Customer Reviews

Microsoft SQL Server Developer Edition 2005 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As a long time user of SQL Server, I was glad when Microsoft finally moved away from Sybase and started developing SQL Server on their own. Unfortunately, SQL Server 7 took a bit too long to finish and I was stuck with SQL Server 6.5.

For my Enterprise work, however, I had to move to Oracle. To embed custom code, other than T-SQL code, I was also forced to move to Oracle and Java. There was no facility in SQL Server.

With the 2000 release, SQL Server finally became a contender. With far better tools than any other RDBMS and an engine that could work well with larger databases, SQL was on the right track. It just was not quite there.

With SQL Server 2005, Microsoft finally has a real contender. First, there is a very strong database engine with features that can compete with other Enterprise level databases. While there are still some features missing, the release is fairly strong.

* Database mirroring
* Failover clustering
* Database snapshots and other recovery options

SQL Server now also offers the ability to write custom code inside the database, using any .NET language, like C# and VB.NET.

SQL Server has a few built in features that bring it up a notch, as well. The database now natively handles XML as a datatype. In addition, in supports native encryption.

For the DBA, object schemas are now separated from users, allowing you to easily move ownership away from owners who have left the company. The new schema also allows for easier security on groups of objects.

Out of the box, SQL Server has a plethora of extras that have additional cost with the competition:

* The new version of DTS, now labeled SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) is a fully debugable ETL engine with the ability to work on multiple paths at the same time.

* Business Inteligence tools include an updated Analysis Services, the KPI (key performance indicator) framework and built in business analytics.

* Improvements to SQL Server Reporting services, including the ability to set up reporting aggregates for business users to create reports on the fly, without developer or dba time.

* SQL Server Broker - finally a easy, built in way of creating asynchronous applications in SQL Server.

On the negative, Microsoft dumped a lot of features during the beta. While I understand some of the reasons behind the removal, I would have like to have had separate date and time objects, as one example.

I also feel SQL Server Notification Services are a bit half-baked at this point in time. While much better than the version that shipped as an add-on to SQL Server 2000, they still feel a bit bolted on.

Overall, the main reason many shops will switch to SQL Server with the 2005 release comes down to ROI. With the extras out of the box, SQL Server is still a no brainer for small and medium enterprises. With this release the product is more applicable for larger enterprises, as well.

The developer edition, to my surprise, included all of the features for me to develop enterprise level Business Intelligence projects and do some DB design work too. It integrates well with Visual Studio 2005.

When connected online, installation is easy...and it installs the prerequisites for you.

If you're anyone who needs to back up a remote 2000/2005 sql svr database, this is the cheapest way to do it. While the free express edition management studio express is great, it doesn't have a built-in import/export feature that you get with the management tool in this dev edition. If you don't need the Tasks->Import/Export functionality, or features not found in the free sql svr express/managment studio express, then this product really won't help you.

The tool let's you import 2000 databases into sqlsvr2005 or express, but you can't export to 2000. The Sql Svr management tool is the perfect way to administer your sql svr express databases too.

Basically, the import->export feature is the reason to buy this.

You cannot use this product with Visual Web Developer Express. It makes you uninstall VWD(and uninstall then re-install .net 2.0) and once you install SQL 2005 you can't install VWD or any of the express products.

So your choices for asp.net developers are

A: Buy VS 2005 pro which comes with a developer copy of SQL 2005 in which case you wouldn't need this individual copy.

B: Use VWD express and SQL 2005 express, but without any of the admin tools for SQL 2005.

In short, buy this developer copy only if you plan to use some non-MS ide. The free MS editors won't work with this and the ones that cost money and work with this developer version ALREADY COME with it.

SQL Server 2005 is pretty much the Microsoft standard for server based relational databases. I bought this product in conjunction with Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 standard edition, and they are a good pair. If you are planning on doing any Windows Forms based programming, or web programming that requires relational databases then I recommend this product for testing on your own servers during development work.

MySQL and similar are often used for third party web hosts; if you can do SQL with this server software, then you can probably do it with MySQL. This software, however, is for more enterprise level software and web design, and if you are a beginner, then sticking to MySQL is probably your best option.

If you are new completely to relational databases, using Microsoft Access or similar can help you get familiar with the table, key, and relationship structure. Server side databases often times aren't as visual and can hamper learning for beginners.

I started developing database for version 2005 from version 2000. There aren't lots of changes but it was nice to be able to play with it and see all the new features in a local version on my computer so if I broke something I would just start over again.

Excellent for developing purposes. Database system and analysis software in the same suite, best value for this price.

SQL Server was a pain to install and get up and running on Vista. The updates required were huge and very time consuming.

I bought this product so I can get training in SQL
I have a brand new Vista system from Dell, and it will not install, I get error messages that seem to show it is looking for a Network Server account, and this program is designed to be installed on a normal PC for development, so this should not happen.

SQL Server 2005 Developer edition is a great way to launch a prototype website. Amazon deliveers quickly, so if an eval version expires, Amazon can save you days of frustration.