The Microsoft SQL Server developed using the MS-SQL and T-SQL querying languages and is a relational database system. It was back in 1989 when the database management system was first released on the OS/2 platform. For half a decade it would not be updated or even worked on until the release of Windows NT in 1993. Developed as a direct competitor to that of Oracle and then later against Sybase, Microsoft SQL Server has continued to be the server of choice for development based on the Microsoft Operating System platforms.
At the time of its initial 1989 release, SQL Server 1.0 was the equivalent to Sybase 3.0 and by 1992 with the release of version 4.1 on the Windows 3.1 NT platform was made available. It was not until the release of version 6.0 that it would be specifically developed for the Windows NT Platform though.
Initially, Sybase and Windows worked together on their developments, but they would eventually part in their ways and work on their own systems separately. Furthermore, after Microsoft went after proprietary rights to SQL Server, Sybase opted to change the name of theirs to that of the Adaptive Server Enterprise so as not to allow any confusion between the two, now separate developments. It was after this separation that the two systems would become competitors as prior to this they were in fact based on the same developments.
The last release of Microsoft SQL Server occurred in 2000 and they would not release another version for nearly 8 years. However, there have been numerous improvements to the core development of the SQL Serve since that release. Today, the SQL Server 2005 comes packaged with a number of helpful tools, reporting systems and a whole lot more. Unfortunately, while Microsoft continues its work towards development of the database management system, more and more web developers have found that MySQL is the preferred way to go.
Much like any of the developments coming out of Microsoft, for one to use the SQL Server, one has to deal with the proprietary issues associated with it. Unlike MySQL which can be called from a number of languages with ease and is also completely free, SQL Server requires a Windows powered server and the use of another proprietary language, ASP, in order to communicate effectively with the database. While it is possible for other internet languages to communicate with a SQL Server database, it is much more difficult to do; much like anything which is associated with Microsoft and the internet.
This of course does not make the database management system worthless, as it is more secure in comparison to that of MySQL, but you do get what you pay for. If it is security one is looking for in a web development, then coding the site in ASP or ASP.NET and making use of the Microsoft SQL Server may be just what you need. Developing in ASP for the SQL Server in comparison to the beast Oracle which is by far the most secure way to go is like the difference between coding HTML and PHP for someone who does not know either.
Original Authors: Nick
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 09/02/2009
