Finding the root cause of slow queries starts by separating work from waits, then testing theories against plans and history.
Emoji Are Obsolete
Emoji are obsolete. There, I have written it. I do not entirely believe it.
A few days ago I wrote to a client: “We need to talk about the index strategy.”
The Job That Was Never There
The job that was never there is the hardest loss to explain. It came in messages from people who looked back and realised they had never quite had one.
I Let AI Recommend SQL Server Indexes Across a Week of Queries
I let AI recommend SQL Server indexes across a week of queries, measured every number before and after, and the result was not the one I expected to write about.
Who Is Going to Do My Job Now?
Who is going to do my job now? An email asked me that at 4:41 this morning, from a man who gave sixteen years to one company and handed his laptop back.
Using Historical Data to Confirm Performance Improvements
Using historical data to confirm performance improvements turns a fast test into evidence the business can defend.
Full, Differential and Log Backups: A Practical Guide
Full, differential and log backups are easy to define and easy to get wrong at 2 AM. This animated guide shows which ones to restore, and in what order.