This level examines how a rehearsed changeset is transformed into production-ready deployment artifacts. By consolidating scripts into controlled execution units and validating the resulting artifacts, the approach ensures that production deployment remains predictable and aligned with what was proven during rehearsal.
2026-06-11 (first published: 2026-06-10)
927 reads
Introduction When developers first learn SQL aggregation, they usually start with the GROUP BY clause. It works well for summary reports because it combines multiple rows into a single result for each group. For example, you can calculate total sales per region or average salary per department. The limitation of GROUP BY appears when you […]
2026-06-05
3,365 reads
Learn a quick way to calculate distances without resorting to spatial calculations.
2026-05-08
2,132 reads
Level 2 formalizes the behavioral guarantees that a changeset must provide in order to be safely deployed and rolled back. It introduces the deployment contract, checkpoint semantics, and the structural scope of Create and Rollback scripts. Data changes are addressed through a dedicated Update mechanism, with clear boundaries and limitations. By the end of this level, a changeset becomes a predictable and well-defined unit that can be reasoned about independently of execution context.
2026-06-11 (first published: 2026-05-06)
1,059 reads
A short introduction to how deadlocks work and how you can affect their behavior inside your system.
2026-05-01
2,668 reads
Introduction SQL Server includes several built-in mathematical functions that allow developers to perform complex calculations directly within queries. Among these are trigonometric functions such as SIN(), COS(), and TAN(), which are useful in scenarios involving engineering calculations, geographic data processing, simulations, and analytics. Although these functions are straightforward to use, developers occasionally encounter unexpected results […]
2026-04-29
2,323 reads
Stairway to Reliable Database Deployments introduces a progressive approach to managing database changes with clear intent, predictable rollback, and explicit behavioral guarantees. Starting from change design and moving toward execution and coordination in complex environments, the Stairway provides a conceptual framework for deploying database changes safely and consistently, independent of specific tools or automation platforms.
2026-06-11 (first published: 2026-04-15)
1,600 reads
Generating temporary passwords is a common requirement in many applications. Users may need to reset a forgotten password, new accounts may require an initial password, or developers may generate test credentials. While password generation is often implemented in application code, doing it directly in SQL Server provides clear advantages. It centralizes the logic, ensures consistency […]
2026-04-10
1,961 reads
2025-11-21
153 reads
SQLAutomate is a lightweight PowerShell tool that simplifies SQL Server deployment by automating both installation and post-installation configuration. Whether you're setting up one instance or dozens, this guide shows how to use SQLAutomate to save time and reduce manual work.
2025-06-06
10,470 reads
By gbargsley
One of the first things I review when I inherit a new SQL Server...
By Arun Sirpal
It’s 07:43. Someone’s already left a message. “Something’s wrong with the DB server.” You...
By davebem
I’ve had a Dropbox account for years. Like a lot of people, I started...
hi a peer of mine who ive never known to be wrong says a...
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Displaying Money
Comments posted to this topic are about the item The Slow Growing Problems
I want to get the currency sign displayed with my amount stored in a money type. Does this work?
DECLARE @Amount MONEY; SET @Amount = '?1500'; SELECT CAST( @Amount AS VARCHAR(30)) AS EurosSee possible answers