SQLBits

👋 Hey DBAs, Developers & Performance Tuners… Most people think performance tuning is all about indexes, query rewrites, and “making things faster”. But one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in SQL Server and Azure SQL Database is something far more fundamental: how your database handles multiple users at the same time. Take a look at this session from 2024 with Bob Pusateri to get a clear, practical understanding of transaction isolation levels, and why they matter far more than most people realise. You’ll learn: ✅ how SQL Server and Azure SQL Database manage concurrent reads and writes ✅ why blocking and locking issues happen (and why indexing alone won’t fix them) ✅ how different isolation levels change what data you actually see ✅ when higher isolation improves correctness… and when it destroys performance ✅ how READ COMMITTED, REPEATABLE READ, and SERIALIZABLE really behave under load ✅ how concurrency settings can remove bottlenecks you can’t tune away ✅ how small isolation changes can have a major impact on throughput and responsiveness These aren’t edge-case behaviours, they’re everyday production realities in busy systems. If you’ve ever chased “mysterious blocking issues” or performance drops that didn’t make sense… this session will reframe how you think about concurrency entirely. https://lnkd.in/eXhEWz9i 📬 Want to stay in the loop for SQLBits 2027? Sign up to our newsletter to get early updates and access to launch-price tickets as soon as they go live. #SQLBits #SQLServer #DBA #AzureSQL #DataEngineering #PerformanceTuning #Concurrency #Transactions #IsolationLevels

SQLBits 2026 raised £890 for this year's charity Code Club, backed by Raspberry Pi Foundation, through swag sales, supporting their work helping young people build confidence and skills through creative coding. During the week we hosted two fully booked Code Club workshops for young people, giving them the chance to build and experiment with coding in a fun, supportive environment. They also spent time in the Expo Hall, exploring the event space and experiencing a technology conference for the first time. Code Club was woven into the programme in some additional ways. On Wednesday, Justin Bird and Sarah Roberts (Code Club’s Community Manager for Wales) ran a session on running Code Clubs, sharing practical advice on setting up and sustaining clubs, including approaches for different learning needs. In the evening, SQLBits attendees had the option to join a hands-on “Code Club Experience – for Adults!” session, recreating a typical club session through creative coding challenges and small projects. With £890 raised and strong engagement across all sessions, this year’s partnership added a meaningful community dimension to SQLBits while supporting Code Club’s wider mission. Following the success of this year’s programme, there’s a strong intention to run these sessions again at future events and continue building on what’s been started. https://lnkd.in/eT8mAgq7 #SQLBits #CodeClub #RaspberryPiFoundation #EdTech #CodingForKids #DigitalSkills #STEMEducation #TechCommunity #DataCommunity #Volunteering #InclusionInTech #FutureDevelopers

If you weren’t at SQLBits 2026, this is what you missed. Stay tuned for news on SQLBits 2027 via our mailing list so you don’t miss a thing https://lnkd.in/eExMh6X4. #SQLBits2027 #THEdatabaseconference

As we reported earlier this week, great to see this conversation taking place at parliamentary level, where our founder Simon Sabin took part in roundtable discussions and shared learnings. The intent across our industry is encouraging and clear, but the lack of consistency in accessibility standards is still a real barrier to meaningful progress. A shared, practical framework feels like an important next step if we want to move from intention to action. #SQLBits #Accessibility #InclusiveEvents #Neurodiversity #CommunityMatters #EventsIndustry

Couldn't have said it better ourselves! 🤩

For years, accessibility at events has largely been measured by things you can see, such as ramps, lifts and accessible toilets. While these are clearly important, the conversation is evolving. A new industry report highlights a growing recognition that accessibility is also about how people experience an event; because getting into the venue isn't the same as feeling comfortable once you're there. The report found that attendees are still struggling with things like overcrowding, sensory overload, unclear communication, long queues and simply not knowing what to expect before they arrive. We're proud to share that SQLBits has been featured as a case study in this report alongside organisations like GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL EVENTS LIMITED, NatWest and Cvent, not because we've 'solved' accessibility, but because we've spent years listening to our community and trying things differently. Quiet rooms. Bits Buddies. Free childcare. Free Community Day. Hybrid attendance on site. Grab-and-go catering. An on-site counsellor. Detailed pre-event communications. Relaxed networking. We could go on... Many of these ideas came about because the people behind SQLBits are conference attendees too. We know what it's like to walk into a room full of strangers, to feel overwhelmed by noise and crowds, or simply to need a bit of space from time to time. The things highlighted in the report are, in many cases, solutions to challenges we've experienced ourselves. It's encouraging to see the wider events industry recognising that accessibility is about much more than compliance. The full report makes for a fascinating read if you're involved in organising events of any kind. https://lnkd.in/eRU2zYrR ICC Wales The Business of Events #SQLBits #Accessibility #InclusiveEvents #Neurodiversity #CommunityMatters #EventsIndustry

Anyone with SQLBits withdrawal symptoms and not booked in for this - it's nearly time for PASS Data Community Summit in Europe! Access world-class training and an unrivalled community experience at PASS Summit Europe (Frankfurt, June 10-11). From the 2025 Attendee Survey: ✅ 99% left with actionable knowledge they could apply straight away ✅ 91% rated session quality 4 or 5 stars ✅ 86% made meaningful new connections with peers who understand their world Make the most of your time on-site with an action packed agenda: Explore a topic in-depth at a full day Pre-Con Delve into a variety of subjects with 18 general Sessions Connect with over 20 industry expert speakers, including Brent Ozar, Erland Sommarskog, Ben Weissman, Mariya Ali, and many more Network with vendors in the Exhibit Hall Benefit from 1:1 personal support at the Community Experts Clinic. Redeem code 'RGCEUROPE26' at checkout to save 50% on your ticket to PASS Summit Europe 2026. https://lnkd.in/gz7nWjZE

Thanks SQLBits! (Again) Those 4 days were the best 3 weeks I’ve in 6 months! Yes, its a meme thing, but I got a week of vacation before and after and more time doing fun things than I have in a very long time. First time in Europe and ready to go back. Maybe Italy? South of France? Spain? The conference was great and is a strong consideration for going next year. I even got some solid leads out of it that came up to me, rather then me shoving business cards in everyone’s hands. Which is good, because I don’t have any ;) Kevin