Microsoft SQL Server 2019: data platform in a box
Tags:
Microsoft Azure,
Business Insights
I'm writing this blog post the day after Microsoft has unveiled SQL Server 2019 at their flagship Ignite 2018 conference. Officially named SQL Server 2019, it comes hot off the heels of the SQL 2017 release. This should be no surprise to anyone though, we know that the cloud has fuelled faster release cycles that "spill" into the on-premises product. I have heard some people complain that this rate of release is "too fast" for them, but I personally see only positives with it. Microsoft still supports older versions (even extended support for SQL 2008!) and the compatibility level has been extended back to almost five versions now. If you don't want or need to or can upgrade, no one is forcing you. However, if you do want to get the most value out of your Software Assurance then you get a new version, roughly 18 months apart. Another popular argument is that there can't really be that much new stuff when the release cycles are so close to each other. Well, turns out that one can be easily disproved as we can see from the release notes and information coming out regarding SQL 2019. Now, if you want the full exhaustive list, you can find it
here. Following are the items that I'm most surprised or excited about, let's take a look! Note: credit for the images goes to Microsoft's own documentation.