Distilled Side-Effects

SQL (Structured Query Language) is not just for querying data; it also has robust mathematical capabilities that allow you to perform various calculations directly within your queries. Here’s an overview of how to perform mathematical operations in SQL, along with examples. 1. Basic Arithmetic Operations SQL supports the four basic arithmetic operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. You can use these operators directly in your SQL queries. Addition (+): SELECT price, quantity, (price * quantity) AS total_cost FROM products; Subtraction (-): SELECT employee_id, salary, (salary - deductions) AS net_salary FROM employees; Multiplication (*): SELECT item, price, quantity, (price * quantity) AS total_price FROM inventory; Division (/): SELECT sales, expenses, (sales / expenses) AS profit_margin FROM financials; 2. Aggregate Functions SQL provides built-in aggregate function...

.NET Development with Oracle Databases You might wonder, “Why would I develop .NET applications with Oracle databases, knowing that Microsoft SQL Server and related services are tightly integrated with .NET, and easily accessible within Microsoft’s development tools?” As a Technology Architect designing government projects, I’ve had to work in environments where clients use various database systems, including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle databases, and others. But hold on to your $1,000 iPhone—Oracle offers a suite of tools for .NET development: .NET Core for Visual Studio Code .NET Core for Visual Studio .NET Framework for Visual Studio .NET Core Command Line Additionally, just like Microsoft, Oracle provides free development databases and tools for both Windows and Linux. Setting Up the Environment Setting up the environment using the .NET Core Command Line involves four basic steps (Note: Depending on your configuration, it's best to run ...

Business Analyst & Software Development Business Analyst & Software Development People are often impressed when they find out that I’m a business analyst who can also develop software. My preferred tech stack includes Microsoft C#, .NET, and Blazor. For those unfamiliar: C# is Microsoft’s answer to Java (though it came after Java). .NET is Microsoft’s backend framework, offering a wide range of services designed to help applications run on any system (though that vision is still evolving). Blazor (initially developed by open-source contributors) is Microsoft’s latest attempt to create web applications that run everywhere—a dream that is still ongoing. When I talk about programming, I like to tell people, "I can teach you how to do that." Writing code is often the easier part of software development. It’s the testing and debugging that are much harder. Some tests take two seconds, while others can take two weeks—and, honestly, testin...

The Rule of Threes – Managing Client Expectations Managing client expectations is crucial for successful project delivery and maintaining strong client relationships. One effective framework for this is the Rule of Threes, which simplifies complex concepts into three key areas: communication, deliverables, and feedback. Here’s how to implement this rule effectively. 1. Communication Effective communication is the foundation for managing client expectations. Regular Updates: Provide consistent updates to clients about project progress. Set a schedule for regular check-ins (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly meetings) to discuss status, challenges, and next steps. Clear Language: Avoid jargon and technical language. Use simple terms to explain project details, timelines, and any potential issues, ensuring clients understand what to expect. Set Boundaries: Establish clear lines of communication. Define how clients can reach y...

Looking at the Obvious – Ensuring SharePoint is Accessible to Everyone Accessibility in SharePoint is crucial to ensure that all users, including those with disabilities, can navigate, interact, and consume content effectively. Microsoft provides various tools and best practices to ensure SharePoint is accessible, compliant with accessibility standards such as WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines), and usable by everyone. Let’s look at some of the tools available for making SharePoint accessible and how to use them. 1. Accessibility Checker The Accessibility Checker in Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) ensures that documents created and uploaded to SharePoint are accessible to all users. How to Use: Open the document you plan to upload to SharePoint. Go to the Review tab. Click on Check Accessibility . Review the recommendations and warnings (e.g., missing alt text, poor contr...

There are countless applications for pulling and pushing data through pipelines, many of which offer the ability to display data in various types of graphs. Microsoft’s Power BI stands out, continuously evolving as a robust tool for data visualization and reporting. Think of it as MS Excel with pivot tables for the web—though there's also a downloadable desktop version if you prefer to avoid relying solely on Office 365. &nbsp The beauty of Power BI, like many Microsoft products, lies in its seamless integration with other MS tools. Users can easily move data from MS Excel to Power BI and back again, and Power BI can also connect to the BI server or integrate with Azure, enhancing its functionality. &nbsp Now, let's get creative. Picture Power BI as an art school drop-out who later majored in mathematics with a minor in statistics. Its true strength is its ability to transform raw data into visually stunning representations, pe...

To comply with the latest industry security standards for TLS and its associated cipher suites, the folks at Atlassian, an Australian software company, will be deprecating support for older, less secure cipher suites. This change will take effect on August 5, 2024. &nbsp The Impact effects mail; After August 5, 2024, some TLS cipher suites may no longer work. This could affect incoming mail connections using 'Basic' authentication. &nbsp User might see the following error message: "Remote host terminated the handshake," User of OAuth Access authentication should not be impacted. &nbsp Avoid the problem: Check Supported TLS Cipher Suites: To avoid disruptions in your incoming emails, review your email server and incoming email configurations to ensure they use one of the supported TLS cipher suites. &nbsp Most Hosted Email Services will provide support on cipher suites. Self-Hosted Email Servers: If you operate your own email serve...

Microsoft Visio and Power BI can integrate, enabling users to visualize data in Power BI dashboards using Visio diagrams. This combination allows you to present data through charts, graphs, and visually detailed diagrams mapping processes, networks, and organizational structures. 1. Why Integrate Visio and Power BI? Integrating Visio with Power BI provides visual context to your data: Enrich dashboards with process flows, system architecture diagrams, or visual layouts. Provide interactive data-driven diagrams showing real-time performance or relationships. Create holistic visual reports combining data analysis with spatial or logical diagrams. 2. How Does It Work? a. Create Your Visio Diagram Create your Visio diagram, ensuring shapes are data-linked to sources like Excel, SharePoint, or SQL Server. b. Embed Visio into Power BI In Power BI, go to the Visualizations pane and click the Visio Visual icon...

