2025-12-29
79 reads
Editorials
Happy Holidays, Let's Do Nerdy Stuff
I'm actually writing this on my day off. I took a bunch of vacation around the holidays because I could, and because I don't take enough the rest of the year. Anyway, I'm just going to share how I've been spending my time (not counting time with the family, which I am certainly doing). I […]
2025-12-27
78 reads
The Tally Table
The tally table is a valuable tool for a SQL Server developer, but how many of you understand how to create and use one?
2025-12-26 (first published: 2015-08-13)
813 reads
The DBA's Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas my new DBA sent to me A table with a primary key On the second day of Christmas my new DBA sent to me Two Foreign Keys, and A table with a primary key On the third day of Christmas my new DBA sent to me Three stored procs […]
2025-12-24 (first published: 2019-12-24)
375 reads
What's Your Area of Expertise?
We might be smart in one area, but not others. That's worth remembering.
2025-12-22 (first published: 2016-06-16)
199 reads
The Microsoft SQL Year in Review
Microsoft gives a year in review from the SQL Server and Azure SQL teams. Steve sees a lot of accomplishments from this past year.
2025-12-20
110 reads
Your Value from a Conference
Today Steve asks what value you get from attending conferences or other events.
2025-12-19
48 reads
The Challenge of AI
Steve sees a lot of challenges ahead for AI, especially in the area of labor and employment.
2025-12-17
87 reads
Growing Artificial Intelligence
This week Steve Jones discusses artificial intelligence and one of the building blocks that will be needed: data.
2025-12-15 (first published: 2016-07-04)
194 reads
The AI Bubble and the Weak Foundation Beam
The problem that I continue to struggle with the AI Bubble is not innovation, but who has leverage. The AI industry has quietly constructed a capital stack with too many mutual dependencies and too few independent cash flows. When AI profitability hiccups, the financial impact does not land in one place. It cascades across the entire championship and everyone loses and not all players are equally positioned to survive it. This is the AI Bubble in a foundational nutshell.
2025-12-13
732 reads
Blogs
PostgreSQL: Diagnosing and Fixing a Sequential Scan with No Filter Predicate
A sequential scan is not always a problem — PostgreSQL's planner often chooses one...
Giving AI Agents Visibility Into SQL Server with MCP
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what it actually takes to make an...
The Book of Redgate: Profits
By Steve Jones
Redgate is a for-profit company. We look to make money by building and selling...
Forums
Stop Prompting Your AI Agent. Give It a Playbook.
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Everything I Needed to Know Used to be Found in One Book
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Question of the Day
Finish the quote
Finish this quote (for a fun Memorial Day question):
Do not try and bend the spoon. That's impossible. ...See possible answers