Potential
We often view potential hires based on their potential and not necessarily on their experience. Today Steve Jones talks about the dangers of putting more emphasis on future, rather than past, performance.
Stairway to T-SQL DML Level 10: Changing Data with the UPDATE Statement
Unless you are working on a reporting-only application you will probably need to update tables in your SQL Server database. To update rows in a table you use the UPDATE statement. In this level we will be discussing how to find and update records in your database, and discuss the pitfalls you might run into when using the UPDATE statement.
Improve Your Database Unit Testing Skills and Win Free Stuff
As the SQL Developer community grows to embrace the benefits of test-driven development for databases, so the importance of learning to do it properly increases. One way of learning effective TDD is by the use of code kata – short practice sessions that encourage test-first development in baby steps. I have a limited number of licences for SQL Test to give away free – just for practicing a bit of TDD and telling me about it.
PowerShell script to find files that are consuming the most disk space
As you know, SQL Server databases and backup files can take up a lot of disk space. When disk is running low and you need to troubleshoot disk space issues, the first thing to do is to find large files that are consuming disk space. In this article I will show you a PowerShell script that you can use to find large files on your disks.
Webinar: Temporary Tables in Oracle and SQL Server
Once again Jonathan Lewis (Oracle Ace Director, OakTable Network) and Grant Fritchey (Microsoft SQL Server MVP) will host a live discussion on Oracle and SQL Server, this time in relation to temporary tables. Will they agree on some common ground? Or will it be an out and out argument? Either way, be prepared for a lively exchange that will not only entertain, but will teach you key concepts on Oracle and SQL Server.
Why SQL Server is Better Than Oracle
WARNING: This editorial contains graphic language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Getting Started with the New Column Store Index of SQL Server 2012
Column Store Index, a new feature in SQL Server 2012, improves performance of data warehouse queries several folds. Arshad Ali shows you how to create column store index, and how to use index query hint to include or exclude a column store index.
Software is Like Building a House
One of the really classic analogies in software is that it's like building a house. You have a foundation, multiple teams, lots of contractors that specialize in something, etc. And it's an analogy that's debated as to its relevance over and over. I won't go into the correctness of this analogy, but I wanted to comment on it.
TSQL Challenge 83 - Compare rows in the same table and group the data
The challenge is to compare the data of the rows and group the input data. The data needs to be grouped based on the Product ID, Date, TotalLines, LinesOutOfService.
Your Password has Failed the Test
Your data is in the public domain and as a DBA you need to be very familiar with what it is possible for the sinner to do with a handy password, and how easily that sinner can get hold of it.
Blogs
Funny Money: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
While wandering around the documentation looking for some Question of the Day topics, I...
Why Database AI Agents need Layers?
By Arun Sirpal
Third part in my Ai series with databases. When building AI solutions within the...
Un-Migrating From the Cloud: T-SQL Tuesday #199
By Steve Jones
This month we have a very interesting invitation from Koen Verbeeck. He has hosted...
Forums
Backup Availability Group
Please I am hoping for some feedback Specifications: Windows Server 2022 SQL Server 2022...
How Do the Experts Become Experts?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How Do the Experts Become...
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 4 – Preparing for Production Deployment
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
Question of the Day
Secure Communications
As of June 2026, what is the best version of TLS to use with SQL Server?
See possible answers