SQL Saturday #34 - Boston
Coming on Jan 30, to the Boston area, be sure to attend this SQL Saturday if you are nearby.
The IT Explosion
So many people are joining the IT industry all the time and Steve Jones talks about the attitudes that they bring with them.
Using "Multiple Assignment Variables" for a Generic Compare Data Script
Comparing data between tables seems like a simple thing to do, but it can eat up a lot of a SQL Server professional's time. Stephen Tirone shows how multiple assignment variables can be used to make this task a little easier.
Best Practices for Exception Handling and Defensive Programming in Microsoft SQL Server
This is a deep dive developer session that explores error handling in SQL Server. The session focuses on core error handling areas such as understandign the anatomy of errors, detecting errors in TSQL and best practices for error handling and defensive programming in Microsoft SQL Server. tuesday, 1/26, 8:00am EST
Indexes Out the Window
I ran into a peculiarly puzzling situation with a query I have been tuning of late. The query runs some...
Performance Analysis Using SQL Server 2008 Activity Monitor Tool
While looking through the new features and improvements in SQL Server 2008 Management Studio (SSMS) we found a potentially interesting one called Activity Monitor. Database developers and Database Administrators can use Activity Monitor to get a quick overview of an SQL Server 2008 system performance. Can you give us a detailed explanation of how we go about using Activity Monitor?
Celko's SQL Stumper: The Class Scheduling Problem
What can we use in SQL instead of E. F. Codd's T theta operators for best-fit? Joe Celko returns with another puzzle that isn't new, in fact it already features “Swedish”, “Croatian” and “Colombian” solutions in chapter 17 of Joe's 'SQL for Smarties' book. These were all written before CTEs or the new WINDOW functions. Is there now a better solution? Was there one even then? We leave it to the readers to provide the answer!
Fast normalization of a denormalized data source, using surrogate IDs
A cursor-free way of normalizing data from a denormalized data source into a database which uses "surrogate" IDs.
Keeping up with Technology
Phil Factor believes that we have become so immersed in the idea that administrators or accountants can run technical enterprises, unaided, that we are in danger of forgetting the vital creative contribution of the technologist.
Blogs
Breaking Rules in Rome
By Steve Jones
Last week I was honored with a trip to Rome for the Redgate President’s...
Databases and AI Agents
By Arun Sirpal
As part of my wider work exploring Claude Code and AI-assisted database engineering, I...
Creating a Pulsing Conducting Baton - Part 1
By Bert Wagner
Train Wreck The last time I watched a high school band nearly fall apart mid-performance...
Forums
Why Your Index Isn't Being Used? - Reading Execution Plans to Find the Real Culprit
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why Your Index Isn't Being...
Distance Metric Algorithms
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Distance Metric Algorithms
What Can AI Really Do?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Can AI Really Do?
Question of the Day
Distance Metric Algorithms
What are the distance metric algorithms that can be used in VECTOR_DISTANCE()?
See possible answers