Voice of the DBA

Author: way0utwest

A New Command Palette in SQL Prompt

I’ve gotten used to using the Command Palette in VS Code/ADS/Sublime Text regularly to find some setting or change something. What felt strange at first has become a habit for me. I actually like having this one place to search and get things done.

It’s now in SQL Prompt.

If I press ALT+S, I see this in SSMS. A large command prompt with lots of entries.

This popup lets me do a few things. If I start typing, I can get to most any object or SQL Prompt command from here. It’s like a global search for all things Prompt.

As an example, I can highlight an object and then ALT+S, type “object ex” and I’ll see this:

If I select the “Select in Object Explorer” (or click), the OE will navigate to that item.

Simple, and I could get there in other ways, but having all this in one searchable place, rather than right clicking and looking through a menu, or looking at the top menu bar, is easy. I even see the shortcut in the command palette (CTRL+F12) if I want to memorize it.

I can also use this for commands like insert semicolons, which I can never remember the shortcut for.

I can look for objects, commands, or options, filtering my results with the selection at the top. Or I can look in all areas. I can even look at the see the status of options in the palette, as shown here.

I have some things memorized, and the ALT+S isn’t quite in my muscle memory, but I am finding that I use it when I don’t know where something is located, or can’t remember a shortcut.

It’s a new feature, and the team is looking for feedback, so give it a try and let them know what you think.

If you don’t have SQL Prompt for SSMS and SQL Server, download an eval today and give it a try.

February 28, 2022
Less is More

The world of Information Technology has changed a lot during my career, but in some ways, many things remain the same. There are still mainframes in use, and plenty of jobs. Lots of companies maintain their infrastructure in data centers, even though some are turning to private clouds for their infrastructure. There are plenty of jobs in that area as well.

There is a trend to consolidate resources into a bucket and then allocate those as needed for various applications and services. This is what mainframes do, albeit at a very high degree of reliability (and cost). The cloud seeks to replicate this, not with high reliability, but with redundancy, expecting systems to fail. In fact, plenty of the data centers these days involve a lot of similar hardware systems tied together with software, with failed systems being left in place rather than replaced.

This trend aims towards a lights-out data center, where humans don’t work inside the location with servers. As someone that used to keep a coat by my desk in the summertime for trips inside the locked “computer room”, it’s a welcome trend. While a few people might actually need to check a cable or service an AC or UPS unit, most of us these days never see the systems we work on, whether those systems are owned by our company or rented in the cloud.

This doesn’t mean that we won’t have as much work. In fact, I think that most of the trends in computing over the last three decades have opened up opportunities for workers. This article talks about some of those changes that allow workers to morph along with technology to tackle different aspects of similar jobs. I certainly expect that anyone who wants to improve their skills and adapt to the new data center of the future to have plenty of work.

This reminds me of a scene from Aliens, where workers use enhanced suits to load heavy crates. I think this is the type of future I see, where humans work alongside new technology rather than being displaced by it. The need for humans to monitor, manage, adjust, and configure software systems and physically work alongside high-tech software is not going away anytime soon. The more that we adapt new technology, the more it seems that we add humans to work alongside it in some new way.

Continue to learn, adapt, and adjust your skillset and you can remain employed for a long time.

Steve Jones

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

February 28, 2022
Daily Coping 28 Feb 2022

I started to add a daily coping tip to the SQLServerCentral 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.

Today’s tip is to appreciate the good qualities of someone in your life.

I’m very lucky with family and friends. I get to see a lot of people, sometimes more than I want, and for the most part the interactions are very enjoyable.

A few years ago I was traveling for work to an event. I met someone before the event and we got to chatting about things. It was a very pleasant 10-15 minutes. We talked a bit later in the day, and I came home with good memories.

After that day, this person reached out on Linked In to wish me a happy holiday a few months later. I responded, and since that day, this person has checked in every few months, asking how I am and sharing info about their life and family. We had talked about those things when we saw each other.

This person has been a friend, someone that I only met once, but we correspond and catch up, usually at their initiation, and I appreciate the kind words and thoughts. I appreciate the genuine curiosity and caring.

Each time I see a message, I smile.

February 28, 2022
Chill v Standard Mode in the Tesla
This is part of a series that covers my experience with a Tesla Model Y.

I bought the “slow” Tesla. The Model Y Long Range, which is fine. I wanted range more than performance. If you look at the 0-60 times, you can see a variety, but for 2021 this is how things rank.
- 2021 Model S Plaid – 2.1s
- 2021 Model S Long Range – 3.5s
- 2019 Model 3 Performance – 3.1s
- 2019 Model 3 Long Range – 4.1s
- 2021 Model Y Performance – 3.6
- 2021 Model y Long Range – 4.4
- Model X – 3.3-5.5 s, depending on model
What’s crazy is that I can “buy” a boost of acceleration for US$2000 that will drop me down around 4s. It’s a software upgrade.

Is It Tempting?

Getting into the Tesla and nailing the accelerator is exciting. The car really moves, and people that haven’t experienced it before are often surprised. I try to avoid it, usually playing the “video game” of how little power can I use, but it is fun once in awhile.

When the weather changed, and I needed snow tires, I became more cautious. In fact, I accidentally had some slippage from pressing a little too quickly on the accelerator a few times. One of the things I changed for snow was setting the accelerator to “Chill” mode, which reduces how quickly the car reacts.

Across the last few weeks, I’ve left Chill mode on for daily driving, even without snow. The car is still plenty fast, and I know I use less power. The other day I was curious how much of a difference it makes, so I turned it off in town. With a bright sunny day, no snow or moisture on the ground, I nailed the accelerator.

It’s neck snapping quick. I can feel my neck muscles bunch up. In fact, I turned it right back off at the next traffic signal.

A few days later I turned the Standard mode back on and drove for day. It’s fun, but I realized that most of the time I don’t really need that much acceleration. I tend to leave it off today most of the time, only turning it on if I want to have a little fun or I think I might need to be ready to accelerate quickly in traffic.

That’s rare, so no, I’m not tempted by a $2000 upgrade for more speed.
February 25, 2022