Articles tagged ebook

15 September 2014
15 September 2014

119 SQL Code Smells

Once you've done a number of SQL code-reviews, you'll be able to identify signs in the code that indicate all might not be well. These 'code smells' are coding styles that, while not bugs, suggest design problems with the code. In this PDF, Phil's put together 119 of those code smells, some generic, and some particular to SQL Server, so you can see what to avoid and why.… Read more
25 November 2010
25 November 2010

Index Selection and the Query Optimizer

While we all know that the Query Optimizer uses Indexes to produce better execution plans, we don't all know exactly which indexes will give the best results. Benjamin Nevarez has done the research, and in this sample from his upcoming book, "Inside the SQL Server Query Optimizer", he helps us to understand how the Query Optimizer selects indexes to improve execution plans.… Read more
28 October 2010
28 October 2010

Defensive Error Handling

TRY...CATCH error handling in SQL Server has certain limitations and inconsistencies that will trap the unwary developer, used to the more feature-rich error handling of client-side languages such as C# and Java. In this article, abstracted from his excellent new book, Defensive Database Programming with SQL Server, Alex Kuznetsov offers a simple, robust approach to checking and handling errors in SQL Server, with client-side error handling used to enforce what is done on the server.… Read more
22 June 2010
22 June 2010

Developing Modifications that Survive Concurrency

You can create a database under the assumption that SQL looks after all the problems of concurrency. It will probably work fine under test conditions: Then, in the production environment, it starts losing data in subtle ways that defy repetition. It is every Database Developer's nightmare. In an excerpt from his acclaimed book, Alex explains why it happens, and how you can avoid such problems. … Read more
30 April 2009
30 April 2009

The Art of XSD

When information is exchanged in XML format, you need an agreement between the sender and receiver about the structure and content of the XML document. This "agreement" takes the form of an XSD (XML Schema Definition Language) Schema. Jacob Sebastian's book explains all...… Read more
30 June 2008
30 June 2008

SQL Server Execution Plans

Why is my query running slow? Why isn't my index getting used? In order to answer these questions, you have to ask the same return question in each case: have you looked at the execution plan? Grant Fritchey provides the only dedicated and detailed guide to this essential topic...… Read more