SQL Server 2016 Developer's Guide: Build efficient database applications for your organization with SQL Server 2016

Get the most out of the rich development capabilities of SQL Server 2016 to build efficient database applications for your organization

Key Features

• Utilize the new enhancements in Transact-SQL and security features in SQL Server 2016 to build efficient database applications
• Work with temporal tables to get information about data stored in the table at any point in time
• A detailed guide to SQL Server 2016, introducing you to multiple new features and enhancements to improve your overall development experience

Book Description

Microsoft SQL Server 2016 is considered the biggest leap in the data platform history of the Microsoft, in the ongoing era of Big Data and data science. Compared to its predecessors, SQL Server 2016 offers developers a unique opportunity to leverage the advanced features and build applications that are robust, scalable, and easy to administer.

This book introduces you to new features of SQL Server 2016 which will open a completely new set of possibilities for you as a developer. It prepares you for the more advanced topics by starting with a quick introduction to SQL Server 2016's new features and a recapitulation of the possibilities you may have already explored with previous versions of SQL Server. The next part introduces you to small delights in the Transact-SQL language and then switches to a completely new technology inside SQL Server - JSON support. We also take a look at the Stretch database, security enhancements, and temporal tables.

The last chapters concentrate on implementing advanced topics, including Query Store, columnstore indexes, and In-Memory OLTP. You will finally be introduced to R and how to use the R language with Transact-SQL for data exploration and analysis.

By the end of this book, you will have the required information to design efficient, high-performance database applications without any hassle.

What you will learn

• Explore the new development features introduced in SQL Server 2016
• Identify opportunities for In-Memory OLTP technology, significantly enhanced in SQL Server 2016
• Use columnstore indexes to get significant storage and performance improvements
• Extend database design solutions using temporal tables
• Exchange JSON data between applications and SQL Server in a more efficient way
• Migrate historical data transparently and securely to Microsoft Azure by using Stretch Database
• Use the new security features to encrypt or to have more granular control over access to rows in a table
• Simplify performance troubleshooting with Query Store
• Discover the potential of R's integration with SQL Server

Table of Contents

1. Introduction to SQL Server 2016
2. Review of SQL Server Features for Developers
3. SQL Server Tools
4. Transact-SQL Enhancements
5. JSON Support in SQL Server
6. Stretch Database
7. Temporal Tables
8. Tightening the Security
9. Query Store
10. Columnstore Indexes
11. Introducing SQL Server In-Memory OLTP
12. In-Memory OLTP Improvements in SQL Server 2016
13. Supporting R in SQL Server
14. Data Exploration and Predictive Modeling with R in SQL Server

Dejan Sarka, MCT and SQL Server MVP, is an independent trainer and consultant who focuses on the development of database and business intelligence applications, located in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Besides his projects, he spends around half of his time on training and mentoring. He is the founder of the Slovenian SQL Server and .NET Users Group. Dejan is the main author and co-author of many books and courses about databases and SQL Server. He is a frequent speaker at many worldwide events.

Milos Radivojevic is a database consultant in Vienna, Austria. He is a Data Platform MVP and specializes in SQL Server for application developers and performance and query tuning. Currently, he works as a principal database consultant in bwin (GVC Holdings) the largest regulated online gaming company in the world. Milos is a cofounder of PASS Austria. He is also a speaker at international conferences and speaks regularly at SQL Saturday events and PASS Austria meetings.

William Durkin is a DBA and data platform architect for CloudDBA. He uses his decade of experience with SQL Server to help multinational corporations achieve their data management goals. Born in the UK and now based in Germany, he has worked as a database developer and DBA on projects ranging from single-server installations, up to environments spanning five continents using a range of high-availability solutions. William is a regular speaker at conferences around the globe, a Data Platform MVP and is the chapter leader of a German PASS chapter.