The Cascading (CROSS) APPLY
An old trick nowadays but one which is still underused here on SSC is the cascading CROSS APPLY – where output from one CROSS APPLY is used as input for another.
Optimizing Batch Process in SQL Server
SQL Server batch processes are usually run from SQL Agent in the background. Often, the responsibility for creating these tasks belongs entirely to the developer. Dennes Torres demonstrates that DBAs can advise and assist with this type of batch job to help reduce their impact on the working system.
Big Data for SQL folks: The Technologies (Part I)
Will RDBMs be obsolete? Should Data Professionals care about Big Data technologies? What is NoSQL? What is Hadoop? Big Data-the whole story.
Native Audits
This week Steve Jones asks if you're using the SQL Audit feature built into SQL Server.
Database Continuous Integration Workshop - London, UK
Join this workshop on July 8, 2015 to learn how to: link your source control repository to a build system, trigger database builds automatically when you make a change, use DLM tools to test your database changes, and lay the foundations for package-based deployment of your database. Register while space is available.
Developer-Tester Relationships
In a development team, there are times when the relationships between developers and testers can become strained. How can you turn this potential conflict into something more positive? Is it part of the skill of team-working to find ways of avoiding friction, or should one blame a system that relies on good social skills to work well?
Interactive Parameter Selection with Reporting Services
Revamp the classic Reporting Services interface with a more modern look and feel adapted to mobile BI
Naming Confusion
The naming of systems and other technological constructs is always a debate within groups. Steve Jones points out a few places where this might actually prevent mistakes.
PCI Best Practices Guide for SQL Server DBAs
Tibor Nagy has put together some best practices to help SQL Server DBAs navigate the many different requirements around PCI compliance.
Controlling Alerts
Being on call is not much fun for anyone, but it can certainly be hard on those that receive lots of calls for systemic issues. Are there better ways to manage this?
Blogs
Databases and AI Agents
By Arun Sirpal
As part of my wider work exploring Claude Code and AI-assisted database engineering, I...
Creating a Pulsing Conducting Baton - Part 1
By Bert Wagner
Train Wreck The last time I watched a high school band nearly fall apart mid-performance...
ISACA AI Material/Exam Prep Discount (May 18 – June 30, 2026)
By Brian Kelley
If you are considering any of the ISACA AI certs like the Advanced Artificial...
Forums
Why Your Index Isn't Being Used? - Reading Execution Plans to Find the Real Culprit
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Why Your Index Isn't Being...
Distance Metric Algorithms
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Distance Metric Algorithms
What Can AI Really Do?
Comments posted to this topic are about the item What Can AI Really Do?
Question of the Day
Distance Metric Algorithms
What are the distance metric algorithms that can be used in VECTOR_DISTANCE()?
See possible answers