Arcane Code

At @FABConSQLCon , fantastic session earlier by @Microsoft’s #handsome, #articulate and #classy @SQLBalls

@KimZetter I got a coupon for 5% off my next purchase of a computer, from the company that got sued.

I'm part of about 5 different class-action lawsuits at the moment and I just got my payout for one of them: $20 🙂

@guyrleech I keep laptop chargers all over the house, plus an extra in my laptop bag so I’ll never forget it. Got easier when I switched to USB-C power. I found I can get USB-C adapters for various power tips.

Sat at desk hitting keyboard and wondering why monitors not coming to life only to notice laptop is MIA. 😄 Go downstairs to get it, not there and remember it's in the bedroom (all three locations have 65w USB-C PSUs & magnetic connectors on the cables)

At @AndyLeonard recommendation I’ve started listening to Vibe Coding by Gene Kim (Phoenix Project, etc). Got me to thinking. Right now, when I ask @Copilot for code, I specify the language. Wondering how much longer before it starts picking out the best language for the job? Or even more, it goes directly to low level code (assembly, or heck even binary) for the code it produces, skipping over anything I can read?

Was hoping for a quiet holiday, catch up on blogging after 2+ years. New job, I come down with Cancer, youngest daughter (25) has an array of issues including POTS, EDS, Celiac. Then, 2 weeks ago wife breaks her ankle, had surgery last Monday. No walking. #NoRestForTheWicked

Wow. I remember having one of the original Pebbles. I really liked it for its ability to show my text messages. At the time I think I had a Windows Phone, although it might have been an Android. Today I’ve gone down the Apple road, phone, watch, iPads, MacBooks. Still have Windows and Linux computers too.

Pebble is set for a massive comeback! itsfoss.com/news/pebble-re…

@drsql Maybe consider using PowerShell, it could grab data, to transforms with RegEx then push back to SQL. Could even trigger execution of the PS from SQL.

Working on some code that needs (so far) 19 nested REPLACE function calls in one expression. So ready for Regular Expressions in the version of SQL I am coding on :)

@itsfoss VSCode, PowerShell, StandardNotes

Comment 🐧

@DevLeaderCa @fjzeit I’ve been in IT for 40 years. In all that time I never had an interview that involved coding. Had some that asked coding questions, but never had to write anything.

Every interview loop I've ever done has had coding *except* for one. That's all of my internships and all of my professional experience after university. That's *also* as an Engineering Manager, which is even more wild to me. Amazon EM interview loop was the only exception to this. Every other interview loop has had some kind of LeetCode question and I think it's the most ridiculous way to waste time for everyone involved (with a terrible signal).

My lived experience is bullshit apparently.

@SQLBalls @sqlsatorlando Thanks! I very much look forward to watching these! 😄

@arcanecode @sqlsatorlando The main thing is that Copilots are tuned per service, with a Data Agents we can shape the agents with Instructions, Instructions per data source, and example queries for Warehouse, Lakehouse, or KQL DB’s.

Thank you to everyone who made it out to my session Microsoft Fabric Copilots & Data Agents at @sqlsatorlando!! #SQLSatOrlando #MicrosoftFabric #Copilot cc @talesfromthefield.bsky.social

The flip side is from the company perspective. Are they in a big town where developers are plentiful? Great. My company HQ is in a small town, so they had to go remote (me) to find someone with the skill set they needed. I’m glad they did, I love working there! (Kent Worldwide)

What are your thoughts on the future of remote work for software development? Back to office orrrr?

@DevLeaderCa It really depends on the person, some folks can work great on their own. Others work better in collaboration. For me, I work much better in isolation. But I also get my work done on time, and have had decades experience doing it.

Is it wrong that I really, really, REALLY want Clippy to be the official mascot for @Copilot ?

@InterestingSTEM I went through this at the start of the year. It’s how they determined I have stage 3 prostate cancer. Been going through treatment since, including 6 weeks of radiation and will be on hormone suppressants until 2027. Get checked guys, because this sucks.

Prostate biopsy

@DevLeaderCa In large part it depends on the company you are at. If they are employee focused, helping you to grow, then sticking around is a good thing. If they are looking for another warm body in a seat to crank out code, then you are best to learn what you can, and when you have move on.

What’s your take on job-hopping for software developers? Is it a path to success or instability?

@AndyLeonard Correlation, no matter how long it will take, it will always take longer.

Related...

@elonmusk, confirming software delivery is inherently inestimable (my interpretation).

@InterestingSTEM Close! The phone and snake anyway. I guess I have an old soul, as I do collect antique radios (see more at my n4ixt.com site).

Are you this old?

@GFritchey @redgate I will say even after many years @RedGate continues to impress. Excellent products (we have several toolbelt licenses), great community support, and all their employees seem to love working there.

I could not love my job at @redgate more