IBM will unveil enhancements to the next version of the
DB2 database which are to help simplify development of applications
for the Microsoft .net platform at the Microsoft Professional
Developers Conference 2003 in Los Angeles.
IBM's DB2 upgrade, codenamed Stinger, will offer functionality
on Windows ahead of the next major version of Microsoft's own SQL
Server database, codenamed Yukon.
Stinger is planned for shipment some time in 2004 while Yukon is
due in the later half of next year.
Future Stinger previews will focus on areas such as autonomic
computing and continuous availability.
IBM has cited reliability, manageability, integration, and
scalability as part of its database improvements.
IBM's preview, which is available to developers, features
productivity tools for building applications, provides increased
performance features such as an enhanced .net Data Provider, and
lets developers use existing skills. Tighter integration with
Rational tools is also provided.
Specifically, the preview enables programmers to:
- Use integration of DB2 add-ins for Microsoft Visual Studio .net
and Rational XDE (eXtended Development Enviromment) Developer
visual data modelling tools to design applications and databases in
a more intuitive fashion. IBM wants to make DB2 programming a
natural extension of Visual Studio.
- Build .net applications through use of the .net Data Provider,
therefore strengthening the .net connection between databases and
applications.
- Using Visual Basic .net and C# skills by building client and
DB2 server-side application logic using these programming
languages. This is provided through DB2's ability to host the
Microsoft Common Language Runtime (CLR).
- Utilise DB2's native stored procedure capability by developing
on the Windows platform and deploying across supported DB2
platforms.
The enhancements result from a co-operative effort between
Microsoft and IBM under the Visual Studio Industry Partner
programme.
IBM will also demonstrate in conjunction with AMD a version of a
64-bit DB2 server running on Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition
for 64-bit systems.
The Stinger preview is available at the IBM developerWorks
website at
www7b.software.ibm.com/dmdd/downloads/dotnetbeta.