Voice of the DBA

Tag: speaking

  • Two Weeks to Live! 360 and VSLive Orlando

    A short break in speaking, as I haven’t been on stage since Oct 11.

    LSPK42

    Now it’s two weeks to Live! 360 in Orlando and VS Live, both happening in Orlando on Dec 5-9. You can still register, and save $500 with my link.

    This is my first time at this event, though I’ve been to other VS Live events. I really like these conferences because I get the chance to attend non-SQL sessions and broaden my excitement for other parts of the Microsoft platform.

    If you’ve got some training dollars left for 2016, consider coming down and joining me today.

    Register and use LSPK42 to save $500.

  • Growing Speakers for T-SQL Tuesday #84

    tsql2sday150x150It’s T-SQL Tuesday again, and for $#84, we have a non-technical topic. Hopefully this will then let us produce more technical content by growing new speakers. That’s the topic from Andy Yun, and it’s a good one.

    This is the monthly blog party, and you should feel to participate today, or any day in the future. Read Andy’s invitation for the rules.

    No Shortage of Speakers

    When we started SQL Saturday, Andy Warren and I worried about finding speakers for events. In the last 10 years, we’ve seen many, many people begin speaking and enjoy it. I don’t worry about finding speakers for SQL Saturdays anymore.

    However, I do think we could do more to encourage even more people to speak and share knowledge. One of the problems we have in this industry is that we don’t always get information spread out quickly to a wide audience and evolve our practices. Too many of us use our habitual practices long after there are better ways to build software. One of the ways we can work to improve the industry is with more speakers.

    I’ve given a talk on creating your first technical speaking opportunity. I can say that it worked since a couple of people that were in the audience have actually given presentations at the user group. One of the items that I suggest in there is picking something you’ve learned/solved, and then teach it to others in your company/department/group.

    This is often an easier way to get started, since it will be a smaller group, one you know, and it’s safer. It could even be more of a discussion you lead than a presentation.

    Certainly this can be hard as you need to be open to debate, accept you might get some things wrong, and that you might learn something. There is stress in trying to come across as an expert, but I’d rather you try to teach something, with the idea that this is your understanding of a topic, but you are open to admitting you might be wrong if someone else knows more.

    If that’s the case, then perhaps have that individual present next time.

    I’d really encourage more groups and departments to get a weekly presentation together from someone. This can be at lunch, or a standing meeting. This can be a group learning style like the SDTIG, or a quick 20 minute presentation on some topic.

    Just try it.

    Learn, speak, share.

    Get some buy in from your management to support this, and if you need a good reason, use this.

    Corporate Dilemma

  • Live 360–SQL in Orlando

    I’ll be at the last big SQL Server conference in the US for 2016 this December. VS Live is a part of Live 360, and on Dec 5-9, it’s in Orlando, FL. There are lots of sessions, pre and post cons learning to take advantage of.

    I’ll be part of the SQL area, and the Dev area, showcasing database development and security topics.

    If you have some budget left this year, and want to try a new conference where you can learn about lots of different technologies, and escape the winter weather, think about coming to Orlando.

    I’ve got a speaker code of that gives you a $500 savings. Use LSPK42 as your code to register.

    Sign up today with LSPK42.

    LSPK42

  • Webinar: Database Deployment with Git, Jenkins, and Octopus Deploy

    I’ve got a webinar later today that looks at how Redgate Software’s DLM Automation and other SQL Toolbelt tools can be used to smoothly move development changes from one database to another.

    Sign up and spend an hour with me this morning.

    This is part of a monthly series that Redgate is running, where we’re changing the platform out every month. In this case, I’m going to use a git as my VCS, storing changes in there as I make them to a database.

    From there, I will push the changes to a remote git repo and have Jenkins automatically pick up the changes and build, test, and deploy the changes to another database. I’ll make table changes, data changes, proc changes, anything you want. Just ask.

    However, that’s not all. From there, we’ll see Octopus Deploy take a package of changes and deploy them out to other environments, letting my manage and track the process with the click of a button.

    I’ve been doing this demos for a few years, across multiple platforms, but never on Jenkins. However, I’m amazed that things work as smoothly here as they do with TeamCity or VSTS.

    Building software is building software, including database software.

    If you’ve got some time today, join me and see how easy this can be.

    Sign up and see database changes made live.