The Importance of Clear Data Displays
An accident on a ship is being blamed on unclear data visualization.
SQL Code Smells
Some time ago, Phil Factor wrote his booklet 'SQL Code Smells', collecting together a whole range of SQL Coding practices that could be considered to indicate the need for a review of the code. It was published as 119 code smells, even though there were 120 of them at the time. Phil Factor has continued to collect them and the current state of the art is reflected in this article. There are now around 150 of these smells and SQL Code Guard is committed to cover as many as possible of them.
Additional Data Files and Proportional Fill
Additional files can be added to to a database to increase the storage. When more data is added to the files, Extended Events shows how SQL Server spreads data across multiple files.
Core T-SQL
Steve Jones thinks there is a list of core skills that any database developer or DBA needs. This week he asks you for a list of those things you think should be included.
SQL Server Tacklebox
Inside the SQL Server Tacklebox you'll find day-to-day tools and techniques to automate and standardize SQL Server installation, document and report on your servers, migrate data and manage data growth, troubleshoot performance issues, receive notifications of impending issues, secure access to your servers and fight off the data corruption monster.
Azure SQL Database Long-Term Backup Retention
Azure SQL Database provides a number of benefits that leverage resiliency and redundancy built into the underlying cloud infrastructure. In addition to Point-in-Time Restore as well as Geo-Restore and Active Geo-Replication, you have the option of implementing long-term backup retention of Azure SQL Database.
Good Practices for Software Development
We always want to follow the best, or at least good, practices for software development. However do you know what those are? Steve Jones notes there's at least one that isn't often followed.
Performance Tuning with SQL Server Dynamic Management Views
This is the book that will de-mystify the process of using Dynamic Management Views to collect the information you need to troubleshoot SQL Server problems. It will highlight the core techniques and "patterns" that you need to master, and will provide a core set of scripts that you can use and adapt for your own requirements.
Why is My Database Application so Slow?
When your application is running slowly, the reflex action is to blame the database queries. It is certainly true that some of the more extravagant delays can be fairly blamed on a missing index or unnecessary locking, but there are other potential villains in the drama, including the network and the application itself. Dan Turner points out that you could save a lot of time and money by working out for sure where the problems lie before diving into the detail.
Blogs
PostgreSQL Support in the Data API Builder
By Steve Jones
Next week I’m at VS Live in San Diego (register and join me) and...
Ten Years of PowerShell
Ten years ago today, I filmed a Pluralsight Play by Play on open source...
T-SQL Tuesday #202: 100 Hours
By Steve Jones
It’s time for T-SQL Tuesday again and this is a great prompt to start...
Forums
Stored Procedures for Server-Level Object and Column Search
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Stored Procedures for Server-Level Object...
Databricks Genie Spaces for SQL Analysts: Natural Language Querying Without Leaving Your Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Databricks Genie Spaces for SQL...
The Costs of Multiple Platforms
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Costs of Multiple Platforms
Question of the Day
RegEx Functions II
I have this data in a table in a SQL Server 2025 database:
EmailAddressID EmailAddress 7 dylan0@ADVENTURE-WORKS.COM 8 Diane1@ADVENTURE-WORKS.COMIf I run this query, which row(s) are returned?
SELECT top 10 * FROM person.EmailAddress WHERE REGEXP_LIKE(EmailAddress, '^d') AND BusinessEntityID IN (7,8)See possible answers