Microsoft Security Changes and SQL Server
Windows is changing its security, which will affect SQL Server.
2026-02-14
315 reads
Database Weekly
No Defaults Passwords Ever
Steve doesn't see a reason why we should have default passwords on systems ever.
2026-01-17
64 reads
The Microsoft SQL Year in Review
Microsoft gives a year in review from the SQL Server and Azure SQL teams. Steve sees a lot of accomplishments from this past year.
2025-12-20
83 reads
FinOps - the new name for performance tuning
This year I have been speaking with an increasing number of people about FinOps and what it means. Fundamentally, it is all about getting a handle on the cost for our technology spend. When we step back and look at the bigger picture it also has ramifications on corporate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) programs […]
2025-11-29
134 reads
2025-11-15
98 reads
Why Data Modelling Still Matters - More Than Ever
In today’s fast-paced landscape, where agile development and cloud-native platforms dominate, data modelling might seem like a relic of the past.
2025-10-25
240 reads
Planning for tomorrow, today - database migrations
I have been speaking to people about database migrations to the cloud a lot over the last few weeks. One thing that has jumped out at me is that we seem to focus on the process of moving data being the migration rather than one step in a larger process. Many people neglect the discovery […]
2025-09-20
130 reads
2025-09-06
139 reads
Can You Ask for a Raise?
Steve talks a bit about the choice to ask for a raise in the current climate.
2025-06-14
81 reads
Greener Grass
Before I start the whining (whinging if you prefer), let me just say I have the greatest job in the world. I'm exceedingly lucky to have it. I'm grateful as can be. And someone else (looking at you Tim) can get it when they pry it from my dead cold fingers. With that out of […]
2025-06-16 (first published: 2025-05-31)
161 reads
Blogs
Identity Columns Can’t Be Updated: #SQLNewBlogger
By Steve Jones
I’m not sure I knew identity column values could not be updated. I ran...
Rolling Back a Broken Release
By Steve Jones
We had an interesting discussion about deployments in databases and how you go forward...
A bespoke reporting solution doesn’t have to cost the earth
By ChrisJenkins
You could be tolerating limited reporting because there isn’t an off the shelf solution...
Forums
Can someone please explain what happens?
I have mentioned this several times over several years. Can someone please help me...
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT) returns null when nothing is found instead of 0
SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT Component) AS Found FROM tblComponents WHERE(Component NOT LIKE '%[a-z]%') AND(LTRIM(RTRIM(Component)) = 'GM13622')...
Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects: The Fabric Modern Data Platform
Comments posted to this topic are about the item Remotely Engineer Fabric Lakehouse objects:...
Question of the Day
Creating JSON III
In a SQL Server 2025 table, called Beer, I have this data:
BeerIDBeerName 1Becks 2Fat Tire 3Mac n Jacks 4Alaskan Amber 8KirinI run this code:
SELECT JSON_OBJECTAGG(
BeerID: BeerName )
FROM beer;
What are the results? See possible answers