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
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.
This book introduces you to the new features of SQL Server 2016 that 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, column store indexes, and In-Memory OLTP. You will finally be introduced to R and learn 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.
Who is this book for?
This book is for database developers and solution architects who plan to use the new SQL Server 2016 features for developing efficient database applications. It is also ideal for experienced SQL Server developers who want to switch to SQL Server 2016 for its rich development capabilities. Some understanding of the basic database concepts and Transact-SQL language is assumed.
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
Wanted to know how SQL Server implemented JSON, and they had just the right amount of documentation and examples. I put together a hybrid relational/document DB schema together with this books help.Beyond JSON, I found the book to be well put together and had a great mix of example code and verbiage to get their points across.Well done!
Amazon Verified review
SaveloySep 09, 2017
5
Good book for the professional....
Amazon Verified review
OldSkuLL84Oct 27, 2018
5
Gives deep knowledge about the new features of SQL Server 2016. I would skip the R chapters.
Amazon Verified review
Ian StirkJul 05, 2017
5
Hi,I have written a detailed chapter-by-chapter review of this book on www. DOT i-programmer DOT info, the first and last parts of this review are given here. For my review of all chapters, search i-programmer DOT info for STIRK together with the book's title.This book aims to provide best practices and example architectures for Hadoop technologists, how does it fare?This book aims to introduce you to the salient new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2016, how does it fare?This book is aimed at SQL Server developers and architects that want to understand the latest features in SQL Server 2016. The ideal reader would be an intermediate-level developer with experience of SQL Server 2014, that said, the book does cover some background material from previous versions of SQL Server where appropriate.In many ways, SQL Server 2016 removes many of the limitations found in SQL Server 2014 (especially In-Memory OLTP), as well as implementing other useful developer features.Below is a chapter-by-chapter exploration of the topics covered.Chapter 1 Introduction to SQL Server 2016The book’s opening chapter provides an overview of the new and enhanced SQL Server 2016 features that are subsequently detailed in the rest of the book. There’s a brief overview of the recent history of SQL Server, culminating in Microsoft’s “Mobile First, Cloud First” strategy. Next, security enhancements are highlighted (row level security, dynamic data masking, always encrypted).The chapter continues with an overview of the major SQL Server engine enhancements, namely: -Query Store (troubleshooting sudden performance changes) -Live Query Statistics (real-time analysis of performance) -Stretch Database (offload older data to slower/cheaper storage) -Database scoped configuration (some server-level settings now set at database-level) -Temporal Tables (easier table history/versioning) -Columnstore indexes (now updateable)Programming enhancements are outlined next, including new T-SQL functions, and JSON (a “better” XML). Business Intelligence has been enhanced with the incorporation of the language R into SQL Server. The chapter ends with a look at the increasing frequency of software releases.This chapter provides a useful, if very brief, overview of the major new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2016, it also highlights what to expect from the rest of the book, where these features are examined in greater detail. It is generally easy to read, with useful explanations, tips, example code, and diagrams. These traits apply to the whole of the book....ConclusionThis book aims to introduce you to the salient new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2016, and succeeds. It is generally easy to read, well written, with useful explanations, tips, example code, and diagrams.Whilst the book doesn’t cover all the new features (e.g. PolyBase), it does cover the major ones. I suspect the more you know about SQL Server already, the more useful this book will be. Since the book focuses on new and enhanced features, large subject areas are omitted (e.g. database design).Sometimes, before discussing an extended feature (e.g. In-Memory OLTP), a large amount of background information is given with reference to previous editions of SQL Server. Whilst this may be useful if you don’t know the feature, it could be argued it is unnecessary - if you already know SQL Server 2014.It might have been useful to include a section discussing SQL Server changes in terms of some of the industry’s wider trends (e.g. Big Data, Social Media, the Cloud).Overall, if you want to know more about the new and enhanced features in SQL Server 2016, I can recommend this well-written book.
Amazon Verified review
Amazon CustomerNov 30, 2017
4
I like this book as its easy to read have screenshots to understand and easy to finish.
Dejan Sarka, MCT and Microsoft Data Platform MVP, is an independent trainer and consultant who focuses on the development of database and business intelligence applications. He is the founder of the Slovenian SQL Server and .NET Users Group.
Milo Radivojevi is a data platform MVP and specializes in SQL Server for application developers and performance/ query tuning. Milo is a co-founder of PASS Austria.
William Durkin is a data platform architect for Data Masterminds, he is a regular speaker at conferences around the globe, a Data Platform MVP, and the founder of the popular SQLGrillen event.
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