Retro blog post. Statistics on Object tables. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2019/02/18/statistics-on-object-tables

From the vault. When can I use SQL Macros?. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2020/09/14/when-can-i-use-sql-macros/

New video! For 99% of databases and 99% of the time, the default settings for the optimizer will be fine for your performance needs. But occasionally, you might need to divert to get the most out of it. youtu.be/hm3O7hgup4g

I'm at the Ascend conference ... here's one of the reasons why.

Blog greatest hits :-) . CLOBS- from 11g to 12c. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2015/11/20/clobs-from-11g-to-12c

Sunday musings from doom scrolling at the airport connor-mcdonald.com/2026/06/08/k...

Retro blog post. Parsing no big deal eh?. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2016/06/09/parsing-no-big-deal-eh

Just to clarify - I've no issue with people using AI to write their SQL, but they need to *know* SQL in order to *validate* that SQL and ensure it is going to (a) work correctly and (b) not cause damage

Blast from the past. PL/SQL choosing the BEST data type. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2022/07/08/pl-sql-choosing-the-best-data-type/

Retro blog post. A little known ORDER BY extension. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2016/01/19/a-little-known-order-by-extension

My expression when you say an agent is going to write all of your SQL from now on... Come see my talk at Ascend next week to see why your SQL skills are more important than ever connect-v3.jujama.com/Plugin/Agend...

Retro blog post. Column names you should NOT use. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2021/03/30/column-names-you-should-not-use/

Blast from the past. Behold the full stack developer. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2017/08/31/behold-the-full-stack-developer/

Some times you need to step up and answer the call :-)

Retro blog post. Some must-have ideas for your next meetup. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2023/05/24/some-must-have-ideas-for-your-next-meetup/

From the vault. How to control resource usage on Autonomous. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2020/08/31/more-flexible-resource-usage-on-autonomous/

Blast from the past. The weirdest reason to avoid SELECT *. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2020/10/12/the-weirdest-reason-to-avoid-select/

Previously on the blog. Schema level grant in 23ai. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2024/06/18/schema-level-grant-in-23ai/

Blog greatest hits :-) . Bitten by the leap year?. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2024/03/07/bitten-by-the-leap-year/

Database Q&A Live on AskTOM is back later today! See you there! asktom.oracle.com/ords/asktom....

From the vault. Can you FLASHBACK an IDENTITY column?. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2022/09/26/can-you-flashback-an-identity-column/

My first baby steps with APEXlang... a quick tip to make sure you don't get stuck connor-mcdonald.com/2026/05/27/f...

Previously on the blog. Truncating a timestamp to the second. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2016/10/21/truncating-a-timestamp-to-the-second

30 seconds to convince you to put APEX Connect on your calendar for next year! Community FTW

Blast from the past. Longer strings in 12c. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2015/09/11/longer-strings-in-12c

Fresh vid! It's not really a PL/SQL issue, more an issue of "if you do silly things, you get silly outcomes" :-) youtu.be/E8xR0NG6B3s

From the vault. Something new learned everyday. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2016/02/23/something-new-learned-every-day

Blast from the past. You cant partition by time zone, but maybe you can!. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2024/01/30/you-cant-partition-by-time-zone-but-maybe-you-can/

Blast from the past. Silent data corruption constraints spanning multiple rows. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2022/01/31/silent-data-corruption-constraints-spanning-multiple-rows/

Things that irk...any kind of mobile app that requires you to have a *local* telephone number this rendering it unusable for tourists. (Eg wifi access, ride share, public transport etc etc). Just makes everything hard when you're visiting

Retro blog post. Less slamming V$SQL. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2019/03/04/less-slamming-vsql

That moment when your luggage takes longer to arrive at the carousel than actual duration of your flight ...🤦 Sigh schipol

Its a long way to Europe from Australia, but the energy and buzz of the APEX Connect crowd is worth every kilometer. #orclapex

From the vault. How to make queries to DBA_FREE_SPACE faster. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2020/08/27/finding-free-space-on-your-database-taking-a-long-time/

So many goodies in 26ai that people are keen to see

Blog greatest hits :-) . The non-existent partition. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2016/10/12/the-non-existent-partition

Good times, good friends, good people #apexconn26

Purple stage lights 😁 #apexconn26

#apexconn26 | In vollem Gange: Connor McDonald mit seiner zweiten von drei Sessions auf der APEX connect 2026, „…Zero Slides“ 🤩 Wer seine Auftritt verpasst hat: morgen um 13:00 Uhr hat er einen dritten und letzten Vortrag. Wir wünschen euch heute viel Spaß! #orclapex #Oracle

From the vault. Magic Dates. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2024/12/09/kris-kringle-the-database-magic-dates/

Feeling a little out of control when it comes to AI? #orclapex

Is @connormcd.bsky.social really comfortable with a vibe coded shirt? How about a vibe coded database design? We’re about to find out at #apexconn26

APEX 26 in 2026 kicks off with @cczarski.bsky.social

The #orclapex community continues to grow #apexconnect26

Blog greatest hits :-) . I did not write this blog post. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2022/11/11/i-did-not-write-this-blog-post/

Previously on the blog. The real question is ... why are you NOT blogging. https://connor-mcdonald.com/2017/02/17/the-real-question-is-why-are-you-not-blogging

TIL you can't access chatgpt in Hong Kong

I’m sorry but “everyone is going to use AI to code their own apps” sounds like “everyone is going to learn HTML and code their own websites.“ like … have you met people? no they’re not

Getting older has reduced my doom scrolling because I am too damn lazy to get out my reading glasses ...so it's just a blurry fuzz

1. Don't make me come over and look for it 2. That's it! You're out of the will 3. Take your sister out of the microwave 😁