Compare an in-place upgrade with a side-by-side SQL Server migration, including downtime, testing, dependencies, and recovery after cutover.
Creating and Running an SQL Server Unit Test – Best Ways to Test SQL Queries
Testing SQL code matters as much as writing it. I show how to create and run a SQL Server Unit Test with tSQLt, the free open source framework.
Why ’10’ + 5 Returns 15: Mixing Strings and Numbers
The plus sign adds or glues text depending on the types on each side. I show the surprise, the error 245 it can cause, and how text keys get hurt.
Writing a Disaster Recovery Runbook: RPO, RTO and a Restore Test
Build a disaster recovery runbook around agreed RPO and RTO, usable backup chains, instance dependencies, clear roles, and restore tests.
Find and Replace With Regular Expressions in SSMS
A regex replace can turn forty column names into ISNULL expressions in seconds. Here is the pattern, the safety habits, and the trap of a zero default.
The Row Version Tag: Page Splits After Turning On RCSI
Turn on RCSI and every row you update gets a little bigger. On packed pages that means page splits, and I show the numbers on a small demo table.
What You May and May Not Do With SQL Server Developer Edition
Understand Developer Edition rights, identify the installed SQL Server edition, and keep shared test systems separate from production work.