I’ve just finished reading SQL Antipatterns: Avoiding the Pitfalls of Database Programming (Pragmatic Programmers) by Bill Karwin. Its a few years old now, being published in 2010 but the content is still very relevant.

My database experience is mainly with Microsoft SQL Server but have my main expertise in application development and had to transition into database development so of course fell into the usual traps along the way. If I’d have read this book a few years ago it might have saved me quite a bit of time and trouble performance tuning and unpicking bad designs.

The patterns are split into different categories such as logical and physical design issues.

He doesn’t concentrate on one database engine, instead focusing on the pattern itself. He does however describe the differences and similarities in how the pattern can be implemented, identified and fixed on a variety of different engines.

He even manages to throw in a little humour and even a few geek references which all just keep the text ticking along nicely and make for a rather enjoyable read. Anyone who’s worked with databases professionally will probably have encounter at least some of these in their career and find yourself nodding along however he provides several solutions along with reasons you might choose them.