SQL Server 2016 Developer Edition: The Best Choice for Building Intelligent, Mission-Critical Applications
Introduction
SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) that provides a platform for storing, processing, and analyzing data. SQL Server supports various editions that cater to different needs and budgets of users. Some of these editions are free, while others require a license fee.
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In this article, we will focus on one of the free editions of SQL Server: the Developer edition. We will explain what it is, what are its benefits, how to download and install it, and how to use it for your development work. We will also compare it with another free edition of SQL Server: the Express edition.
What is SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
SQL Server 2016 Developer edition is a free edition of SQL Server that lets developers build any kind of application on top of SQL Server. It includes all the functionality of Enterprise edition, which is the most comprehensive and advanced edition of SQL Server. However, it is licensed for use as a development and test system, not as a production server.
SQL Server 2016 Developer edition allows you to explore the features of SQL Server 2016, such as in-memory performance, advanced security, in-database analytics, and hybrid cloud capabilities. You can also use it to develop applications that use the Business Intelligence suite of applications, such as Integration Services, Analysis Services, Reporting Services, and Master Data Services.
What are the benefits of using SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
Some of the benefits of using SQL Server 2016 Developer edition are:
It is free. You don't need to pay any license fee to use it for your development work.
It has no limitations. You can use all the features and capabilities of SQL Server Enterprise edition without any restrictions.
It is compatible. You can easily migrate your applications from SQL Server 2016 Developer edition to other editions of SQL Server when you are ready to deploy them in production.
It is up-to-date. You can access the latest updates and patches for SQL Server 2016 Developer edition from Microsoft.
How to download SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
To download SQL Server 2016 Developer edition, you need to follow these steps:
Go to the Microsoft Download Center.
Select your preferred language from the drop-down list.
Click on Download.
Select the file that matches your system architecture (x64) and click Next.
Save the file to your desired location.
How to install SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
To install SQL Server 2016 Developer edition, you need to follow these steps:
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Run the downloaded file as an administrator.
Select Custom installation type.
Select a location for the installation media and click Install.
After the media extraction is complete, click on Installation from the left pane.
Select New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation.
Enter your product key or select Specify a free edition and choose Developer from the drop-down list.
Accept the license terms and click Next.
Select Use Microsoft Update to check for updates and click Next.
Select the features you want to install and click Next.
Select Default instance or Named instance and specify an instance ID and root directory. Click Next.
Select Mixed Mode or Windows authentication mode for your server and specify an administrator password. Click Add Current User or Add... to add other administrators. Click Next.
Select Add Current User or Add... to add other users who can access Analysis Services. Click Next.
Select Install and configure or Install only for Reporting Services. Click Next.
<li Review the summary of your installation configuration and click Install.
Wait for the installation to complete and click Close.
How to use SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
To use SQL Server 2016 Developer edition, you need to launch the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), which is a graphical tool that allows you to manage and interact with your SQL Server instances and databases. You can also use other tools, such as Visual Studio, SQL Server Data Tools, or PowerShell, to develop and deploy your applications.
To launch SSMS, you can follow these steps:
Click on Start and type SSMS.
Select SQL Server Management Studio from the list of results.
Enter the name of your server and the authentication mode. Click Connect.
Expand the server node and explore the databases, tables, views, stored procedures, functions, and other objects.
Right-click on any object and select an action, such as New Query, Modify, Design, or Properties.
Use the query editor window to write and execute SQL statements.
Use the Object Explorer Details window to view the properties and dependencies of objects.
Use the Solution Explorer window to organize your projects and files.
Use the toolbar and menu options to access various features and commands.
How does SQL Server 2016 Developer edition compare with SQL Server 2016 Express edition?
SQL Server 2016 Express edition is another free edition of SQL Server that is designed for small-scale applications that do not require advanced features or high performance. It has some limitations compared to SQL Server 2016 Developer edition, such as:
FeatureDeveloper editionExpress edition
Maximum database sizeNo limit10 GB
Maximum memory utilizedNo limit1 GB
Maximum number of cores utilizedNo limit4 cores
In-memory OLTPYesNo
Data compression and encryptionYesNo
Columnstore indexesYesNo
PolyBase query serviceYesNo
R Services (In-Database)YesNo
Data Quality ServicesYesNo
Data Analysis Services (Multidimensional)YesNo
Reporting ServicesYesYes
Integration ServicesYesNo
Master Data ServicesYesNo
Always On Availability GroupsYesNo
AuditYesNo
Transparent Data EncryptionYesNo
Backup encryption and compressionYesNo
Resource GovernorYesNo
Distributed ReplayYesNo
Management Data Warehouse and Data CollectorYesNo
As you can see, SQL Server 2016 Developer edition offers much more features and capabilities than SQL Server 2016 Express edition. However, if you are working on a simple or small-scale application that does not require high performance or advanced functionality, you may consider using SQL Server 2016 Express edition instead.
Conclusion
In this article, we have learned what SQL Server 2016 Developer edition is, what are its benefits, how to download and install it, and how to use it for your development work. We have also compared it with SQL Server 2016 Express edition, which is another free option for SQL Server.
SQL Server 2016 Developer edition is a great choice for developers who want to explore the full potential of SQL Server and build any kind of application on top of it. It is free, unlimited, compatible, and up-to-date. However, it is not intended for production use and should be used only for development and testing purposes.
If you have any questions or feedback about this article, please feel free to leave a comment below. I hope you enjoyed reading this article and learned something new. Thank you for your time and attention.
FAQs
Q: How can I get a license for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition?
A: You can purchase a license for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition from Microsoft or an authorized reseller. You can also get a free trial version of SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition from the Microsoft Evaluation Center.
Q: How can I upgrade from SQL Server 2016 Developer edition to SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition?
A: You can upgrade from SQL Server 2016 Developer edition to SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition by following the steps in this Microsoft documentation. You will need to enter your product key for SQL Server 2016 Enterprise edition during the upgrade process.
Q: How can I uninstall SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
A: You can uninstall SQL Server 2016 Developer edition by following the steps in this Microsoft documentation. You will need to remove all the components and features of SQL Server 2016 Developer edition from your system.
Q: How can I backup and restore my databases in SQL Server 2016 Developer edition?
A: You can backup and restore your databases in SQL Server 2016 Developer edition by using the Backup and Restore wizard in SSMS or by using the Transact-SQL commands. You can find more information about backup and restore operations in this Microsoft documentation.
Q: How can I connect to SQL Server 2016 Developer edition from other applications?
A: You can connect to SQL Server 2016 Developer edition from other applications by using the appropriate connection string and driver. You can find more information about connection strings and drivers in this Microsoft documentation.