Whats the future for SSDT?

John Collinson 16 Reputation points
2021-03-15T16:08:54.427+00:00

While SSDT is a fundamental and essential tool for my organisation, it feels like it is becoming a legacy product. There's been no new features in a long time, the SSDT team blog hasn't been updated in years, the last updates to much of the documentation was in 2017.

Can someone please give us a steer on the future road map of SSDT?

If it's becoming a legacy product with no new active development, what should be we be looking toward as a platform with a future?

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SQL Server Analysis Services
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  1. John Collinson 16 Reputation points
    2021-03-19T11:16:03.513+00:00

    Hi All,

    Many thanks for your replies. I think you're missing the point of my question here though...

    My team and I use SSDT (db projects, SSIS, SSAS, SSRS) day in day out. We use Visual Studio 2019 too so are aware of the move to extensions to install the features. I am aware of ADF and have trialled this technology. We also use Power BI, deployed to an on-premise Report Server that hosts PBI + SSRS (paginated) reports - however while Power BI is fantastic, it doesn't replace SSRS as it deals with tabular data poorly.

    My original question is about the future and longevity of these tools as it feels like they are under developed and little cared for any more. So let me ask some more targeted questions...

    • Is there shelf life for these tools?
    • Is there still a team which is actively developing these tools further?
    • Is there any plans for on-premise ADF (which seems to be the focus in terms of active development of integration tools at MS)?
    • Is it a strategic decision not to focus on these products, in order to push customers towards the cloud?

    Many thanks for your input on this topic.

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  2. Yitzhak Khabinsky 24,946 Reputation points
    2021-03-15T16:39:06.133+00:00

    Hi @John Collinson ,

    VS2019 introduced a different extension for SSIS (SSRS and SSAS) development.
    It is called "SQL Server Integration Services Projects" extension.

    Here is its download link: SQL Server Integration Services Projects

    SSDT still exists, but its role is delegated to the Database Projects.

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  3. Vaibhav Chaudhari 38,576 Reputation points
    2021-03-15T16:47:42.113+00:00

    Sharing my experience...

    Focus is more on Azure technologies these days.

    I used to use SSDT for developing SSIS packages and SSRS reports but gone are those days. Not using it from last few years.

    I have seen the projects getting migrated to Azure and to integrate data and orchestrate data pipelines on Azure, we use Azure data factory (SSIS kinda tool on Azure) and to create reports Power BI is used instead of SSRS.

    SSDT will always be used to create SSAS or AAS (Azure analysis services) models as this development is not possible on Azure service.

    And for sure, projects who can't afford using ADF and who are not using azure services, they will continue to use SSIS for data integration. As long as we have on premise SQL server, SSIS will continue.

    Search for future of MSBI, SSIS, SSRS etc. on web and you will few blogs.

    Please don't forget to Accept Answer and Up-vote if the response helped -- Vaibhav

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  4. Monalv-MSFT 5,891 Reputation points
    2021-03-16T01:41:14.77+00:00

    Hi @John Collinson ,

    SSDT for Visual Studio 2019
    Changes in SSDT for Visual Studio 2019
    The core SSDT functionality to create database projects has remained integral to Visual Studio.

    With Visual Studio 2019, the required functionality to enable Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services projects has moved into the respective Visual Studio (VSIX) extensions only.

    For Analysis Services, Integration Services, or Reporting Services projects, you can install the appropriate extensions from within Visual Studio with Extensions > Manage Extensions or from the Marketplace
    78021-extensions1.png
    78022-manageextensions.png

    We can refer to SSDT for Visual Studio 2019.

    Best regards,
    Mona

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    1 person found this answer helpful.