This career advice from Buck Woody is especially relevant today with our fast-changing technologies and tools: ozar.me/2016/04/shou... In a mature market, be a specialist. In an immature market, be a generalist.
Should You Be a Generalist or a Specialist?
At SQLSaturday Vienna last month, James Rowland-Jones (SQLbits organizer, former MVP, consulting company founder, and now Microsoft principal program manager, which is a pretty big deal) said in hi…
ozar.me
September 18, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This career advice from Buck Woody is especially relevant today with our fast-changing technologies and tools: ozar.me/2016/04/shou... In a mature market, be a specialist. In an immature market, be a generalist.
I just received some photos from my talk with Alex Selkirk at SQLBits 2026, where we had two sessions about solutions we've built at Ponder Labs -- so I figured it's a great opportunity to recap what we covered, share the blog posts again, and show off my beautiful photo 😊
June 16, 2026 at 7:38 AM
I just received some photos from my talk with Alex Selkirk at SQLBits 2026, where we had two sessions about solutions we've built at Ponder Labs -- so I figured it's a great opportunity to recap what we covered, share the blog posts again, and show off my beautiful photo 😊
[Video] Office Hours: Ask Me Anything At Home
I'm back in the home office to take another round of the top-voted questions from Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 00:52 chris: After your time at SQLBits you’d posted about the number of SQL Server consultants who were very opposed to AI. What was…
I'm back in the home office to take another round of the top-voted questions from Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 00:52 chris: After your time at SQLBits you’d posted about the number of SQL Server consultants who were very opposed to AI. What was…
[Video] Office Hours: Ask Me Anything At Home
I'm back in the home office to take another round of the top-voted questions from Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 00:52 chris: After your time at SQLBits you’d posted about the number of SQL Server consultants who were very opposed to AI. What was the feedback you were getting on why folks are against this technology?
www.brentozar.com
June 4, 2026 at 1:15 PM
[Video] Office Hours: Ask Me Anything At Home
I'm back in the home office to take another round of the top-voted questions from Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 00:52 chris: After your time at SQLBits you’d posted about the number of SQL Server consultants who were very opposed to AI. What was…
I'm back in the home office to take another round of the top-voted questions from Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 00:52 chris: After your time at SQLBits you’d posted about the number of SQL Server consultants who were very opposed to AI. What was…
Reading: The Hallway Track Was Always the Product www.gethynellis.com/2026/05/the-... Observations on the real value of conferences, and the problem of being unable to actually sell conferences this way to either attendees or sponsors. (I think about this a lot too.)
The Hallway Track Was Always the Product - Gethyn Ellis
Why the hallway track at conferences still matters for SQLBits, SQL Saturdays, and the Microsoft data community in the AI era.
www.gethynellis.com
May 20, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Reading: The Hallway Track Was Always the Product www.gethynellis.com/2026/05/the-... Observations on the real value of conferences, and the problem of being unable to actually sell conferences this way to either attendees or sponsors. (I think about this a lot too.)
Finally a DB talk that tells you when NOT to use something 🙌
Reut Almog Talmi & Mo Kamioner from
@awscloud.bsky.social at #SQLBits gave the most honest database selection framework I've seen -- real trade-offs, no vendor cheerleading.
Highly recommended if you default to the same DB out of habit.
Reut Almog Talmi & Mo Kamioner from
@awscloud.bsky.social at #SQLBits gave the most honest database selection framework I've seen -- real trade-offs, no vendor cheerleading.
Highly recommended if you default to the same DB out of habit.
https://sqlbits.com/sessions/event2026/The_Right_Database_for_the_Right_Job_Mastering_Multi-Database_Architecture1
t.co
May 4, 2026 at 10:35 AM
Finally a DB talk that tells you when NOT to use something 🙌
Reut Almog Talmi & Mo Kamioner from
@awscloud.bsky.social at #SQLBits gave the most honest database selection framework I've seen -- real trade-offs, no vendor cheerleading.
Highly recommended if you default to the same DB out of habit.
