Sam, you are a smart guy, but …
Reading Sam Gentile’s recent entry on SQL Express, tells me that there are some issues.
Now I know from reading Sam’s blog that he is in fact a very smart person. However, sometimes, our expectations get in the way of our brains. What Sam was hoping for doesn’t exist yet. And actually it never will—exactly.
First off SQL Express is going to be free. Yes free. While the other Express family members will at some point have a price, they will not be free. Thus the difference between free and “a price” in features can be quite significant. However, in this case, the issues are as follows:
- SQL Express today is Beta 1 at best!
- SQL Express is designed to have a very small download footprint (25 Mb or less at RTM). Extras will be optional. I’ve not heard about plans for a CD-based experience that includes everything.
- SQL Express replaces MSDE 2000 in the SQL Server 2005 timeframe. MSDE never had GUI tools in the first place so I have to say his Beta 1 expectations are a bit high.
- SQL Express will however have a GUI manager (XM as Sam points out). It just isn’t ready.
Sam rightly points out that this should not be shipped out to end users. But it hasn’t? Last time I checked it is clearly marked as a beta for developers. If you’re going to get this pissed off to the point of profanity, maybe this early beta is not for you.
But this is just my opinion, I could be wrong.
End of line.