How Do I Add SSDT to MS SQL Server that's already installed and in use

Question

I installed MS SQL Server (2022) a couple of week ago. I now have it tame enough to allow me to use SSMS to create a few tables, run a few queries etc. At 83 I'm a complete novice to RDBMS in general and SQL in particular; although I was a COBOL programmer 50 years ago and used flat files. I had only a nodding acquaintance with SQL before now. Although I'm still learning SSMS, only touching the surface so far, I've read in forum responses that SSDT is preferred for use with version control such as Git/Github. I use Git to control versions of frontend code I've developed for a webpage and would like to be consistent with SQL. I really enjoy the VS Code interface, too, and would like to investigate how I might use it to generate queries while working on HTML, javascript and php code.

First, is he advice to use SSDT with MS SQL Server in order to use VS Code and Git version control good advice? If so, why?

What must I do to install SSDT given that I already have MS SQL Server and SSMS installed? Searching has only revealed info about installing it when installing SQL Server. If anything I read appled to already-installed additions, it went over my head.

Are there any cautions or considerations to avoid walking on things I've done with SSMS?

Are there other articles or resources I should investigate to incorporate SQL Server use into my use of VS Code and Git?

TIA

Answer 1

Hi @rhhutchins4292,

SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is a set of development tools in Visual Studio with focus on building SQL Server databases and Azure SQL databases. SSDT can be extended to Analysis Services (AS) data models, Integration Services (IS) packages, and Reporting Services (RS) reports with their corresponding extensions. SSDT allows you to design and deploy SQL objects with the same project concept as other application development tools.

Install SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) for Visual Studio

Of course, you can use SSDT together with VS code and git but not must, a tutorial below you can check.

SQL Server Data Tools in Visual Studio with GIT Source Control

Are there other articles or resources I should investigate to incorporate SQL Server use into my use of VS Code and Git

You can google some article you need, here will be several blogs.

Regards，

Zoe Hui

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