None of the 40 candidates I interviewed solved this simple puzzle, one of my interesting interview questions: find each person who has all the selected colors.
SQL Server emergency? Email pinal@sqlauthority.com with URGENT in the subject line.
SQL SERVER – Find Table Row Count Without Using T-SQL and Without Opening Table
An interview question: how do you find a table row count without using T-SQL or opening the table? SSMS table properties show it on the Storage page.
The Blocked Process Report
The blocked process report shows the waiting session and blocker after a configured threshold, with Extended Events capturing the XML for review.
Comparing Two Wait Stats Snapshots to See What Changed
Compare wait stats snapshots over a chosen window, subtract cumulative counters, remove background waits, and calculate rates and average waits.
SQL SERVER – Interview Questions – Difficult SQL Puzzle
Today at my organization, we had nearly 30 interviews scheduled of DBA and .NET developers. Let us see a difficult SQL puzzle.
SQLAuthority News – 10 Motivational Quotes from Technologiest of the Past
Here are 10 motivational quotes from great technologists of the past, from Elbert Hubbard to Thomas Edison and Douglas Adams. Add your favorite too.
Comparing Float Values: Why 0.1 + 0.2 Is Not 0.3 in SQL Server
Why does 0.1 + 0.2 miss 0.3 only when float is involved? A few tiny queries show the hidden digits, the drifting sum and two clean fixes.
SQL Server slow? Let's fix it together in about four hours.
In my Comprehensive Database Performance Health Check, you share your screen, I guide you, and we fix your biggest performance troublemakers. No passwords. No remote access.
You keep every script, and the know-how to fix it yourself next time.
Want your whole team to learn it?
My Practical Workshop has no PowerPoint, just live demos. My AI Enablement Workshop shows your team where AI saves hours, and where it quietly costs them.
Over 400 customers have worked with me this way, and not one shared a password. See all consulting options.
Who We Are
Pinal Dave is an SQL Server Performance Tuning Expert and independent consultant with over 24 years of hands-on experience. He holds a Masters of Science degree and numerous database certifications.
Pinal has authored 19 books and 125 Pluralsight courses. To freely share his knowledge and help others build their expertise, Pinal has also written more than 5,800 database tech articles on his blog at https://blog.sqlauthority.com.
Pinal is also a CrossFit Level 1 Trainer (CF-L1) and CrossFit Level 2 Trainer (CF-L2).
Nupur Dave is a social media enthusiast and an independent consultant. She primarily focuses on the database domain, helping clients build short and long-term multi-channel campaigns to drive leads for their sales pipeline.
Shaivi Pinalkumar Dave is a book author and a women’s artistic gymnast.

