PASS Day 1 - PreCon with Brent Ozar
If you’re not familiar with PASS, Monday and Tuesday are reserved for pre-conference (precon) sessions. These sessions are all day sessions, and in this case, a technical deep dive. It’s a lot like drinking water from a fire hose.
The focus of this session was query optimization in SQL Server 2019 and 2022. I learned quite a bit and realized how much more I need to learn. I’m thinking I’m going to spend a significant amount of time focusing on query optimization — I can certainly apply it in my current role. Which means I probably need to spend some time getting deep into writing SQL queries.
The major takeaway was how SQL Server handles ORM applications. Think queries generated by something like Entity Framework — queries running dynamically, hidden inside app code and invisible to the DBA. I was surprised to learn that embracing parameter sniffing is actually the right lever for optimizing those queries. There’s a lot to dig into there.
By the end of the day, I was fried. The only complaint I had was the room was pretty warm and stuffy. I went back to the hotel and just relaxed — I needed that time to recharge; it’s an introvert thing. Brent made a similar comment at the start of the day and I have to admit, it was refreshing to hear someone else say it.
One thing I appreciated about Brent’s session: he used a Q&A app (Slido) so attendees could submit questions in writing. No hand-raising, no shouting across the room — you could think it through and review before submitting. Highly recommend that format for any technical session.
Key Takeaways
- Query optimization in SQL Server 2019/2022 is deep — one full day barely scratches the surface.
- ORM-generated queries (Entity Framework, etc.) are more common than many DBAs realize and require a different optimization mindset than hand-written SQL.
- Parameter sniffing isn’t the enemy — when understood, it’s the right tool for tuning dynamic, app-generated queries.
- If you’re a DBA who hasn’t gone deep on query internals, this session is a strong argument to start.
Wrapping Up
PASS Summit precon days are intense but worth it. Brent’s format — structured content, written Q&A, honest pace-setting — made a long day digestible. I’m leaving Day 1 with a clearer sense of where my gaps are and a growing list of things to dig into when I get home.