• Nested data structures keep coming up, especially for log files

    Updated: 2010-07-31 04:42:06
    Nested data structures have come up several times now, almost always in the context of log files. Google has published about a project called Dremel. Per Tasso Agyros, one of Dremel’s key concepts is nested data structures. Those arrays that the XLDB/SciDB folks keep talking about are meant to be nested data structures. Scientific data is of [...]

  • Teradata, Xkoto Gridscale (RIP), and active-active clustering

    Updated: 2010-07-31 02:23:57
    Having gotten a number of questions about Teradata’s acquisition of Xkoto, I leaned on Teradata for an update, and eventually connected with Scott Gnau. Takeaways included: Teradata is discontinuing Xkoto’s existing product Gridscale, which Scott characterized as being too OLTP-focused to be a good fit for Teradata. Teradata hopes and expects that existing Xkoto Gridscale [...]

  • Advice for some non-clients

    Updated: 2010-07-30 08:35:52
    Most of what I get paid for is in some form or other consulting. (The same would be true for many other analysts.) And so I can be a bit stingy with my advice toward non-clients. But my non-clients are a distinguished and powerful group, including in their number Oracle, IBM, Microsoft, and most of [...]

  • A few good posts for MySQL and Postgres

    Updated: 2010-07-29 14:37:16
    Thought I would share a few links that I read this morning. I don’t do a lot of link posts but these three came off my RSS, one after the other, and all three are worth sharing. The first is Will Oracle kill MySQL? Come on people! I can’t believe people are still stuck on this FUD. Ronald gives some good reasons why that is not likely. The only thing this kind of FUD… Read the rest!

  • Microstrategy technology notes

    Updated: 2010-07-29 11:51:42
    Earlier this week, Microstrategy made Mark LaRow available to talk about technology. The proximate reason was my recent mention of Microstrategy’s mobile BI emphasis, but we also touched on Microstrategy’s approach to in-memory business intelligence and some other subjects. We didn’t go into the depth of a similar conversation I had recently with Qlik Technologies, [...]

  • Installing Access 2010

    Updated: 2010-07-29 07:38:13
    Due to its widespread availability and flexible functionality, Microsoft Access is arguably the most popular database software in use today. In this "How To", we explain the Access installation process ...Read Full Post

  • How should somebody teach themselves database and programming skills?

    Updated: 2010-07-29 01:36:57
    From time to time,  I get in a conversation with somebody who is: Unemployed, underemployed, or otherwise desirous of having more commercial skills. Not a programmer, but desirous of having some technical skills. Astute enough to realize s/he will never be a serious techie. I generally have two models in mind when guiding such a person: Analytics/business intelligence/stats. Website building. Those are [...]

  • dbShards — a lot like an MPP OLTP DBMS based on MySQL or PostgreSQL

    Updated: 2010-07-28 03:39:11
    I talked yesterday w/ Cory Isaacson, who runs CodeFutures, makers of dbShards. dbShards is a software layer that turns an ordinary DBMS (currently MySQL or PostgreSQL) into an MPP shared-nothing ACID-compliant OLTP DBMS. Technical highlights included:  Despite heavy emphasis on the word “sharding,” dbShards’s scale-out is transparent to the application programmer. E.g., in dbShards [...]

  • Kickfire unlikely to survive

    Updated: 2010-07-27 12:56:48
    Following up on a previous report of Kickfire’s troubles — a Kickfire customer tipped me off that Kickfire told him they’re selling their IP and engineers, and the Kickfire products will be discontinued. At this time, I have no idea who the lucky buyer is.

  • Storing Binary Data in SQL Server

    Updated: 2010-07-27 07:18:14
    In a recent forum message, JohnSub wrote: "I need to save data into MS SQL Server programatically. The data has to be formatted as an array of bytes. What ...Read Full Post

  • Creating Databases and Tables

    Updated: 2010-07-25 07:17:25
    Are you ready to begin creating databases and tables with the Structured Query Language? Join us as we explore the process of creating tables and databases manually with the CREATE ...Read Full Post

  • False-positive alerts, non-collaborative BI, inaccurate metrics, and what to do about them

    Updated: 2010-07-25 02:58:31
    I’ve been hinting at some points for quite a long time, without really spelling them out in written form. So let’s fix that. I believe: “Push” alerting technology could be much more granular and useful, but is being held back by the problem of false positives. Metrics passed down from on high didn’t work too well in [...]

