Trace Flag 2389 and the new Cardinality Estimator
Erin Stellato shows the combined effect of different versions of the cardinality estimator and trace flag 2389 on an ascending key model.
A Tutorial With the Azure CLI (Command-Line Interface) and Azure SQL Database
In this article, we will show how to install Azure CLI and then create an Azure SQL Server and a SQL Database.
Is Rollback Feasible for Database Changes?
Many of us would like to be sure we could rollback changes made during a deployment if they caused issues. Steve Jones notes that it might not be worth actually building those scripts in advance.
Software Animism
Have you ever accused an application of deliberately trying to make your life a misery? Simple Talk's Tony Davis talks animism in this week's editorial, and wants to hear your stories in the comments for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card.
Call for Articles
SQLServerCentral is looking for articles on a few topics. Read more to find out how to submit a draft.
What's Your Smoke Test?
A smoke test can be a good way to ensure complex systems are working as expected after maintenance or changes.
Windows Containers and Docker
Windows Server 2016 features support for containers. These are not Linux-based, but containers that run on Windows and run Windows on the inside. These conform to the Open Container Initiative (OCI). They allow you to run applications insulated from the rest of the system, within portable containers that include everything an application needs to be fully functional. As they did with Linux, containers will change the nature of the software supply chain for Windows users.
Beyond prediction with R & SQL Server
Predictive / prescriptive analytics is regarded the highest level of advanced analytics. In this post, we emphasise the importance of exploratory analytics to derive meaningful insight.
Designing for the Public
The way that governments build software and work with data must change if we want to be more efficient.
Blogs
A New Word: on tenderhooks
By Steve Jones
on tenderhooks – adj. feeling the primal satisfaction of being needed by someone, which...
Ramblings about data communities and your contributions, no excuses
By DataOnWheels
I have been active in the data community throughout my career. I have met...
SQL Server Journey till 2025 (brief)
By Vinay Thakur
Quick Summary for Microsoft SQL Server till 2025, I am fortunate to be part...
Forums
how do i map the "current" object entry in for each to one variable
hi, in an ssis for each loop over an object variable called MyListVariable, i...
Simulating Mercury’s Orbital Motion Using Pure T-SQL (NASA 2025 Dataset)
SQL Server is typically viewed as a transactional or analytical database engine. However, it...
Azure SQL Database | CREATE EVENT SESSION [Blocking_Capture] ON DATABASE
Hello, Is there a way in Azure SQL Database to change the 'Blocking Process...
Question of the Day
String Similarity I
On SQL Server 2025, when I run this, what is returned?
SELECT EDIT_DISTANCE_SIMILARITY('SQL Server', 'MySQL') See possible answers