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Developer Productivity

Build and Deploy Critical Business-Ready Applications More Quickly

SQL Server 2005 is a highly productive database platform that enables developers to build and deploy critical business-ready applications more quickly. With close integration with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005 takes the goal of enabling developers to a new level.

The following resources help to explain how your organization will benefit from migrating to SQL Server 2005 and Visual Studio 2005 and provides a database performance comparison evaluation, specifically looking at Oracle vs SQL Server.

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Developer Productivity Enhancements

Explore the SQL Server Developer Center for detailed information on Common Language Runtime (CLR), Deep XML Integration, Transact-SQL Enhancements, and much more. 

Increased Productivity through Innovation

One of the key barriers to database developer productivity has been the lack of integrated tools for database development and debugging. SQL Server 2005 breaks down this barrier by providing tight integration with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. SQL Server 2005 provides advancements that fundamentally change the way that database developers complete database development and deployment. Through rich Extensible Markup Language (XML) support and deeper integration with .NET technologies and Microsoft development tools, SQL Server 2005 significantly increases database developer productivity and flexibility.

Enhancements for database developer productivity include:

  • Improved tools

    Database developers can use one database development tool for Transact-SQL, XML, Multidimensional Expressions (MDX), and XML for Analysis (XMLA). Integration with the Visual Studio development environment provides more efficient development and debugging of line-of-business and business intelligence applications.

  • Expanded language support

    With the common language runtime (CLR) hosted in the database engine, database developers are able to choose from a variety of familiar languages to develop database applications, including Transact-SQL, Microsoft Visual Basic 2005, and Microsoft Visual C# 2005. Additionally, CLR hosting provides database developers with increased flexibility through the use of user-defined types and functions. The CLR also provides opportunities to use non-Microsoft code for rapid database application development.

  • XML and Web services

    Advancements such as XQuery and a native XML data type helps organizations seamlessly connect internal and external systems. SQL Server 2005 supports both relational and XML data natively, so enterprises can store, manage, and analyze data in the format that best suits their needs. Support for existing and emerging open standards such as Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), XML, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), XQuery, and XML Schema Definition (XSD) facilitates communication across extended enterprise systems.

Explore the Benefits of XML and .NET Today
Experience the benefits of XML and .NET through SQL Server 2005 and see how you can deliver data applications throughout your organization faster than ever before. Through rich integration with Visual Studio 2005 and robust support for technologies such as XML and SOAP, you can complete database development in a fraction of the time—speeding your time to market, a competitive advantage that really makes a difference.

Deep Tools and Runtime Integration

SQL Server 2005 improves developer productivity and reduces project life cycle times though deep tools and run-time integration between SQL Server 2005 and Microsoft Visual Studio 2005.

Simplified Development and Debugging
Tight integration with Microsoft Visual Studio and the .NET Framework streamlines development and debugging of data-driven applications. Developers can build database objects, such as stored procedures, using any .NET language and can seamlessly debug across .NET and Transact-SQL (TSQL) languages.On the client side, efficient data binding allows for faster development of client applications, whereas the ability to embed SQL Server Express simplifies the deployment of lightweight client applications.

  • Integrated Authoring. Author and manage database objects directly from Visual Studio using the designers and extend them using any .NET language (such as Visual Basic, C#, C++, or J#) through the common language runtime (CLR).

  • Integrated Debugging. True end-to-end debugging across the data and application tier enables you to set breakpoints anywhere and inspect any asset in both TSQL and .NET languages.

  • Integrated Data Binding. Seamlessly map database objects to both Web-based (WebForms) and rich clients (WinForms) through improved drag-and-drop development through the new DataSet Designer and the GridView, DataList, and DropDownList controls.

  • Integrated Deployment. Dynamically deploy database objects from your development environment to the server. Attach and detach SQL Server Express to your applications to enable the seamless deployment of a lightweight client database with your applications.

Enhanced Query and Data Access
Spend less time while writing more powerful and maintainable TSQL statements using enhancements such Exception Handling, Recursive Queries, Statement Level Recompile, and several new TSQL data types including XML.

You can also create flexible and maintainable systems by taking advantage of the new capabilities provided by ADO.NET 2.0 such as Multiple Active Result Sets (MARS), User-Defined Data Types (UDT), and server-side cursors.

Enterprise-Class Abilities

SQL Server 2005 provides a trusted platform for the development and deployment of more secure and scalable applications. Enhanced development frameworks and security improvements can help your organization reduce IT complexity and deploy critical applications with confidence.

  • Enterprise-Class Development Frameworks

    Build scalable systems that take advantage of distributed, reliable messaging through the SQL Service Broker, and client-side and mid-tier caching for high performance.

    • Design scalable asynchronous applications

      The Service Broker provides developers with a robust queuing infrastructure that enables them to easily design highly scalable database applications.

    • Improve performance through caching

      Implement efficient caching and richer clients without writing specialized code with CacheSync, the infrastructure used to automatically update mid-tier and client objects as changes occur in the database.

  • Enterprise-Class Security and Scale-up

    SQL Server 2005 helps your organization reduce security and scalability risks associated with critical applications. Native data encryption and support for granular permissions improve the security of both data and applications. Seamless scale-up from SQL Server Express to SQL Server Enterprise Edition helps your organization move rapidly from development to production.

  • Standards-Based Information Access

    Standards-based information access, including native support for Web services and XML, increases the cross-platform accessibility of data and information and encourages reuse of components and data tier objects. Developers can expose database objects directly through Web services and exchange data in XML, making it an ideal development platform for organizations deploying service-oriented architecture (SOA).

Through support for industry standards, SQL Server 2005 not only increases cross-platform interoperability, but also reduces middle-tier dependency, and simplifies management and administration..

Integrated Business Intelligence

SQL Server 2005 provides the capabilities to integrate, analyze, and report on data out of the box, enabling organizations to increase information visibility and make better business decisions at all levels.

  • Unified Tools for Data Integration, Analysis, and Reporting

    Built-in designers and integration tools enable developers to provide richer information from multiple data sources, sharing information through multiple channels, and consolidating data from diverse formats. Data-driven applications built on SQL Server 2005 can help organizations manage ever-increasing volumes of data while delivering enriched decision-making capabilities. Consistent design and development tools and methodology minimize the learning curve for developers.

  • Embedded and Ad-hoc Reporting

    Inform key decision-makers through embedded reports and ad-hoc reporting. Embedded reports, including support for online and offline scenarios, allow developers to create intelligent Windows- and Web-based applications that empower users at all levels of the organization. You can easily design embedded reports using the Visual Studio report designer, and enhance data reporting through support for non-Microsoft extensions and visualizations. Ad-hoc reporting functionality empowers business decision-makers without exposing the database schema.

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