The Redmond Agenda
The things that are important to Microsoft might not be the same ones that are important to you as a customer. However Steve Jones thinks that the potential changes in the release strategy may be good for data professionals.
The Lure of Simplicity in IT
A deceptively simple solution to a business re-engineering problem can beguile companies into selecting a compromise that doesn't actually meet all their needs. Simple is great, but not at the expense of functionality. Some IT solutions are complex because the problem is complex, but they can be made conceptually clearer.
9 Things to Do When You Inherit a Database
Some tips on what to do when you inherit a database that you've never worked on before
Documenting the Undocumented
Not everything in SQL Server is documented and Steve Jones doesn't think that everything should be. However some features are used often and should have additional documentation.
T-SQL Integer Data-Type Conversions
This article will show some common integer data-type conversions using T-SQL.
Pioneering with PowerShell
In PowerShell, Phil Factor believes we have a true novelty: a Windows Scripting language that outsmarts Perl and Python and Ruby and one that will continue to cause radical changes to Windows server applications, and the tools we use to administer them.
The Next Generation
There's no shortage of technology workers, especially good ones. Today Steve Jones reminds us that we might wish to encourage others to try technology and then help prepare them for a career in this field if they enjoy it.
The Perils of Running Database Repair
In a perfect world everyone has the right backups to be able to recover within the downtime and data-loss service level agreements when accidental data loss or corruption occurs. Unfortunately we don’t live in a perfect world and so many people find that they don’t have the backups they need to recover when faced with corruption.
The Road to Professional Database Development: Database Normalization
Not only is the process of normalization valuable for increasing data quality and simplifying the process of modifying data, but it actually makes the database perform much faster. To prove the point, Peter Larsson takes a large unnormalised database and subjects it to successive stages of normalisation.
Get Performance Tips Directly From SQL Server
This article describes a utility that allows you to inspect cached plans and extract information that can be useful in improving the performance of your SQL.
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
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...
Secure Communications
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Secure Communications
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