• SQL

    Create A SQL Database

    So you’re ready to write some software? Or test some cool stuff. Or build something awesome. You can use the CREATE DATABASE statement to get started, by creating a database. To do so is pretty easy, simply run that statement followed by a name for the database (called Customers): CREATE DATABASE Customers; Once you’ve created a database, it’s time to create tables, which can be done using the CREATE TABLE statement. The Syntax of that statement looks something like this, defining a set of columns, their data type and the size of the column (in the form of a maximum length), all wrapped in parenthesis with each column separated by…

  • cloud,  Network Infrastructure,  SQL,  Ubuntu,  Unix,  VMware,  Windows Server

    Scripting Azure On A Mac

    Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s cloud services. Azure can host virtual machines and act as a location to store files. However, Azure can do much more as well, providing an Active Directory instance, provide SQL database access, work with hosted Visual Studio, host web sites or provide BizTalk services. All of these can be managed at https://manage.windowsazure.com. You can also manage Windows Azure from the command line on Linux, Windows or Mac. To download command line tools, visit http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/downloads/#cmd-line-tools. Once downloaded, run the package installer. When the package is finished installing, visit /usr/local/bin where you’ll find the azure binary. Once installed, you’ll need to configure your account from the windowsazure.com site to…

  • Mac OS X

    Advanced Features of the Mac OS X Calculator

    The Calculator application in Mac OS X is pretty handy beyond the basic 10-key functions that most people use.  As with many things from Apple you can make things much more complicated than the easy to use, basic screens that Apple provides.  For example, did you know that Calculator can perform binary, hexadecimal, ASCII and Unicode conversions?  To do so, click on the View menu and select Programmer (or use Command-3 to open the view.  You can also stop carrying around that old TI-85 you’ve been using for years (to some degree) to calculate those random tangents from time to time. One of the best parts of Calculator is that…