Here is a link to my Powerpoint Slides. and Example Code.
It's been quite a year for me as a database software engineer, phew!
In October 2010, the previous database engineer quit, and I inherited a ton of design and development work, as well as supporting a continuous integration build, deploy, and release environment. Several different projects were started within the company that required new SQL Server databases, schemas, and procedures. A reporting solution was desired, which gave me the opportunity to design my first data warehouse from scratch. Referring to the Ralph Kimball school of warehouse design, I created a star schema of dimension and fact tables, and associated SSIS packages to load and refresh everything. An existing legacy custom .NET application was in place to create and view reports. I proposed we switch to SQL Server Reporting Services to get out of the "report builder" business. I built a set of SSRS reports to surface key business metrics from the warehouse.
During the year made a point to attend the New England SQL Server User Group meetings in Waltham, and attended the local SQL Saturday events as well.
Along the way, I spent my free time pursuing a SQL Server certification. After much studying, I took and passed the 70-433 (TSQL) exam in June.
This October I attended the SQL PASS Summit in Seattle where I "drank from the firehose" of SQL Server knowledge. There were many great presentations and the chance to learn from luminaries in the field such as Itzik Ben-Gan, Adam Machanic, Dr. David DeWitt, Kalen Delaney, Paul Randal, Kimberly Tripp, Brent Ozar, and many others.
Back at work, I've been shifted from the Data Warehouse project into a new project to design and build a high-volume OLTP application database.
Oh, and along the way my division, Iron Mountain's Digital divison, was sold to Autonomy. Autonomy itself was then soon acquired by HP.
So it's been a whirlwind 12 months. I can't wait to find out what 2012 has in store!
