04Oct 2022 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

DevOps From Redgate

PASS
In a few weeks at the PASS Data Community Summit, I'll be joining several other Redgaters to put on an all-day precon where we take you on a database DevOps journey. Please let me tell you all about it. From Nothing The plan is simple. We're going to take you from a fully manual deployment process, to a fully automated process over the course of the day. We'll be deploying something about every 30 minutes. As the day progresses, those deployments will become more and more automatic. We'll be using a variety of tools, but the big driver will be Redgate's Flyway. The fact is, most people recognize the need for a DevOps-style approach to their database deployments. However, doing it just isn't easy. This all-day seminar is intended to…
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28Sep 2022 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Query Tuning At PASS Data Community Summit

PASS
The all new, in-person, PASS Data Community Summit is in just a few weeks. Since I'm shortly going to be publishing a 100% rewritten book on query tuning, I decided to take a look at what kind of sessions on the topic are going to be available at the Summit. Query Tuning With The Best You can search through the published sessions here. I didn't even bother typing in "query tuning". Far too lazy. I just typed "query" and already saw some amazing stuff. In no particular order... One of the people I've ALWAYS learned from, Kimberly Trip is delivering a precon, Indexing for Performance. That's going to be a great day of good learning. Kim is insanely knowledgeable and a fantastic presenter. Well worth your time. Erin Stellato, another…
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30Dec 2019 by Grant Fritchey 7 Comments

Ending My Time as PASS President

PASS
With the end of the year, other things are coming to an end as well. Tomorrow, December 31st, will mark my final day as President of the PASS organization. I won't be leaving the board itself for another two years. I'll still be there as the Immediate Past President (IPP). I still have a vote on the board and will take part in supporting the next President, Wendy Pastrick (who is going to be great). While my role shifts, I'm also still a part of the Executive Committee. With all that, I can still act as a conduit into the board. If you have questions on what we do, how we do it, why we do it, please, ask. If you want information passed to the board, I'll be available…
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01Nov 2019 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Talk To Me At PASS Summit 2019

PASS
I say this all the time, but shockingly few people take advantage. Say hi to me. Please. I'm going to be at PASS Summit next week. I'll be presenting several times, multiple sessions, both community and Redgate. I'll be at the Redgate booth. I'll be walking the halls. I'll hang out at the Community Zone (on the Skybridge) when I can. Heck, I may even attend a session. I want to talk to you. Understand, I may not have a lot of time to sit down and have a long chat. However, please, stop me (unless I'm running because that means I'm late for something), and say hello. This is your formal, open invitation, please, talk to me at PASS Summit 2019. This is what I look like:
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21Jan 2019 by Grant Fritchey 1 Comment

Get Your Learn On

PASS, SQL Server
There is one truth that I can say about technology with an absolute certainty: It's going to change. Get your learn on! Technology is going to be shifting under your feet, constantly. Even if all you ever do is work with SQL Server, on premises, on hardware, without VMs, containers, clouds or any of that foofaraw, things are going to change. Dealing With Change What's the best way to deal with change? Get your learn on! Learning all the new stuff is absolutely necessary. It's unavoidable. Even if you're not running SQL Server 2019 in production today (and very few of you should be as I write this because it's still in preview) because you're still on SQL Server 2005 (and, by the way, support ended in April of 2016,…
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05Nov 2018 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

What Is Happening, Right Now, At the PASS Summit?

PASS, Redgate Software
Honestly, that's a very hard question to answer. I mean, first of all, you can look at the schedule. There will be all day pre-conference seminars going on today (when this is published) and tomorrow. The rest of the week has all the breakout sessions. During the event this week, if you're not there, you can take part in some of the event by visiting the PASSTV web site. Other than that, you can follow me on Twitter (@gfritchey). It really is one of those "you need to be there" kind of events. If you're not there this year, start planning for next year. However, Redgate is here to help. What We Learned at PASS Summit Redgate is going to hold a webinar on Tuesday, November 20th. The title of…
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21May 2018 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Why PASS?

PASS
In case this is your first time hearing of it, PASS is the single largest community of Microsoft Data Platform professionals on the planet. It consists of local groups, virtual groups, multiple online events, SQLSaturday, and, to pay for it all, PASS Summit. However, that's not true. It consists of a whole bunch of our peers, people, data pros and developers, trying to do better and be better. PASS I'm currently serving, as an unpaid volunteer, on the Board of Directors of the PASS organization. Actually, truth be told, I'm sitting as president of the board. That means that I'm responsible for the whole shooting match. Our goals are really simple. We want to create as many possible ways for you, me, and all our peers to connect, share and…
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30Oct 2017 by Grant Fritchey 5 Comments

Inside My PASS Summit

PASS
As you read this, I'm in Seattle for the PASS Summit 2017. I have four roles that I satisfy at Summit; Vendor through my glorious employer Redgate Software, Board Member of the PASS organization, Speaker, and Attendee. Let me tell you about my Summit that's coming up. What is PASS? But first, a word from... well, they're not a sponsor of this blog in any way, but PASS and the community that creates and runs it made my career what it is today. PASS is the single largest organization in the world today supporting training, networking and knowledge sharing in and around the Microsoft Data Platform. The organization runs Local Groups around the world that offer free training all year round. PASS supports SQLSaturday events globally. There are also Virtual…
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05Sep 2017 by Grant Fritchey 9 Comments

Luck and the PASS Summit

PASS
I recently read an article asking the question whether or not we downplay the role that luck plays in our lives and I immediately thought of the PASS Summit. Obscenely Lucky I am, quite frankly, embarrassingly, obscenely, stupidly lucky. I just am. I married WAY over my head. I stumbled into an amazing career. I can safely say that I've arrived where I am through a great amount of luck. I am quite grateful for it all too. I will only suggest a single point of agency on my part that has put me in this wonderful situation. I showed up. PASS Summit 2005 I went to the PASS Summit in 2005 in Grapevine. Mostly, I attended sessions and then went back to my hotel. However, one night, after talking…
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06Jul 2017 by Grant Fritchey No Comments

Gratitude

PASS
I want to take a moment to thank a few people for being amazing. First up, Thomas LaRock is wrapping up his tenure on the PASS Board this year. He has one more in-person meeting at Summit 2017 and then he's basically done. I followed Tom to karaoke during my 2nd PASS Summit and have been following him around ever since. I'm honored to count him as a friend. Tom, you set an impossibly high bar. Thank you for everything you've done for me and for this community. Second, Denise McInerney is also completing her time on the PASS Board this year. Denise has been a fixture in the leadership of PASS ever since I first volunteered. I had no idea just how much guidance and advice and flat out…
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