In the last several articles on Database Trends & Applications, I've been describing the benefits of reading and analyzing the benchmarking case studies released by the Transaction Processing Council. I've given you from a broad overview of the TPC benchmarks and shown ways that the vendor-published TPC benchmarks can help you save money and how the vendor-published TPC benchmarks must explain in disclaimers how they tweak their workloads. I have described how to run your own benchmarks and explained how to properly prepare your environment for a benchmark test. Pictured (L-R): Scott … [Read more...]
Archives for July 2013
The New PASS Executive Committee of 2014
July 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I'm sure you can understand the high level of interest I have in the internal affairs and governance of PASS. After all, I was one of the founders of the organization way back in 1999 and was president for four years from 2003 through 2006 (fondly remembered as "the hardest fricken years of my life"). So I was keenly interested when the latest press release from PASS named the incoming PASS Executive Committee to take their seats on January 1st, 2014. The executive committee is composed of the officers of the organization, that is, directors who are empowered to sign contracts and to speak … [Read more...]
Four Years, Eleven Months, and So Many Moments
July 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
She's got a way about herI don't know what it isBut I know that I can't live without herShe's got a way of pleasin'I don't know what it isBut there doesn't have to be a reason anyway She's got a smile that heals meI don't know why it isBut I have to laugh when she reveals meShe's got a way of talkin'I don't know why it isBut it lifts me up when we are walkin' anywhereShe comes to me when I'm feelin' downInspires me without a sound She touches me and I get turned around She's got a way of showin'How I make her feelAnd I find the strength to keep on goin'She's got a light around … [Read more...]
My Advice About Growing as an IT and Data Professional
July 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
First off, I should apologize for not blogging in quite a while. I've been traveling extensively and, because traveling can be so exhausting, I usually have to queue up blog posts to hit while I'm traveling in order to remain active while on the road. I didn't do that for these most recent trips. And, as you can see, there's quite a gap between this post and my last few posts. On the other hand, I've experienced an unexpected surge in requests for mentoring and advice from friends and colleagues about career growth. I'm always happy to help out a friend and, in fact, there's little in my … [Read more...]
MySQL, NoSQL, and NuoDB
July 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I've been keen on MySQL ever since I first started using it heavily more than a decade ago. In fact, I liked it well enough to include it as one of the four main database platforms, over and above the ANSI-ISO SQL standard, in my popular book SQL in a Nutshell. However, with the advent of NoSQL data platforms in the last few years, the waters have been muddied. It's no longer a quick easy decision as to which database platform you should use, both because there are many new platforms to choose from and because the old, easy choices aren't as cut and dried as they used to be. MySQL, for … [Read more...]
Reedy Falls in Greenville, SC
July 8, 2013 by Leave a Comment
The last night of the most memorable and awful vacation in recent memory. The girls were real troopers and definitely made the best of it.We stopped in Greenville, SC on the way home from Charleston and enjoyed the view of these pretty water falls. … [Read more...]
Dublin fun
July 5, 2013 by Leave a Comment
II always enjoy speaking in Dublin. My goal for next year is to do a multi-city tour.That's me and my good friend, Aaron Bertrand. … [Read more...]
