Shrinking database is bad: it increases fragmentation and reduces performance. Here is a simple example with two tables that shows it step by step.
Star Schema Queries and How SQL Server Runs Them
Star schema queries join a large fact table to focused dimensions; learn bitmap filters, columnstore, and indexes that support the real workload.
SQL SERVER – Quick Look at SQL Server Configuration for Performance Indications
Part two of my SQL Server Magazine series is a quick look at SQL Server configuration for performance and the settings I check first with new clients.
Using Query Store to Prove an Upgrade Did Not Hurt
Plan a Query Store upgrade comparison with a captured baseline, matched workload periods, regression review, and carefully monitored plan forcing.
Force a Plan With Query Store: Undo a Bad Plan in Minutes
Force a plan with Query Store when a query turns slow after a plan change. This post builds a regression, finds both plans in Query Store, forces the good one, measures what forcing costs and shows when to unforce.
SQL SERVER – DMV – sys.dm_exec_query_optimizer_info – Statistics of Optimizer
The DMV sys.dm_exec_query_optimizer_info keeps statistics of optimizer activity. My simple query shows optimizations, elapsed time, final cost and more.
Unused Index Script: Find Indexes That Only Cost You Writes
This Unused Index Script lists nonclustered indexes that SQL Server keeps writing to and no query ever reads. It starts from the index list so untouched indexes are not missed, skips the risky ones, and writes the disable and recreate statements. A garden center orders table shows one update dropping from 5,011 pages to 6 once an unused index is disabled.