When is it time for a new job?
Steve asks the question today about when you might think about changing employers. He has some advice for you, whether you're happy or in need of a new position.
Introduction to Python including Installation, Jupyter Notebooks and Visual Studio Code
In this step-by-step article, learn how to quickly install Python and start writing Python code using Jupyter Notebooks or Visual Studio Code.
Stairway to Advanced T-SQL Level 3: Understanding Common Table Expressions (CTEs)
A CTE is a temporary result set defined by a simple query, and is used within the execution scope of a single INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, or SELECT statement. In this article we will explore how to define and use CTE's.
Under the Bus
Today Steve discusses a disturbing trend, where technical workers are being thrown under the bus by management.
Use Fabric Data Factory to Load Data From a CSV File in Azure Blob Storage to Azure SQL DB
Andy Leonard discusses and demonstrates using Fabric Data Factory to load a CSV file stored in Azure Blob Storage to Azure SQL DB.
CosmosDB APIs Inside SQL Server 2024
New enhancements in SQL Server 2024 will allow MongoDB and Cassandra clients to store their data in a SQL Server database, in native NoSQL format.
Custom Statistics Distributions in SQL Server 2022
You can create custom statistics distributions, sampling, and histograms in SQL Server 2022 with a new trace flag
Choosing Between SSIS vs ADF: What You Need to Know
In this article, we look at how you might go about choosing whether to use SSIS or ADF for your next ETL/ELT project.
Database Mirroring is Back in Azure SQL Database
Database Mirroring comes back to SQL, at least to Azure SQL Database with Fabric as the destination. Read a few of Steve's thoughts on this feature.
Blogs
Advice I Like: Pyramid Schemes
By Steve Jones
If someone is trying to convince you it’s not a pyramid scheme, it’s a...
Using Prompt AI for a Travel Data Analysis
By Steve Jones
I was looking back at my year and decided to see if SQL Prompt...
FinOps for Kubernetes: Leveraging OpenCost, KubeGreen, and Kubecost for Cost Efficiency
In the era of cloud-native applications, Kubernetes has become the default standard platform for...
Forums
Database file shrink issue.
Hi experts, I have a 3+ TB database on a 2019 sql server which...
The North Star for the Year
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The North Star for the...
Multiple Escape Characters
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Multiple Escape Characters
Question of the Day
Multiple Escape Characters
In SQL Server 2025, I run this code (in a database with the appropriate collation):
SELECT UNISTR('%*3041%*308A%*304C%*3068 and good night', '%*') AS 'A Classic';
What is returned? See possible answers