5 T-SQL features that should already exist (2026 SQL Server ...
SQL Server is one of the most mature database platforms in the world, but that doesn’t mean […]
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The complete guide to XML support in MySQL and PostgreSQL
This article explores how MySQL and PostgreSQL handle XML data differently, including storage behavior, validation, XML querying, […]
How I built an app just by talking to an ...
Like most of you, I’ve been using AI large language models (LLMs) at work and at hobby […]
Exposing a SQL injection vulnerability you’ve never heard of (what ...
SQL injection is one of the oldest and most well-understood vulnerability classes in software security. Most developers […]
Vector search in SQL Server: VECTOR_DISTANCE, VECTOR_SEARCH, and index trade-offs
In this article, I’ll explain how to implement vector search in SQL Server using the VECTOR_DISTANCE and […]
How to anonymize PII in LLM pipelines (5 key techniques ...
Large language models (LLMs) and the agents built on top of them ingest everything they are given, […]
From anthropology to analytics: how to build a data career ...
Kristyna Ferris didn’t come from a traditional tech background. She studied anthropology, stumbled into data through an […]
It’s 2026. Why are databases still failing GDPR compliance audits?
Seven years after GDPR came into force, European regulators have issued over 2,245 fines totalling nearly 5.65 […]
Why even the best teams struggle with cloud migrations
According to Redgate’s 2026 State of the Database Landscape report, 91% of teams – no matter how […]
How to call an Ollama-based AI text embeddings model from ...
In the first article of this series, I explained how to install and configure Ollama to host […]
How to stop AI hallucinations in enterprise RAG systems (a ...
Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) does not solve AI hallucinations. Instead, it just moves the failure point from the […]
Why migrating from Oracle is harder than anyone admits – ...
Oracle-to-Postgres migration seems simple at first, but everything changes when you hit the DBMS_* packages. The 200,000 […]
How to host an AI text embeddings model for SQL ...
When we want to use AI-based comparisons of text, via vector search in SQL Server, we need […]
How data scientists work with PostgreSQL from Python (and how ...
In this article, learn how PostgreSQL powers data science workflows, including query execution, performance optimization, indexing, data […]
Microsoft are retiring role-based certifications. Here’s why they shouldn’t
In this Simple Talk opinion piece, Microsoft certification veteran Dr Greg Low considers – and shares his […]
How to automate vector embeddings with pgai Vectorizer in PostgreSQL
While pgvector enables powerful semantic search, it doesn’t automatically keep embeddings in sync when your data changes, […]
Demystifying PIVOT and UNPIVOT in T-SQL
There are few operators in T-SQL that cause developers to scramble for documentation more than PIVOT and […]
How tampered indexed-view metadata can break cross-database isolation in SQL ...
Indexed view tampering in SQL Server backups can expose cross-database data after restore. In this article, you’ll […]
PostgreSQL is removing MD5 authentication for passwords. Here’s what it ...
Upcoming versions of PostgreSQL will be phasing out the MD5 hashing method within the authentication infrastructure of […]
How to build a privacy-aware analytics layer with SQL (4 ...
Privacy-aware analytics is the practice of generating insights without exposing PII, helping you stay compliant with laws […]
Why database ownership is so fragmented in 2026 – and ...
In today’s cloud-driven, multi-platform environments, answering the simple question – who owns that database? – is no […]
Why COALESCE might be the most useful SQL function you’re ...
In SQL, handling missing or NULL values is essential for reliable data analysis and application logic. The […]
What are managed identities in SQL Server 2025? A complete ...
Learn how managed identities in SQL Server 2025 enhance security by eliminating passwords and enabling seamless Microsoft […]
What is chunking, and how does it apply to vectors ...
In this article, Greg Low explains what chunking is, why it matters for embeddings, and how SQL […]
How to get 80% of GPT-4’s value for 20% of ...
AI model costs can explode fast – and overpaying is common. The reality is, you don’t need […]
What is fillfactor in PostgreSQL – and when should you ...
fillfactor in PostgreSQL controls how full table or index pages are. The lower the fillfactor, the better […]
What are the top database platforms in 2026? A look ...
The database market in 2026 remains stable at the top, with AWS, Microsoft, Oracle, and Google Cloud […]
Vibe coding and databases: the hidden risks of AI-generated database ...
“Vibe coding” with AI can introduce hidden risks in database development, including security vulnerabilities, broken query logic, […]
Local vs remote MCP servers – which should you choose?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers let AI apps access real-time data and external tools, improving accuracy beyond […]
Can SQL Server 2025’s REGEXP_SPLIT_TO_TABLE fix STRING_SPLIT in T-SQL?
String splitting in T-SQL has historically been inefficient and limited. While STRING_SPLIT improved things, its constraints remained […]
Everything you need to know about MongoBleed (CVE-2025-14847)
MongoBleed (CVE-2025-14847) was defined as “the vulnerability of the year.” In this article, find out what it […]
First Normal Form (1NF): Breaking the ‘unbreakable rule’ in database ...
First Normal Form (1NF) is the most widely known rule in database normalization. It requires that tables […]
How to set up a data analysis environment in esProc ...
This article is the first in this six-part “Moving from Python to esProc SPL” series. You’ll learn […]
How User-Defined Types work in PostgreSQL: a complete guide
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say, sometimes I get sidetracked. In this particular instance, I […]
Everything you should know about the SQL Server Resource database
Every SQL Server instance contains a database that most people never query, never back up, and never […]
Why most enterprise AI projects fail – and how to ...
Today’s AI landscape is characterized by a gap. While it is often relatively easy to reach the […]
How to determine the last value used by a sequence ...
I’ve been a fan of sequences ever since they were added in SQL Server 2012. Prior to […]
Why the cloud is not a disaster recovery strategy for ...
When AWS stumbled – twice – in October 2025, many teams discovered that “we are in the […]
IDENTITY vs SEQUENCE in SQL Server – which should you ...
Auto-generated numeric keys are everywhere in relational databases. In SQL Server, two features dominate this space: IDENTITY columns […]
How to secure MySQL and PostgreSQL in the world of ...
Are you feeling the impact of AI in your daily work? No? Your database might say otherwise. […]
The secret life of database keys
There’s not much to database keys, right? When you build a new table, you add a column […]
Learning PostgreSQL with Grant: Data Storage
If you’re hosting your databases within a Virtual Machine (VM) or on some big iron, one of […]
How to optimize planned availability group failovers in SQL Server
We often perform planned availability group failovers in SQL Server for maintenance, patching, upgrades, and even hardware […]
How to safely use MySQL 8.0 post end-of-life (and alternatives ...
Regardless of how popular a specific software appliance is, particular versions of it are inevitably phased out […]
How to Find and Monitor Slow/Long-Running Queries in SQL Server
Monitoring and alerting can be overwhelming tasks, especially for those new to the world of managing production […]
Python is good, but not perfect – here are 10 ...
Four years ago I wrote a blog on this site explaining why Python is better than C# […]
SQL Server 2025 CREATE EXTERNAL MODEL and AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS Commands Explained
When SQL Server 2025 was announced, Bob Ward mentioned that there would be some new commands for […]
Common SQL Server Problems: Invalid Length
This is another part in my series designed to offer guidance around common issues in SQL Server. […]
Exploiting SQL Server Date Correlation Optimization: How Tampered Backups Enable ...
This article is a follow-up to SQL Server DBaaS Vulnerability: Decrypting System Code & Exfiltrating User Data, […]
How to View SQL Server Object Code Easily with sp_showcode
sp_helptext has served SQL Server DBAs for years, but it has its very obvious – and many […]