Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Daily Coping 3 Nov 2021

    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 set a goal that brings a sense of purpose for the coming months.

    Purpose, along with autonomy and mastery, are important for us in our endeavors. At work, I find purpose in educating others or helping them set up events. I also find purpose in helping teams better build and deploy database changes, as this means better software for all of us.

    At home, I find purpose in helping my wife with her business on the ranch and by working with youth and teaching them to grow up through sports.

    My goal across the next few months is to guide a series of athletes to find purpose in their futures. I am working with 16 year olds this year, so less teaching of them how to play a game, but more in finding direction for the rest of high school and looking forward to college. Teaching them to think more about the game and their approach, as opposed to worrying more about physical skills.

  • Memories from SQL Saturday Orlando 2021

    A few memories from this past weekend, during the first live SQL Saturday event in the US this year.

    I’ve had plenty of plane flights this year, actually this was my 10th trip in 2021. However, most of those have been for personal reasons and with my wife. This was one of the few my myself, and the first where I was flying to an event by myself. I spent a few minutes reflecting on how often I’ve done this, how my first SQL Saturday was in Orlando, and how much I’ve missed this.

    20211029_085413

    The morning of the event, I drove over from across the street. It was lightly raining, and while I knew roughly where things were, I’ve missed seeing these signs.

    20211030_081954

    An older logo, but this still works. This brings back memories of setting up for the evnet in Denver, and being glad that we had signs arrows pointing both ways and trying to get sorted out to put the right sign in the right spot to point to the event. We messed that up a few times.

    Registration was quiet. I am a little sad about that, but I understand a few things. Likely some people were busy with kids, thinking about Halloween the next day (or that night). Some were nervous or not ready for events, and some thought this was virtual. All fine with me.

    Glad to see @sqlgene there.

    20211030_082008

    The rooms were small, and a minor hiccup. The screen fabric was supposed to tape up, but the fabric walls didn’t work. Fortunately, the hotel had magnets. Who knew, the walls were steel.

    20211030_082550

    I had never met Jean Joseph, but I was impressed with his efforts this year to help the community. He ran a Data Saturday, then did the Future Data Driven event. I was impressed with his work, effort, and enthusiasm.

    A real pleasure to meet him in person.

    20211030_084501

    There were a few vendors there, but it was good to see the interaction. Even with a smaller crowd, it seemed that plenty of people stopped by to chat with them. Shawn Myers here, from Tintri, talking with Patrick, one of the attendees.

    20211030_082109

    It was great to see friends from the past. Jamey Johnston drove down and joined us to deliver a Power BI and Row Level Security talk.

    20211030_113706

    I got to talk with him a bit as well. Jamey is a friend and one of the few people I’ve hung out with away from events. We have had a couple ski trips together and are hoping to get another one this season.

    20211030_160510

    I had the chance to also catch up with Kendal Van Dyke, Microsoft employee, and a friend I’d see both in Florida and Colorado at times. It’s been too long and I was glad to see Kendal come and support the event.

    20211030_160542

    Catching up with fellow speakers is always a pleasure. I don’t know when I last saw Kevin Feasel in person, but I do remember sitting in the top of a double decker bus in Cambridge with him, driving to an after event dinner a few years ago, and I miss the chances to sit and chat with him and others.

    20211030_162822

    Aaron Cutshall is another speaker I’ve run into all over the country and I have no idea when the last time was, but it has definitely been too long.

    I caught up with fellow SQL Saturday board member, Taiob Ali as well, and I loved his excitement about the event. Hopefully I’ll get the chance to come see him at an event in Boston sometime in 2022.

    20211029_200241

    I missed taking a picture with Rob Volk, and I’m sorry. He is a dear friend that I’ve literally seen all over the world. The US, Europe, the UK, and Australia as well. We got the chance to have breakfast Sunday morning before I left, and as usual, it was another memorial few moments, too short, but very enjoyable.

    I also updated the About page on SQL Saturday, as I realized Rob had crossed 100 events as a speaker. Contrats to him!!!! Please let him know as he’s volunteered his time and effort to teach and inspire people all over the world.

    A quick trip, Friday afternoon to Sunday morning, and a nice view as I left Orlando. I enjoy taking pictures coming in and out of cities, and then seeing if I can recognize them years later when they pop up at memories.

    20211031_122923

    Another great set of memories, and inspirational to think about going this more often in the future. A few people were excited about the future and looking forward to helping more events come about in 2022.

  • Daily Coping 2 Nov 2021

    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 identify three things that give you hope for the future.

    I have a lot of hope for the future. Here are three recent things that make me believe the world will be better in 2022 than 2021.

    First, going to a live conference was great for me. I had another one last week, SQL Saturday Orlando 2021, and I have two more on my future schedule. While the movement for many free events seems slow and tentative, I am hopeful that we’ll start to see more SQL Saturdays or Data Saturdays in 2022.

    Second, kids sports seem to be working well, and that’s an important hobby for me. I’m hopeful after coaching during the pandemic last year that my efforts will look more normal this year.

    Third, I’m both surprised and pleased by the number of people around the world and in various countries getting vaccinated. I’m also pleased that many private organizations are starting to require proof of vaccination or a negative test. Those types of efforts will go a long way towards moving us to normality and a better future.

  • A Version Control Primer for Databases

    This is a talk for database people that might not be familiar with version control and how it can be used with database code.

    Abstract:

    With modern DevOps software development, there is a need for the database code to be tightly integrated with application code, and this requires the use of a version control system (VCS).

    This session will examine the basics of version control, the different types of systems, and how we can use them for database code. There is an emphasis on Git, as this is the most popular VCS in use today.

    Level: 100

    Slides: vcs_primer.zip