A well-earned break from the database
Databases, like sheep, get get into some surprising scrapes. However, as long as you've planned for all the common mishaps, your conscience should be clear to take a well-earned holiday.
SQL Saturday statistics – Web Scraping with R and SQL Server
Tom wants to check a simple query: How many times has a particular topic been presented and from how many different presenters.
Bones of SQL - The Calendar Table
This article introduces the concept of the Calendar table to SQL newcomers and illustrates use of a few columns they might not have imagined.
Implied Predicate and Partition Elimination
Erik Darling's delighted to see that SQL Server does some creative partition elimination.
The Pressure to Perform
Steve Jones wonders how things might be different is developers were treated more like salespeople with quotas.
Dynamic Data Masking on Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database’s Dynamic Data Masking (DDM) feature limits the exposure of sensitive information to non-privileged users. DDM can mask either the full value or partial value in a column. This method can also mask Social Security and Credit Card Numbers without making any changes to the application.
Avoiding Development Taxes
Anytime we adopt a new technology, framework, platform, language, etc., we will pay a tax in development output.
More SQL Server Features that Time Forgot
SQL Server produces some great features, but it would be impossible to get them spot-on target every time. We are now quietly advised to use caution about using some of them, such as AutoShrink or the Index Advisor. Others, like the database diagramming tool, almost seem to have been quietly abandoned. Robert Sheldon investigates.
Blogs
Finding Balance: Things Will Come Up
By Steve Jones
I have a presentation on finding balance in your career that got quite a...
Who Are You Doing It For?
By Brian Kelley
But as I've matured over the years, I came to realize that I needed...
Presenting Twice in May 2026
By alevyinroc
I will be presenting my latest session, Documenting Your Work for Worry-Free Vacations, in-person...
Forums
The day-to-day pressures of a DBA team, and how we can work smarter with automation and AI
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The day-to-day pressures of a...
Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI Report Server in SQL Server 2025
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Migrate SSRS Reports to PowerBI...
Identities and Sequences III
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Identities and Sequences III
Question of the Day
Identities and Sequences III
When thinking of the Identity property for auto incrementing columns and sequences for the same action, which can be used with the BIGINT data type?
See possible answers