I have been very lucky to work with a number of great SQL Server guys for the last few years. One of those SQL Stars that I always admired is Adam Haines, who is very passionate about SQL Server and is involved into a number of voluntary activities for helping the SQL Server community.
I worked with Adam for quite a long time in the MSDN SQL Server forums. Recently, Adam offered to help the TSQL Challenges Team and started taking a number of responsibilities in the planning and execution of TSQL Challenges.
Microsoft recently recognized his technical expertise and community efforts and awarded him with the MVP status. The whole TSQL Challenges team is very excited and proud of this exceptional recognition and achievement.
To share this joy with the readers of TSQL Challenges, I did a quick interview with Adam and here is a brief abstract of the same.
Adam Haines
Jacob: Well, I am pretty sure every one knows you, however, it is a good idea to start an interview with a brief description of yourself. So, please…
Adam: My name is Adam Haines and I currently reside in the New Orleans, Louisiana AKA “The Big Easy”. I have been working with database technology professionally since 2004. A fact that most do not know about me is that my first name is James. To make a long story short my mother named me James because it is a family name, but decided to call me Adam because she liked it better. I started my career in the banking industry, as a database analyst, where I primarily worked with Microsoft Access databases, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server Integration Services and SQL Server Reporting Services. I accepted my current position as Database Administrator at Stewart Enterprises about two and a half years ago. In my current position, I primarily work on database development and performance tuning and optimization. I started helping in the SQL Server community about two and a half years ago, by participating in forums and writing articles for SQLServerCentral.com. On a more personal note, I am married with 2 beautiful children. I have a 2 year old daughter and a 6 month old son. When I am away from the computer, I love spending my time with my family.
Jacob: The whole TSQL Challenges Team is very excited about your new MVP Status. You have been doing a great job for the SQL Server community. How do you feel about being part of the MVP Community?
Adam: It feels AMAZING to be part of such an elite group of professionals! Receiving the award has given me an even deeper desire to help the SQL Server community. I sometimes feel a little insignificant when I think about all the other great MVP talent and what they have accomplished, but we all have to start somewhere. For me the ride is just beginning; I have a lot of hard work, learning, and community effort ahead of me.
Jacob: How do you explain the importance of writing SET based queries to the readers?
Adam: SET based queries should be the main focus for every SQL Server developer. The most difficult concept to grasp is thinking in terms of chunks or sets of data and not using procedural logic. A significant portion of the performance problems I encounter occur because a procedural approach is taken to solve a business problem and not a SET based one. I cannot express enough how important SET based query logic is to SQL Server. In laymen’s terms SET based queries can be the difference between aggravated customers and happy customers.
Jacob: You have helped a large number of people on the MSDN TSQL forums. What is the most frequently asked TSQL question that you have come across?
Adam: When you hang around in the MSDN TSQL forums for a while, you realize that a lot of the requests are the same, but in varying forms. The most common question I see is “how do I concatenate column data into a single delimited string or array.” It is quite amusing that the second most asked question is, “how to unpack the delimited string into rows.”
Jacob: How is TSQL Challenges adding value to the SQL Server community and helping developers learn and grow?
Adam: TSQL Challenges offers a wealth of value to the SQL Server community and professional development to all who participate. TSQL Challenges brings database professionals from all over the world together to participate in a community activity that most everyone loves, puzzles. What makes TSQL challenges great is it gives database professionals an avenue to participate and share knowledge. Through sharing and collaborative efforts, TSQL Challenge participants can stretch their mind and learn methods to solve new and existing business problems. Essentially, TSQL Challenges is helping to mold a community of database professionals that consider best practices and performance; all the while, making the experience entertaining and enjoyable.
Jacob: I am very glad to have you as a key person in the TSQL Challenges team. You had been doing a great job working with Rui on the challenges. What is your message to the readers and participants of TSQL Challenges?
Adam: I would like to say that we have a lot of great challenges that will be debuting soon and I guarantee that you will have a great time solving them. On another note, we are also implementing a more scalable evaluation process, as our existing process significantly underestimated the current submission load. Once our new process is in place, the turnover between evaluation and the declaration of a winner will be significantly less. We are working hard to streamline TSQL Challenges and make it a first rate site, for the SQL Server community.
In addition, I would like to say thank you to you Jacob for inviting me to join the TSQL Challenges team. It has been a real pleasure to work with the talented professionals at TSQL Challenges. I would also like to thank all my other collogues, peers and friends, that have helped me get where I am today.