I'm an ORACLENERD, are you?

I’m an ORACLENERD, are you?

I have been a database tools advocate for more than 10 years. I’ve only been blogging for about 5, so I have a lot of lost time to make up for!

My posts are largely inspired by the questions I get from my Twitter friends, from my SQL Developer presentations, and from our forums. If you have a question and you can’t find the answer here – just ask me!

That Jeff Smith is dedicated to helping you maximize your productivity when working with Oracle database and its tools.

Who is Jeff?

My name is ‘Jeff Smith.’ I’m ‘that‘ crazy database guy. I’m a proud father of two and husband to an awesome wife. A software and database geek by trade, I call the Raleigh/Durham metropolitan area home. My passions are writing, travel, beer, and technology.

I have a dry sense of humor. If you can’t tell if I am joking or not, then assume I am joking.

I have worked for independent software vendors since 1999, and rarely step into the ‘real world.’ I started out doing remote DBA and support work for a small software company. From there I went to working with database tools at Quest Software. Answering questions and helping people became my job, then my hobby, then my life. After 10 great years there, I had the opportunity to take my dream job at my dream company.

I’m currently a Product Manager for Oracle, working on the SQL Developer team. My true passion lies in helping people maximize their productivity and retain sanity while working with database development and administration tools.

You will find regular tips and tricks posted here showing you how to get more and expect more from your experience with the Oracle database. SQL Developer and its related products will be the primary vehicle for getting to your Oracle nirvana. I am a productivity freak. My focus is figuring out how to attack tasks in the least amount of steps, clicks, or keystrokes. I will show you how to save time, and hopefully have a little bit of fun in the process.

Occasionally I may deviate and talk about personal stuff. I promise it won’t hurt, much.

Blogging Schedule

I aim for 2-3 SQL Developer or Oracle related posts a week. When travelling or working tradeshows, that might plummet down to ’1.’ I also throw in a general blogging or gadget post every few weeks or so. If you can’t hang out here long enough to see those, I invite you to subscribe. Just put in your email address in the widget form to your right, and you’ll be sent a copy of my posts as they are published.

Legal Disclaimers and Such

My blogs and on-line content come from me, and only me. I am not paid to blog – I’m a geek, and any blogging I do is to promote myself, my causes, and things that make me laugh. — Directly lifted with permission from Brent Ozar.

What the heck is the ‘That’ stuff about?

Several years ago I was twittering and hanging out online under a different persona. It wasn’t really personal, and it tied me to something that wasn’t completely ‘me.’ A very smart group of folks, including Andy Grant and Brent Ozar convinced me that I should develop my own brand. In other words, I should make ‘Jeff Smith’ a household name in the database world. Or at least try.

Except.

‘Jeff Smith’ is one of the most generic names of all time, at least in English speaking countries. Security folks even joke with me about it being my ‘real name.’ One time while browsing at JC Penny, I looked at a wallet, and the fake ID included was ‘Jeff Smith.’ Awesome.

Not to mention there’s a comic book writer, cook, disgraced senator, used car dealer, and all sorts of more (in)famous people that will always rank higher on Google than me. So, in a stroke of sarcastic brilliance, I came up with being ‘oh, THAT Jeff Smith.’

My wife hates it immensely. At least 3 of my co-workers took to calling me that by name – as a sign of respect I am sure – and I’m not in love with it either. But there it is, and here you are. And now you know, the rest of my story.