Voice of the DBA

Category: Blog

  • Using Automated Tests to Raise Code Quality

    Abstract

    Agile development practices can speed the development of applications and increase the rate at which you can deploy features for your customers. But unless you include a high level of test coverage in your code, these practices can also increase the number of bugs that are released. Databases can be particularly challenging for developers. This session examines database refactorings that introduce bugs, which are detected by automated tests. This approach allows developers to rapidly fix their code before a customer is affected.

    Level: 200

    Demos

    These are the demos shown in this talk.

    • Adding test data inline
    • Added test data in a procedure
    • Adding test data from a separate set of tables.
    • Exclusions to SQL Cop or other tests with Extended Properties.
    • Using FakeFunction
    • Using SpyProcedure
    • The boundary issues with multiple requirements for a function.
    • 0-1-Some testing
    • Catching dependencies.

    Downloads

    Here are the downloads for the talk.

  • No Live Blogging

    The PASS Summit opens today with the first keynote. This is one of the few times that I’ve declined the blogging table at PASS. The table has grown, it’s become a bit loud at times, and the pressure to take notes and push them out distracts me from listening and thinking.

    As  a result, I’ll be in trying to think about what’s happening and what it might mean for our industry. Having given keynotes and developed them, I know it’s a marketing show, and a bit of entertainment. However it also can generate some excitement, and certainly the ideas shown can influence managers and executives, which can free up money for us to play with.

    I’m a bit excited to see what’s coming, and what Microsoft might announce. If you’re not at the Summit, jump on the PassTV channel and watch live.

  • A Great SQL in the City 2015 Seattle

    Yesterday was the Seattle edition of the 2015 Redgate Software SQL in the City tour. I was in London a couple weeks ago for the first event, and we closed out the year in Seattle on Monday.

    I had some, fun, as you can see here.

    IMG_1541

    Slava Murygin has a bunch more pictures on his blog. Check them out and you can see how much everyone enjoyed the event.

    The day started early for me, and with rehearsals early and the need to iron a shirt, I didn’t get a chance to work out in the am. That was disappointing. It still was a 10k step day, but I’m looking forward to yoga or running today. We arrived and practiced, working through the demos and talks with our CEO, Simon, and  Alastair, a developer working on Visual Studio stuff. We felt a little less polished than in London, and I think we were all more nervous this time.

    The keynote seemed to go OK. We missed a few lines and I was hoping it wasn’t too cheesy showcasing tools, but people seemed to enjoy it.

    My Version Control talk started slow, and I was a bit worried about time, but ended up going long with some questions and had to skip some of the branching stuff. I need to write more and get some things up on this blog since I didn’t cover the topic well enough. I have to apologize to Brian Randall for running long. I gave him about 3 minutes to setup before his session.

    The rest of the day was chatting with people before the panel at the end. I think the panel is one of the more interesting sessions, with us debating and chatting about building software and we got lots of questions. There were 4 or 5 more hands in the air when I had to cut things off. I’d really like to see us do two panels a day, with only 3 people and the chance for more questions from attendees that are struggling with issues.

    I had to rush out of the event for the networking dinner with Andy Warren, but it was an enjoyable day and one I hope we repeat in 2016.

  • Networking Tonight at the YardHouse in Seattle

    I’m heading over to the Yardhouse (4th and Pike) as soon as SQL in the City is finished and should be there by 6. Andy Warren will likely be there earlier, so look for him. If you don’t know Andy, he looks like this:

    AndyWarren

    This is me, though I’ll probably not have the horse.

    dbateam8

    Hope to see many of you there, especially new people attending the PASS Summit, or just data pros in Seattle.