Voice of the DBA

Tag: syndicated

  • Basic User Functions in R

    As I’ve been learning more about the data platform, I’ve been exposed to some R language code. This makes sense, as more comprehensive data analysis needs something other than SQL. Or at least, some people think that and it behooves me to better understand what they do with R. I’ve also had to build questions for SQLServerCentral, so I’ve spent time working through different R language items.

    One of those items is the function. I first found this strange, but the more I think about it, the more I like this. Rather than some code that is a “create function double”, I actually assign a variable, which is really just some token in memory, to the function. I could do this as:

    double <- function(x) { x * 2 }

    This means the variable double contains a function, and I can call this as I would any function.

    i <- double(4)

    At this point, i would have the value 8.

    Simple and easy, but powerful. This can get more complex, and I’ll experiment more in future posts.

  • Watch the State of SQL Server Monitoring tomorrow

    Tomorrow Redgate is running a webinar on the State of SQL Server Monitoring with Grant, Chris Yates, Annette Allen, and Tony Maddonna. You can register now and attend on June 25, at 4pm BST/11am EDT/8am PDT.

    What has Redgate’s latest survey revealed about the state of SQL Server monitoring in 2019? Each year we contract for a survey on monitoring and produce a report (similar to and in addition to the State of Database DevOps). This is the only industry report to benchmark monitoring in the SQL Server community, now in its second year.

    Join our panel of SQL Server experts as they discuss the key findings of our industry-leading report, that includes insights such as:

    • Getting to grips with growing estates
    • Issues caused by migrations
    • Which tooling is being used
    • Staying on top of multiple database systems
    • What is the next big challenge facing the industry.

    The report has data from over 800 participants across a range of sectors and from all around the globe. The key findings include: Estates are continuing to grow, migrations is predicted to be the biggest challenge facing database professionals this year, adoption of cloud technologies is increasing and Redgate’s SQL Monitor is the most popular third-party tool (even when we remove out customer base).

    The report will be available after the 25th June. Look for a link, or attend the webinar and we’ll send you the link.

    Register today.

  • SQLServerCentral–Fixing the Time Zone

    One of the bugs features of the bbPress forum software is that all posts were shown in a time zone, which for us was a default of UTC. Not a bad choice, but this made for funny displays, depending on where you were. Posting in the UK showed you as having posted an hour ago after Daylight Savings Time. Posting in the US showed future times.

    A mess, for sure.

    It’s fixed, or at least, it’s mostly fixed if you’re a traveler. This fix rolled out while I was in Australia, and as a result, I logged in and my time zone got picked up as Sydney. That made sense, since that’s roughly where I was (Brisbane or Melbourne), but it made for some funny posts when I was back in Denver. I replied to a post yesterday and the time I was for the original post and my reply were both the next morning.

    There’s an easy fix for now. You can access your profile from the upper right menu. Once it comes up, click “Edit Profile” and then find the time zone. If it’s wrong, fix it and the posts will be at the right time.

    It’s something I wish we’d thought of early on, but in testing, we usually were looking for the posts in the right order, and I never considered if the actual time was the time I’d was working in. A mistake on my part, and my apologies for those in the community that were distracted, upset, or confused by this.

  • Just a Week to SQL Sat Pensacola

    One of my favorite events, in a wonderful place to spend the weekend. I’ve been to Pensacola a few times (3?), including a couple times with my daughter. It’s always a fun weekend with Karla, Rodney, Ed, and the other organizers that make it a fun event. Even deep sea fishing Sunday if that’s your thing.

    This year I’m heading back after missing a few events. I’m lucky to go and I’m looking forward to delivering a new presentation. This one is one the future of Database Development with Containers, showing a vision of how things are changing. Microsoft has shown some similar items, but I’ve got some cool technology to show off from the Redgate Research Division, the Foundry.

    If you’re nearby, register and join me next weekend, June 29th, for SQL Saturday #884.