Why Scalar Functions Can Be Costly
Scalar user defined functions can be costly in more ways than you know. Watch Mickey Stuewe show the hidden costs of using them incorrectly.
Free ebook: Stairway to SQL Server XML
Free download to all Simple Talk users. XML has been part of the SQL Standard since 2003, and is essential for any DBA because so many of the dynamic management views return XML data. Now that the industry is more used to data defined by document markup, it is becoming more important than ever for Database Developers and DBAs to understand the technology and to know where it makes sense to use XML.
Introducing DLM Techniques for a Multi-Database Multi-Server System
Although the techniques of Database Lifecycle Management can reduce the timescales for the delivery of new functionality to business systems, what if the database 'layer' consists of several large interdependent databases and data flows with replication and audit? Does DLM scale to this level of complexity? Margaret Cruise O'Brien starts a series of articles that describes the practicalities of improving DLM within an existing framework and team supporting a multi-database multi-server system, by describing some of the database management problems and solutions in an enterprise-scale database.
Consider the Downside
Steve Jones asks software developers to consider the issues we may have with lax internal security.
PowerShell Scripting to Replicate Cloud & SaaS Data to SQL Server
Using a CData DataCmdlet and sqlps to replicate data from Google Spreadsheets to a SQL Server database in PowerShell
Performance Myths : Truncate Can't Be Rolled Back
Derik Hammer sets out to disprove another pervasive performance myth : TRUNCATE is faster than DELETE because it isn't logged and can't be rolled back.
The language of DevOps ROI
How do you quantify the value of DevOps? The answer might depend on what value actually means for your organization, which stakeholder you’re talking to, and what type of...
DNA for Data Storage
Data storage is something all data professionals need to care about, and today Steve Jones talks about a research project from Microsoft.
Stairway to U-SQL Level 14: Local U-SQL Scalar Functions with C#
Learn how U-SQL leverages C# to support flexible scalar functions in your scripts.
Tempdb size resets after a SQL Server service restart
Have you ever checked the size of the SQL Server tempdb after restarting SQL Server to find that it's reset? Simon Liew explains this behaviour.
Blogs
A New Word: Dolorblindness
By Steve Jones
dolorblindness – n. the frustration that you’ll never be able to understand another person’s...
Claude Code Helps Analyze Test Data Manager Log Files
By Steve Jones
I had a customer ask about analyzing their Test Data Manager (TDM) usage to...
PowerPoint to HTML with Claude AI
By Steve Jones
I had an idea for an animated view of a sales tool, and started...
Forums
Optimism Without Illusion or Why AI Needs Blunt Technologists
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Optimism Without Illusion or Why...
SSIS with VS2022 64/32 issue with Excel files
Hi all, I'm trying to do classic scenario for loading multiple Excel files into...
Case part is sloooooow
Hi So the case statement is slowing this down - but for the life...
Question of the Day
The String Distance I
In SQL Server 2025, what is returned by this code:
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE('tim', 'tom')
Assume preview features are enabled. See possible answers