What is Azure Data Studio?

Some time ago I mentioned a brand new product: SQL Operations Studio. Its feature set was small and aimed mainly at the developer persona. Now, recently, SQL Operations Studio was rebranded as Azure Data Studio.

Although they’re effectively the same thing currently, you do need to install Azure Data Studio separately from your existing sqlops install. You can install the new Azure Data Studio after downloading it from here: https://aka.ms/getazuredatastudio. The docs also include a helpful section, Move User Settings, that will help you migrate any custom settings you don’t want to lose from your sqlops configuration.

Azure Data Studio has gone GA with a rich set of developer and DevOps-centric features. Microsoft will continue to release preview-class features as the platform evolves and receives new monthly updates through Microsoft’s commitment to continuous integration and delivery in its management tools for the data platform.

Those preview-class features include:

Flat file import
SQL Server Agent
SQL Profiler
Azure Resource Explorer
Graphical Query Show Plan

Based on this combination of features, one can draw the conclusion that Microsoft is now shifting toward closing the gap between Azure Data Studio and SQL Server Management Studio, making it a viable alternative for developers and DBAs alike.

Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform database tool for data professionals using the Microsoft family of on-premises and cloud data platforms on Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

Previously released under the preview name SQL Operations Studio, Azure Data Studio offers a modern editor experience with Intellisense, code snippets, source control integration, and an integrated terminal. It is engineered with the data platform user in mind, with built in charting of query result sets and customizable dashboards.

Download and Install Azure Data Studio

Transact-SQL (T-SQL) code editor with IntelliSense

Azure Data Studio offers a modern, keyboard-focused T-SQL coding experience that makes your everyday tasks easier with built-in features, such as multiple tab windows, a rich T-SQL editor, IntelliSense, keyword completion, code snippets, code navigation, and source control integration (Git). Run on-demand T-SQL queries, view and save results as text, JSON, or Excel. Edit data, organize your favorite database connections, and browse database objects in a familiar object browsing experience. To learn how to use the T-SQL editor, see Use the T-SQL editor to create database objects.

Smart T-SQL code snippets

T-SQL code snippets generate the proper T-SQL syntax to create databases, tables, views, stored procedures, users, logins, roles, etc., and to update existing database objects. Use smart snippets to quickly create copies of your database for development or testing purposes, and to generate and execute CREATE and INSERT scripts.

Azure Data Studio also provides functionality to create custom T-SQL code snippets. To learn more, see Create and use code snippets.

Customizable Server and Database Dashboards

Create rich customizable dashboards to monitor and quickly troubleshoot performance bottlenecks in your databases. To learn about insight widgets, and database (and server) dashboards, see Manage servers and databases with insight widgets.

Connection management (server groups)

Server groups provide a way to organize connection information for the servers and databases you work with. For details, see Server groups.

Integrated Terminal

Use your favorite command-line tools (for example, Bash, PowerShell, sqlcmd, bcp, and ssh) in the Integrated Terminal window right within the Azure Data Studio user interface. To learn about the integrated terminal, see Integrated terminal.

Extensibility and extension authoring

Enhance the Azure Data Studio experience by extending the functionality of the base installation. Azure Data Studio provides extensibility points for data management activities, as well as support for extension authoring.

To learn about extensibility in Azure Data Studio, see Extensibility. To learn about authoring extensions, see Extension authoring.