SQLBits

SQLBits 2026 will be back at the International Convention Center Wales in Newport on April 22-25, and I’ll be there! Bits was there in 2023, and they’ve got a recap video showing the venue. This location is a little tricky for us Yanks: here’s where it’s at on Google Maps. For international visitors, you’ve got…

I’m coming to London this month for SQLBits, and my Thursday workshop “Faster, Cheaper Cloud Databases” workshop sold out right away when it was announced. There’s been a waitlist for months. The short story: they added more capacity to my room! If you’re already registered, email contactus@sqlbits.com to join my Thursday workshop. If you haven’t…

I’m excited to return to London for SQLBits again this year! I’ve written about why SQLBits is my favorite conference, and it’s hard to believe it’s been over a decade since I wrote that post. I still feel the same way about Bits – it’s fun, different, and unafraid to run big experiments. This year,…

I used to feel bad saying that any one conference is “my favorite” because I worried that other database conference organizers might feel slighted. However, I’ve talked to many of ’em, and they feel the same way I do, hahaha, so I don’t feel guilty about it anymore. SQLBits is my favorite database conference. They try…

SQLBits 2024 is next month, and the session agenda is out, including the Microsoft-led sessions. If you’re going to get the boss to buy you an online or in-person ticket, it’ll help if you have a specific list of sessions you wanna attend. Managers love it when you can point at each session and say,…

Going to the SQLBits conference? Whether you’re registering in-person or attending virtually, save 10% on your ticket with discount code OZAR102025. During the checkout process, look for this: And save yourself some quick bucks. The screen will refresh after you hit Apply, so make a note of the price before & after. You’re welcome! Register…

I was so excited when SQLBits announced their 2024 dates & location, and I told y’all that I was blocking out my calendar and I’d be there. Unfortunately, not gonna happen. This year, SQLBits dramatically cut payments for speakers. We used to get paid per attendee at our workshops, but that’s done. Now you get…

I hate picking favorites, but I gotta be honest: SQLBits is my favorite conference. Sure, like any conference, it has workshops, training days, and even a free community day, but the icing on the crumpet is the attendee party. Every year, Bits goes all out to pick a theme and throw a monster Friday night…

Conferences are back, baby! I’m in London for SQLBits 2022, the biggest Microsoft data conference in Europe. This year’s theme is classic video games, and it’s been really cool to see the 8-bit logos and games all over the ExCel Center. Today is the Microsoft keynote. It’s called Level Up with Azure Data, hosted by…

Registration just opened up for my SQLBits workshop on Mastering Parameter Sniffing! Move fast – due to COVID, they’re spacing out the attendees, so there are even less seats available than usual. My workshops usually sell out quickly, so if you want a seat, you’ll need to hustle in. Here’s the session abstract: You’re a…

You’re a database developer or DBA with at least 3 years experience performance tuning queries and indexes. You already know you have parameter sniffing issues, and now you need to figure out how to fix it. In this one-day class, you’ll learn how to reduce the blast radius with index changes, query tuning, and database-level…

You need to speed up a SQL Server app, but you only want to make index changes. You don’t want to buy hardware, change SQL Server, or change the code. I’ll teach you the most important advanced lessons in one day. In my one-day Mastering Index Tuning online workshop at SQLbits, you’ll learn: My D.E.A.T.H.…

Voting is open now for SQLBits sessions, and I have to warn you that there are a LOT of sessions to choose from. Bits doesn’t just flat out take the top vote-getting sessions – they use votes as part of the session selection factor – and I don’t want you to think I’m campaigning for…

Erik Darling is raising money for the Mercury Phoenix Trust, fighting AIDS worldwide to help save lives. If we raise $5,000, he’ll present his SQLbits indexing session dressed like Freddie Mercury: If I hit my goal on this, I'm gonna deliver my @SQLBits indexes session dressed like a proper Freddie. Working hard on my AY-YO.…

My Favorite Conference I love SQLBits, and not just because it gets me out of the country for a week. It’s about the best conference a training buck can buy. There’s tons of great technical material without a lot of the marketing schtick that tends to sneak in. Head over here to register now. I’m…

If you’re joining Erik & me at our SQLBits precon, Expert Performance Tuning for SQL Server 2016 & 2017, you’ll be able to follow along with the demos on your laptop. We’re going to be showing you some common and not-so-common query anti-patterns, and explaining how they’re easier to solve with SQL 2016 & 2017.…