What is Database Continuous Integration?
This is an introductory article to explain what Continuous Integration (CI) is and how it can be used in database development.
Deleting Historical Data from a Large Highly Concurrent SQL Server Database Table
In this tip, Daniel Farina explains an unconventional way of deleting millions of old records from a table which is accessed by a system 24x7, and without impacting that system.
A Hazard of Using the SQL Update Statement
If you've never encountered this quirk of the SQL UPDATE statement, you should take a look and find a simple way around it.
The Devil's in the Details
This week Steve Jones notes that the little details can sometimes have a big impact in your code.
Your Cloud Held Hostage – Could It Happen?
Today's guest editorial by Andy Warren is more of a movie plot than reality, but perhaps it's worth considering.
Introduction to SQL Server Spatial Data
More and more applications require the handling of geospatial data. It is easy to store spatial data, but it takes rather more thought to retrieve and manipulate it. Tasks like searching neighborhoods, and calculating distances between points is often required from databases. But how do you start? Roy and Surenda take you through the basics.
Calculating Duration Using DATETIME Start and End Dates (SQL Spackle)
It's an old problem with a solution that's nearly as old. SQL Server MVP Jeff Moden shows us the old trick mixed with a slick trick to format the duration as extended hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds.
Large Chunks of Data
This Friday Steve Jones talks reporting. Specifically he wonders how long can a report be before it's just wasting space.
Azure Active Directory - Schema Extensions
The Azure Active Directory Graph API enables some interesting scenarios that you can implement in your applications by enabling you to query and manipulate directory objects in Azure AD. In this article, Rick Rainey provides a clear walkthrough of its implementation.
A More Versatile SQL Server Random Number Function
Image a situation when you use the SQL Server RAND() T-SQL function as a column in a SELECT statement, and the same value is returned for every row as shown below. In this tip, Dallas Snider explains how you can get differing random values on each row.
Blogs
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...
A Fabric solution can be very cost effective
By ChrisJenkins
Are you currently using Microsoft Fabric or considering migrating to it? If so, there...
Forums
We Are Eating Our Own Seed Corn
Comments posted to this topic are about the item We Are Eating Our Own...
Before Using AI with Business Data, Read This
Artificial intelligence tools are quickly becoming part of daily business operations, from document analysis...
Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines That Don't Break at Scale
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Designing SQL Server ETL Pipelines...
Question of the Day
Detecting Deadlocks Quickly
In the Database Engine, when a deadlock is detected, what does the detection interval shrink to (in time)?
See possible answers