Reut Almog Talmi & Mo Kamioner from
@awscloud.bsky.social at #SQLBits gave the most honest database selection framework I've seen -- real trade-offs, no vendor cheerleading.
Highly recommended if you default to the same DB out of habit.
Of course the Purple Frog team got papped by Mikey at #SQLBits 🐸📸
Incredible photos, thanks for catching us in our prime! 👏 #SQLBits #SQLBits2026
Incredible photos, thanks for catching us in our prime! 👏 #SQLBits #SQLBits2026
May 2, 2026 at 11:11 AM
Of course the Purple Frog team got papped by Mikey at #SQLBits 🐸📸
Incredible photos, thanks for catching us in our prime! 👏 #SQLBits #SQLBits2026
Incredible photos, thanks for catching us in our prime! 👏 #SQLBits #SQLBits2026
[Video] Office Hours at the ICC Wales Before Bits
I flew into Wales a couple days early to get used to the time zones, and showed up at the conference center where SQLBits would be located. Let's go through your top-voted questions from on a very chilly morning: Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start…
I flew into Wales a couple days early to get used to the time zones, and showed up at the conference center where SQLBits would be located. Let's go through your top-voted questions from on a very chilly morning: Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start…
[Video] Office Hours at the ICC Wales Before Bits
I flew into Wales a couple days early to get used to the time zones, and showed up at the conference center where SQLBits would be located. Let's go through your top-voted questions from on a very chilly morning: Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start 01:02 Jersey: Has Microsoft fixed any of the bugs in the MERGE command? And is it worth using in its current state?
www.brentozar.com
April 30, 2026 at 1:15 PM
[Video] Office Hours at the ICC Wales Before Bits
I flew into Wales a couple days early to get used to the time zones, and showed up at the conference center where SQLBits would be located. Let's go through your top-voted questions from on a very chilly morning: Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start…
I flew into Wales a couple days early to get used to the time zones, and showed up at the conference center where SQLBits would be located. Let's go through your top-voted questions from on a very chilly morning: Here's what we covered: 00:00 Start…
Thinking back about this topic again on the heels of coming back from SQLBits: Why Aren’t People Going to Local and Regional In-Person Events Anymore? www.brentozar.com/archive/2025...
Why Aren't People Going to Local and Regional In-Person Events Anymore? - Brent Ozar Unlimited®
Steve Jones recently posted an update about SQL Saturday’s status, and it includes some news we need to talk about: However, this year the number may stagnate or even decline slightly. Running events…
www.brentozar.com
April 29, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Thinking back about this topic again on the heels of coming back from SQLBits: Why Aren’t People Going to Local and Regional In-Person Events Anymore? www.brentozar.com/archive/2025...
I'm not doing sqlbits again after the toilet drama from last year, and going to the UK feels iffy anyway right now. Did miss you though!
April 29, 2026 at 1:19 PM
I'm not doing sqlbits again after the toilet drama from last year, and going to the UK feels iffy anyway right now. Did miss you though!
That’s a wrap on #SQLBits 2026 🐸
Great few days of learning, conversations, and community. Proud to see Lewis Prince and Hollie Whittles speaking, and lots of new ideas coming back to the team 👏
#Data #AI #SQLBits2026
Great few days of learning, conversations, and community. Proud to see Lewis Prince and Hollie Whittles speaking, and lots of new ideas coming back to the team 👏
#Data #AI #SQLBits2026
April 29, 2026 at 11:11 AM
That’s a wrap on #SQLBits 2026 🐸
Great few days of learning, conversations, and community. Proud to see Lewis Prince and Hollie Whittles speaking, and lots of new ideas coming back to the team 👏
#Data #AI #SQLBits2026
Great few days of learning, conversations, and community. Proud to see Lewis Prince and Hollie Whittles speaking, and lots of new ideas coming back to the team 👏
#Data #AI #SQLBits2026
Thinking back to my time at SQLBits last week, I was surprised by how many very senior SQL Server consultants were vehemently, VEHEMENTLY anti-AI - while at the same time, admitted that their incoming business had slowed down dramatically.
