SQL Server 2008 introduces new features in T-SQL for developers.  The data type enhancements for date and time plus a new syntax for initializing variables at declaration as well as simplification to value inserts with row constructors are welcome improvements that should be easy to learn and incorporate into code technique quickly.  However, other enhancements, which improve the sophistication of what can be done with one command, will require some explanation, study and play time. To help with this goal this presentation will explain and demo the 2008 T-SQL enhancements of User Defined Table type, Table Valued Parameters, The Merge statement, Grouping sets and the HierarchyID Data type.

Joshua Lynn started programming databases when he was 14 years old. Professionally Joshua has 17 years of IT consulting experience specializing in database design, development and performance enhancement.  Though his career he has lead IT and development teams in projects ranging from COLO fit-outs to full n-tier application development on the various incarnations of the Microsoft Platform.  His experience with SQL server goes back to version 6.5 where he thought triggers were real neat. Currently he is working on SQL server 2K5 projects and believes CTEs have enhanced the quality of his professional life.  Surprisingly Joshua's educational background is in Mechanical engineering and has no formal training in what he does for a living but does maintain an unusual passion for SQL and high performance database query algorithms. In his spare time he mentors high school students in building and programming robots for the FIRST Robotics Challenge an international completion with over 1500 teams and 35K students. Additionally Mr. Lynn is an advocate for Deadlock victims rights.