Challenging Yourself
Steve is challenging himself to do better, which means he might not hit his goals.
How to get IO statistics of SQL Server database files
This article shows how you can query your database files to get metadata about them and use that to get the reads, writes, and other IO statistics.
Refresh a Power BI Dataset using Microsoft Power Automate
Learn how to refresh a Power BI dataset by integrating Power Automate into the report.
Try Before You Commit in Flyway
Sometimes we want to check whether it is possible to run a Flyway migration without error, but not actually make the changes. We might just need to 'sanity test' the performance of a migration on the Staging server, for example. By using a placeholder 'switch' to trigger a SQL Exception, we can get Flyway to roll-back its transaction, and therefore the migration, on demand.
Deeper into Nonclustered Indexes: Stairway to SQL Server Indexes Level 2
By this stage, you should be familiar with the basics of SQL Server indexes. We've discussed what an Index actually is, as well as some of the most common types you're likely to encounter. Now that we've seen some simple examples of how Indexes can be useful, we're going to delve deeper into nonclustered indexes, as we'll see how they can improve the performance of more complex queries.
Self-Service Databases
When I first started work as a software developer, I knew that getting an environment set up where I could compile a project might take a few hours or a few days. The complexities of how people built software projects, the dependencies, and more were handled in a very immature manner. These days I can […]
SQL LIKE Statement for Various Text Patterns
In this article, we look at how to use SQL LIKE statement to find various text patterns contained within a set of text along with many different examples of how to use LIKE.
Convert UNIX Timestamps to DATE/TIMEs in SQL Server - Part#1
In Unix, a timestamp is a whole number that represents a date and time. Learn how we can convert those correctly in SQL Server.
Tutorial to Create a Power BI Report Using PostgreSQL
Learn how you can use PostgreSQL data in a Power BI report.
Blogs
SQL Server Journey Part 2: Modern Era (2017 – 2026) – AI/Cloud First
By Vinay Thakur
Following up on my Part 1 baseline, the journey from 2017 onward changed how...
Google Moves Up Post-Quantum Cryptography Timeline
By Brian Kelley
In cryptography, the RSA and ECC algorithms which we use primarily for asymmetric cryptography...
The Book of Redgate: No Politics
By Steve Jones
In today’s world, this might mean something different, but in 2010, we had this...
Forums
An Unusual Identity
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Prompt Requests
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T-SQL in SQL Server 2025: JSON_OBJECTAGG
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Question of the Day
An Unusual Identity
What values are returned when I run this code?
CREATE TABLE dbo.IdentityTest2
(
id NUMERIC(10,0) IDENTITY(10,10) PRIMARY KEY,
somevalue VARCHAR(20)
)
GO
INSERT dbo.IdentityTest2
(
somevalue
)
VALUES
( 'Steve')
, ('Bill')
GO
SELECT top 10
id
FROM dbo.IdentityTest2 See possible answers