The Relational Database is the Default
If you don't have a good reason not to, use a relational database. Always.
SQL Server R Services: Working with Multiple Data Sets
Although it is easy to use SQL Server R Services to create R scripts that incorporate SQL Server data by passing in a T-SQL query as an argument when calling the sp_execute_external_script stored procedure, you are limited to that one query, unless you pass additional data directly between R and SQL Server via CSV files. It is simple to do, and opens up many additional opportunities for data analysis. Robert Sheldon explains how.
Correlation Analysis using Correlation Plot in Power BI Desktop
Power BI provides correlation plot visualization in the Power BI Visuals Gallery to create Correlation Plots for correlation analysis. In this post, Siddharth Mehta shows how to create a correlation plot in Power BI Desktop using a sample dataset of car performance.
Book Review: Database Reliability Engineering by Campbell & Majors
Brent Ozar explains why DBAs should read this book about the future of database administration at scale.
A Christmas Bug
A bug in American Airlines scheduling could impact travelers, but certainly will impact their bottom line.
The Appearance of the Flat File Wizard.
After many barren years, Phil Factor is pleased to see the first signs of Spring in SSMS.
Importing JSON Data from Web Services and Applications into SQL Server
To support many applications, it makes sense for the database to work with JSON data, because it is the built-in way for a JavaScript or TypeScript application to represent object data. It can mean less network traffic, looser coupling, and less need for the application developer to require full access to the base tables of the database. However, it means that the database must do plenty of checks first before importing. Phil Factor explains how it can be easily done.
Even More SQL Server Features that Time Forgot
SQL Server works well, and Microsoft does everything it can to keep it relevant and competitive: As with everything in real life, it doesn't don't always get it completely right, and Rob Sheldon continues his quest through the jungle of past features to rediscover and explore the ones that time forgot. Here, he comes across Lightweight Pooling, XML Indexes, Stretch Databases, SQL Variants, Transaction Savepoints and In-Memory OLTP.
Certifying Schools
Schools don't necessarily teach people how to code, but they could do a better job.
Blogs
Moving On-Prem PostgreSQL to the Cloud: Picking the Right Path for Big Tables
Every PostgreSQL migration eventually hits the same fork in the road. The database is...
A Spread of Vacation
By Steve Jones
I’m off on vacation today. Which is a little weird as I just got...
How AgentDBA Identifies Backup Failures
By Arun Sirpal
Every DBA has a box like this. Sitting untouched for months. Nobody’s proud of...
Forums
Have you done a Mid year check in?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Have you done a Mid...
From SQL Server On-Premises to Claude Desktop: How I built a Full MCP Pipeline
Comments posted to this topic are about the item From SQL Server On-Premises to...
Independence Day 2026
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Independence Day 2026
Question of the Day
Independence Day 2026
In the original Independence Day movie (1996), what type of computer did Jeff Goldblum use to connect to the alien mainframe? Take a guess, don't look it up or ask AI.
See possible answers