In my last post I talked about writing an example application using the Red Gate SQL Toolkit but it occurred to me that I ought to mention a bit more about what SQL Toolkit is and what it can be used for.
What is SQL Toolkit?
SQL Toolkit is an software development kit (SDK) from Red Gate Software (my employers) that provides .net developers with an api, samples and documentation for doing schema and data comparisons of Microsoft SQL Server databases. The toolkit also has a an api for packaging databases and database updates.
Why would I use SQL Toolkit?
Interestingly I believe that many of the solutions that customers are using SQL Toolkit for can already be done with the GUI or command line versions of SQL Compare, SQL Data Compare or SQL Packager products but software developers sometimes prefer to have the increased level of control that they gain by using the SDK.
The customers I have had contact with seem to use the software for the following:-
-
Update the database schema at a customers site without user interation
An executable is sent to the customer which they run and which compares a database snapshot with the customers database and then updates the customers database with the differences.
-
Continuous Integration (automated testing)
Some customers had previously been using database backups for their testing but using the toolkit is significantly quicker and more effective.
-
Keep internal databases in sync (often in different geographical locations)
The Microsoft SQL Server replication isn't as friendly or as easy as some people would like and so customers are using SQL Toolkit to keep databases synchronized across different sites.
-
Update SQL database for remote web hosts
You develop on a local server and then you need to migrate your changes to your web servers which are hosted remotely.
-
Change control and auditing
SQL Toolkit is being used as part of the change control process to record changes being made to production systems.
There are certainly more uses for SQL Toolkit then I have listed but if you want to do SQL database comparison and want a high level of control then you should take a look at it.
Links:
Red Gate SQL Toolkit product page
SQL Toolkit free 14 day trial