Episodes
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
The Oracle Optimizer - A conversation with Nigel Bayliss - Part 3
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
Wednesday Feb 09, 2022
No topic quite gets emotions rolling as much as the Oracle Query Optimizer. Thus you might expect that one of the least enviable jobs in the database world would be being the public face of the database optimizer. But since 2014, Nigel Bayliss has regularly fronted the community and shared the depth and breadth of his optimizer knowledge, whilst entertaining us with his sardonic wit on the challenges of databases and database optimizers.
In this episode, Nigel and I tackle the area that perhaps causes the most anxiety for database professionals when it comes to the optimizer, that is, what is going to change when upgrade. Keep updated on the optimizer at https://blogs.oracle.com/optimizer
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
The Oracle Optimizer - A conversation with Nigel Bayliss - Part 2
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
Tuesday Feb 01, 2022
No topic quite gets emotions rolling as much as the Oracle Query Optimizer. Thus you might expect that one of the least enviable jobs in the database world would be being the public face of the database optimizer. But since 2014, Nigel Bayliss has regularly fronted the community and shared the depth and breadth of his optimizer knowledge, whilst entertaining us with his sardonic wit on the challenges of databases and database optimizers.
In this episode, I get Nigel's thoughts on SQL Plan Management, the types the statistics that the optimizer needs now and what it might need in future, and whether setting statistics is a good idea. Keep updated with Nigel's thoughts on the optimizer at https://twitter.com/vldbb
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
The Oracle Optimizer - A conversation with Nigel Bayliss - Part 1
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
Tuesday Jan 25, 2022
No topic quite gets emotions rolling as much as the Oracle Query Optimizer. The fact that a piece of software can determine the best way to run the myriad of potential SQL statements, no matter how poorly they sometimes might be written, never ceases to amaze me. But conversely, the moment the optimizer does not meet our expectations, we're quick to throw our toys out of the pram and rain down on it with our invective.
Thus you might expect that one of the least enviable jobs in the database world would be being the public face of the database optimizer. But since 2014, Nigel Bayliss has regularly fronted the community and shared the depth and breadth of his optimizer knowledge, whilst entertaining us with his sardonic wit on the challenges of databases and database optimizers.
In this series, I catch up with Nigel to talk about the optimizer, its various features, how it has evolved over the years and what might be coming in future.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Why every DBA should learn APEX
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
Thursday Jan 06, 2022
The very name of the product - Application Express (APEX) - suggests that this is a tool solely for building applications, and thus it should belong solely in the realm of developers. But that is underselling the ability of APEX to be a perfect use case for a different IT demographic - the Database Administrator. In this episode I present my reasons for APEX is a vital part of the DBA toolkit, and how a DBA using APEX can free up their time to more efficiently manage the databases in their organisation. If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Check out APEX at https://apex.oracle.com/
Monday Nov 01, 2021
A conversation with Tim Hall (oracle-base) - Part 3
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Monday Nov 01, 2021
Chances are, if you have Googled for help on an Oracle problem, you have ended up on a concise yet precise solution to your problem at oracle-base.com. The site has been running for over 20 years and gets millions of hits from the Oracle community. In this episode I wrap up the three-part chat with Tim by focussing on the latest release of the database 21c and its free companion, 21c Express Edition.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Monday Oct 25, 2021
A conversation with Tim Hall (oracle-base) - Part 2
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Monday Oct 25, 2021
Chances are, if you have Googled for help on an Oracle problem, you have ended up on a concise yet precise solution to your problem at oracle-base.com. The site has been running for over 20 years and gets millions of hits from the Oracle community. In part 2 of this three-part series, I dive into how Tim got the oracle-base.com site started and how both of us have been trying our hand at YouTube for tech content.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
A conversation with Tim Hall (oracle-base) - Part 1
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
Tuesday Oct 19, 2021
Chances are, if you have Googled for help on an Oracle problem, you have ended up on a concise yet precise solution to your problem at oracle-base.com. The site has been running for over 20 years and gets millions of hits from the Oracle community. In this three-part series, I catch up with the owner of the site, and good mate, Tim Hall to talk tech, blogging, video and everything else that grabbed our attention.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
Back to basics: The most important skill for any tech professional
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
Sunday Sep 05, 2021
If you're an Oracle developer, what is the most important skill you need? Is it database modelling? Is it SQL coding? Its none of these.
I believe the core of being a successful modern developer is something far far simpler. Most of us get into the IT field because we like solving problems, so the most difficult challenge for many of us when we hit a problem that we cannot solve is being able to reach out for help . You might be surprised to find that being able to ask questions is actually a skill, a skill that takes practice and nuance to master. In this episode, I'll give you my thoughts on how to ask questions that will maximize your chances of getting the answers you need to succeed in your chosen role.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments or questions.
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Testing: The importance of trying to break stuff
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
Wednesday Aug 04, 2021
With the modern trend of automated testing, it is often easy to fall into the trap of relying solely on automation, especially when emotionally as developers we hard-wired to a bias of success. If you write working code, you are valued by your team. Your remuneration and career progression are often linked to working code. Thus as motivated as we want to be about finding bugs in our code with thorough testing, it is easy to fall prey to writing "blue sky" applications; applications that only work well when the conditions are right.
But part of the developers job is to discover how their code works when the storm clouds hover. How does your code hold up under more extreme conditions? In this episode, I'll talk about why testing to destruction is an important part of building successful database applications.
If you like this episode, be sure you hit the Like button and share it with your colleagues. Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have comments and questions.
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Back to basics: Stop doing SQL tuning!
Monday Jul 05, 2021
Monday Jul 05, 2021
SQL Tuning - It is probably the biggest topic in database technology, and it is little surprise why. There is nothing sexier than diving into the heart of the application code, making a few changes and then basking in the admiration of your colleagues as you have once again saved the day! But that very allure of getting our ego stroked can mean that you have lost sight of where you are supposed to be tuning things. In this episode, I'll explore things from a different angle, namely, that SQL tuning is perhaps not where you should be focussing your efforts when it comes to performance issues.
Catch me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/connor_mc_d if you have questions.