Introducing SQL Server Data Tools

Summary

This chapter began with a high-level overview describing the many challenges developers face working with databases during the development process. Through hands-on exercises, you then saw how the new SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) provides features that can help you tackle those challenges.

You worked through a number of scenarios using SSDT for connected development, offline development with the local database runtime (LocalDB), source control, debugging, and testing—and then deployed to a local environment as well as the cloud—all from within Visual Studio. Along the way, you learned how to use many important SSDT features, such as schema compare, refactoring, snapshot versioning, and multi-platform targeting. Although you can always learn more about the new tools just by using them, this chapter has prepared you to use SSDT as you encounter the many challenging SQL Server development tasks that lie ahead.