SQL Server 'Juneau' Developer Tools Needs Testers

You can be among the first to get your hands on the cool new 'Juneau' database development tools if you're willing to test them and provide feedback to Microsoft.

The company is now courting TSQL developers to join the SQL Server Developer Tools Advisory Program. Those chosen to participate will get early access to the package, which features a beefed-up code editor integrated with Visual Studio, a new table designer and a single project type for multiple platforms, among many other improvements.

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Posted by David Ramel on 05/26/20110 comments


SQL Server Management Studio Alternatives that are Free

I'm down on SQL Server Management Studio right now. I basically just spent a day trying to swap out the evaluation version of SQL Server 2008 R2 with the Express version, and SSMS just wouldn't install, apparently because some components of the evaluation version wouldn't uninstall. It's a long, ugly story that I won't bore you with, but a Web search shows that I'm certainly not alone in my frustration, which is cold comfort indeed, as they say.

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Posted by David Ramel on 05/19/20112 comments


SQL to NoSQL to NewSQL? Come on!

Earlier this month there were several articles published about the term "NewSQL" coined by the 451 Group in regard to a new class of vendors of high-performance, scalable database examined in its new report. The group explains the meaning of the term in a post hawking the report. And ReadWriteWeb has expounded on the subject.

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Posted by David Ramel on 04/28/201111 comments


Microsoft Answers Call for Database Support in Windows Phone 7

Last fall, writing about the developer uproar surrounding the lack of database support in the Windows Phone 7 platform, I noted: "It's pretty obvious what mobile developers want. Is Microsoft listening?"

Well, the answer is: "Yes!"

Microsoft this week announced in a MIX11 keynote address that the next update of Windows Phone 7, called "Mango," will include the lightweight SQL Server Compact Edition. Previously, database options were limited to options such as storing data in XML files, isolated storage or third-party solutions. That caused much developer ire, such as this reader comment: "Why not implement SQL CE Compact? You cannot write real business application without database support."

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Posted by David Ramel on 04/15/20112 comments


So Long, SQL Server 2005

Microsoft this week released the last cumulative updates for SQL Server 2005 and will end mainstream support for the product in a few weeks.

The Cumulative Update #15 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 3 contains six fixes, while the Cumulative Update #3 for SQL Server 2005 Service Pack 4 contains five fixes.

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Posted by David Ramel on 03/23/20111 comments


Get An Early Start with SQL Server 'Denali'

Microsoft announced that developers can get help with building early, real-world projects with the next version of SQL Server, code named "Denali," through the Metro Early Adoption Program.

Denali, expected by many to be released later this year and sometimes unofficially known as SQL Server 2011, was issued last fall as a Community Technology Preview. It features enhancements such as a high-availability component called Always On, a "column-based query accelerator" and the capability to "allow for the creation of so-called columnar indexes over relational databases," as explained by Andrew J. Brust on Redmond Developer News.

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Posted by David Ramel on 03/23/20110 comments


Oracle Points Windows Developers to MySQL

Forget all this touchy-feely open-source LAMP stack stuff--throw away your SQL Server and run our MySQL database on Windows.

Okay, maybe the message wasn't quite that stark, but there's no doubt Oracle upped the ante in the database wars today when it launched a comprehensive program to entice SQL Server developers, DBAs and such to run its Linux-borne MySQL database on Windows.

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Posted by David Ramel on 03/16/20114 comments


Entity Framework Gets Code First (but Not Enum Support!)

No need to wait for that next major .NET Framework upgrade to get Entity Framework improvements, as a stand-alone EF installer is about to be released for the first time.

Entity Framework CTPs have been out for months and have alleviated many user concerns, and Entity Framework 4.1 is due to arrive any week now to address more.

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Posted by David Ramel on 03/09/201111 comments


Code Completion, Mobility, Source Control and Web 2.0

Here's a roundup of recent product announcements in the database development world.

Devart announced the new version of dbForge SQL Complete, an add-in to enhance code completion for users of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

The company said SQL Complete Version 2.5 comes only a month after version 2.0, incorporating new features requested by users. Some of the main enhancements include:

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Posted by David Ramel on 03/08/20110 comments


SQL Server Developers Worried as Netflix Chooses NoSQL

Netflix is hiring, but SQL Server gurus need not apply.

The company that transformed from a clunky DVD-by-mail delivery system to cutting-edge video streaming from the cloud has some SQL Server developers worried about their future job prospects as Netflix embraces the NoSQL movement. Few things are scarier than wondering if you backed the wrong horse in your career choice.

"This sort of questions are freaking me out," wrote one blogger about a forum post that expressed concern about the Netflix decision. "Can you imagine how panicked programmers are, knowing that not only tens of programming languages are out there (plus C/C++ is dead, Java is dead, etc.), but also a couple of different programming paradigms?"

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Posted by David Ramel on 02/10/20114 comments


Simplified SQL Azure Development? Nope...

SQL Azure developers are at a disadvantage compared to Windows Azure coders because of a lack of desktop emulators, a Microsoft blog indicated.

The Windows Azure SDK includes emulators that run on your PC so you don't have to subscribe to the online service to code against it, noted Buck Woody in an earlier posting. Yesterday he said that posting brought up the question of whether there was such a thing for SQL Azure.

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Posted by David Ramel on 02/04/20110 comments


Microsoft Targets BI in New SQL Server Training Kit

It's no coincidence that business intelligence is the focus of Microsoft's brand-new update to the SQL Server 2008 R2 training kit.

The very first item listed in the announcement for the SQL Server 2008 R2 Update For Developers January 2011 Update (seriously, guys: get some professional help for naming your products!) is "Build Your First Microsoft BI Solution with SQL Server 2008 R2."

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Posted by David Ramel on 01/26/20111 comments


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