Things You Can Do

Simplify Development Efforts

• Leverage Existing Skills
• Get started today developing on SQL Server with SQL Server Data Tools. Take advantage of existing Transact-SQL skills, and incorporate technologies, including the Microsoft ADO.NET Entity Framework and LINQ. Develop applications faster through deep integration with Visual Studio, Visual Web Developer, and SQL Server Management Studio.
• Improve Developer Productivity
• Increase developer productivity and simplify deployment through integration with Visual Studio and Visual Web Developer. Take advantage of advanced capabilities, including rich table and query designers, full integration with Server Explorer, and drag-and-drop IDE support for rapidly building data-bound applications.
• Tune the Design Process
• Manage SQL Server 2012 Express databases with SQL Server Management Studio Express. Connect to local SQL Server 2012 Express databases and manage objects with full Object Explorer integration. Write, execute, and test queries by using visual query plans that provide hints to tune queries and access management and maintenance options.

Develop Sophisticated Applications

• Create Robust Applications
• Create applications by using advanced features while centralizing business logic and increasing application performance with stored procedures, CLR integration, triggers, and views. Dynamically respond to data changes by using query notification, and extend data to remote locations with Service Broker and Replication.
• Manage Any Data Type
• Take advantage of data, including support for structured and unstructured data while storing business data with native support for relational data, XML, and spatial data. Add geographical information to business applications and build location-aware applications. Store and validate XML data and use XQuery to retrieve data. Increase granularity of temporal data with data types such as date and time.
• Deliver Relevant Information
• Visualize data by using basic Reporting Services (available with SQL Server Express with Advanced Services) and create readable reports that answer complex user questions. Enable users to share reports by using Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel.

Extend Any Data, Anywhere

• Access Data Anywhere
• Manage data infrastructures with policy-based management and apply policies to all instances. Reduce maintenance time by defining common policies for operations, such as query optimizations, naming conventions, backup, restore, and index management. Apply policies to multiple servers for consistent management across the enterprise.
• Extend Any Data
• Take advantage of SQL Server Express’s rich interoperability, by using the SQL Server driver for PHP, the Microsoft JDBC driver for Java implementation or the SQL Server ODBC Driver for Linux.
• Synchronize Your Data
• Keep data synchronized with subscriber support for SQL Server transactional and merge replication. Take advantage of advanced conflict resolution capabilities to build robust business solutions, and synchronize data automatically with support for change tracking and the Microsoft Sync Framework.

New in SQL Server Express 2012: SQL Server Express LocalDB

• SQL Server Express LocalDB
• LocalDB is a new lightweight deployment option for SQL Server Express Edition with fewer prerequisites that installs very quickly. This makes it ideal for developers who need an embedded SQL Server database for desktop applications or tools. LocalDB has all of the same programmability features as SQL Server Express, but runs in-process with applications and not as a service.
• Integrated
• LocalDB is designed to be bundled with and function as an integrated part of tools or desktop applications that need a lightweight local database runtime. This includes tools like SQL Server Data Tools, or custom developed desktop applications, or tools that need a lightweight single-user database runtime that supports full Transact-SQL functionality.
• Simple
• Apps that use LocalDB simply open a file. Once a file is opened, you get SQL Server functionality when working with that file, including things like ACID transaction support. The app that opens the file has exclusive use. It’s not intended for multi-user scenarios or to be used as a server. (If you need that, you should install SQL Server Express.)
• Easy Acquisition
• LocalDB is easy to download, install, and manage. It installs as a small shared component instead of a service.