As a data professional, there is a set of tools that you use on pretty much a daily basis. Before I started as the editor of Simple-Talk, there were two Microsoft tools I used every day of the work week, and also for my hobby work: SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) and SSDT (SQL Server … Read more
When I was a brainstorming ideas for a series of posts, it took me back to a brainstorming session we had in a company I have worked for. As we got started, the leader said this phrase: “there are no dumb ideas.” Now, clearly none of us in the room thought that there really aren’t … Read more
Editor note: The call for volunteer and speakers is open at on the Pass Data Community Summit 2024 site for this year’s Summit coming up in Seattle November 4-8! Volunteering for local data events large and small is a great way to get into the data community and make connections that will last a lifetime. … Read more
It is time again for the PASS Data Community Summit Call For Speakers. Some of you are very ready. You have a presentation idea that has percolated since at least last October. You have asked friends and coworkers if it is a good idea. You may have presented it at 10 SQL Saturdays to thunderous … Read more
Editor note: The call for speakers is open at on the Pass Data Community Summit 2024 Site, so join Jason in throwing your hat into the ring for this year’s Summit coming up in Seattle November 4-8! My Power BI Speaking Tour: This is the Way Over the past year, I decided I was going … Read more
You probably have heard the saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail”. I get the sentiment here, when you have a task to do, if you don’t plan how to do the task, you are far less likely to be successful at completing the task to the satisfaction of the person requesting … Read more
Over the past year, the topic of AI has really blown up in the general public. However, AI was already something very important to most corporations, but the Large Language Models (LLM) made it extremely fashionable. When something becomes fashionable, a lot of people try to ride the wave with no care about the truth … Read more
Every year, Redgate surveys technologists to ask a big question (through lots of little questions, naturally.) This year’s question was about their current data platform configuration and usage. Just before it was released, I read the results, and I have to say, some of the things I learned amazed me…until I thought a bit more … Read more
I have always spent time learning relational databases on my own, non-work time. As the years have passed, I have spent less of my own free time on technical learning and writing for many reasons, but still, I spend plenty of my own time learning about the database technology that Codd started. While I never … Read more
I hate coming up with ideas for editorials, but my last editorial of the year gives me a very simple topic just staring me in the face: New Year’s Resolutions. Love them or hate them (or it we are honest, a good bit of both,) this end of one year and the start of another is … Read more
It has been a long month. We had the PASS Data Community Summit just a month ago, and I came home with a hitchhiking virus (no, not that one). I dragged through Thanksgiving, got better, and went on vacation. I got back home from vacation, and, well, I was sick again. Looking at my calendar … Read more
I was talking to some people today about the concept of Autonomous Databases. The idea is that the database platform can do most, if not all, of the work of storing and managing data by itself. These are a few of the concepts that were shared primarily as discussion points, but you have to be … Read more
Recently I spoke at SQL Saturday Denver. The day after the conference we went to visit Pikes Peak Mountain. You have a couple of choices of how you can get to the top of Pikes Peak Summit: hike, drive, or take the Cog railway. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you take … Read more
While preparing for this career as an editor, my mind went to the joys of sitting at a computer editing documents. I expected this to include checking articles for technical accuracy, and proper English, formatting documents to meet the website standard, and posting the documents. I just knew that many of the firefighting skills I … Read more
In 1964, the Beatles added something interesting to one of their songs. I Feel Fine started out with a twang of feedback. It wasn’t planned to happen, but by a happy accident, the first use of feedback in a song was created (and it wouldn’t be the last, which you know if you have ever … Read more
Over the past 10 years, I have been involved in scheduling speakers at several conferences, most notably the PASS Data Community Summit. Since starting at Red-Gate last September, I have been much less involved in planning the Summit. Still, I have been able to help with the schedule by looking it over and looking for … Read more
The simple answer to this question is “a lot.” The funny part, however, is that everyone who reads that question will have similar but very different thoughts on those changes. Unless your job (or hobby) is keeping up with the current trends in technology, the biggest thing that affects our perception is how we have … Read more
The PASS Data Community Summit 2023 happens the week of November 12 in Seattle. WA. It will be my first time back in Washington state since 2019. Skipping over the years that the Summit didn’t meet in person (I missed last year’s in-person Summit with a broken foot), this year I am ready and raring … Read more
I was looking at the list of topics I have talked about in my “What Counts for a DBA” posts over the years, and a topic really stood out as a topic I have not touched. To be fair, it is really the most essential aspect. One aspect that, if not truly understood and taken … Read more
One of the things that makes you a well-rounded person is adventure. But often, when one thinks of adventure, they think of fun, grand, and most likely, well-planned adventure holidays. Climbing the Matterhorn, crossing the Gobi desert, or perhaps most adventurous of all, navigating Disney World on July 4th (shudder). In each of these types … Read more