I was checking some of the SQL Server 2005 features on the way over on the plane. The latest build that I have is SQL Express build, fairly recent. Many of the XQuery features have been updated to Nov 2003 XQuery spec. Very cool. But comments wasn't one of them. A nit, I know.

The {-- a comment --} style comments still work when using SQL Server XQuery but the new style, smiley-face comments (: a comment :) don't. They generate a syntax error.

Now I *liked* the old style comments (don't like to see my code grin at me, call me sensitive), but the smiley-face ones are part of the spec revision, unless I'm missing something. And they are supported in the client-side System.Data.SqlXml's XQueryCommand dialect of XQuery. That's even more puzzling because the two dialects (SQL Server and System.Data.SqlXml) are synchronized in other ways. For example, System.Data.SqlXml no longer supports the XQuery “LET” verb and has compile-time strong type checking like SQL Server.

I lag in reporting things I find, because I know beta 2 is still a work in progress. Thought it would be added. All of the book examples have the smiley face comments, just do “find and replace” if you run 'em. Beta 2 still isn't out yet, maybe... :)

The first blog entry got me thinking. For someone supposedly cloistered writing a book, I have been doing some heavy traveling. For the last year, I've been teaching Yukon beta 1 quite a bit. Many students were participants in the Ascend program phase 1. They are folks from software companies who write application and system software that runs on SQL Server. They came to the class, Yukon for Developers, to see what all the buzz was about, not only with T-SQL, but with revolutionary features like .NET procedural code support, user-defined types, XML and XQuery, service broker, and others. They were joined by support people and folks from MCS (Microsoft Consulting Services).

It was great fun. I met and hung out with the Ascend guys: Andy Gammuto, Don Petersen, and Roger Doherty. I actually haven't met Roger yet, he's just a voice on the phone so far. We took the show to such faraway places as Sydney and Munich; Niels did a gig in Nice.

The best part was seeing what folks thought of the new features. I've always met some people using XML in databases on real-world problems in phase 1. They enjoyed trying out the XQuery support. Phase 2 promises to be just as exciting.

So I guess that's not exactly hiding. More like “where in the world is Bob”. I've been around the block a few times. Might even qualify for 1k airplane miles this year. But that's another story.

I've finally decided to take the plunge and start this up. I've been in hiding for the last year and three quarters or so, working on a SQL Server 2005 (was Yukon) course and a companion book. The book, entitled “A First Look at SQL Server 2005 for Developers” shipped on Monday. I have a single advance copy. Amazon doesn't think it's shipped yet though, has the book's old name (with Yukon in it) and is missing an author (oh well).

Dan Sullivan and Niels Berglund are my co-authors. The book has been a long time in coming. The SQL Server folks were nice enough to let us release it (the material is based on beta 2) even though Beta 2 isn't out yet. Modulo SQL Express, which was released yesterday on MSDN. So I have a (very) few spare cycles.

I'm going to write about adventures in Ascend program phase 2, and any technical insights and info I pick up along the way. I may not be writing much right away though, I'm on my way to Tokyo for a teaching gig tomorrow morning.