Question: Do Stream Aggregate Operator Always Need Sort Operator?
Answer: Absolutely No.Before I explain this question a bit more in detail.
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READPAST Query Hint: Skip Locked Rows in SQL Server
The READPAST query hint makes a read skip rows that another transaction has locked, instead of waiting for them. This post builds a five-seat demo, runs it in two windows and lists the cases where the hint does nothing. It also shows the work queue pattern that pairs READPAST with UPDLOCK.
SQL SERVER – Is Stream Aggregate is Same as Gather Streams of Parallelism?
Is Stream Aggregate is Same as Gather Streams of Parallelism? – This was one of the brilliant questions I had received during my recent engagement.
ENABLE_PARALLEL_PLAN_PREFERENCE Limits: Rows Per Thread
The ENABLE_PARALLEL_PLAN_PREFERENCE limits are easy to miss: the hint can’t make every query parallel, and it can’t spread rows evenly over the threads. This post proves three limits from the last actual plan of demo queries, with the rows each thread processed and the reason a plan stays serial.
SQL SERVER – Public Role Permissions and Effective Security Risk
Every database user belongs to Public and cannot be removed from that role. A reader asked whether the role should be eliminated.
Force a Parallel Plan: ENABLE_PARALLEL_PLAN_PREFERENCE Hint
To force a parallel plan for one query, add the ENABLE_PARALLEL_PLAN_PREFERENCE hint to its OPTION clause. This post shows why a cheap query stays serial, runs a demo query with and without the hint, proves the difference from the last actual plan, and explains why the hint belongs in a test and not in every query.
DBCC DBREINDEX: Replace It With ALTER INDEX in SQL Server
DBCC DBREINDEX still runs on SQL Server 2025, but it is deprecated, and ALTER INDEX does everything it did and more. This post rebuilds a fragmented demo table both ways, shows the options only ALTER INDEX has, and finds old uses of DBCC DBREINDEX in your own modules, Agent jobs and the deprecation counter.
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