InfoQ Homepage SQL Server 2008 Content on InfoQ
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Database Virtualization - Is it worth it?
Hosting server applications inside VM images is all the rage today. The ability to quickly move a virtual server from one machine to another as needs change is a big win for IT departments. But can this be applied to heavyweight systems like SQL Server? Conor Cunningham says no.
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SQL Server Best Practices Analyzer to be Integrated into SQL Server 2008
Microsoft is looking to change how SQL Server is managed by incorporating the SQL Server Best Practices Analyzer into the core of SQL Server 2008. This new feature, known as the Declarative Management Framework, allows for proactive enforcement of database policies.
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New File Storage Mechanism for SQL Server
SQL Server was never designed to act as a file system, but many developers use it that way nonetheless. Countless content management systems rely on either shoving large files into blobs or storing filenames. SQL Server 2008 seeks to correct this by introducing a filestream option that can be applied to a varbinary(max) column.
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New SQL Server Data Type: HierarchyId
Tree-like hierarchies has always a problem in relational databases. Microsoft's first attempt at addressing this was in SQL Server 2005 with the implementation of Common Table Expressions. While CTEs work over existing schema, Microsoft has sought a way to treat hierarchies as first-class concepts. To this effect, they have introduced the HierarchId data type in SQL Server 2008.
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PowerShell Scripting Added to SQL Server 2008
Francois Ajenstat has recently announced that SQL Server is the next to pick up PowerShell scripting in the next CTP.
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New Compression Features in SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008, code name Katmai, is expected to be released in May. It brings with it a whole host of new features, including several new compression options.
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Microsoft is Ready to Go Offline : Introduces Sync Framework
Microsoft introduced their synchronization platform known as the Microsoft Sync Framework. This framework allows developers to create off-line applications, devices and services that will integrate any type of data with any application.
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Cory Foy on Database Unit Testing
Cory Foy walks developers step-by-step through unit testing logic implemented at the database layer.
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Table Value Constructors and Compound Assignments for SQL Server 2008
In SQL Server 2008, T-SQL will be getting some welcome enhancements to the syntax itself. Included among these are table value constructors, also known as row constructors, inline variable declaration, and compound assignments.
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MERGE Syntax for SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 will include new syntax for merging data between two rowsets. The MERGE statement allows developers to use one command to perform deterministic inserts, updates, and deletes on a table based on a source table.
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Sparse Columns Added to SQL Server 2008
SQL Server 2008 has lifted the limit of 1024 columns per table with a new option called "sparse columns". While this seems like its excessive, some developers have been running up against this limit.