4 min read
Vector Databases: What I Learned From Using 5 Different Ones
I've deployed vector databases for RAG systems across 5 different projects. Each project chose a different solution. Here's what I actually learned.
Database
37 articles
1 min read
Natural Language to SQL: Building Text-to-SQL Systems
Text-to-SQL democratizes data access by enabling natural language queries.
1 min read
PostgreSQL with pgvector: Open Source Vector Search
pgvector enables AI-ready applications using familiar PostgreSQL infrastructure.
1 min read
Cosmos DB Vector Search: Building AI-Ready Databases
Cosmos DB vector search brings global scale and multi-model capabilities to AI applications.
1 min read
Vector Database Evolution: What's Changing in 2025
Vector databases in 2025 are more capable, efficient, and integrated than ever. Choose based on your specific requirements for scale, latency, and…
1 min read
PostgreSQL in Microsoft Fabric: What to Expect
PostgreSQL in Fabric will bring familiar PostgreSQL capabilities to the unified data platform. Start preparing now by designing schemas that work well with…
1 min read
SQL Database in Microsoft Fabric: Deep Dive
SQL Database in Fabric brings enterprise-grade transactional capabilities to the unified data platform, with seamless integration to analytical workloads…
1 min read
Azure SQL Mirroring to Fabric: Complete Setup Guide
1. Navigate to your workspace 2. Click New Mirrored Database 3. Select Azure SQL Database 4. Configure connection: Server name Database name Authentication…
1 min read
Fabric Mirroring GA: Real-Time Database Replication
Mirroring creates a continuously synchronized copy of your operational database in OneLake as Delta Lake tables: As of GA: Azure SQL Database : Full support…
1 min read
Azure Cosmos DB Best Practices for 2022
The partition key decision is crucial and difficult to change later: New in 2022 partition up to 3 levels: Optimize indexing for your query patterns: Write…
1 min read
Schema Compare in Azure Data Studio
Schema Compare is essential for maintaining database consistency across environments.
1 min read
Azure SQL Managed Instance Updates - September 2022
Instance pools allow you to host multiple Managed Instances with shared resources, optimizing costs for smaller workloads.
1 min read
Azure SQL Database Updates - September 2022
Azure SQL Database's continuous improvements make it an excellent choice for cloud-native applications requiring robust, scalable database capabilities.
1 min read
Azure Cosmos DB API for MongoDB: Patterns and Best Practices
Azure Cosmos DB's MongoDB API provides a powerful option for teams wanting MongoDB compatibility with Azure's enterprise-grade platform.
1 min read
Azure Cosmos DB Updates - September 2022
The latest updates bring significant performance enhancements to Cosmos DB, including optimized query execution and improved throughput management.
1 min read
Edge Computing Database Patterns and Best Practices
Handle intermittent connectivity by storing data locally and forwarding when connected. Reduce data volume by aggregating at the edge before cloud sync.
1 min read
Database Patterns for IoT Applications
These patterns form the foundation for building scalable, performant IoT database solutions.
1 min read
Azure SQL Edge for IoT and Edge Computing
Azure SQL Edge enables intelligent edge computing with the familiar SQL Server programming model.
2 min read
SQL Server 2022 Preview: Key Features for Developers
SQL Server 2022 entered public preview in late 2021 and continued preview through 2022 with a feature set deliberately designed to bridge the gap between…
1 min read
Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server Deep Dive
Flexible Server gives you the power of managed PostgreSQL with the flexibility to tune it for your specific needs.
1 min read
Leveraging MySQL 8.0 Features on Azure
MySQL 8.0 features significantly enhance your application capabilities on Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server.
1 min read
Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server: A Complete Guide
Flexible Server provides the enterprise features you need while maintaining the simplicity of a managed service.
1 min read
Mastering Azure SQL Elastic Pools for Cost-Effective Multi-Tenant Solutions
The key benefit of elastic pools is resource sharing. If you have 100 databases that each spike at different times, you don't need to provision for 100…
1 min read
Azure SQL Hyperscale: The Ultimate Database Scaling Solution
Traditional database architectures couple compute and storage tightly together. Hyperscale breaks this coupling by introducing a distributed storage…
1 min read
PostgreSQL Hyperscale (Citus) on Azure: Distributed Database Patterns
Hyperscale uses the Citus extension to create a distributed database: Coordinator : Routes queries, stores metadata Workers : Store data shards, execute…
1 min read
Azure Database for MySQL: Flexible Server Deep Dive
For larger databases, use Azure Database Migration Service.
2 min read
Azure SQL Managed Instance: Migration Patterns and Best Practices
Azure SQL Managed Instance is the SQL Server target I recommend most for lift-and-shift migrations from on-premises SQL Server. It's PaaS—no OS to patch…
2 min read
SQL Server to Azure SQL Migration - A Complete Guide
SQL Server to Azure SQL migration is the database journey I've been on more times than any other, and the first decision that shapes everything else is…
2 min read
Azure Cosmos DB Serverless - Pay Per Request Database
We had a Cosmos DB Serverless conversation at the end of 2020 and I'm returning to it because the experience of using it in actual development over two…
2 min read
Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server - A Deep Dive
Flexible Server is the deployment option I now default to when a client asks "which PostgreSQL on Azure should I use?" The original Single Server mode…
1 min read
Azure SQL Hyperscale: Massive Scale SQL
There's a moment in any growing SaaS where someone runs spspaceused and the room goes quiet—the database is approaching the 4 TB ceiling and the migration…
1 min read
Azure SQL Security Features: Protect Your Data
Encrypt sensitive columns—keys never exposed to SQL Server. Azure SQL security is comprehensive—use all layers for maximum protection.
1 min read
Azure Cosmos DB Partitioning Strategies
Of every Cosmos DB design conversation I've had, partition key choice is the one that has the biggest cost-and-performance consequence and the smallest…
1 min read
Microsoft Dataverse: The Power Platform Database
Dataverse is the glue that connects Power Platform components.
1 min read
Azure Cosmos DB Consistency Levels Explained
Strong and Bounded Staleness cost double because reads wait for quorum. Start with Session - it provides intuitive consistency for users while maintaining…
1 min read
Azure SQL Managed Instance: SQL Server in the Cloud
Things you can't do in Azure SQL Database but can in Managed Instance. Real-time replication from on-premises SQL Server to Managed Instance - useful for…
2 min read
Cost Optimization with Azure SQL Elastic Pools
SaaS clients with per-tenant database isolation hit the same wall once they cross about 20 customers: the bill for a hundred half-idle Standard tier…