There’s a lot of valuable information on the internet. The astute among you will have also noticed that there’s a fair amount of crap out there too.
Whether you’re browsing forums, web sites or blogs, knowing what the best sources of SQL Server information are and more importantly which one’s you can trust, can be tricky. It’s important then for a discerning SQL Server chap to ensure he frequents only the most reputable of establishments online, particularly when tracking down answers to SQL Server questions.
To help you set off on the right track, below is my list of what I consider to be the most notable establishments, my top SQL Server forums of 2014.
Top SQL Server Forums
SQL Server Central
This is your one stop SQL Server shop. Pretty much every SQL Server professional will have visited this little corner of the internet at one time or another. Not only does the site have one of the best SQL Forums on the internet, it’s also home to a tremendous amount of SQL Server articles and blogs. This is must view site for all SQL Server professionals.
StackOverflow
There’s not a lot more I can say about this site that I have not done so already. Unlike the majority of technology forums currently out there, StackOverflow covers more than just SQL Server, in fact a whole variety of technology related subject areas are catered for. The emphasis of the site has evolved to focus more on the Programmer and so T-SQL questions are welcome but your Administration questions are better served via an alternative forum. I’m a very big fan of the site and you can learn more about it in my Stackoverflow Addiction post.
The SQLBrit Community Forum
Being a successful Data Professional requires a lot more than technology skills. This is the place to talk about all the other stuff. Experienced and aspiring folks alike share their thoughts, ideas and wisdom so that collectively we can raise the quality of the profession. It’s a great resource for those looking to grow their careers and learn how other Data Professionals do their thing.
ServerFault
This was one of the first spin-off sites to StackOverflow to use their StackExchange platform and is all about server hardware and administration. Given the ridiculously high level of expert knowledge and experience of some of the posters on the forum, I consider ServerFault to be an essential reference tool for all serious SQL Server Database Administrators.
Database Administrators Stack Exchange
This StackExchange spin-off focuses on Database Administration (not just SQL Server). This is a regular hang out for some very skilled SQL Server professionals. An excellent resource for SQL Server DBAs.
Microsoft MSDN SQL Server Forums
In my opinion this is the forum you go to when you have a seriously tough question you need answering. The community on this forum is quite close nit and perhaps a little cliquey at times but the quality of the detailed responses provided to queries is superb and the number of expert moderators on hand is second to none, thereby negating any down sides there may possibly be. There is also a separate forum for each SQL Server technology and feature, meaning that the community for each forum are experts in the specific subject area you need help on. Bottom line, if you cannot find an answer to your query elsewhere on the net then you will find it here!
#SQLHelp
Yes all right, so Twitter is not a forum in the traditional sense but it is most certainly an excellent resource for getting your SQL Server questions answered. Fact! Arguably one of the best places to start I’d say.
There you have it, these are the SQL Server establishments that I trust and frequent. Which SQL Server forums do you like to use?