  • Some interesting links

    Updated: 2010-07-23 03:04:48
    In no particular order:  Neil Raden points out that business intelligence dashboards can be dangerously misleading. His reasoning (sound) is that whatever you measure is apt to be distorted by the fact people know they’re being measured. His solution (implied) is to hire a good-looking consultant like himself to do it right. I’ve had my issues [...]

  • Yet more on the GPL, WordPress themes, and the implications for MySQL storage engines

    Updated: 2010-07-22 22:53:56
    The debate I wrote about a few days ago over whether or not the WordPress theme called Thesis needed to be GPLed has been resolved in practice – it will be. More precisely, the parts that WordPress developers and the Free Software Foundation said need to be GPLed will be GPLed, while the rest won’t [...]

  • Using SQL Server Table Designer

    Updated: 2010-07-22 18:04:35
    SQL Server databases rely upon tables to store data. In this tutorial, we explore the process of designing and implementing a database table in Microsoft SQL Server. Read ...Read Full Post

  • Selecting SQL Server Data Types

    Updated: 2010-07-20 07:03:24
    Selecting appropriate data types is one of the most important considerations when designing a SQL Server database. Choices you make in the database design phase may have a significant impact ...Read Full Post

  • My view of intellectual property

    Updated: 2010-07-19 01:49:14
    The purpose of legal intellectual property protections, simply put, is to help make it a good decision to create something. The specific phrasing in the United States Constitution is To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries; but [...]

  • Identifying a Database

    Updated: 2010-07-18 06:01:13
    In a recent forum message, nybor_yam wrote: "I'm a recent grad and have been trying to help (volunteer position to help gain experience) a division of the Asthma Society (a non-profit ...Read Full Post

  • Export Data from an Access 2007 Database to an Excel Spreadsheet

    Updated: 2010-07-15 07:21:53
    It's often necessary to convert data stored in an Access database to another form, such as an Excel workbook. You may wish to take advantage of some of Excel's unique ...Read Full Post

  • A Quick Overview of Graphing Databases Alagad Ally

    Updated: 2010-07-14 02:08:49
    Home Alagad Projects ANT4CF Captcha ColdBooks Flash Inspector Fortune Web Service Image Component IMAP Watcher Reactor SNMP Event Gateway Validat Zip Component Audio Visual Slides Videos Alagad Ally Web Development Task Force This is where we talk technology , company culture , community and shop . All are welcome to interact A Quick Overview of Graphing Databases Alagad Business Book Reviews : Drive by Daniel H . Pink iPhone Development Happens NCDevCon2010 A Spontaneous Adventure Alagad Biz Book Club Reviews : The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People Jul 13 2010 Doug Hughes 2 Comments A Quick Overview of Graphing Databases I recently started work on a new project which , to avoid getting into too many details , is a social media application with similarities to Twitter , Facebook ,

  • Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-13

    Updated: 2010-07-13 21:23:00
    Log in Database Geek Blog Database Stuff , from a Geek Home About Feeds Subscribe to Feed Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-13 Posted in July 13, 2010 4:23 . pmh Lewi No Comments Got my OCP card in the mail today . http : twitpic.com 230ilr DB Geek says : Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-07-06 : Blogged ODTUG Kaleidoscope 2010 The Journey So Far htt http : bit.ly bVYwF2 Cloud Comments : Comment on A quick overview of PuTTY and SSH for AWS Newbies by Installing a headless GeoServer on http : bit.ly d1jO66 Interesting . Oracle Adds Support for Open-source R the language http : bit.ly bpA7mh I slept right through the bi 11g webcast . Didn't even notice it was AM until now . Bummer . Blog Talk : Comment by Chris Barnhart on EDB Tip 4 Database Links in EDB http : bit.ly 9iyGHq Blog Talk :

  • Counting and Grouping Data in Microsoft Access

    Updated: 2010-07-13 07:06:59
    In a recent forum message, luzhen 88 wrote: "I have a MS Access Database file. In my query, I would like to group all of the Company Names and count ...Read Full Post

  • Access 2010 Tour

    Updated: 2010-07-11 15:03:58
    If you're switching to Microsoft Access 2010 from an earlier version, you're bound to immediately notice some changes. If you've been using Access 2007, the ribbon-based user interface will look ...Read Full Post

  • Introduction to Database Keys

    Updated: 2010-07-08 07:35:02
    As you may already know, databases use tables to organize information. (If you don't have a basic familiarity with database concepts, read What is a Database?) Each table consists of ...Read Full Post

Current Feed Items | Previous Months Items

Jun 2010 | May 2010 | Apr 2010 | Mar 2010 | Feb 2010 | Jan 2010