Statistics in SQL: The Mann–Whitney U test
Phil Factor shows how to use the Mann-Whitney U test in SQL to to find out whether two samples come from the same distribution.
Improving Log Shipping
Today Steve Jones looks at possible ways to improve log shipping and asks for your input as well.
PowerShell Tool Time: Our First Toolbox
Learn how to begin assembling your functions and code into modules you can easily call from any session.
What is the biggest mistake you made in production?
When you have sysadmin access, you are bound to make a big mistake in production at some point in your career - in this post Tara Kizer looks back at what hers were.
Appreciating New Perspectives
Today Steve Jones talks about understanding and having empathy for other points of view.
Resolving could not open a connection to SQL Server errors
Have you ever gotten connectivity errors from SQL Server? Jugal Shah explains the common causes for these errors, and advises on the steps you can take to resolve them.
Database Development Made Easy?
Today Steve Jones has a few thoughts on the complexity and cumbersome nature of database development.
Automating the Synchronization of RDS SQL Server Agent Jobs in a Multi-AZ Environment
Although Azure is the obvious Cloud service to host SQL Server, Amazon Relational Database Service (RDS) for SQL Server is a good choice when your organisation uses AWS. RDS deals with maintenance and monitoring, and supports the use of PowerShell to automate routine tasks. What if a script needs to be triggered by an unscheduled event? Even in this case, RDS can be configured to run scripts to react when something like a failover happens. Laerte Junior shows how easy it is to set up Lambda functions and some PowerShell scripts to automatically synchronise agent jobs after a failover.
Fighting Evil in Your Code: Comments on Comments
One of the most glib generalisations you can make about development work is to say that code should be liberally commented, or conversely that it should never be commented. As always, the truth is more complicated. There are many different types of comment and some types are best treated firmly with the delete key, where others are to be cherished and maintained assiduously. Even though it is hard to find two developers who agree on the topic of commenting, Michael Sorens warily sketches out the issues and the battleground.
Graphing Performance
Are graph databases worth using? Steve Jones looks at a report that questions their value at this time.
Blogs
Microsoft Build 2026 announcements
By James Serra
Once again there were a number of Microsoft Build announcements related to data and...
T-SQL Tuesday #199: Roundup
A good week ago I hosted the monthly T-SQL Tuesday blog party. I invited...
No Shortcuts for the SQLCMD Batch Terminator: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I was messing around with SQLCMD and I realized something I hadn’t known. I’ve...
Forums
Increment a number in a SQL Query based on a value
I have an issue where I have a Bill of Material list of items...
Follow Your Hunch
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Follow Your Hunch
What Happens When You Ask a Local AI to Query Your Database?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Happens When You Ask...
Question of the Day
BCP on Linux
When running bcp on Linux, what is the field terminator?
See possible answers