Not all SQL performance problems should be solved by throwing more hardware and more indexes at the database.  A better query will always outperform any hardware-only solution since a better query will still run faster on better hardware than a poorly written one.  Load your T-SQL development toolbox with tips, tricks, and techniques to make your sloth like database applications dance and sing.  Learn why Common Table Expressions (CTEs) are you friends; when a cursor will outperform other query techniques and why at all other times it should be avoided like the plague. Once you've sworn off cursors, learn how to deal with all the data at once. Why learning to develop triggers will make you a better developer even if you never use them since you also learned how to do advanced table constraints that outperform triggers and are easier to write.  This presentation is target at anyone who writes T-SQL code including middle tier developers.

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.