Blogs

DevOps Terms - and Why They Matter to Database Specialists

In this 20 minute session, I define scrum, continuous deployment, test driven development, DevOps, and related concepts. I close with a quick discussion of why Database Administrators and Developers should care about DevOps.

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SQL Change Automation, Visual Studio, and the Unknown SQL Server Platform error

I recently set up Redgate’s SQL Change Automation in Visual Studio 2017, and I ran into a confusing error when I started trying to use it. For any other folks out there searching on “Unknown SQL Server Platform,” here’s how I got past it.

Spoiler: Visual Studio suggested updating Microsoft’s SQL Server Data Tools, which failed for me and wasted a lot of time. Updating Visual Studio did fix my issue.

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I helped write a book! No, not THOSE books...

Every now and again, someone asks if I write romance novels. Why? Well, let’s ask Bing who Kendra Little is…. To clarify, I am not married, I have dogs instead of children, and I prefer romances about strong women who bring SQL Servers to their knees. I also don’t think it’s possible to drink too much coffee. Most of those pictures are of me, but a careful reader will note that the biography at the top references a domain name that, sadly, dear reader, I do not own.

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Help me present at GroupBy: review my abstract

I’ve submitted a session proposal to the free, online GroupBy conference. Voting will open for sessions soon, but before then, you can help me out by reading my abstract. Is it a session you’d like to see? Got any constructive criticism that you think would make the session or abstract better? Let me know in the comments over on the abstract for “What ‘Digital Transformation’ Means, and How You Can Use It to Advance Your Career (Without Being a Robot)”

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Four Free Sessions in October

I’ve got FOUR sessions coming up in October.  These sessions will each be 30 minutes.

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Why I Love DML Triggers in SQL Server

It’s TSQL Tuesday today! If you’re not familiar, TSQL Tuesday is a monthly blogging event where a Microsoft Data Platform community member chooses a writing prompt. This is a great thing if you’re interested in starting a technical blog and wonder, “What would I write about?” It’s also great if, like me, you occasionally want a little outside inspiration to shake things up. This month’s topic is from Steve Jones: we’re invited to write about an experience that we’ve had with triggers.

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Watch My Keynote: Adapt and Thrive (25 minutes)

Do you know where your career is going? Do you know what skills you need to be successful in the current climate?

In this 25 minute keynote, I discuss the challenges and opportunities facing you as a data professional in this ever-changing landscape. You’ll also hear recommendations about which skills are needed to help you succeed in your role and how you can in turn support your IT team and business’ needs.

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Calendar Reminders for SQL in the City Streamed Free Training Sessions

SQL in the City Streamed is coming up this week! This is an awesome FREE online event, and it’s all about learning new things and getting inspired.

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Employee Agreements & Contracts: Best Practices (23 minute video)

So you’ve got an employee agreement in front of you: now what? In this episode, I talk about practical steps you should take to make sure that you understand the terms of your contract, and how to potentially negotiate the terms. Listen on the go Subscribe on iTunes, listen on Google Play, or plug this URL into your favorite podcasting app: http://dearsqldba.libsyn.com/rss# Video

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How to cause a simple spill to tempdb

Sometimes it’s useful to know how to cause a problem.

Maybe you’ve never encountered the problem, and want to get hands-on experience. Maybe you’re testing a monitoring tool, and want to see if a condition flags an alert. Maybe you’re testing out a new client tool, and want to see how it displays it.

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