SQL Server 2016 Build List
A list of all builds for SQL Server 2016. Updated with CU2 for SP2 and CU10 for SP1.
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployment Level 3 – Rehearsing Changesets Across Environments
After defining the deployment contract in the previous level, this article focuses on validating a changeset before it reaches production. Rehearsal across environments ensures that execution order, rollback behavior, and baseline alignment all behave exactly as expected.
You Can’t Trust “Edit Query Text” in SSMS’s Execution Plans.
When there are IF branches or conditional logic, “Edit Query Text” only shows you the branches that actually executed. It’s easy to miss whole swaths of code that didn’t happen to execute one particular time.
The Degradation of the Turing Test
Are computers getting smart enough to pass the Turing test or are humans getting worse at representing themselves as intelligent?
What Can AI Really Do?
Steve asks you what you think AI can do for you today, with a few suggestions of what he sees.
Why Your Index Isn't Being Used? - Reading Execution Plans to Find the Real Culprit
Built the index, but SQL Server still scans the whole table? Learn how to read execution plans and find exactly why your index is being ignored.
Improve Query Performance in the Fabric Warehouse with Clustering
Learn how to improve performance issues in Microsoft Fabric Warehouse and leverage cloud-based data analytics effectively.
We Are Eating Our Own Seed Corn
Last week I stood in front of a classroom at Washington State University and looked out at a room full of students who had done everything right. They had studied hard, were earning their degrees, built their portfolios, and showed up with genuine enthusiasm for careers in technology. They wanted to know what the industry […]
Blogs
Data Skew in Data Engineering: What It Is and How to Fix It
You kick off a distributed job expecting it to finish in minutes — but...
SQL Server instance metadata inventory with PowerShell and SMO
By SQLPals
SQL Server instance metadata inventory with PowerShell and SMO The purpose...
5 SQL Tricks Worth Remembering Before You Close the Laptop
Disclosure: this post may contain links to books as an affiliate link. If you...
Forums
Fuzzy String Matching in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Fuzzy String Matching in SQL...
Representing Money
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Representing Money
Celebrating 30 years of PostgreSQL, A Thank you message
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Celebrating 30 years of PostgreSQL,...
Question of the Day
Representing Money
Which types of currency does the money data type represent?
See possible answers