This was one of my favorite types of blog entries to write when I worked with IBM Db2, and I’d like to revive it for Snowflake queries. I spend a good part of my day job helping people solve SQL performance problems on Snowflake.… Read the rest ..read more

As someone who regularly makes up scenarios to demonstrate concepts – both professionally and in my free time, I was very used to Db2’s answer to data generation – which is basically either fun with recursive SQL, pay for the additional IBM product Optim Test Data Generation, or use another language.… Read the rest ..read more

This blog entry compliments a webinar on February 8th where I will be a panelist answering questions on Amazons RDS for Db2. Register for “Introducing Amazon RDS for Db2”now. I was lucky enough to be invited to speak at IDUG Australia a few years ago.… Read the rest ..read more

I have answered this question so many times and in so many different ways. Conceptually, my article Db2 Basics: The Role of Databases covers the concept of a database or database management system, why we need them and how we use them.… Read the rest ..read more

I had the idea of recording my rolls to prove that I’m taking whatever the the SQL random function gives me. Here’s my first attempt at that: Video showing roll for database rolls for this articleRolls Roll Type Roll Value Roll Result Platform 3 SQL Lite Task Category 2 Defining Objects (DDL, etc) Task 2 Create index Chaos 1 Use GUIs in every situation where possible Table listing each individual roll for this episode Other than experimentation, I don’t have much experience with SQLite, and the experience I do have is mostly in combination with python in a Jupyter Notebook.… R ..read more

I’d really like to thank Shopify for laying me off back in May. I am so much happier in this role, and already starting to feel competent, only six months in. Don’t get me wrong, I have a ton to learn, but I have a core of knowledge, strategies for learning, and am enjoying applying my skills in content creation as I learn.… Read the rest ..read more

IBM, the Death Star, and rise of the Resistance. In the spring of 2018, Ember and I attended a dinner with members of the Db2 Technical Advisory Board (TAB). This was a collection of respected Db2 end-users, clients, and consultants that had just spent a solid eight hours with IBM providing feedback on Db2.… Read the rest ..read more

There are plenty of guides to setting up a trial of Snowflake online, but as part of my “Roll for Database” series, I want to have the basics of setting up a free trial of any platform I work with, including my own experiences.… Read the rest ..read more

The revelation that Snowflake doesn’t (currently) use b-tree indexes may be shocking to some who are used to a more traditional rdbms environment. It is interesting, therefore, to walk through some of the generalities of the methodologies to understand why the lack of indexes didn’t scare me away from the platform for the right use cases.… Read the rest ..read more

I’ve spent 20 years of my career working with IBM Db2, then a year working with MySQL, and now my database platform of choice is Snowflake. When I was moving from Db2 to MySQL, there were a number of “WTH?” kind of moments.… Read the rest ..read more