do you detect issues in your systems? Testing? Monitoring? Steve Jones has a few thoughts that we should find ways to do so before our customers.
2026-02-19 (first published: 2017-03-01)
173 reads
Engineer Lessons
Steve thinks a few lessons on being a software engineer at Google are good items for anyone to think about.
2026-02-18
133 reads
2026-02-16 (first published: 2006-10-06)
377 reads
Microsoft Security Changes and SQL Server
Windows is changing its security, which will affect SQL Server.
2026-02-14
315 reads
Expanding into Print
This is part of a few memories from the founders of SQL Server Central, celebrating 25 years of operation this month. When we started SQL Server Central, our goal was to build a great resource that helped other people advance in their careers and also made some money. Our decisions in building the site were […]
2026-02-13
60 reads
The Power of Data and Privacy
Steve discusses privacy and data that is publicly available on the Internet.
2026-02-11
83 reads
The DBA is Dead; Long Live the DBA
There have many many times when a company or individual has thought that DBAs aren't needed. Steve doesn't think that has ever been true, nor will it be anytime soon.
2026-02-09
194 reads
Blogs
Identity Columns Can’t Be Updated: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I’m not sure I knew identity column values could not be updated. I ran...
Rolling Back a Broken Release
By Steve Jones
We had an interesting discussion about deployments in databases and how you go forward...
A bespoke reporting solution doesn’t have to cost the earth
By ChrisJenkins
You could be tolerating limited reporting because there isn’t an off the shelf solution...
Forums
Can someone please explain what happens?
I have mentioned this several times over several years. Can someone please help me...
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT) returns null when nothing is found instead of 0
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Component) AS Found FROM tblComponents WHERE(Component NOT LIKE '%[a-z]%') AND(LTRIM(RTRIM(Component)) = 'GM13622')...
Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects:...
Question of the Day
Creating JSON III
In a SQL Server 2025 table, called Beer, I have this data:
BeerIDBeerName 1Becks 2Fat Tire 3Mac n Jacks 4Alaskan Amber 8KirinI run this code:
SELECT JSON_OBJECTAGG(
BeerID: BeerName )
FROM beer;
What are the results? See possible answers