SSDTs

SQL Server Data Tools, abbreviated as SSDTs, are a set of development tools from Microsoft that integrate with Visual Studio to support database development for Microsoft SQL Server and Azure SQL platforms. SSDTs provide a database project system that treats database schemas as code, enabling developers to define tables, views, stored procedures, functions, and other objects in declarative form. Projects can generate deployment scripts and data-tier applications (DACs) for moving changes from development through test to production environments.

Key features include database projects for defining and versioning schemas, schema and data comparison tools to detect differences between databases or between a project and a target server, and deployment support via DACPACs. SSDTs also facilitate publishing changes to target servers and integrate with build and release pipelines for continuous integration and continuous deployment.

Use cases encompass database versioning and source control, automated deployments to SQL Server or Azure SQL Database, and maintaining consistent environments across development, testing, and production. SSDTs support development of relational databases and are applicable to on-premises SQL Server installations as well as cloud-based SQL databases.

History notes that SSDTs originated as a Visual Studio extension to support SQL Server development, evolving from earlier SQL Server development tools. Over time, the tooling was updated to accommodate newer SQL Server versions and Azure SQL Database, with BI-related components separated into distinct offerings. In current practice, SSDTs are installed as an extension to Visual Studio to enable database projects, schema deployment, and DAC-based workflows within the IDE.