Microsoft has been working to link the upcoming SQL Server 2008 database to the company's software development platforms, with some glitches found along the way, according to two separate Microsoft blog posts.
Using the new Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 software development platform with SQL Server 2008 will require a patch, said S. "Soma" Somasegar, corporate vice president of the Microsoft Developer Division, in a blog entry published on Sunday.
"For Visual Studio 2008 to support SQL Server 2008, we will be delivering a patch to coincide with the next CTP (Community Technology Preview) of SQL Server 2008," Somasegar said. No date has been announced for this next CTP, a Microsoft representative said.
Microsoft's Data Programmability team identified a roadblock to linking to SQL Server 2008 from Visual Studio 2008 as well as from Visual Studio 2005, which is the predecessor to Visual Studio 2008. Microsoft already shipped a patch enabling Visual Studio 2005 to connect a SQL Server 2008 database. This was done to coincide with the November CTP of the database, Somasegar said.
The Data Programmability team has cited an issue involving design-time connectivity between the Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 platforms and SQL Server 2008.
"This is most significant for Visual Basic and C# developers as it will effectively block the use of any RAD features to aid in the development of their project," said Jason Smith, development lead for Data Programmability, in a blog dated November 26. This problem is principally caused by incompatibility between the SMO (SQL Server Management Objects) layer in Visual Studio and SMO support in SQL Server 2008.
While a CTP has fixed this problem for Visual Studio 2005, a separate fix will be issued for Visual Studio 2008.
On a positive note, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2008 will drive new innovations for building richer data applications, Somasegar said. He cited LINQ (Language Integrated Query) as a Visual Studio feature providing common query capabilities. Microsoft released Visual Studio 2008 last month, while SQL Server 2008, with highlights in such areas as business intelligence and data programmability, is due in the second quarter of 2008.
Tools support for some new features in SQL Server 2008 will become available closer to the database's release, Somasegar said.
"This will give us time to test, optimize, and ensure the best experience for developers using Visual Studio and the .Net Framework with SQL Server 2008," he said.
