Why does a value that looks perfect fail a compare? Because of a line ending you cannot see. Five small demos make it visible.
SSMS Command Line Options: Server, Database and Login
SSMS command line options open Management Studio already pointed at a server and a database. This post finds SSMS.exe, lists the switches that SSMS 22 documents in its own usage text, and shows how to turn them into a shortcut without saving a password.
Windows Path Variable: Run oStress From Any Folder
The Windows Path variable is a list of folders that Windows searches when you type a program name. This post shows how to test a change in one window, add a folder for good and check that it works. It uses oStress and sqlcmd as the examples and ends with rules for a clean Path.
sqlcmd vs SSMS: How to Time the Same Loop Fairly
A sqlcmd vs SSMS timing is fair only when both tools run the same file. The clock must sit inside the script. This post times 10,000 inserts three ways with a log table, shows what changed and what didn’t, and lists the settings to match before you compare.
oStress vs SSMS: What Each Tool Is Built to Measure
oStress vs SSMS is not a race, because the tools measure different things. This post times 10,000 inserts in three ways with a clock inside the script, then shows how eight sessions finish the same work faster. It explains what a one-session loop really measures.
oStress Load Test: Run Many Sessions Against SQL Server
An oStress load test runs one query from many connections at once, so you can watch SQL Server under a crowd. This post explains the main switches and runs a small first test with five connections. It also builds the same test with sqlcmd workers, for machines without oStress.
go-sqlcmd: The New Command Line Tool for SQL Server
Set up go-sqlcmd on Windows, verify the executable, run scripts and variables, control output, and review optional container commands.