Louis Davidson

Louis is the editor of this Simple-Talk website. Prior to that, has was ia corporate database developer and data architect for a non-profit organization for 25 years! Louis has been a Microsoft MVP since 2004, and is the author of a series of SQL Server Database Design books, most recently Pro SQL Server Relational Database Design and Implementation.

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09 February 2023
09 February 2023

How to ask for programming help

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Over the past 25 years, I have answered a lot of programming questions in online forums, from co-workers, and from friends. It has been a while since I had been around forums, but I recently decided it was time to get back to what started me in the SQL community: answering questions. Not only is … Read more
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23 January 2023
23 January 2023

Testing before coding: shifting farther left

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A term I have only recently learned is "shift left testing." You can read more about this on Wikipedia here. The term was coined in 2001 and generally means testing earlier in the development lifecycle. Hence, shifting your testing left in the timeline. Just how left should you shift your testing, though? In my mind, so early, the rooster hasn't entirely fallen asleep yet.… Read more
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05 January 2023
05 January 2023

Don’t Just Chase the Shiny

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Fish are beautiful creatures, but they have one minor issue. The main thing I remember from the years I fished is that fish can be susceptible. If you have a fishing lure that shows off with a bright, colorful, shiny appearance that splashes around just right, fish will lose their minds and go after it, … Read more
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31 August 2022
31 August 2022

Into the unknown, sort of

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Over half of my life ago, I was looking for a job. I had written a bunch of triggers and stored procedures at my first job, but I was relatively green. I had just (barely) gotten my degree in Computer Science, and was looking to get out of Cleveland, TN. I checked around and found … Read more
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03 August 2021
03 August 2021

Using Filetable to Find Duplicate Image Files with Different Names

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In my article “Filetables, Great For Business, Great For Hobbyist”, I implemented the basis of a hobby database I use for my Twitter accounts (@disneypicaday and @dollywoodp), where I post daily pictures of theme parks. As my inventory of prepped pictures has grown, one thing has become a major pain. Duplicates. I have tens of … Read more
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