Propose this to your boss
If you would like to tackle an interesting project at work or find yourself something new to do next year, read this idea from Steve Jones.
Stairway to T-SQL DML Level 6: The Basics of Sorting Data Using the ORDER BY Clause
In this Level you will see how to use the ORDER BY clause to return your data in a sorted order.
Changes to SQL Server 2012 Execution Plans
I’ve been working with execution plans quite a lot in SQL Server 2012. There are a number of changes, most of them associated with new or different functionality. I had not noticed anything really fundamental until recently. I’ve become a huge proponent of always checking the properties of the SELECT statement. There’s so much useful information in there about what’s happened with the plan generation in the optimizer (not low level stuff, but the big picture items) that you should always be checking it first as a fundamental part of your plan examinations.
Faster Restores: Best Practices to Increase Speed
Backups are an everyday part of DBA life, whereas restores tend to happen on call at 3 a.m. In this article, Grant Fritchey looks at what you should be doing to make your restores as quick and seamless as possible.
SQL Server Column Level Encryption Example using Symmetric Keys
With data stored in tables, you have a few options to protect data. Check out this tip to learn more about column level encryption.
Jacks of all trades
Instagram has a complex architecture for it's technology infrastructure. The people that work there have to be jacks of all trades. Is that the type of environment you'd like to work in?
Using Recursion and Date Tables to Simplify Date Logic
Learn to simplify date logic using date tables and recursion in T-SQL with this article from David Beardsley.
Reduce heap table fragmentation
A table that does not have a clustered index is referred to as a Heap. While a lot has been written about index fragmentation and how to defrag indexes, there is not much that talks about how to defrag a heap table.
SQL Server Database Growth and Autogrowth Settings
It's easy to create a database nowadays with point-'n-click, but if you've left your database's autogrowth settings at their default, you may hit problems in the future. Why? What do I do about it? Read on!
Blogs
“We love to debate minutiae”
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
Advice I Like: Knots
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
Shifting Mindsets: Why FinOps is Essential for Cloud Efficiency
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
Forums
Windows logins for users migrated from DomainA to DomainB
Hi, I have a SQL Server instance where users connect to via Windows Authentication,...
Multiple Deployment Processes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Deployment Processes
How to Use sqlpackage to Detect Schema Drift Between Azure SQL Databases
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How to Use sqlpackage to...
Question of the Day
Upgrading Admin Queries
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
See possible answers