Five SQL Server Bloggers to Watch in 2013

I’d like to bring your attention to five bloggers I’ve begun following over the last year, and who I anticipate will be creating outstanding content in 2013. They have the following in common (as of this writing):

1. Fewer than 1,000 followers on Twitter
2. 24 or more blog posts in 2012 (average 2x/month)
3. Not a SQL Server MVP, MCM, or Microsoft employee

In other words, they’re doing great work but don’t yet have the great name recognition to go along with it. Expect that to change in 2013. Here is the list of five, in no particular order:

Mike Fal

Areas of Emphasis: DBA, PowerShell, Presenting

Blog: mikefal.net

Blog posts in 2012: 35

Twitter handle: @mike_fal

Twitter followers: 474

Why you should read Mike’s blog: Mike has really plunged into community involvement over the last year. He recently became the VP of Events for the Denver SQL Server User Group — a perfect fit as many of his posts are on public speaking. He’s unafraid to voice a strong opinion, yet he acknowledges when he’s relatively new to a subject.

The one post you don’t want to miss: Core Mechanics (setting up Windows Server Core as a platform for SQL Server 2012)

 

Julie Koesmarno

Areas of Emphasis: BI

Blog: mssqlgirl.com

Blog posts in 2012: 32

Twitter handle: @mssqlgirl

Twitter followers: 567

Why you should read Julie’s blog: Whether it’s a technical subject, a SQL Saturday recap, or an editorial, Julie’s posts are extensive and detailed without being unnecessarily wordy. Because she’s blogging about hot BI topics (e.g., PowerPivot, Power View, and DAX), she’ll keep you informed on the changing BI landscape. One really nice touch: Her technical posts end with “Wrap-Up” and  “Further Reading” sections.

The one post you don’t want to miss: Hybrid Mode in Tabular BI Semantic Model

 

Matt Velic

Areas of Emphasis: Virtualization, Cloud

Blog: mattvelic.com

Blog posts in 2012: 29

Twitter handle: @mvelic

Twitter followers: 799

Why you should read Matt’s blog: Matt recently started a new job where he’s working with SQL Server 2012 hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS). Before that, he worked as a DBA for the Democratic National Committee. He writes about that experience without getting too political, so you’ll enjoy it regardless of your political leanings. I look forward to reading a lot more from Matt about AWS in 2013.

The one post you don’t want to miss: Building a Virtual Lab (series)

 

Mark Vaillancourt

Areas of Emphasis: BI

Blog: markvsql.com

Blog posts in 2012: 31

Twitter handle: @markvsql

Twitter followers: 739

Why you should read Mark’s blog: If you struggle to learn MDX, start with his Decathlon series. Mark uses a blend of comedy, geekiness, and easy-to-digest explanations to make the abstract seem simple. His writing reads like a parallel universe BOL where you don’t get bored or confused. Mark is also a PASS Regional Mentor for Canada, so he shares PASS news and insights from time to time.

Oh, and #markvsqlIsHandsomeAndWitty (follow him on Twitter and you’ll catch on).

The one post you don’t want to miss: MDX Decathlon (series)

 

Dev Nambi

Areas of Expertise: Data Science, Database Development

Blog: devnambi.com

Blog posts in 2012: 17

Twitter handle: @devnambi

Twitter followers: 315

Why you should read Dev’s blog: I bent the rule about the number of blog posts for Dev because his blog posts are more like research papers. He’s exploring the emerging field of data science by taking data science college courses and doing his own DS projects that solve real-world problems using real-world data.

Plus, Dev is a smart, smart guy.

The one post you don’t want to miss: Buy a Car with Data

 

Is there someone else the SQL Server community ought to be reading but isn’t? Leave a comment and tell us who we’re missing!