Redgate Community Circle

Professional Development
I am very excited to announce that I will be taking my paid precon content "Tools for SQL Server Query Performance Tuning" and presenting it for free. This is all a part of a new initiative from Redgate Software called Community Circle. Read about that here. I'll be livestreaming the precon once a week on the Redgate Youtube. So, please tune in, every Tuesday at 13:00CDT. Or, you can watch the recordings of the livestream, which we'll host on Youtube, free, forever. Between classes, you can ask questions, make comments, and generally interact through a Discord server I've set up here. We'll be covering a whole slew of topics from Query Store to DMVs, SQL Server Management Studio to Extended Events, Execution Plans and more, lots more. Whether you watch…
Read More

Containers and DevOps

Redgate Software
Over the last couple of years, one of these single most exciting technologies to come out around the Data Platform has been containers. You may not see them change your production setup. However, I guarantee, you're very likely to see them radically change your development process. After all, in a matter of moments, you can have an instance of SQL Server to start development and testing against. Rob Richardson I'm blessed by being surrounded by smart people. One of them that I've been able to interact with a bunch of times is Rob Richardson. I saw him present a session on containers about three years ago. I have to say, at the time, all I could say was: Neat! It took me another year, with several more presentations from other…
Read More

Redgate Software Needs You!

Redgate Software
I've been very blessed to be able to work for Redgate Software. We've done some amazing stuff over the years. We're going to be doing even more amazing stuff coming up. However, we need help. Specifically, we need help with sales. We've got a great team, but we need a bigger, great team. There are openings for sales development representatives and there's going to be a try-out in March, but you only have a couple of days to apply. Go here, right now. Deadline for this is the 26th of February, 2020. When you fill out the application, please, use my name "Grant Fritchey", to show where you heard about it and who referenced you. There are a whole slew of other openings in sales as well. Please, take a…
Read More

The Constant and Constantly Changing Role of the DBA

DevOps, Redgate Software, SQL Server
I've been working in and around data for over 30 years now. My title has changed a number of times and is poised to change again. My responsibilities have also shifted fairly continuously over that time. Even though it has been more than 20 years since I first took on the title of DBA, some aspects of the job are the same. However, over that 20 years, a stack of new technologies and processes have fundamentally changed a whole swath of what I do. The DBA Song Remains the Same Are your servers online? Are all databases available? Did the data load process run successfully last night? When was the last time a backup was run on this database? I honestly don't care if you're in the cloud, on-premises, or…
Read More

SQL Server Containers Are Boring

Containers
Not really, but sort of. The beauty of containers, at least in a dev/test environment, is the ability to spin them up while you need them and then throw them away when you're done. Containers give you a bunch of functionality not otherwise available through a VM. However, once you've spun up a container, they're so dull. Why Are Containers Boring Grant? I'm so glad you asked. Last week I was presenting at SQLIntersection (great show, you should consider attending). I was talking about Query Store in SQL Server 2019. One person in the audience asked, "Can Query Store run inside a container?" I responded, "Great question, let's check." I then switched over to VS code to show this: docker run ` --name DemoSharedVol ` -p 1460:1433 ` -e "ACCEPT_EULA=Y"…
Read More

Database Development Gone Wrong

Redgate Software
I recently shared a story about how I was personally responsible for a development project going off the rails (and oh boy, did it go off the rails). It's a very painful story to share since I was the principal bad guy. However, I learned a lot of lessons from it. Now, it's your turn. Redgate Software (yes, my employer), is running a contest between now and March 20, 2019. We want to hear your story about database development gone wrong. It can be a horror story like mine, or just a simple story of the pain involved when developing databases ('cause there's always a little pain). Inspiration! What, the chance to $150 or more isn't inspiring? OK, how about this, here's Kendra Little's story about her database development... not…
Read More

Installing Extensions to Azure Data Studio

Azure, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, T-SQL
If you're even thinking about experimenting with, let alone actively using, Azure Data Studio, you need to plan on installing a few extensions. Buck Woody has a great list that you should look through in this blog post. If you're just getting started with Azure Data Studio, I have an introduction here. Depending on the extension, this could be a simple as a mouse click. However, not all the extensions are that easy. Let's explore this just a little so when you do start using Azure Data Studio, things are easy. Extension From a Mouse Click For this bit of the blog post, we'll stick to nothing but mouse clicks, but, if you really want to bring the power within Azure Data Studio, you really need to learn keyboard shortcuts…
Read More

Opening a Twitch Channel, Data Wisdom

Misc
I want to let you know that I'm starting a channel on Twitch. You'll be able to see it here. I'm going to start doing regular live events on Fridays, probably around 10AM. Topics will range from query tuning, to GDPR, to Redgate, to Azure Data Studio, pretty much the same as the blog. I'll also take requests on topics and will host live Q&A periods during the sessions so you can ask about anything, whether it's part of that day's topic or not. Additionally, I intend to host live videos at events. I have two coming up in a few weeks, SQL Konferenz and SQLBits. I'll do live sessions at these events so that you can, even if you're not there, take part in them. I'll have interviews with…
Read More

What Is Happening, Right Now, At the PASS Summit?

PASS, Redgate Software
Honestly, that's a very hard question to answer. I mean, first of all, you can look at the schedule. There will be all day pre-conference seminars going on today (when this is published) and tomorrow. The rest of the week has all the breakout sessions. During the event this week, if you're not there, you can take part in some of the event by visiting the PASSTV web site. Other than that, you can follow me on Twitter (@gfritchey). It really is one of those "you need to be there" kind of events. If you're not there this year, start planning for next year. However, Redgate is here to help. What We Learned at PASS Summit Redgate is going to hold a webinar on Tuesday, November 20th. The title of…
Read More

Back to University, Redgate University

Redgate Software
Let's be really clear, Redgate makes ingeniously simple tools. That's a fact. Nothing has changed. However, if you really want to get the full range of capability out of the tools, you need to understand how best to put them to work. Enter Redgate University. Redgate University The concept is very simple, one might even say ingeniously so; have a course on how to get more out of the tool. So, for example, I can demo SQL Clone and SQL Data Masker in about 3 minutes each. You'll understand what they are, how they work and how they'll help you in your company. Done. You can even install them and have them working within your environment within about 15 minutes or so on each. Cool. However, you won't be taking…
Read More