SQL Server 2008 — New and Exciting!

Most exciting part of Microsoft Business Intelligence Conference was first public demonstration of SQL Server 2008.  Yea, yet another thing from Microsoft appearing at mind-boogling pace for us to grok, but enhancements/features promised are quite exciting. Few key points of session were:

1. SQL Server 2008 focus on four areas primarily;

    * Enterprise Data Platform:
    A typical organization uses databases in lot of areas (desktop, analytics, server farm, data warehouse etc.) and usually    different databases are used at different places, depending on performance, cost, scalibility, load requirements.  SQL Server 2008 will target to cater need of all of them to make it being used ubiquitos all over the organisation.

   * Dynamic Development
    This relates to LINQ. EDM (Entity Data Model), originating from Object Spaces idea, is conceptual object oriented schema for developer. Basically it will be XML Mapping File in application, where entity properties and relationships are mapped to database tables and relationships. With ADO.NET 3.5 and an add-in for SQL Server 2008, it will provide framework and its graphical designer. This is certainly very exciting and those who have already fallen in love with LINQ, can’t afford to ignore it.

    * Beyond Relational
    New data types for filestreams and geocoded information system!

2. T-SQL Intellisense and other rich-client side capabilities in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio.

3. Improved data warehousing, data mining and BI features.

4. T-SQL will have extended date and time data types.

Got any brain cells excited ! do have a look “SQL Server 2008 Product Overview” at white paper here.