April 28, 2026 at 1:25 AM
Thinking back to my time at SQLBits last week, I was surprised by how many very senior SQL Server consultants were vehemently, VEHEMENTLY anti-AI - while at the same time, admitted that their incoming business had slowed down dramatically.
OMG Microsoft did a Welsh sticker for SQLBits must have!
OMG Microsoft even used “Cymru” really must have!
(side note, because Wales != Cymru)
OMG WTF have they done to our beloved Dragon!?!?
OMG Microsoft even used “Cymru” really must have!
(side note, because Wales != Cymru)
OMG WTF have they done to our beloved Dragon!?!?
April 27, 2026 at 7:23 AM
OMG Microsoft did a Welsh sticker for SQLBits must have!
OMG Microsoft even used “Cymru” really must have!
(side note, because Wales != Cymru)
OMG WTF have they done to our beloved Dragon!?!?
OMG Microsoft even used “Cymru” really must have!
(side note, because Wales != Cymru)
OMG WTF have they done to our beloved Dragon!?!?
Thanks to all the sponsors, organisers, speakers & helpers for another great #sqlbits It has been my go to community conference that influenced my entire career.
April 26, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Thanks to all the sponsors, organisers, speakers & helpers for another great #sqlbits It has been my go to community conference that influenced my entire career.
And that's a wrap for this year's trip to @sqlbits.bsky.social ! A big shout-out goes to @simonsabin.bsky.social and the whole team, thank you to the attendees of my session and to everyone I had the pleasure of getting in contact with. #SQLBits2026
April 26, 2026 at 1:43 PM
And that's a wrap for this year's trip to @sqlbits.bsky.social ! A big shout-out goes to @simonsabin.bsky.social and the whole team, thank you to the attendees of my session and to everyone I had the pleasure of getting in contact with. #SQLBits2026
Only the airport express train remains on my adventurous journey home from #sqlbits.
Thank you all, for the memorable moments, the many coffees, and the conversations.
Mood:
Thank you all, for the memorable moments, the many coffees, and the conversations.
Mood:
Eternal - Original Mix
open.spotify.com
April 25, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Only the airport express train remains on my adventurous journey home from #sqlbits.
Thank you all, for the memorable moments, the many coffees, and the conversations.
Mood:
Thank you all, for the memorable moments, the many coffees, and the conversations.
Mood:
Back home from #sqlbits. There are other Microsoft data conferences but, after 20 years of attending, none of the others have had anything like the same impact on my life and my career. This year it was better than ever. As always, thanks to the organisers, helpers, speakers and sponsors!
April 25, 2026 at 8:23 PM
Back home from #sqlbits. There are other Microsoft data conferences but, after 20 years of attending, none of the others have had anything like the same impact on my life and my career. This year it was better than ever. As always, thanks to the organisers, helpers, speakers and sponsors!
Now that the SQLBits cartoon-themed fancy dress party is over, I can reveal the first time I tried on my costume for this year's party, and Yves couldn't stop laughing.
April 25, 2026 at 12:30 PM
Now that the SQLBits cartoon-themed fancy dress party is over, I can reveal the first time I tried on my costume for this year's party, and Yves couldn't stop laughing.
Final day @sqlbits.bsky.social
Come join me at 10am in Room 1A where we'll be talking about New Features in SQL Server 2025
(That aren't AI 😂)
#sqlbits
Come join me at 10am in Room 1A where we'll be talking about New Features in SQL Server 2025
(That aren't AI 😂)
#sqlbits
April 25, 2026 at 7:01 AM
Final day @sqlbits.bsky.social
Come join me at 10am in Room 1A where we'll be talking about New Features in SQL Server 2025
(That aren't AI 😂)
#sqlbits
Come join me at 10am in Room 1A where we'll be talking about New Features in SQL Server 2025
(That aren't AI 😂)
#sqlbits
Wooohooo, it’s already day 3 of SQLBits !
If you around please come over and say hi!
If you around please come over and say hi!
April 24, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Wooohooo, it’s already day 3 of SQLBits !
If you around please come over and say hi!
If you around please come over and say hi!
April 24, 2026 at 1:36 PM
