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.
Stairway to MDX - Level 3: The Order() Function
The Order() function provides the 'hierarchized' sorts you need for reports and applications using MDX. In this Step, Business Intelligence Architect Bill Pearson explores using the versatile Order() function for providing dataset sorts that respect dimensional hierarchies.
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.
Blogs
SQL Server sa Account Security: Rename, Disable & Best Practices
By SQLPals
SQL Server sa Account Security: Rename, Disable & Best Practices In...
Stanford Emerging Technology Review 2026 Report is out
By Brian Kelley
Artificial Intelligence and quantum computing are two areas of emerging technology that receive most...
How I Troubleshoot a Slow SQL Server Live
No two SQL Server environments are alike. A fix that resolves a performance issue...
Forums
Are You Working More Hours?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Are You Working More Hours?
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments Level 6 – Managing Changesets Over Time
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments...
A Limited Startup
Comments posted to this topic are about the item A Limited Startup
Question of the Day
A Limited Startup
I add this parameter to SQL Server 2025 in the Configuration Manager:
-mDynamicsWhat does this do? See possible answers