This paper has pointed out some of the most important principles and trade-offs of SQL Server development. For many decisions, there is no one correct choice. In these cases, know the trade-offs and make an informed decision. For other decisions, consider the themes that crop up again and again in this discussion:
Follow these simple guidelines, and you will achieve most of your application's performance potential without a lot of work.
This section describes some other sources for information about designing for SQL Server.
Every SQL Server developer should get to know and use what's available on the Microsoft SQL Server Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/sql/default.asp). This Web site is updated regularly and includes product and service pack announcements, benchmark results, white papers, partner information, and much more. The SQL Server Web site also includes links to the following areas of specific interest to developers:
Includes a Support Newsgroup and the Knowledge Base, a searchable catalog of articles on SQL Server development tips and pitfalls. When you are stuck on a SQL Server problem, the Knowledge Base is usually the best place to look for an answer.
Developer's Conferences are a means for the SQL Server product team to communicate the latest and greatest information on how to most efficiently develop SQL Server applications and to get feedback about what you would like to see in the product.
Articles published by Microsoft Corporation give detailed guidance to SQL Server developers. Several of these articles are relevant to the issues discussed in this paper:
Discusses how to get optimal performance from the SQL Server ODBC driver. The advice in this white paper applies to developers using any interface that runs on top of the ODBC driver, including RDO, OLE DB (The ODBC Provider), and ADO.
Describes the features of OLE DB and how to build applications using this interface in terms that are familiar to ODBC programmers.
Focuses on the specific issues involved with migrating an ISAM-style application to SQL Server. It uses an example Btrieve application to illustrate the process, but many of the principles it discusses apply to any ISAM-style code that is rewritten for SQL Server.
Two books published by Microsoft Press® are of particular interest to SQL Server developers: Inside SQL Server by Ron Soukup (available in 1997) and Inside ODBC by Kyle Geiger. Both of these books give in-depth advice based on the authors' years of experience.
The best place to get information about the many Microsoft products that work with SQL Server is the Microsoft Web site (http://www.microsoft.com/). In particular, check out the following products and technologies: