Several topics on this blog run as multi-part series. Each link below opens a contents page with a short summary and every post in reading order. Two series have their own introduction post, which lists the posts the same way.
- Undocumented Changes in SQL Server 2022 and 2025: 32 posts. What SQL Server 2022 and 2025 added to the system catalog, and how much of it Microsoft Learn documents. Still publishing daily until 2026-10-28.
- The UNKNOWN Problem: NULL Traps in T-SQL: 9 posts. Where three-valued logic changes a T-SQL result without raising an error.
- T-SQL Style Guide, Tested: 10 posts. T-SQL style rules checked against SQL Server instead of asserted.
- Proving the Restore: 14 posts. Checks that prove a backup restores, ending with a generated restore script.
- Logins, SIDs, and Kerberos from First Principles: 8 posts. SQL Server identity, from SIDs and login migration to SPNs and Kerberos.
- Backup & Recovery from First Principles: 11 posts. How SQL Server backup and restore work, with measured demos.
- How SQL Server Stores Data: 13 posts. Each data type decoded on a real data page, down to the bytes.
- Extended Events in Production: 5 posts. Extended Events sessions for deadlocks, blocking, errors and slow I/O.
- Database as a Versioned Contract: 8 posts. Treating the schema as a published, versioned interface.
- Where Does Business Logic Live?: 7 posts. Stored procedures or application layers, and how to decide.
- Git for DBAs: 9 posts. Git concepts explained in database terms.
- ALTER DBA ADD AGENT: Practical AI for Database Professionals: 18 posts. What AI coding agents can and can’t do for SQL Server administration.
Questions or corrections are welcome on Bluesky or LinkedIn.