Azure SQL Dev Corner
Voices from the Azure SQL PM Team, focusing on development and developers
Latest posts
Using SQL Server’s new AI features and Python to create a T-SQL assistant
I recently created a GitHub repository to share the T-SQL scripts I've accumulated over 10 years as a DBA. However, I've always struggled to find the right script when I need it. For years, I relied on simple shell commands like find or just my memory, which could take 10-30 minutes, if I was lucky enough to find it. But, we are in the AI age, so I created that simple web application where you type what you want, and it finds the best scripts for your needs. The solution was created using the following technologies: In this post, I will focus on SQL Server's role, exploring i...
Create embeddings in SQL Server 2025 RC0 with a local ONNX model on Windows
With the release of SQL Server 2025 RC0, we have enabled the ability to use a local ONNX model on the server for embeddings. This allows you to use these models without having any network traffic leaving the local environment. Getting Started This example guides you through setting up SQL Server 2025 on Windows with an ONNX runtime to enable local AI-powered text embedding generation. ONNX Runtime is an open-source inference engine that allows you to run machine learning models locally, making it ideal for integrating AI capabilities into SQL Server environments. Step 1: Enable developer preview ...
MSSQL Extension for VS Code: Schema Compare, Schema Designer, Local SQL Server Container GA
The MSSQL Extension for VS Code continues to evolve, delivering features that make SQL development more visual, more consistent, and more developer-friendly. In version v1.35.0, we’re announcing the General Availability (GA) of Schema Designer, Schema Compare, and Local SQL Server Containers — three powerful tools that bring structure, clarity, and flexibility to your local development workflow. What’s new in MSSQL extension for VS Code v1.35 This release introduces three major capabilities designed to streamline the SQL development experience: In addition to these major features, this rele...
Updated .NET and JDBC Drivers with Native Vector Data Support for High-Performance AI Workload
We’ve just released major updates to our data access libraries, bringing native support for vector data to both the .NET and JDBC ecosystems, unlocking significant performance gains for AI and machine learning workloads. Microsoft.Data.SqlClient 6.1.0 With the new class, you can now handle vector data in binary format, replacing the slower JSON array approach. This means: Check out the official documentation with a sample: Native vector data type .NET Driver Support For all details, check out the release notes: https://github.com/dotnet/SqlClient/releases/tag/v6.1.0 Microsoft JDBC Driver ...
Announcing General Availability of UNISTR function and ANSI SQL || Operator in Azure SQL
We’re excited to announce the General Availability (GA) of two long-standing capabilities that address critical needs for SQL developers and enterprise customers in Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance, configured with the Always-up-to-date update policy: These additions improve ANSI SQL compliance in Azure SQL, streamline migration from other platforms, and boost developer productivity. UNISTR function: Unicode made easy The UNISTR function provides support for Unicode string literals by letting you specify the Unicode encoding value of characters in the string, making...
MSSQL Extension for VS Code: Agent Mode Updates, Colored Connections, and Schema Designer Enhancements
The MSSQL Extension for VS Code keeps getting better—bringing thoughtful updates that make SQL development more conversational, more visual, and more local. In version v1.34.0, we’ve focused this release on deepening GitHub Copilot Agent Mode, improving connection clarity through color-coded indicators, making local container workflows more flexible, enhancing the Schema Designer, and solving bugs across the experience. Here’s a look at what’s new in this release and how it helps simplify your SQL development workflow. What’s new in MSSQL extension for VS Code v1.34 This release includes three major improvem...
Announcing General Availability of Native Vector Type & Functions in Azure SQL
We are happy to announce that Native vector support in Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance is moving to General Availability this summer. Deployments are already underway, and several regions have begun receiving the feature. What is going GA? Integrated Vector Data Type Azure SQL introduces a dedicated VECTOR data type that simplifies the creation, storage, and querying of high-dimensional vector embeddings  vector embeddings directly within your relational database. Built-in Vector Functions Includes essential vector operations like: VECTOR_DISTANCE , VECTOR_NORM  VECTOR_NORMALIZE. Read ...
MSSQL Extension for VS Code: Local Containers, GitHub Copilot Agent Mode and Connection Groups
The MSSQL Extension for VS Code continues to evolve, bringing powerful new features that make SQL development more local, more organized, and more intelligent. In version v1.33.0, we’re introducing Local SQL Server container, GitHub Copilot Agent Mode, and Connection Groups—three capabilities designed to simplify and modernize the way developers build applications using SQL Server in Visual Studio Code. Here’s a closer look at what’s included in this release and how these features can enhance your SQL development workflow. What’s new in MSSQL extension for VS Code v1.33 This release introduces three major ca...
SQL Server 2025 CTP 2.1: DiskANN Improvements
I'm happy to announce that SQL Server 2025 CTP 2.1 is now available, and it brings significant improvements to DiskANN support. While DiskANN remains in preview, each release continues to remove limitations and boost performance. In this release, we’ve made a particularly notable leap in vector index creation speed, with more enhancements on the horizon. What’s New in DiskANN DiskANN is Microsoft’s algorithm for large-scale vector search and recommendation systems. It’s designed to scale to web-sized datasets while maintaining high recall and performance. With SQL Server 2025, DiskANN is fully integrated in...