Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

  • T-SQL Tuesday #155 –The Dynamic Code Invitation

    tsqltuesdayApologies for the late invitation. A minor snafu has me hosting again.

    This is the monthly blog party where someone hosts and you all write a response. I’d like to think this is one where lots of you have a story or a situation that worked out. Write a post on 11 Oct and post a comment here.

    The Invitation

    I saw a post recently where someone noted they used Excel to help build dynamic SQL for their job. I thought that was a) creative, and b) similar to something I’ve done. In fact, that will be my post for this month.

    However, while many of the experts decry dynamic SQL as a poor way of solving problems, it is not going away. In fact, it works really well for many situations and problems, albeit not necessarily a high volumes of data. There also are security concerns.

    My invitation this month is to write about producing SQL dynamically in some way. Let us know about any of these things:

    • a problem you solved
    • a creative use of technology to build SQL
    • security concerns
    • a place where dynamic SQL failed you
    • a way to convert dynamic SQL to something cleaner
    • anything else that relates to code producing code

    The Rules

    Only a few rules.

    • publish on 11 Oct 2022 sometime.
    • use the logo above and link back to this post
    • leave a comment or trackback/pingback here
    • Use the #tsql2sday hashtag to tag your post on Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.
    • Encourage others to blog

    That’s it. Have fun and I look forward to reading your responses.

    If you want to host, ping me on twitter (@way0utwest) or LinkedIn or email or anything really.

  • Daily Coping 6 Oct 2022

    Today’s coping tip is to remind yourself that you are enough just as you are.

    This is interesting, as I’m not satisfied with who I am today. I’m not enough. I need to drop some weight, I need to build more muscle and cardio fitness. I need to learn more to be better at my job. I need to spend more time with my wife and kids.

    There’s more.

    However, I also am good enough at most everything right now. I can’t complain as I’m doing well in life and I am happy about where I am.

    I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQL Server Central newsletter and to the Community Circle, which is helping me deal with the issues in the world. I’m adding my responses for each day here. All my coping tips are under this tag.

  • Registered for the Data Community Summit

    I was reminded this week that I needed to get registered for the Data Community Summit 2022 since I’m speaking. I also needed a hotel, so I took some time this week and got my flights, hotel, and conference booked.

    Register for the Data Community Summit today and come join the largest data platform conference in the world. Use the discount code “SJSUMMIT93” for $200 off the 3 day conference in person. Or use “SJONLINE93” for 50% off the virtual conference.

    This is a great chance to meet with other professionals, network, hear about their innovative and inspiring solutions, and get excited about your career. I’ve been lucky enough to attend many Summits in the past and I’m looking forward to this one.

    I’ve got a discount code for the online

    I’m a part of the Cloud learning pathway and have a few other sessions as well. I also have a Tuesday pre-con focused on Redgate technology, so if you’re a customer (or want to be), come to the pre-con and learn how to implement database DevOps.

    A few other sessions I hope I can get into my schedule:

    There are many more in the schedule, and I know there will be hard choices to make. There always are, though you can get recordings and access later to recordings.

    I hope to see some of you there. Please feel free to stop me if you come and shake my hand, say hi, and chat for a moment.

    Register today and use these codes for discounts:

    • SJONLINE93 – 50% off the virtual conference
    • SJSUMMIT93 – $200 off the in-person event in Seattle.

  • The Value of Seniority

    There was a short but interesting post on the value of seniority. It’s written from the perspective of someone that gets a new co-worker, but the co-worker is from the future. In fact, it’s the future you. The post is actually titled senior engineers are living in the future.

    We (hopefully) are more capable and impressive over time. I would hope most of us are learning more each day and our work reflects that. The code you write today should be better than what you wrote last month or last year. The choices you make, the bugs you solve, the experience you bring to work often does reflect your seniority. Not always, but often.

    Sometimes the extra experience you bring is valuable because of the knowledge you gain over time. Most of us have probably known people that seem to be the go-to resources for answers to questions or to solve problems because of the things they’ve learned over time about the environment. This can be frustrating to newer employees, and I’ve certainly seen my son experience that, but it’s one reason why staff who have worked there for more time are valuable.

    There’s a point in the post that notes you shouldn’t compare yourself to more senior people. They can seem like they’re from the future because they just know more. Junior people will get there, if they work at learning more.

    That’s a big point of focus that I try to emphasize to people that I work with, speak to, or read my editorials. Put effort into your career, learn more, both specific to technology and about the way your company works. Growing your skills, tech, soft, whatever, is a way that you can enhance your career and prove yourself to be more valuable.

    It’s a way to make people think you are from the future.

    Steve Jones

    Listen to the podcast at Libsyn, Stitcher, Spotify, or iTunes.