SQL tuning is a unique and highly prized skill. We all have our own SQL tuning guru we turn to when we need help.4 In this book, I will show you how to diagnose very precisely and with full confidence which SQL statements need our attention. However, I will not cover how to tune the SQL. For that information, you can refer to any of the many resources devoted to SQL tuning.

Oracle forecasting/predictive analysis is my other area of expertise. In fact, I wrote the first book on the subject entitled, Forecasting Oracle Performance. But this topic is clearly not the focus of this book. However, I will take some key concepts from forecasting, creating a bridge between firefighting and forecasting. This bridge will allow you to naturally switch between these subject areas and also help in communicating the performance issues and possible solutions.

New features and functions are a lot of fun, and they are important. But they are no substitute for pinpoint diagnosis, a solid methodology, and an understanding of Oracle's core algorithms. I find new feature and function type classes very useful in coming up with creative solutions to a well-diagnosed and defined problem. This book is not focused on new features and functions in the traditional sense. Only when a change in Oracle's kernel affects the subject matter of this book will it be mentioned. Otherwise, this book would become very Oracle version-specific, joining many other massive, and of relatively limited value, Oracle books on the market today.