Long-time database design and software development consultant. My clients included evetrything from Fortune 100 companies to non-profits and mom-and-pop companies. I've worked with SQL databases since 1985. I'm a database generalist; I'm comfortable with every modern SQL dbms. My home server runs a half-dozen different database management systems. I test most of my answers under more than one of them.

I've also developed relational models for implementation in non-SQL environments, like Lotus Notes and plain C++ code.

I'm known for frequently saying

• ID numbers have nothing to do with normalization.
• Everything you know about state codes is wrong.
• Table names, column names, etc., are your database's API.
• Natural keys reduce the number of joins, and often improve performance.
• 5NF is your friend.
• Don't assume. Test.