Introduction During my contract at the MTA, I had the opportunity to transform how the department of subways managed its data. Instead of relying on the standard Extract, Transform, Load (ETL) methods, I introduced the concept of Digital Twins. This innovative approach enabled us to capture and digitize the tacit knowledge of team members, allowing us to convert hidden data into actionable insights for improved departmental management. What is a Digital Twin? A Digital Twin is a virtual representation of a physical entity, system, or process that mirrors its real-time conditions, behaviors, and attributes. It acts as a bridge between the physical and digital worlds, allowing for monitoring, simulation, and optimization of systems. The Process of Implementing Digital Twins at MTA Understanding the Current Landscape: Engaged with team members to understand existing processes, challenges, and hidden knowledge that was not capt...

Although I live in NYC, I'm a member of the Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Data Management Association (DAMA). DAMA is a non-profit, vendor-independent professional organization dedicated to advancing data asset management concepts. Like most associations, DAMA offers its members various events, such as monthly meetings, trainings, and social gatherings. If you're interested in data management, I highly recommend joining DAMA. If the Rocky Mountain Chapter isn't in your region, find one that is. For graduating students or retirees, it serves as a gateway to education, certification, and career advancement in the data management profession. And, of course, you might even make some new friends. Your first year of membership is free, and the study groups are a significant benefit. These groups typically meet once a month, connecting you with like-minded individuals studying for the Data Management Certification. Additionally, DAMA offers discounted trainin...

Finger Power – Tab Stash Effective Organizing Props to Josh Berry for creating Tab Stash , a powerful Firefox extension designed to help users organize their tabs efficiently. By stashing away tabs when they are not immediately needed, Tab Stash helps keep your browser window tidy and reduces memory usage. Key Features: Quick Stashing: Stash open tabs with a single click and easily restore them later. Organized Stashes: Tabs are automatically organized into groups, but you can also customize them to suit your workflow. Efficient Search: Find specific tabs quickly using the search function. Bookmark Integration: Stashed tabs are always available, even if you disable or uninstall the extension. Privacy and Efficiency: Tab Stash is lightweight and designed with user privacy in mind. With Tab Stash, you can declutter your browser and improve your productivity.

Microsoft’s Physiology -- Understanding .NET and DB Connections "Microsoft’s Physiology" isn’t a commonly used phrase in tech, but I assume you're asking for an understanding of how .NET interacts with databases (DB connections) within Microsoft’s ecosystem. I’ll break it down into key components: 1. .NET Framework Overview .NET is a software framework developed by Microsoft that provides a controlled environment for the development and execution of applications. It supports multiple languages (like C#, VB.NET, and F#) and is widely used for developing Windows applications, web applications, and cloud services. Here’s how it fits in with database connectivity: 2. ADO.NET for Database Connectivity ADO.NET is the part of the .NET framework responsible for data access. It provides a bridge between the front-end application and databases, enabling interaction with relational databases like ...

NodeJS Ambiguity — .mjs, CommonJS, and ES Modules The .mjs extension is used for JavaScript modules in the ECMAScript (ES) module format. Below are key points to help you navigate the often-confusing landscape of CommonJS vs ES Modules in Node.js. 1. Module Syntax Files with the .mjs extension allow you to use modern import and export statements, enabling modular programming in JavaScript. This provides a standardized way to manage dependencies and organize code. 2. Differentiation from .js While .js files can be used for both CommonJS ( require/module.exports ) and ES modules, .mjs explicitly indicates that the file is an ES module. This explicitness helps avoid ambiguity in environments that support both module types. 3. Browser and Node.js Support Modern browsers and Node.js support the .mjs extension. In Node.js you can alternatively set "type": "module" in pac...

Litepicker is a lightweight and easy-to-implement date picker. If you're working in a Node.js environment, simply install it via the command line with: &nbsp For a bash install use the command line: npm install litepicker &nbsp Alternatively, you can use the CDN for quick integration. &nbsp &nbsp If you're using TypeScript and encounter an error, try adding `esModuleInterop` to your `tsconfig.json` file. For more details, check the documentation. &nbsp In addition to the usual date-picking features, Litepicker offers several useful plugins, such as: &nbsp &nbsp Keyboard accessibility &nbsp &nbsp Mobile-friendly design &nbsp &nbsp Predefined date range &nbsp &nbsp Multiple date selection &nbsp Litepicker is open-source, well-documented, and works seamlessly with your custom CSS.

You might wonder, “Why would I develop .NET applications with Oracle databases, knowing that Microsoft SQL Server and related services are tightly integrated with .NET, and easily accessible within Microsoft’s development tools?” &nbsp As a Technology Architect designing government projects, I’ve had to work in environments where clients use various database systems, including Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle databases, and others. &nbsp But hold on to your $1,000 iPhone—Oracle offers a suite of tools for .NET development: - .NET Core for Visual Studio Code - .NET Core for Visual Studio - .NET Framework for Visual Studio - .NET Core Command Line &nbsp Additionally, just like Microsoft, Oracle provides free development databases and tools for both Windows and Linux. So, how does the magic happen? Setting up the environment using the .NET Core Command Line involves four basic steps (Note: Depending on your configuration, it's best to run the comman...