Upshot to VSTS Database and Developer Edition Integration
As I pointed out in
my last post, Microsoft is rolling VSTS Database Edition into VSTS Developer Edition, and effective immediately those with Microsoft Software Assurance licenses can use both for the cost of one.
The company's goal: get more traditional developers delving into the database and vice versa. But Randy Diven, CIO of Modesto, Calif. produce supplier Ratto Brothers Inc., raised an interesting question:
"Will I end up with two installations, one being the Development install and one being the Database install or are the product features designed to integrate with each other?," Diven wrote. "I am not overly excited about installing VSTS twice on my machine."
After all, VSTS is a big install and the last thing he wanted to do is end up rebuilding his workstation. "I am very interested in an integrated solution," Diven said.
Not to worry, said Cameron Skinner, product unit manager for Visual Studio Team Studio. "They integrate with each other," Skinner said in an e-mail. That helps, but Diven said he'd like to see an integrated install or clearer instructions that address interactions with Visual Studio 2008 SP1. "This is a big deal for VSTS programmers," he replied.
Skinner agreed and said that problem will go away with the next release. "This is a point-in-time problem with the current products and making them available given our decision to merge the SKUs," Skinner added. "Once we ship VS and VSTS 2010, the install will be integrated."
Posted by Jeffrey Schwartz on 10/03/2008