The Apprentice
This Friday Steve Jones asks if we should reconsider the way we train developers and other computer professionals. Give us your opinion this week.
The SQL Server Query Optimizer
To understand how to write SQL code for SQL Server that performs well, it is important to appreciate how the query optimizer works. Ben Nevarez explains the essentials, in a broad sweep through a complex subject, in an article taken from his new book 'Inside the SQL Server Query Optimizer'.
Find which port SQL Server is using to establish connections
This article will show you how to determine which network port that SQL Server is listening on for connections
Learning for Profit
Today Steve Jones talks about a way to improve your skills, make yourself more marketable for that next job, and perhaps earn some money.
Initialize SQL Server replication using a database backup
You need to configure transactional replication for a very large SQL Server database. Instead of running the snapshot agent to initialize the subscriber, in this tip we look at how you can initialize the subscriber from a SQL Server backup.
The Robot DBA
Steve Jones talks about the idea of an automated DBA and disputes the notion that it will come to pass anytime soon.
SQL Server 2008 and 2008 R2 Integration Services - Analysis Services Execute DDL Task
The term DDL designates Data Definition Language, which implies an action involving creating data structures. In the context of Analysis Services Execute DDL Task, this is a bit of a misnomer because its capabilities are much more diverse, extending to such areas as backups, restores, deletions, modifications, or processing. This is accomplished by employing Analysis Services Scripting Language (ASSL).
10 Bad Things About Reporting Services 2008 R2
SSRS 2008 R2 introduced lots of exciting new features, reviewed in a sister article to this one. Here we consider what Microsoft didn't do well in this version of Reporting Services.
From Vandalism to Serious Crime
It seems that there are new types of hacker attacks, not looking to steal information for profit, but for disclosure as an embarrassment. Steve Jones talks about the potential downsides for DBAs.
Blogs
Advice I Like: Respect
By Steve Jones
“Don’t aim to have others like you; aim to have them respect you.” –...
Blue Sky Programming – The Optimism Trap
Many years ago, before I joined Oracle, I was working on a major modernisation...
Setting Up a Mac for Data Engineering and AI Work
If you work with data pipelines, SQL, notebooks, or machine learning models, a Mac...
Forums
SQL Art, Part 4: Happy 4th of July — A British DBA's Guide to Celebrating a War We Don't Talk About
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Art, Part 4: Happy...
locking down agent for new user on our dev machine
hi , a new user wants to be able to add sql agent jobs...
SQL Server Enum Implementation: A Single-Row View Strategy for Avoiding Magic Values
Comments posted to this topic are about the item SQL Server Enum Implementation: A...
Question of the Day
BIT_COUNT I
In SQL Server 2025, I have a table (dbo.UserPermission) that contains this data:
UserID UserPermissions 15 23 37What is returned when I run this code:
select bit_count(UserPermissions) as PermissionCount from dbo.UserPermission where UserID = 3;See possible answers