DeveloperBall
Steve Jones looks at the challenges of putting a team together of wildly different skill levels.
Declarative SQL: Using CHECK() & DEFAULT
SQL is unusual is that data is not passively stored. Instead you use declarative SQL to specify the rules that underlie the data and its integrity. When used properly, constraints can avoid having to provide a lot of logic elsewhere. CHECK() and DEFAULT can do a lot to ensure that your data is correct
Backup File Inventory
Are you using Ola Hallengren's Maintenance Solution? Here's a Python script that helps you keep track of your backup file inventory.
Crafting Your Resume
Today Steve Jones talks about how you can present yourself better within the confines of a resume.
Microsoft IT: A Case Study on “Hekaton” against RPM
I/O latch can cause session delays that impact application performance. This white paper describes the procedures and common I/O latch issues when migrating to Hekaton in SQL Server 2014. It also includes challenges that occurred during the migration and the performance analysis at different stages.
Create/write to an Excel 2007/2010 spreadsheet from an SSIS package
Excel spreadsheets are useful for distributing data generated by SQL Server. EPPlus is an open source .NET library that reads/writes Excel 2007/2010 files using the Open Office XML format (XLSX). It is a mature project, and plays well with SSIS.
The Market
This Friday Steve Jones asks about the market price for your skills. Do you know what it is?
Correct SQL Server TempDB Spills in Query Plans Caused by Outdated Statistics
Sergey Gigoyan looks at how to address the warning: Operator used tempdb to spill data during execution with spill level 1.
Design a Better SQL Server Pricing Model
Today we have a guest editorial from Andy Warren that talks about SQL Server the no one's favorite topic: licensing.
Microsoft Azure DocumentDB
Microsoft's DocumentDB is a late-entrant in the Document-oriented database field. However, it benefits from being designed from the start as a cloud service with a SQL-like language. It is intended for mobile and web applications. Its JSON document-notation is compatible with the integrated JavaScript language that drives its multi-document transaction processing via stored procedures, triggers and UDFs. Robert Sheldon investigates its SQL-like query language.
Blogs
“We love to debate minutiae”
By Brian Kelley
I am guilty as charged. The quote was in reference to how people argue...
Advice I Like: Knots
By Steve Jones
Learn how to tie a bowline knot. Practice in the dark. With one hand....
Shifting Mindsets: Why FinOps is Essential for Cloud Efficiency
By HeyMo0sh
As a DevOps practitioner, I’ve always focused on performance, scalability, and automation. But as...
Forums
Windows logins for users migrated from DomainA to DomainB
Hi, I have a SQL Server instance where users connect to via Windows Authentication,...
Multiple Deployment Processes
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Deployment Processes
How to Use sqlpackage to Detect Schema Drift Between Azure SQL Databases
Comments posted to this topic are about the item How to Use sqlpackage to...
Question of the Day
Upgrading Admin Queries
I have a query from a former DBA that we run on SQL Server 2025 to check on database metadata. This query references sys.sysaltfiles. I want to refactor this code to be more modern. Which DMV should I reference instead?
See possible answers