Rich Application Development

Accommodate changes in application requirements with SQL Server, a comprehensive data platform with options for deployment to mobile devices, desktops, servers, and the cloud.

Deploy scalable applications

• Easily adapt application design and code for more robust or specialized editions of SQL Server.

• Concentrate on business logic, not data storage logic.

• Use the Microsoft ADO.NET Entity Framework to abstract database schema details.

• Take advantage of tools and guidance from Microsoft to migrate applications to LINQ to Entities.

Build scalable data storage

• Choose a SQL Server edition designed to meet specific application requirements.

• Optimize solutions for clients, workgroups, departments, or enterprise deployments.

• Upgrade to more robust editions when data storage requirements increase.

Build flexible, data-centric web applications of all sizes with SQL Server, including applications using a REST-style architecture and applications hosted by Microsoft in the cloud.

Employ WCF Data Services (previously ADO.NET Data Services)

• Take advantage of the Open Data Protocol, referred to as OData, which is supported in the latest versions of SQL Server and Visual Studio.

• Expose data models to the web with RESTful data services using JSON and ATOM formats.

• Provide developers with client libraries for Microsoft .NET, Microsoft Silverlight, AJAX, PHP, and Java.

• Enjoy rich, built-in data access capabilities, such as flexible querying, paging, and association traversal.

Deploy to the cloud with Microsoft SQL Azure

• Migrate or extend existing applications to the cloud with minimal upfront costs and low ongoing maintenance costs.

• Eliminate the need to install, set up, patch, or manage database software.

• Integrate with SQL Server and Visual Studio.

• Take advantage of familiar data models and tools.

Take advantage of the Microsoft Web Platform Installer

• Get the framework, web server, database, and tools needed for web applications—all in a single installer.

• Download the entire Microsoft Web Platform for free, or choose specific components to meet your development and deployment needs.

• Ensure that components will work properly with improved validation.

Choose the right edition for your website or application

• Deliver enterprise-class services and scalability with SQL Server 2008 R2 Enterprise.

• Gain a complete data management and business intelligence platform with SQL Server 2008 R2 Standard.

• Provide scalability and reliability at a low cost with SQL Server 2008 R2 Web.

• Start fast with a simple, entry-level solution with the free SQL Server 2008 R2 Express.

Reduce administrative requirements when deploying occasionally connected solutions to desktops and mobile devices with SQL Server Compact and the Microsoft Sync Framework.

Build occasionally connected solutions

• Enable mobile users to work with a local database copy and then synchronize with a central server when connected.

• Distribute workloads between client devices and the database server to increase the scalability of the solution.

• Create data-centric applications for Windows operating systems running on desktops, laptops, mobile devices, and Windows Embedded devices.

Achieve a friction-free deployment

• Decrease download times and improve the installation experience with less than 2 MB of files to deploy and with no dependencies on back-end services.

• Embed the database with managed and native applications, avoiding the need for administrative deployment.

• Support automated deployments and updates with the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit.

• Take advantage of integrations with Visual Studio, including ClickOnce for client deployment and automatic CAB deployment for mobile devices.

• Perform Xcopy to deploy applications with SQL Server runtime files onto target machines.