Recent articles to read

Here is a list of some recent articles (last month and half) that I think are very interesting and I advice oracle developers and DBAs to read:
Concurrent Statistics Gathering introduces the Oracle Database 11g r2 latest patchset 11.2.0.2 new concurrent statistics gathering mode.
BTW I think 11.2.0.2 should have been 11.3 due to the addition of several features :-).

100 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Oracle Database series:
Part 1: Myth of Commit Causing Buffer to be Flushed to the Disk
Part 2: Myth: Oracle has a Central Locking System and it's followup

Oracle DBMS_SCHEDULER Part 1–The Basics: A good start for a series of articles about DBMS_SCHEDULER. This article make a very complete introduction to concepts behind this 10g feature that for many people is still a mystery.

And last oracle Magazine Articles:
Simulation Demonstrates Performance: it show the use a of new 11g r2 feature of the SQL Performance Analyzer (new in 11g r1) that allow to get statistics of how the performace would with Exadata;
Ask Tom column specially the about histograms entry

Diminishing chaos

Following Tom Kyte's Blog I was introduced to the "Geek and Poke" comics. Maybe because I'm in a crazy working phase that makes me want to find fun in work (the kind of fun that makes you laugh about yourself and your work), tonight I spent some time browsing it, and briefly I found some very good amusing ones.
From the first one I show below I start writing this post about documentation and then I found out some other strips that are perfect to make you not forget the message (or at least smile a little :-))

Como os filhos veem os pais "informáticos" /How kids see their "computer working" parents

Acho que a visão que uma pessoa que programa e projecta programas para computadores é um "extra-terrestre" já está a mudar. Espero assim que o meu filho (F.) me consiga desenhar melhor que a menina do cartoon abaixo...por agora ele já desenha "monstros horríveis" como ele diz.

I think that the thought that a developer it's an "alien" it's changing. So, I hope that my kid (F.) will portrait me better than the little girl in the cartoon bellow…he already can draw some “horrible monsters” as he says.

About Talent presentation

I began following Writing Excuses podcast some years ago due that Brandon Sanderson was (and is) one of the hosts.
Due to that I began following the Schlock Mercenary web comic strip from Howard Tayler (another host of that podcast).
Yesterday I found this video (in 4 parts) in youtube: a session of Howard Tayler speaking at the Utah Valley University about Talent: "Talent? Who needs Talent?"
Great presentation!

Error: PLS-00801

Today (using Oracle 11.2.0.1.0 ) I got this error when compiling a pl/sql package:

PLS-00801: internal error [phdcsql_print_kge_errors::parm pos]
PL/SQL: Statement ignored
ORA-00900: invalid SQL statement


The description for PLS-00801: internal error [string] says:

Cause: This is a generic internal error that might occur during compilation or execution. The first parameter is the internal error number.

Action: Report this error as a bug to your Customer Support representative.


Oracle ACE award

"I am pleased to inform you that you have been nominated by Steven Feuerstein for the Oracle ACE award. You have been chosen based on your significant contribution and activity in the Oracle technical community. Like your fellow Oracle ACEs, you have demonstrated a proficiency in Oracle technology as well as a willingness to share your knowledge and experiences with the community."


I would like to thanks to Steven Feuerstein for the nomination, Todd Trichler of OTN for suggesting it and the Oracle Ace Program for the award.

I would also to thanks to my blog readers and all the people that in sessions, by emails, forums, or personally ask me questions and give me feedback (and forgive my English misspelling/writing) , making me feel even more motivated to share my knowledge, learn more and be more...

I would also to acknowledge my coworkers and ex-coworkers, specially Nuno Ornelas, António Cunha, Manuel Machado, Gabriel David and Ligia Ribeiro that always were/are ready to help and to give more challenges.

I'm proud for the being the first Portuguese to get this award.

Last books read

A list of books I finished reading last week and that I liked:

• Towers of Midnight  (Wheel of Time series) by Brandon Sanderson (following notes from Robert Jordan)
In this book the fans can fell the closer of the series in the next book. I prefer the Gathering Storm (previous volume of the series) mainly due to the changing of timelines (not only POVs) back and forward.
• A Cantice for Leibowitz  by Walter M. Miller, Jr
A classic SF book. It's the story of a group trying to preserve the lost knowledge due to atomic war.

What the customer want...

I really like this comic strips (Kopozky)...very close to (a sad) reality

PLS-00907 strange situation

When compiling several packages I got in one of them the PLS-00907 (cannot load library unit) error.

Error: PLS-907
Text: cannot load library unit %s1 (referenced by %s2) 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
---
Cause: PL/SQL is unable to find and load a library unit that was
        previously available.  This typically happens when you try to
        load a unit which references another library unit that is
        non-existent or invalid.
Action: Provide the needed library unit.

Oracle Critical Patch Update - January 2011

This week Oracle release the latest
Oracle Critical Patch Update Advisory.
As usual :"Due to the threat posed by a successful attack, Oracle strongly recommends that customers apply CPU fixes as soon as possible."
It fixes some remotely exploitable bugs without the need for username and password.

Check it out!

Missing the point: Developer versus Designer

Did you ever experience a situation like that? :-)
Maybe not with a designer, ...

Oracle SQL Developer 3.0 Early Adopter 3 Available

SQL Developer 3.0 Early Adopter 3 is available for download.
The main new features is the integration with SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0, providing read and write access for designing and developing data models
(The readme.html for SQL Developer Data Modeler 3.0 can be found in the SQL Developer installation in the folder \sqldeveloper\sqldeveloper\extensions\oracle.datamodeler).

Full new feature list.

update: new EA 4 available
Update: links removed -> final version 3.0 available

Nulls the novice and experts trap

Novices and experts alike can fall in the null's hole.

In Oracle there are many reasons for that:

Strok Project

Two days ago I was presented to the Strok Project (and no, it's not a project to bring babies :-) ). To put it simple: it's a project to make secure electronic identity across Europe using the national eID.
It's a great way to allow a person to validate against government sites, enroll to university courses (Erasmus for example).
If you are in Europe and like eID check it out...it's already being used in some government sites across Europe , (for taxes submission info, etc..) and some universities selected as test cases.

I hope to implement it in University of Oporto (one of the partners of the project) in the next month or two.

Anedota ou lição de vida?

Começo os posts deste ano com uma anedota (ou será uma lição de vida?) que me enviaram.